tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004493310646700852024-03-13T02:36:31.377-05:00Ani's Book AbyssI like to read. A lot.anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.comBlogger1138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-76081329097503555882022-09-17T15:45:00.000-05:002022-09-17T15:45:01.204-05:00Halloween Bingo 2022 Update #2<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_lqv2ZSjYz2SG2cvwq5SjFkTwJ6jAznWX5EifqQCZOkhwTuSEF6JR-PjFLmsxb-Em8oUrNFqHo-rgwO9w-jtrT7EQBLGgNakHSQd5G023LnBVQ14uYArnU6AVC0BZJg0AmhGW3fQKhY8-b7loaeGkFrJh2qMSc69241brjVTsfQcYGZhZL5dlJ3/s1024/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="882" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_lqv2ZSjYz2SG2cvwq5SjFkTwJ6jAznWX5EifqQCZOkhwTuSEF6JR-PjFLmsxb-Em8oUrNFqHo-rgwO9w-jtrT7EQBLGgNakHSQd5G023LnBVQ14uYArnU6AVC0BZJg0AmhGW3fQKhY8-b7loaeGkFrJh2qMSc69241brjVTsfQcYGZhZL5dlJ3/w552-h640/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" width="552" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was so sure I'd have one more book completed by this next update, but alas, it was not to be. Ah well... I'm halfway through two books and about 30% into the third. <i>The Ice Princess</i> started off quite interesting, but is proving to be a bit banal towards the middle, so I took my mind off of it for a while.<div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I had the sudden urge to throw an audiobook in there, and found that I owned <i>Sourcery</i> by Terry Pratchett as an Audible. I've been listening to it for the past four days, but during my last two drives to and from work, I found myself drifting to a lot of work related matters that are currently occupying my thoughts, so ended up not paying attention, much to my own regret. It's not that book isn't good--I found myself laughing out loud many times--it's just that work stuff has been a bit stressful lately, and I find myself unable to turn off my brain for even those thirty minute drives to and from work.</div><div><br /></div><div>No worries, I'm going to back track about two hours to catch up on what I missed. Though I must admit that the parts without Rincewind aren't as much fun, for some reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still waiting patiently for my library to tell me that my interlibrary loan hold is ready for <i>The Honjin Murders</i>. With my luck, though, it'll finally be ready by the end of October... too late to read for Halloween Bingo. So crossing my fingers that I'll see the library hold available soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise, after I'm done with <i>Sourcery</i> and <i>The Ice Princess</i>, I'm going for either Seanan McGuire or maybe Mary Stewart... At least that's what I'm feeling. I'm also kind of wanting to re-listen to the full cast audio version of <i>Dracula</i> again, just for old times' sake--I loved that audiobook so much when I first listened to it!<br /><div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Currently Reading</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="299" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ_H0zJ8AXF5x3powadO8frTtRmRoZPA9cxmVwYSAH2refYzNgjS6CvXfotoGLhUxUVLn5MmjJffCvSmZP90T6pDpJd9PShk7Q0XVkK2yx_FIl_ebmj1-K5jrnvoPThZMiT0Tr7tK5pgoBKvBPbW53GQIBJ4VvIGOWRNyZp5SWqSdMaPU4IfXURcC/w126-h200/Markup,%20Kathryn%20-%20A%20Is%20For%20Arsenic.jpg" width="126" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDyAZ5bPgzFS56tl2XXwUuKljbRchQcMCtxjpBb3-ZWRhpihE6irRiUBw4biDR_yZTV_iIfs-gAjHIo8zNBmOrooOOD4XVU5LV804MIhXp0FbG_GJ-8Km3rOV9FeKEbv8IUdCzya4TpdJf2I8YkcySwsK5LMXasyYAu8_A9B-_kGbEEaKY4H0ROjX/w134-h200/Lackberg,%20Camilla%20-%20The%20Ice%20Princess.jpg" width="134" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxl6h-huPOv1y4-pLAhpM6DrbTZjE4xDC5V8EsXelw-crE7tw3Jy7o-y1utiIlj42gWOiBZ1KcdBgXCyFiGbyW5l6E5aDYJEx03s8YpprKdexxGDG1tzuMPevUxUlI827ooSWSWmvaEnlvnoSr8G8LNyIP823QFMcUwVzvl4ZEVmMxjQ3HKxdyDOI/w200-h200/Pratchett,%20Terry%20-%20Sourcery%20(Audible).jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Next Reads</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-ymMLhM4QzKd5xZphEGqA3hGHq6zVs4o7INSTcjNxXg7FmJnVQpSc9iSRDW_3itdp1Pub6N-HuTfyPpxg0hmuyXLF24V6MIS_qUyNpLj9J0uCBXPFHNXb-Qzoq0smIJpwYu4cKlVREhj35oXRGV4sBV0gbFe2W0luclFDkJ4A71WF0khiDT0_PMK/w131-h200/Yokomizo%20Seishi%20-%20The%20Honjin%20Murders.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVzL3CMd3juOMGhh-cahVBqSDTPxnu6FKbi4YFwLgHkmd6hgEAlbROmzhYgr_CYwnTMaBEn167z-7lCzIwSqcDWLUxLpnXNZ1OQY6YEPV1WexTGtNtp1kSL1bNGE7sBM4kn0Yf-X2VATUs_SZ2d5tnXmTeI9BX9x1bkf5XovXEK40Ec3CA1kvvZgl/w129-h200/McGuire,%20Seanan%20-%20Sparrow%20Hill%20Road.jpg" width="129" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0-CpV35T6cdm8cTORiNvPd0hPpemFyk-FkYm1_uBhpm4jZNN6e1jeREOWOWPVftB8GB-PJsCODrdGQ6CEpMF2FZrk3FtlYnuYISp1CvElOHxJoF1tx60hNu8GbeHhLcFBVR83LPql3HYP5b13yyH7Fgz3pW3c5zcAgAdnRl-ducfthIoUgly-Dtc/w133-h200/Krentz,%20Jayne%20Ann%20-%20Dream%20Eyes.jpg" width="133" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCitb-X7xvgK6oZpSZ1Y5OMk5ViS7rkFwQNJP_0RMnh1AaZlXfQ9_v97L1T1d8x6ate_VM89oTgnSWsOpxT9yqavV21fWuDHxPOnPn8NMjxN0pBeb7mzvqD1NyRO7lh8cVF5RxPfnp7H1JBqbeMfprgIZg4r5errjq96WcBDhfrF56afTSV8783seB/w200-h200/Pratchett,%20Terry%20-%20Wyrd%20Sisters%20(Audible).jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Books Read and Unallocated</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
None yet!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Bingo Tracking</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmKtmtzGikVhoOumDfEaUC39p0BTNKh2STOm-XGluw68cAWIFxYlfH6EBz9R9OsoCtkHqKPc9X4FIeIVszdqz9PRVtGwaLa7NWPe9JMgvly6kFKZ2c47RYNHxFdNuGF9amn84cuz39Ele2IaYaw2awbFjy_PUSzv4NK3e4F0QvFDAhWm5HInOp7O9/w131-h200/Krentz,%20Jayne%20Ann%20-%20Copper%20Beach.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; width: 100%;">
<colgroup>
<col width="80"></col>
<col width="33"></col>
<col width="150"></col>
<col width="30"></col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="orange">
<td><b>Bingo Square</b></td>
<td><b>Date Called</b></td>
<td><b>Book / Author</b></td>
<td><b>Date Read</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #1</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Genre: Thriller</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/3/22</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Black Cat</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Amateur Sleuth</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Darkest London</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Arsenic & Old Lace</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #2</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Dark Academia</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Ice Cold Fear</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Murder & Mayhem by the Book</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td>Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/9/22</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Grave or Graveyard</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Death Down Under</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #3</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Genre: Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>The Barrens</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Poe Raven Free Space</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Vintage Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Psych</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/13/22</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #4</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Golden State Nightmares</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Terror in the Tropics</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Sword & Sorcery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>*Romantic Suspense</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Spellbound</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #5</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Locked Room Mysteries</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Cozy Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Terror in a Small Town</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Urban Decay</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>A Grimm Tale</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/6/22</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Wild Card Activities</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
I have decided to use <b>The Lottery Wild Card</b> to swap out <b>Home is Where the Hurt Is</b> with <b>Romantic Suspense</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SSeMr5_-1IIiMJKMFDiFwZ0ZNFazTeTsTL3KBoeR3SayEXFXND_2wF29pmXh4CMya9mEaA-AYu34tS0WEYyeNHHfoehKY89bAaMH6I-XnbiN5iPemItMqnWWrVulvTZIf9uHwPXbVDFNnYTTH7Fa61_pKn8mToAvlU2O82W8VNXg1_B62JGb7On/s500/HB2022%20-%20wild%20card%20used%20-%20lottery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SSeMr5_-1IIiMJKMFDiFwZ0ZNFazTeTsTL3KBoeR3SayEXFXND_2wF29pmXh4CMya9mEaA-AYu34tS0WEYyeNHHfoehKY89bAaMH6I-XnbiN5iPemItMqnWWrVulvTZIf9uHwPXbVDFNnYTTH7Fa61_pKn8mToAvlU2O82W8VNXg1_B62JGb7On/s16000/HB2022%20-%20wild%20card%20used%20-%20lottery.png" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br /></div></div>anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-70570985030389964252022-09-10T01:29:00.000-05:002022-09-10T01:29:07.279-05:00Halloween Bingo 2022 Update #1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_lqv2ZSjYz2SG2cvwq5SjFkTwJ6jAznWX5EifqQCZOkhwTuSEF6JR-PjFLmsxb-Em8oUrNFqHo-rgwO9w-jtrT7EQBLGgNakHSQd5G023LnBVQ14uYArnU6AVC0BZJg0AmhGW3fQKhY8-b7loaeGkFrJh2qMSc69241brjVTsfQcYGZhZL5dlJ3/s1024/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="882" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_lqv2ZSjYz2SG2cvwq5SjFkTwJ6jAznWX5EifqQCZOkhwTuSEF6JR-PjFLmsxb-Em8oUrNFqHo-rgwO9w-jtrT7EQBLGgNakHSQd5G023LnBVQ14uYArnU6AVC0BZJg0AmhGW3fQKhY8-b7loaeGkFrJh2qMSc69241brjVTsfQcYGZhZL5dlJ3/w552-h640/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" width="552" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have certainly not made a whole lot of progress, but I wanted to do at least a weekly update on what I'm up to pertaining to the book world and Halloween Bingo. I've come across some books that I'd like to read for Halloween Bingo, so in spite of my determination not to overwhelm myself by making a list of books to read, I ended up doing so anyway.<br />
<br />
There aren't really a whole lot, but more than what I started with.<br />
<br />
What squares they will end up in, however, is still up in the air.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyjdPO4P03HdGpEc_Z8iLBL521yOK_mvs9LFmeigaa2kLPm6b4TcyT1w3OYs1yjdup-iQYp8Pfoh4vpMjcSeGRwASDA1NosIhx8aCA3ncoWcFwXFO-b1dDIX75qzCah7n9T5s4QmJP5xjifjAdN21wSQBK_WylUh9TmKndSPbTEarTHaxtwdHJ_Ty/w127-h200/McGuire,%20Seanan%20-%20Chaos%20Choreography.jpg" width="127" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTqq0GjlbquvqU1UYUN_PUYQ5yfOb7x3d5a_jaU6YAnLoz8gcuTPMmjD_7YKO7XhCRJm2WHwpiIBdRsbQFOv0bSh1O12hhOeFLTzMrzuJshvvh7o6coiNX5aHd3DDbp8xEjgAAhGz58Erj6Vil40KPFMo-caVClu6CVMIDC9_SM_wqnvjGfn27x03/w124-h200/McGuire,%20Seanan%20-%20Rosemary%20and%20Rue.jpg" width="124" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVzL3CMd3juOMGhh-cahVBqSDTPxnu6FKbi4YFwLgHkmd6hgEAlbROmzhYgr_CYwnTMaBEn167z-7lCzIwSqcDWLUxLpnXNZ1OQY6YEPV1WexTGtNtp1kSL1bNGE7sBM4kn0Yf-X2VATUs_SZ2d5tnXmTeI9BX9x1bkf5XovXEK40Ec3CA1kvvZgl/w129-h200/McGuire,%20Seanan%20-%20Sparrow%20Hill%20Road.jpg" width="129" /></div>
<br />
<br />
I haven't read Seanan McGuire in a long time, but I absolutely adore <i>The Incryptids</i> series, and her books just seem like they would fit into a lot of squares available. Mainly I'm looking at <i>Sparrow Hill Road</i> for <b>Urban Decay</b>, and am interested enough to want to read it first of the three books above. The other two books, I'm looking at for <b>Golden State Nightmare</b>, though I haven't decided which one yet. More than likely, it'll be <i>Chaos Choreography</i> just because I'm wanting to catch up with <i>The Incryptids</i> books.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I did happily finally finish one book with an idea of what square I will put it in, but I don't want to make any permanent decisions, so I decided to create a digital table to log my progress alongside my Happy Planner, decorated log. But since I've hardly filled out my physical table, no photos just yet--sometimes photos can be a bit more work than I'm willing to put in at the moment.<br />
<br />
The first book I finished was <i>Copper Beach</i> by Jayne Ann Krentz, which I'm looking at putting on <b>Murder and Mayhem by the Book</b> -- imagine my joy when I read the synopsis and found out that the entire book is centered around a female lead who is an old book dealer and the story centers around looking for an old, dangerous book laced with paranormal energy. Score!<br />
<br />
I am still reading <i>A is For Arsenic</i> by Kathryn Harkup, a nonfiction book detailing poisons used by Dame Agatha in her mysteries. I'm making my way through this slowly, just because it's nonfiction and I've never really warmed to reading nonfiction. This book will be for <b>Arsenic and Old Lace</b> -- a perfect fit, I'd say!<br />
<br />
I just started reading <i>The Ice Princess</i> by Camilla Lackberg, about a murder that takes place in Fjallbacka in Sweden. The setting seems to be either winter, or just very, very cold climes, so I'm hoping I can get it to fit into <b>Ice Cold Fear</b>.<br />
<br />
Finally, my next reads are kind of tentative. <i>The Honjin Murders</i> by Seishi Yokomizo is a book I saw on someone else's list (though I don't recall who's), and became interested in reading it for <b>Locked Room Mysteries</b>. <i>Dream Eyes</i> by Jayne Ann Krentz, is the next book in the <i>Dark Legacy</i> duology, following <i>Copper Beach</i> and I do want to read it -- I just don't know here I'd put it, quite just yet.<br />
<br />
And as I'd mentioned, <i>Sparrow Hill Road</i>, I would like to read for <b>Urban Decay</b>.<br />
<br />
And well... that's pretty much it!<br />
<br /><br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Currently Reading</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="299" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ_H0zJ8AXF5x3powadO8frTtRmRoZPA9cxmVwYSAH2refYzNgjS6CvXfotoGLhUxUVLn5MmjJffCvSmZP90T6pDpJd9PShk7Q0XVkK2yx_FIl_ebmj1-K5jrnvoPThZMiT0Tr7tK5pgoBKvBPbW53GQIBJ4VvIGOWRNyZp5SWqSdMaPU4IfXURcC/w126-h200/Markup,%20Kathryn%20-%20A%20Is%20For%20Arsenic.jpg" width="126" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDyAZ5bPgzFS56tl2XXwUuKljbRchQcMCtxjpBb3-ZWRhpihE6irRiUBw4biDR_yZTV_iIfs-gAjHIo8zNBmOrooOOD4XVU5LV804MIhXp0FbG_GJ-8Km3rOV9FeKEbv8IUdCzya4TpdJf2I8YkcySwsK5LMXasyYAu8_A9B-_kGbEEaKY4H0ROjX/w134-h200/Lackberg,%20Camilla%20-%20The%20Ice%20Princess.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Next Reads</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-ymMLhM4QzKd5xZphEGqA3hGHq6zVs4o7INSTcjNxXg7FmJnVQpSc9iSRDW_3itdp1Pub6N-HuTfyPpxg0hmuyXLF24V6MIS_qUyNpLj9J0uCBXPFHNXb-Qzoq0smIJpwYu4cKlVREhj35oXRGV4sBV0gbFe2W0luclFDkJ4A71WF0khiDT0_PMK/w131-h200/Yokomizo%20Seishi%20-%20The%20Honjin%20Murders.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVzL3CMd3juOMGhh-cahVBqSDTPxnu6FKbi4YFwLgHkmd6hgEAlbROmzhYgr_CYwnTMaBEn167z-7lCzIwSqcDWLUxLpnXNZ1OQY6YEPV1WexTGtNtp1kSL1bNGE7sBM4kn0Yf-X2VATUs_SZ2d5tnXmTeI9BX9x1bkf5XovXEK40Ec3CA1kvvZgl/w129-h200/McGuire,%20Seanan%20-%20Sparrow%20Hill%20Road.jpg" width="129" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0-CpV35T6cdm8cTORiNvPd0hPpemFyk-FkYm1_uBhpm4jZNN6e1jeREOWOWPVftB8GB-PJsCODrdGQ6CEpMF2FZrk3FtlYnuYISp1CvElOHxJoF1tx60hNu8GbeHhLcFBVR83LPql3HYP5b13yyH7Fgz3pW3c5zcAgAdnRl-ducfthIoUgly-Dtc/w133-h200/Krentz,%20Jayne%20Ann%20-%20Dream%20Eyes.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Books Read and Unallocated</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
None.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Bingo Tracking</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmKtmtzGikVhoOumDfEaUC39p0BTNKh2STOm-XGluw68cAWIFxYlfH6EBz9R9OsoCtkHqKPc9X4FIeIVszdqz9PRVtGwaLa7NWPe9JMgvly6kFKZ2c47RYNHxFdNuGF9amn84cuz39Ele2IaYaw2awbFjy_PUSzv4NK3e4F0QvFDAhWm5HInOp7O9/w131-h200/Krentz,%20Jayne%20Ann%20-%20Copper%20Beach.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; width: 100%;">
<colgroup>
<col width="80"></col>
<col width="33"></col>
<col width="150"></col>
<col width="30"></col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="orange">
<td><b>Bingo Square</b></td>
<td><b>Date Called</b></td>
<td><b>Book / Author</b></td>
<td><b>Date Read</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #1</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Genre: Thriller</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/3/22</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Black Cat</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Amateur Sleuth</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Darkest London</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Arsenic & Old Lace</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #2</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Dark Academia</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Ice Cold Fear</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Murder & Mayhem by the Book</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td>Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/9/22</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Grave or Graveyard</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Death Down Under</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #3</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Genre: Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>The Barrens</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Poe Raven Free Space</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Vintage Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Psych</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #4</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Golden State Nightmares</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Terror in the Tropics</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Sword & Sorcery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>*Romantic Suspense</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Spellbound</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td colspan="4"><b>Row #5</b></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Locked Room Mysteries</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Cozy Mystery</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>Terror in a Small Town</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="white">
<td>Urban Decay</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="lightgray">
<td>A Grimm Tale</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/6/22</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Wild Card Activities</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
I have decided to use <b>The Lottery Wild Card</b> to swap out <b>Home is Where the Hurt Is</b> with <b>Romantic Suspense</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SSeMr5_-1IIiMJKMFDiFwZ0ZNFazTeTsTL3KBoeR3SayEXFXND_2wF29pmXh4CMya9mEaA-AYu34tS0WEYyeNHHfoehKY89bAaMH6I-XnbiN5iPemItMqnWWrVulvTZIf9uHwPXbVDFNnYTTH7Fa61_pKn8mToAvlU2O82W8VNXg1_B62JGb7On/s500/HB2022%20-%20wild%20card%20used%20-%20lottery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SSeMr5_-1IIiMJKMFDiFwZ0ZNFazTeTsTL3KBoeR3SayEXFXND_2wF29pmXh4CMya9mEaA-AYu34tS0WEYyeNHHfoehKY89bAaMH6I-XnbiN5iPemItMqnWWrVulvTZIf9uHwPXbVDFNnYTTH7Fa61_pKn8mToAvlU2O82W8VNXg1_B62JGb7On/s16000/HB2022%20-%20wild%20card%20used%20-%20lottery.png" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-77974899698822802402022-08-28T15:02:00.000-05:002022-08-28T15:02:02.451-05:00Series Thoughts: D.C. Detectives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOHwzMDJD1G4JYEQ93YTd-4yhC1ffKg0rHAqwr8rqTBsO-HzzgJ8ZhaW1mqKIfKM3T4I8yxgOwwMXVKRtCKbPC5ypXPqlIqkB6jCvMo2rfTPKe9OSZUFeQwXSyCiIQG5-k8wfVck-nc/s400/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Sacred+Sins.jpg" width="245" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEPpoBNUTtuQSt2mICVzdBiT1xfarJ76nbgrj27VbbM4GcuFQckvj9OALxpc739DauSiFS198sGZyimSr7v3VLGy2rbYejvY6zfa5Rs8kPHkfWu43zYRbnPEl3Ylie_qGcweEs5mAjUc/s400/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Brazen+Virtue.jpg" width="260" /></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">D.C. Detectives</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Nora Roberts</b><br />
<b>Book 1: Sacred Sins | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35674157-sacred-sins" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | Rating: 3.0 Stars</b><br />
<b>Book 2: Brazen Virtue | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9905702-brazen-virtue" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | Rating: 2.0 Stars</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Average Series Rating: 2.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
I read these two books back in 2019, wrote up a brief draft of a review, and then it sat here in my unpublished blog dashboard for two years. I don't know why I never went back to publish this, but it was probably just one of those things that drifts away from you in light of all the chaos that started ensuing during that time.<div><br /></div><div>So here it is...</div><div><br /><br />I enjoyed <i>Sacred Sins</i> in a rather, rainy-day-read kind of way. <i>Brazen Virtue</i>, on the other had, actually made me a bit uncomfortable, and I'm not sure if it was because of the subject matter or the identity of the killer. Truth be told, both books actually had instances that had made me uncomfortable, as well as bringing up conflicts that I was a bit surprised to find in a pair of books written in 1987 and 1988, both involving a child.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong--if I were honest, these books both showcased Nora Roberts' penchant for the gritty and the realistic, as well as a darkness in human nature that can't be ignored.<br />
<br />
It was really my own personal preference that I couldn't get past, and so these two books, while written well, didn't quite work for me.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the romances in both books really showed their age. In both instances, I couldn't quite make myself like either of the romances.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOHwzMDJD1G4JYEQ93YTd-4yhC1ffKg0rHAqwr8rqTBsO-HzzgJ8ZhaW1mqKIfKM3T4I8yxgOwwMXVKRtCKbPC5ypXPqlIqkB6jCvMo2rfTPKe9OSZUFeQwXSyCiIQG5-k8wfVck-nc/s1600/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Sacred+Sins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOHwzMDJD1G4JYEQ93YTd-4yhC1ffKg0rHAqwr8rqTBsO-HzzgJ8ZhaW1mqKIfKM3T4I8yxgOwwMXVKRtCKbPC5ypXPqlIqkB6jCvMo2rfTPKe9OSZUFeQwXSyCiIQG5-k8wfVck-nc/s320/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Sacred+Sins.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>In the lazy days of summer, a merciless heat wave is the biggest story in Washington, D.C. But the weather is knocked off the front pages when a young woman is found strangled to death. A note left behind reads: Her sins are forgiven her.<br />
<br />
Two more victims soon follow, and suddenly every headline is devoted to the killer the press has dubbed "the Priest." When the police ask top-notch psychiatrist Dr. Tess Court to help with their investigation, she comes up with a disturbing portrait of a twisted soul.<br />
<br />
Detective Ben Paris doesn't give a damn about the killer's psyche. What he can't easily dismiss is Tess. Tall, dark, and good-looking, Ben has a legendary reputation with women, but the coolly elegant Tess doesn't react to him like other women he's known and he finds the challenge enticing.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
Tess and Ben in <i>Sacred Sins</i> had clever dialogue and some of their interactions were done well. But I could never get past Ben's rude, neanderthal-ish, asshole attitude towards Tess throughout the book, simply based on her profession. It didn't matter that he was attracted to her or that he was friendly enough outside of work, but his continued hostility towards the psychiatric field, as well as towards Tess whenever she slipped into shrink-mode was deplorable. He never even tried to get along with Tess, the psychiatrist, even while he wanted to get into her pants.<br />
<br />
I'm not entirely certain that I, personally, could have been able to stand being in a relationship with someone who not only couldn't take my profession seriously, but who was constantly making insulting, snide, and degrading remarks about what I did for a living. It's disrespectful and unfair. But I guess what really bugged me was how easily Tess let Ben get away with being a jackass for 90% of the book.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, the rest of the book was dark, gritty, and entertaining enough to keep me hooked.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JkWTf6ux3uXP8dWqBf3AiGwfQZRGZER0SOUineEqPaDQoZ4LAskyoY6Y1iFs-qZsLQIFT7gaLlKwqUQFaj4Nl4irZtHA09qu2MhY4Fq9DQBY3S8RQGhqOm8ClaJPC-pQio8oQoAwOHg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+15+-+suspense.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JkWTf6ux3uXP8dWqBf3AiGwfQZRGZER0SOUineEqPaDQoZ4LAskyoY6Y1iFs-qZsLQIFT7gaLlKwqUQFaj4Nl4irZtHA09qu2MhY4Fq9DQBY3S8RQGhqOm8ClaJPC-pQio8oQoAwOHg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+15+-+suspense.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEPpoBNUTtuQSt2mICVzdBiT1xfarJ76nbgrj27VbbM4GcuFQckvj9OALxpc739DauSiFS198sGZyimSr7v3VLGy2rbYejvY6zfa5Rs8kPHkfWu43zYRbnPEl3Ylie_qGcweEs5mAjUc/s1600/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Brazen+Virtue.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEPpoBNUTtuQSt2mICVzdBiT1xfarJ76nbgrj27VbbM4GcuFQckvj9OALxpc739DauSiFS198sGZyimSr7v3VLGy2rbYejvY6zfa5Rs8kPHkfWu43zYRbnPEl3Ylie_qGcweEs5mAjUc/s320/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Brazen+Virtue.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>After a demanding book tour, superstar mystery novelist Grace McCabe decides to visit her sister, Kathleen, who’s embroiled in a custody battle after a bitter divorce. Arriving in D.C., Grace is shocked to find Kathleen living in a run-down neighborhood and, hoping to afford a hotshot lawyer, supplementing her meager teacher’s salary by moonlighting as a phone sex operator.<br />
<br />
According to Kathleen, Fantasy, Inc., guarantees its employees ironclad anonymity. But Grace has her doubts—which are confirmed one horrifying cherry-blossom-scented night when one of Fantasy, Inc.’s operators is murdered. As Grace is drawn to help solve the crime, her life turns into a scene from one of her own books. Yet as one of her biggest fans, investigator Ed Jackson, warns her: This isn’t fiction. Real people die—and Grace could be next. For she’s hoping to trap a killer more twisted than anything she could imagine. And not even Ed may be able to protect her from a rendezvous with lust and death.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the romance in <i>Brazen Virtue</i> was just plain boring with no chemistry. The insta-love was so obvious between Grace and Ed that I didn't even really bother to care. I liked Ed in the first book as the nice guy, understanding and respectful of Tess enough not to treat her like the enemy. His easy banter with Ben was welcome.<br />
<br />
But his behavior around Grace bordered on caveman, treating her like she was a fragile child at every turn, whether it was something as little as making coffee in the morning, or something as big as details of her sister's murder. He wouldn't let her do anything for herself or by herself, and insisted on taking care of everything for her as if she weren't capable of doing things by herself.<br />
<br />
While this might seem sweet and caring to a lot of people, there's a fine line between the sweetness of wanting to take care of someone you love, and treating said person like an ignorant, incompetent, fragile doll whom you don't trust to survive without your existence.<br />
<br />
Anyway, as I'd stated earlier, the entire investigation, and premise of <i>Brazen Virtue</i> sort of made me uncomfortable, which made it hard to really enjoy it. Add onto it Grace's bad decisions that were leading into TSTL as well as obstruction of justice territory and I just started having more issues.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-iY9uQVIbCvTJPG3Jax-FJrwJwph2UYORhfSK0rh5tqx8PWG-kuQgyF7CDq9Z2cF2AKByw6_7AqlbmAXZSJHNJdYqpETdb64L_q-m_IisFtPYZYhJ-BwQ2-LBaYMiRR5si4T3QLp3A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+22+-+romantic+suspense.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-iY9uQVIbCvTJPG3Jax-FJrwJwph2UYORhfSK0rh5tqx8PWG-kuQgyF7CDq9Z2cF2AKByw6_7AqlbmAXZSJHNJdYqpETdb64L_q-m_IisFtPYZYhJ-BwQ2-LBaYMiRR5si4T3QLp3A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+22+-+romantic+suspense.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-53969000272823397432022-08-27T23:05:00.000-05:002022-08-27T23:05:24.875-05:00Ani's Halloween Bingo Tracking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZMhUH0bfUXciqABcf2ZbzjQOXtk_FUZz1P85pKiBGk9ZzxJ4NhK9od9v2BMKQSR-DbNwFgSLda0_S2p9ZlBpaq0_JcBB2qlP_x-fi0Fl14FsK5gBPBZh5PWyRRzopdbtyu6u9OARNVu72MmCWe7YJdBM7OlYjA6Rb_pD_kWbLDhsQNQ28j1QD_Mp/s1024/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="882" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZMhUH0bfUXciqABcf2ZbzjQOXtk_FUZz1P85pKiBGk9ZzxJ4NhK9od9v2BMKQSR-DbNwFgSLda0_S2p9ZlBpaq0_JcBB2qlP_x-fi0Fl14FsK5gBPBZh5PWyRRzopdbtyu6u9OARNVu72MmCWe7YJdBM7OlYjA6Rb_pD_kWbLDhsQNQ28j1QD_Mp/w551-h640/2022%20Halloween%20Bingo%20card.webp" width="551" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
I have spent the most of my day working on a manual tracking format for Halloween Bingo 2022. But after I was done, I realized that everything turned out a bit messy, so it's entirely possible I'll end up just going back to my excel spreadsheet trackers.<div><br /></div><div>I had a lot of stickers to work with and am always looking for a reason to use them, so the day wasn't a complete waste.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLvPzVU7CZZ1d3PXfHmgEv7h1trhy8yuN7v8qyUpw0LTBsLM4zacv1Npm158qOD_80_gNwgT88tYn9Xm251CUlvIRQyeGLa_6m9FdYPwAT-HFAXj0_XIlVMiKy_nt26XJKT5rO2BUBgrXX1ual1402rbKxC-6Ijm9xjDIteBOtIJUEwryCqMR-cBU/s566/HP%20-%20HB2022%20cover%20page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLvPzVU7CZZ1d3PXfHmgEv7h1trhy8yuN7v8qyUpw0LTBsLM4zacv1Npm158qOD_80_gNwgT88tYn9Xm251CUlvIRQyeGLa_6m9FdYPwAT-HFAXj0_XIlVMiKy_nt26XJKT5rO2BUBgrXX1ual1402rbKxC-6Ijm9xjDIteBOtIJUEwryCqMR-cBU/w354-h400/HP%20-%20HB2022%20cover%20page.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZJaxOC9hJXyjj82F21BclG92uSO0UMY3xivknYDHXWQtqqjhMBAT5tK2zF3uqfmJmvkcpKoQmPacT-1njuSE6qSKHw0cJXBWt5AF4tmzprl-30mGdUkzwcbbAM9A0tpbHncLUFkvk_sA9UKx9B0NtAw_wv2I9Xl6KrnSAarHUQQZr9wC9Z7clei_/s700/HP%20-%20HB2022%20card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZJaxOC9hJXyjj82F21BclG92uSO0UMY3xivknYDHXWQtqqjhMBAT5tK2zF3uqfmJmvkcpKoQmPacT-1njuSE6qSKHw0cJXBWt5AF4tmzprl-30mGdUkzwcbbAM9A0tpbHncLUFkvk_sA9UKx9B0NtAw_wv2I9Xl6KrnSAarHUQQZr9wC9Z7clei_/w400-h300/HP%20-%20HB2022%20card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XLcuP9jLg2Z6jMOlXwlcd-vmMFqvuCyYuIqXnsLNW3lLBMx8tGdYh3Ius0S3JYmCS4Lqfx9lshARHb6yTZPUJtlGJaW4_6q_8C_xV2I0gR8R0xOlLuo_c0m9TmEqowMEaIK5u0kZTvVUO__TiS2xtBneT1Wz3bSPL9wo8DIpnOd3fyv1Q6o6hLMV/s610/HP%20-%20HB2022%20wild%20cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XLcuP9jLg2Z6jMOlXwlcd-vmMFqvuCyYuIqXnsLNW3lLBMx8tGdYh3Ius0S3JYmCS4Lqfx9lshARHb6yTZPUJtlGJaW4_6q_8C_xV2I0gR8R0xOlLuo_c0m9TmEqowMEaIK5u0kZTvVUO__TiS2xtBneT1Wz3bSPL9wo8DIpnOd3fyv1Q6o6hLMV/w325-h400/HP%20-%20HB2022%20wild%20cards.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8pYOLmdeB06Rh4hcazJ4DCWj29XT_0XueRbJyDWWxI0u0JKfxH98QIEBhauUSiz555Pq7NzDD22mFtg7WGAFFXFQH7XfIS9n_9MLI8aGt_0cptVS4fxUGJMauiED9xEfcn-Mux2iTIxvwq-7pQ7LlDWQsQzB_ZrNeVqIV2I0Og4RUinGuyapkb5K/s588/HP%20-%20HB2022%20tracker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8pYOLmdeB06Rh4hcazJ4DCWj29XT_0XueRbJyDWWxI0u0JKfxH98QIEBhauUSiz555Pq7NzDD22mFtg7WGAFFXFQH7XfIS9n_9MLI8aGt_0cptVS4fxUGJMauiED9xEfcn-Mux2iTIxvwq-7pQ7LlDWQsQzB_ZrNeVqIV2I0Og4RUinGuyapkb5K/w340-h400/HP%20-%20HB2022%20tracker.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As far as books go, I haven't really given my squares a whole lot of thought. I may or may not sit down at some point and do some planning, though there are a few books I'm kind of looking at reading, based off of my first glance of my card.<div><br /></div><div>In no particular order, here are just a few of my thoughts based on what I have in my Kindle:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>A is for Arsenic: the Poisons of Agatha Christie</i> by Kathryn Harkup -- This is a non-fiction book I've had in my Kindle for a long time, and I figured that now would be a good time to read it. I'm considering reading it for <b>Arsenic and Old Lace</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>An Unexpected Peril</i> by Deanna Raybourn -- I'm ready to start back into one of my favorite series once more, and this book will fit into at least two or three squares I have, including <b>Amateur Sleuth</b>, <b>Genre: Mystery</b>, or maybe <b>Darkest London</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also got a bunch of books by Mary Stewart that I want to read, though I'm not sure which squares I can get them to fit. And I've also got my trusty large collection of Edgar Allan Poe short stories that I'm sure I can get to fit some squares.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm already considering using a wild card on <b>Home Is Where the Hurt Is</b>--the description doesn't quite appeal to me, and also I want to swap it out for <b>Romantic Suspense</b>. Somehow, I feel like my Halloween Bingo doesn't feel quite right without <b>Romantic Suspense</b> since it's my go to genre. Hehe =)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, these are my thoughts so far. I kind of want to plan some books so I know what options I have, but I also don't want to feel like I've locked myself down, so my strategy (or lack thereof, really), is to just read books and see where I can get them to fit into my Bingo card.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no delusion that I'll get a Bingo or a Blackout this year. I'm really just in this to help motivate myself to read and blog again, so it's a plus no matter what.</div><div><br /></div>anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-56420478030186143272019-11-10T05:46:00.001-06:002019-11-10T05:46:07.789-06:00Monthly Wrap Up - October 2019Well... I've been severely absent from the blogosphere for at least two or three weeks now, and I think I'm feeling up to blogging again. The past couple weeks have just been a muddle of me not wanting to do anything but be lazy, read occasionally, and mindlessly watching YouTube videos about bullet journaling and cake decorating.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you just need a hiatus, and unfortunately my hiatus came right at the end of Halloween Bingo 2019. I think I just kind of lost steam and gave up on trying to read Halloween Bingo books altogether, which is probably the first time this has happened since the game's conception in 2016. Even last year when I was going through on and off reading slumps, I managed to get myself a last moment burst and finished all the books I'd chosen for Halloween Bingo 2018--though that last book I'd finished after the bingo game duration.<br />
<br />
Ah well, the reading still goes on. I had originally planned to finish reading all of my chosen Halloween Bingo books for 2019... but after making no more progress in the past three weeks, I think I'm ready to just move on. Of course, I'll still be pushing out a wrap up for Halloween Bingo 2019, if only just to put a proper closing on our previous reading game... maybe. Don't be surprised if that doesn't actually happen though. I'm still in lazy mode.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'm just going move onto the next reading game, The 24 Tasks of the Festive Season for 2019. Of course, at the pace that I'm going, and with my sporadic absences from the blogging world this year, I have no doubt that I'll disappear randomly throughout these next two months. But I'd like to do my part in collecting points for 24 Festive Tasks to add to the charitable donations.<br />
<br />
I've already started with listening to the audio book version of <i>The Lost World</i> by Michael Crichton to fill in the book task for the first opened door, <b>Dia de los Muertos</b>--rereading a favorite from a now deceased author.<br />
<br />
I'm also seeing a couple food tasks that I'd be more than happy to complete sometime these next two months. Yay, food! And then there's a crane folding task that I can totally do easily.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>October Reads</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" width="122" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mOHwzMDJD1G4JYEQ93YTd-4yhC1ffKg0rHAqwr8rqTBsO-HzzgJ8ZhaW1mqKIfKM3T4I8yxgOwwMXVKRtCKbPC5ypXPqlIqkB6jCvMo2rfTPKe9OSZUFeQwXSyCiIQG5-k8wfVck-nc/s200/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Sacred+Sins.jpg" width="122" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" /><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXw1WqrGMZoxOkMQJPHVvmTf4mlntqvrqLWcIjv9_ch-xfDjKJoCXdrDVTxK5UoXtcSfimusq7lfLrzzogcwtWBXv5HeXycJa97uG9KYZTykOsDTwC4EkluL1fScDJwJ_9adkiNK1YQk/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+A+Scandal+in+Bohemia.jpg" width="134" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEPpoBNUTtuQSt2mICVzdBiT1xfarJ76nbgrj27VbbM4GcuFQckvj9OALxpc739DauSiFS198sGZyimSr7v3VLGy2rbYejvY6zfa5Rs8kPHkfWu43zYRbnPEl3Ylie_qGcweEs5mAjUc/s200/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Brazen+Virtue.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON8_ep6JrneWq85EXfMQaHlNIYa2lX7jcsOnlB1m4dbhti_K6NJ7W2NawiUGoD78RxP_0eGnL4SI2Hp-JtZERkv9NvYJnNy_FQ8ewYgnrYt1ngrAoH_1mWaiYPhizDLETIqydzn6MLvg/s200/Carriger%252C+Gail+-+Curtsies+%2526+Conspiracies.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Books Dropped/Put On Hold</b></h2>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
None this month! Yay!
</div>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Currently Reading</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf7u6ZLD-n0LV9KXuxkTlHfbnZ9jCSrfTjiFgHPZyFDT7RG9VH5MjrEbxCNEeXrX0oLnp82euXF715U1K3IIq8zO6rwhDhySdx_CrvTkLFXfX-Oop72UPPeMvJzSlBk3rdZMZubydJy0/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Moonglow.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHaPiVqWfxHvQIcIQZQtLLdHkB0EbfKkutkqIu4T0P8oC-qQaKTF8gb-vhB7dvL0Oym-ImYH_BogBjw3ch7xVzI8Od5VEb7y8fR3D6ni2XX5rQ3Z5EXhLr_R-0kvNulHhKt5fQ0a9PkQ/s200/Crichton%252C+Michael+-+The+Lost+World+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>October Reading Stats</b></h2>
<b><u>Total works read</u>: 7</b><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>6 print/e-book novels</li>
<li>1 audio book / short story</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Average rating</u>: 3.50 Stars</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Highest Rated: </b>4 books <b>// 4.0 Stars</b></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li>(1) <i>Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire</i></li>
<li>(2) <i>The Visitor by Amanda Stevens</i></li>
<li>(3) <i>A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle</i></li>
<li>(4) <i>Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Lowest Rated:</b> <i>Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts</i> <b>// 2.0 Stars</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Series I started reading</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Blackthorn & Grim by Juliet Marillier</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I completed</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>D.C. Detectives by Nora Roberts</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I have made progress on</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>InCryptids by Seanan McGuire</li>
<li>The Graveyard Queen by Amanda Stevens</li>
<li>Finishing School by Gail Carriger</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Reviews & Notable Posts</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Reviews Written</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/thoughts-truly-devious.html" target="_blank">Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/some-thoughts-firelight.html" target="_blank">Firelight by Kristen Callihan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/quick-thoughts-pocket-apocalypse.html" target="_blank">Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/quick-thoughts-dreamers-pool.html" target="_blank">Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/brief-thoughts-visitor.html" target="_blank">The Visitor by Amanda Stevens</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Memes</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Did not meme this month.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Posts</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/halloween-bingo-2019-update-3-and-mid.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #3 and Mid-game Book Rambles</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/new-york-weekend.html" target="_blank">New York Weekend!</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Coming Up In November</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Tentative TBR</span></u></b></h4>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqI1LCXxf0hPkFLw29Ta9vxEUSBd7eG1Psvr7ShwkNo0r7DsgYW1cUNMWA7tcf1H4hiyQzEYwyTsQchlYa-yZ-Qm75sIClwSU5l6Lw9rZ4jU3DG38zg1OVi7CNESHH9wP8Z7Vtju_wZo/s200/Carriger%252C+Gail+-+Waistcoats+%2526+Weaponry.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOlaAlCllnD4J7LHU25loRsjzSHkQXSudKU3-tpS0pAZEtreEfCKQMcaYD57XWRSd-04p0qoKiu2P6DhC3a4HW2o6gY8FQ_orGSda7HRpitoahKLgdvOUJpHut5gCstJtpRx1y5smVqY/s200/Carriger%252C+Gail+-+Manners+%2526+Mutiny.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4dlEk2tAx4s7mbXMjv-rC_c2VWfDPlvYpkHV_FTG1m0LD-v65x3TMk-r9SmLco1NN1PPio_417hA2QokXYnrZ6GwmwVbPppBU9Ok_FsRqZUyFCfPucd-3__2lb5pD2dZYXXuzpXMPj8/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Tower+of+Thorns.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw34tsxXpQkow1-5P1qHk3qLvFLSZc_X-D0dIDWMTuffVmKmykyIoPqdb5b92ya_Oo3_eIM7-SRJfsySMKkh8VUiQwgo-cxEMN3X1a9dWb4AmoRq9D0WBMEi1xw26PjTT5iTAolSlGSLk/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Den+of+Wolves.jpg" width="132" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTa2gjn72NYaGYM3toFwgUhPKRnLmck6CUBlCJvVW_xRuipeBHYj04O_dUDUltpsOqaTFT1ZMiorDK4amXbt3LOF2N5nNEm-zTNQMjrDmwl3LNOALJJZoYdkHiwxTEh2P2eKs9QXVTcA/s200/Clare%252C+Pamela+-+Hard+Asset.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff</span></u></b></h4>
<br />
So it looks like I'm going to be winding down on progress for the last two months of the year. I've already kind of lost interest in anything blogging or reading (gasp! blasphemy!), but I'm not going to force myself to do anything I'm not interested in.<br />
<br />
But if I DO read anything, it'll be to finish some of the series I'm interested in finishing. I'd like to put a well-rounded close to the <i>Finishing School</i> series by Gail Carriger and the <i>Blackthorn & Grim</i> series by Juliet Marillier. These books can all easily fit into the 24 Festive Tasks games, so I'll at least be participating, too. Meanwhile, Pamela Clare will have a third <i>Cobra Elite</i> book coming out in December and I've yet to read her previous one, so I'm going to try to insert that one as well.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'll work on update posts for the 24 Festive Tasks as I think of them, so random updates may happen.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, I'm not going to stick to any other really strict schedule or anything. We'll just see how live plays out these next two months.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>2019 Wrap-Ups</b> </h2>
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/p/wrap-ups-other.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Past Monthly Reading Wrap Ups</a> (2016 / 2017 / 2018)<br />
<b>See Also: <a href="http://anicheung.booklikes.com/other_posts" target="_blank">2015 Reading Wrap-Up posts</a></b> (scroll to bottom of page)<br />
<br />
(updated as year progresses by month)<br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/02/monthly-reading-wrap-up-january-2019.html" target="_blank">January</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/03/monthly-reading-wrap-up-february-2019.html" target="_blank">February</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/04/monthly-reading-wrap-up-march-2019.html" target="_blank">March</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/05/monthly-reading-wrap-up-april-2018.html" target="_blank">April</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/06/monthly-reading-wrap-up-may-2019.html" target="_blank">May</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/07/monthly-reading-wrap-up-june-2019.html" target="_blank">June</a><br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/monthly-reading-wrap-up-july-2019.html" target="_blank">July</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/monthly-reading-wrap-up-august-2019.html" target="_blank">August</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/10/monthly-wrap-up-september-2019.html" target="_blank">September</a> | October | November | December<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-48243765682545162342019-10-24T22:14:00.002-05:002019-10-24T22:14:23.567-05:00Brief Thoughts: The Visitor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s1600/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s1600/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Visitor</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Amanda Stevens</b><br />
<b>Book 4 of <u>Graveyard Queen</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26154355-the-visitor" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i><b>My name is Amelia Gray. I'm the Graveyard Queen.</b><br />
<br />
Restoring lost and abandoned cemeteries is my profession, but I'm starting to believe that my true calling is deciphering the riddles of the dead. Legend has it that Kroll Cemetery is a puzzle no one has ever been able to solve. For over half a century, the answer has remained hidden within the strange headstone inscriptions and intricate engravings. Because uncovering the mystery of that tiny, remote graveyard may come at a terrible price.<br />
<br />
Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity, and a future with my love, John Devlin.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
If I wanted to be honest, it was truly the writing and the mystery of Kroll Cemetary that drew me into this book. Amelia's destiny and her hauntings as well as Devlin's mysterious secrets were really second string.<br />
<br />
While I've liked Amelia in the past, I'm not entirely sure that I'm feeling a whole lot of character development in her, despite the new twists that her character is taking on in this book. At the same time, I'm still not really all that enamored of John Devlin either.<br />
<br />
The romance between them is even harder for me to relate with, if only because Amelia's obsession with Devlin, as well as their mutual attraction to each other seems to be the only thing linking them together. They don't talk to each other, they keep secrets, they don't even trust each other. Their relationship has always felt one-sided.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the moments that Amelia spent at Kroll cemetary with Dr. Shaw, or even discovering little clues left her by the blind ghost who looks like her. In contrast, I didn't care much for the scenes whenever Devlin was around with her, save for a few moments when they seemed to be able to talk freely with each other. I feel like the two of them could make a great team if they would just stop keeping secrets or learn to listen to each other.<br />
<br />
But the writing is beautiful as usual, and the series' overall conflict continues to be intriguing, and you get drawn into Amelia's world readily. Just for the writing style and the atmosphere of the book alone, I gave a higher rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeYjHvj_ULZ2xZ5ySikjOZ61w61REhARTbxcs2Cx3hW6SBn0VuYuz4Nz7cpzMg5TrlJ8m9MGDa2urhjw756Fa9xAhG_aKYK-Wr6EYi9KXCKRtURT_9K3zNdcPdxd2KZwpI7reGk_7U/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+12+-+grave+or+graveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeYjHvj_ULZ2xZ5ySikjOZ61w61REhARTbxcs2Cx3hW6SBn0VuYuz4Nz7cpzMg5TrlJ8m9MGDa2urhjw756Fa9xAhG_aKYK-Wr6EYi9KXCKRtURT_9K3zNdcPdxd2KZwpI7reGk_7U/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+12+-+grave+or+graveyard.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-58312934120447793272019-10-18T13:47:00.001-05:002019-10-18T13:47:04.639-05:00Quick Thoughts: Dreamer's Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s1600/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s1600/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Dreamer's Pool</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Juliet Marillier</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>Blackthorn & Grim</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21894013-dreamer-s-pool" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she’ll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help.<br />
<br />
Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters.<br />
<br />
With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Dreamer's Pool</i>, to be honest, while written well with Juliet Marillier's style of magic and lore, also sort of tended towards the predictable. It's a usual plot device of Marillier's to give away the plot twist from one of the tales or stories told throughout the book. And so it wasn't hard to figure out how everything would turn out in the end.<br />
<br />
As has been quite typical of Marillier as well, this first book in the <i>Blackthorn & Grim</i> trilogy involved a lot of world building and set-up. A lot of traveling happened, and I'm not entirely sure that things started picking up until about halfway through the book. At least, for me, I didn't start getting really interested until halfway through the book.<br />
<br />
So while I enjoyed the book, I still had a hard time with it, not only because of the slowness of the plotting, but also because of how hard it was to really relate with any of the characters. Blackthorn tended towards more bitter than I felt like she needed to be, and I found I liked her more when she wasn't constantly thinking about how she could betray the new chance at life that Conmael gave her by going back to her need for revenge. I didn't mind her being a cranky old wise woman (who was hardly old by biological age standards), and I liked her role as the local wise woman.<br />
<br />
I'm much like Blackthorn in that I hate being crowded and I like my privacy. But I think that, as much as Blackthorn and Grim seem to understand the way that the fey work their magic, they don't seem to understand that there might be a reason for the seven year restriction that Conmael has given her. If Blackthorn went back for her revenge at this stage in her new chance at life, she'd probably just end up back in prison again.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the only reason I even gave this book a higher rating anyway was because of the last half of the book. It certainly did end up drawing me in all the way, and if only we could have stuck with Blackthorn's and Grim's POVs, I think I would have enjoyed the book in it's entirety a lot more. I sincerely was more interested in their journey, and instead found Prince Oran kind of frustrating to follow.<br />
<br />
I also found our "villian" more overpowered than was believable. Lady Flidais's behavior was never acceptable nor was it normal, so I'm surprised that no one ever called her out on it, save for Oran in private.<br />
<br />
Of course, without Oran's POV, there probably wouldn't be a whole lot of story. Maybe if this book were written in third person, things might have been a bit different?<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, the end of the book left me wanting more, and so I will definitely be jumping into the next book when I get the chance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiC_X95qCU7KlPM_ygK30D2B2mG8bhnZCHuCykpBAcpvQadMjHPfbcEln_Yuoy1sGzVbEKYgdY0aMvXEctFDxLyAZ8RGM0NwL4LD9NRUIcqUtYlWjK2R3srxHuVwc2Rp0EHcsS8vDHQ4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+03+-+dark+dark+woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiC_X95qCU7KlPM_ygK30D2B2mG8bhnZCHuCykpBAcpvQadMjHPfbcEln_Yuoy1sGzVbEKYgdY0aMvXEctFDxLyAZ8RGM0NwL4LD9NRUIcqUtYlWjK2R3srxHuVwc2Rp0EHcsS8vDHQ4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+03+-+dark+dark+woods.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-36103141532112363122019-10-18T13:38:00.001-05:002019-10-18T13:38:14.898-05:00Quick Thoughts: Pocket Apocalypse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s1600/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s1600/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Pocket Apocalypse</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Seanan McGuire</b><br />
<b>Book 4 of <u>InCryptid</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23215076-pocket-apocalypse" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i><b>Endangered, adjective: Threatened with extinction or immediate harm.</b><br />
<br />
Australia, noun: A good place to become endangered.<br />
<br />
Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own family—no small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, he’s starting to feel like he’s got the hang of things…at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who don’t like their “visiting expert” very much.<br />
<br />
Australia is a cryptozoologist’s dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, it’s also filled with Shelby’s family, who aren’t delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.<br />
<br />
Survival is hard enough when you’re on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: he’s not going down without a fight.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
Ah...<br />
<br />
I surprisingly found this book more enjoyable than the previous one, and I'm not sure if it's just because I've warmed to Alex and Shelby. For certain, it had nothing to do with the Australian cryptozoologists, the Thirty-Six Society--I didn't like them at all and felt like they all either needed a reality check or a good whack in their heads as a collective.<br />
<br />
Neither Alex's nor Shelby's characters are any more fleshed out than they were in the previous book, but I think what really did it for me was all the lore about lycanthropy in the <i>InCryptid</i> world. I liked learning about how the lyncanthropy-w virus worked, all the new twists to werewolf transformation that Alex talked about, as well as learned about as new surprises were revealed throughout the book. What I DIDN'T like was how the Thirty-Sixers had a problem and refused to take the expert advice of someone who knew how to handle werewolves.<br />
<br />
And even as Alex proved again and again that he was right about what he was telling them, they still continued to treat him like he was some sort of delusional crazy, disbelieving him and even being overly suspicious despite the fact that his own life had been in danger so many times, trying to save others. I'm in agreement with Shelby--if I'd have come to Australia with an intent to help and ended up being treated like some sort of crazed criminal, unwelcome and unwanted, I would have gotten on the first plane back out of Australia, and screw the survival of a bunch of jackasses who think they know better.<br />
<br />
Outside of all of the above, I DO wish that we could have seen more of the cryptids in Australia. As the series suggests, Australia is an isolated ecological cesspit for all sorts of fun and new types of living creatures, both cryptid and non-cryptid. I loved meeting the yowie, and I loved watching the Tanner girls get schooled about how they treat their local sapient cryptids.<br />
<br />
Now if only Alex could help school the rest of the Thirty-Sixers about how to cooperate with the rest of the sapient cryptids, maybe life on Australia for the cryptozoologists will be easier. Of course, on the other hand, I have my misgivings about the fact that an outsider had to teach the Thirty-Sixers this lesson, especially since, by all rights, I'd assumed that at least one person or another would have figured out how NOT to treat the sapient cryptids as monsters.<br />
<br />
If a huge organization like the Covenant of St. George was able to produce a few dissenters, I'm surprised that a less restrictive organization such as the Thirty-Six Society hasn't yet.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I know the next book goes back to following Verity, but further along the line, I wouldn't mind returning to Australia and visiting with one or another of the Tanner sisters, especially Raina, whom, while I did have issues with at first, ended up warming up to her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnMbYTamDq45osIJWhQK4Os5CApUlH2STBHbF4M7CodSIt1YDS1EDWUaSWwq6hu7pkBtjfClo0j2lNvKgnKzjPGEAM1mCrzzpEVQn9VoWWvX4e1r33PUrfe2vV94_b4w10IplCOFDMgw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x1+-+cryptozoologist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnMbYTamDq45osIJWhQK4Os5CApUlH2STBHbF4M7CodSIt1YDS1EDWUaSWwq6hu7pkBtjfClo0j2lNvKgnKzjPGEAM1mCrzzpEVQn9VoWWvX4e1r33PUrfe2vV94_b4w10IplCOFDMgw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x1+-+cryptozoologist.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-42866983488267029062019-10-13T16:56:00.001-05:002019-10-13T16:56:58.898-05:00Some Thoughts: Firelight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s1600/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s1600/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Firelight</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Kristen Callihan</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>Darkest London</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11798604-firelight" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i><b>Once the flames are ignited . . .</b><br />
<br />
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.<br />
<br /><b>
They will burn for eternity . . .</b><br />
<br />
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
Hmm... so going by what I recall of the prologue novella of this series, detailing some of the scattered tangents between Miranda and Archer before <i>Firelight</i>'s story line... I'm not certain this book really came off the way I'd been expecting it to. I guess I'd been expecting something maybe a bit darker, maybe a bit more paranormal... maybe some more explosive fiery goodness...<br />
<br />
<i>Firelight</i> is most definitely more romance than it is anything else. There was an appropriate look into Archer's dark thoughts and Miranda's own misgivings. There was a murder mystery. There was even the typical society happenings.<br />
<br />
I guess what I'd hoped to see was more of Miranda exploring her dark secret--her ability to summon and control fire. And maybe I would have liked for Archer's dark secret to not have been dragged out for quite so long, only to be stuffed with a lot of sweet nothings spoken between Miranda and Archer about how much they love each other despite their secrets... BEFORE they even knew each other's secrets.<br />
<br />
So yes, as a romance, this wasn't a terrible one if you can overlook some of the insta-lust, the insta-love, the over-intense possessiveness between our main characters, as well as their inability to think past their libidos for a good percentage of the book. Also, even for the fact that, having read <i>Ember</i>, you KNOW that Miranda is not a young virgin, she certainly does act like one and I found myself wondering if the story was being rewritten or something.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, for that entire first half of the book, I'm not entirely sure I really understood what was actually going on in the romance between Miranda and Archer. Their relationship came off kind of standard and boring, to be honest. And it isn't until halfway into the book, when Miranda stops being meek, that their relationship starts feeling more sure-footed.<br />
<br />
On that note, the excitement DOES start about halfway into the book at that same time that Miranda stops being meek, with more exploration of the murder mystery, the secrets pertaining to the West Moon Club and Archer's past, and then Miranda even starts taking charge of herself by hopping into the investigation. This then eventually leads to Miranda's powers of fire manipulation making more of a show. Because for the first half of the book, I'd wondered if we were going to capitalize on one of the biggest plot devices of this book at all when Miranda's powers are only ever mentioned in passing by her and her sisters.<br />
<br />
But at that point in the story line, I think everything starts getting interesting.<br />
<br />
There's a great premise in this book, as well as in this series, and by the end of the book, we've been introduced to the next book's main hero, who is obviously a werewolf, what with his references to the moon, and emphasis on his super strength and fast healing abilities. I'm not entirely sure that our author was all that subtle about that, and I sort of wished she had been, because those mentions all seemed kind of forced.<br />
<br />
Anyway, despite the slowness of the book's beginning, I rather enjoyed the book. Save a fix for the pacing of the conflict, I think this could have been a great book, and I'm curious enough about the rest of the <i>Darkest London</i> world to continue on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-74701225103005958422019-10-13T02:14:00.001-05:002019-10-13T02:14:34.140-05:00New York Weekend!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg31uSpXSOZ6eIBqGcWKztAQ7VSCm95IG19xgo1wjdAbLsARpEzJX5tp72QC0-tx_c5BPMgSggLGPMB46nrXUO_0_3yyu9XlvdYG0-fbHZC8Xt9AoXdYI1OVK46TKvZJoCX4T1h7do7s/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+checklist.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="700" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg31uSpXSOZ6eIBqGcWKztAQ7VSCm95IG19xgo1wjdAbLsARpEzJX5tp72QC0-tx_c5BPMgSggLGPMB46nrXUO_0_3yyu9XlvdYG0-fbHZC8Xt9AoXdYI1OVK46TKvZJoCX4T1h7do7s/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+checklist.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As promised, a quick run down "photo journal" of our family vacation in New York! Above is the checklist I created for myself leading up to the vacation weekend, which was actually quite helpful... and pretty to look at with all the colors! I had fun just planning what to pack and finding things to do and places to eat in New York.<br />
<br />
Anyway...<br />
<br />
We flew into New York on Friday morning, with a connection flight through Dallas, landing at the La Guardia airport around 4:30 P.M. eastern time. Along the way, we met up with the rest of the family--my eldest brother and his wife in Dallas, Texas; my youngest brother from Kansas City, Kansas. The hotel we stayed at was the Sheraton, located right dab smack in the middle of Flushing Chinatown, which was super nice, because that meant we would run into shops and restaurants everywhere, right outside of the hotel.<br />
<br />
And now, I didn't think to take a photo of the hotel, but it was pretty nice. My parents, my youngest brother, and I stayed in a connecting set of rooms, one of which was a suite and the other was a regular hotel room. For convenience sake, we decided to keep the connecting doors propped open, and the four of us just hung out in the living room each night and each morning. It was kind of nice, and it was kind of like having a small apartment.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, my elder brother and his wife, and my other younger brother and his wife, stayed in another set of connecting rooms similar to the ones we stayed in, but on the floor above ours. Because they seemed to want more privacy, they DID NOT keep their connecting doors open.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, on our first evening in New York, we spent walking around Flushing Chinatown. Our first stop was the New World Mall Food Court for dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva7w9PSHNM89VfP2mGz9Fpdt91PtISAAykS4A06t1ZlVjn4HiBSKpXzX-lmq7ZHAHepmoF0YShIJWYbvTjXqIUgFiTcEEB36wwiRf1jkixQ-gnhOt-PTXxwzJosyp7wAGnCWCUeiqTKE/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+new+world+food+court.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1000" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva7w9PSHNM89VfP2mGz9Fpdt91PtISAAykS4A06t1ZlVjn4HiBSKpXzX-lmq7ZHAHepmoF0YShIJWYbvTjXqIUgFiTcEEB36wwiRf1jkixQ-gnhOt-PTXxwzJosyp7wAGnCWCUeiqTKE/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+new+world+food+court.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is by far the largest food court I'd ever seen, and according to my brother, one of the largest Asian cuisine food courts in New York. Basically, all the food shops were lined along the entire perimeter of the lower level of the mall, with a lot of rectangular tables scattered in the middle of the room. There were a lot of dumpling shops, a couple Japanese places, some Korean places, and some Taiwanese places.<br />
<br />
We ended up all buying a few things from different shops and attempting to meet back at a table. The idea had been to share what we got so we could all try different foods from different places. But because of how crowded the place was, it took a long time before we could find a spot to accommodate all eight of us. By then, my youngest brother had already inhaled his bowl of udon noodles, and didn't care to try what everyone else got.<br />
<br />
We really didn't even find a spot, and eventually just nudged away others who were sitting near the spot we decided to congregate at--stealing chairs, squeezing into the table... etc....<br />
<br />
I bought a thing of jumbo takoyaki (octopus balls), and some fried beef buns from a shop in which I couldn't figure out how to read all the Chinese characters. Unfortunately, no photos either... I liked my food too much and ended up eating all of it before even thinking about pictures. Of course, apparently no one else was interested in my fried beef buns or my octopus balls...<br />
<br />
After this brief dinner, we headed out into Chinatown to wander around and walk off all the food. Below is a photo I took of a roast duck and roast meats restaurant, which is most definitely a staple of almost all Chinatowns I've ever been to. Mmm... yummy hanging roast duck...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_ep9oH3rHFZvvF37sA6SoVPNI96FBlAStaE57SWgcYFhT25QSLfNNE2TgtArPkbvsobyBIwHirVXWvqcv59g2QffdpSbVy6qpDMGszsLdoIEwRrtnJiVZOuIeEloxS4fFM_bTJh-ne4/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+roast+ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_ep9oH3rHFZvvF37sA6SoVPNI96FBlAStaE57SWgcYFhT25QSLfNNE2TgtArPkbvsobyBIwHirVXWvqcv59g2QffdpSbVy6qpDMGszsLdoIEwRrtnJiVZOuIeEloxS4fFM_bTJh-ne4/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+roast+ducks.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
If you've ever been to any of the Chinatowns in America, you'll notice something standard, and I don't mean the abundance of Asian people wandering around.<br />
<br />
Every Chinatown I've ever been to on all of my previous trips have always been a bit rundown looking. There are crowds everywhere, and there's a feeling of old buildings, and old-fashioned business fronts. A lot of the shops don't even take credit card, preferring to take cash only. A lot of the menus are hand-written. A lot of the restaurants seem a little less than cleanly polished. It's a very cozy, homey feel, and despite sometimes finding them a bit messy, a bit dirty, or a bit chaotic, I also find them very familiar as my parents have always taken us to the Chinatown areas in each city we'd vacation in, if there was one.<br />
<br />
Flushing Chinatown is no different, and there is definitely a lot of crowding. And while all the shops are unique on their own, to be honest, if you've been to one Chinatown, you pretty much get an idea of what all the other Chinatowns in America will look like.<br />
<br />
But one thing is for certain, there is no lack of restaurants for seafood, spicy foods, dim sum, and bakeries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG1AkjJ5S6tEkPddshiHUZeyiqW6WSFJPscoQhHpVAcSWyI9HSMcUMQpUim5B3y0A7I7f2Lgs25Zqe7Cmf5mID0vCoIySB9zqMZ83VE9Q_0XUF7EWdCEoBuOZ40tb2eASbhcKLNQd8P4/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+egg+waffle+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG1AkjJ5S6tEkPddshiHUZeyiqW6WSFJPscoQhHpVAcSWyI9HSMcUMQpUim5B3y0A7I7f2Lgs25Zqe7Cmf5mID0vCoIySB9zqMZ83VE9Q_0XUF7EWdCEoBuOZ40tb2eASbhcKLNQd8P4/s400/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+egg+waffle+ice+cream.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEVjDTQ3Iy9MocOOwFRnKdiXOIrbMIf5N4uTpQhknFvkNfIGEeDjx4ffDuOj7n4g8iFHA6hQA5YpPOCJW3_p5F70D4Pjh0pVE4V3x7UbHnu6qPWFxtp7s0CyOaFQnK0nklZ4e_S7h4Qk/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+lychee+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEVjDTQ3Iy9MocOOwFRnKdiXOIrbMIf5N4uTpQhknFvkNfIGEeDjx4ffDuOj7n4g8iFHA6hQA5YpPOCJW3_p5F70D4Pjh0pVE4V3x7UbHnu6qPWFxtp7s0CyOaFQnK0nklZ4e_S7h4Qk/s400/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+lychee+ice+cream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We ended our first evening by stopping at a dessert place that served a lot of ice cream stuff. The top photo is my baby brother's egg waffle cone and ice cream with mango, caramel and whip cream topping. The bottom photo is my vanilla ice cream topped with lychee, and while you can't really see it, there's also a mix of tapioca and lychee flavored jelly cubes mixed into the ice cream.<br />
<br />
All was yum. I took four Lactaid to help soften the impact I knew eating ice cream was going to make. Fortunately, this was our last stop before walking back to the hotel, so at least if I was going to have a bad digestion night, I'd be in the hotel by then.<br />
<br />
On a side note, the Sheraton hotel we stayed at had a lot of Chinese channels, which made my dad very happy. He spent the rest of the night watching some Chinese news before going to sleep.<br />
<br />
<br />
The next morning we headed out to Manhattan for some more exploring, starting in Times Square!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiF2Stw5cjaQhxCxvcA0nuZ5Sidci7L6ZSRbY3736wSRtWay1t43-vTELtjkv0A7TejZrMAhx0rpnnvY_QGVwSJduUQzNO7I5jLhxtW7wNK5NO2qN9uZ99_5Sc0XyEnQc4PsSWA5YOHI/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+metro.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiF2Stw5cjaQhxCxvcA0nuZ5Sidci7L6ZSRbY3736wSRtWay1t43-vTELtjkv0A7TejZrMAhx0rpnnvY_QGVwSJduUQzNO7I5jLhxtW7wNK5NO2qN9uZ99_5Sc0XyEnQc4PsSWA5YOHI/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+metro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
My parents were quite excited about riding the Metro in New York for the first time, so wanted a photo to document this moment. Aren't they cute? The two dudes to the side are my older brother and youngest brother.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyR6J6BzsXsazYSYvwEgJYPsxqbK7bAL6A68IH4JxZbJwG3gkYmMW-esbZgsBsS37i-YaS3cJSHXGggP6LI2zf4PnTZgHqi8Vz03IoYVHdW77ivt14NG8DQ6593xXTZ7zKt4WXWYheNk/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyR6J6BzsXsazYSYvwEgJYPsxqbK7bAL6A68IH4JxZbJwG3gkYmMW-esbZgsBsS37i-YaS3cJSHXGggP6LI2zf4PnTZgHqi8Vz03IoYVHdW77ivt14NG8DQ6593xXTZ7zKt4WXWYheNk/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4oATapOrMrseVigkcivoMwjwRa_ct4Ee8YiWOzPorsa5rsb2gRwrFrhzkgc8eE22JsMZufSbmpnDv2ofDb-XqccqT4qkqCv_KuxB2MX93g3ivzV6bjg9DAR2XcaQdKcf7knJoenfvbc/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+2019+ball+drop.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4oATapOrMrseVigkcivoMwjwRa_ct4Ee8YiWOzPorsa5rsb2gRwrFrhzkgc8eE22JsMZufSbmpnDv2ofDb-XqccqT4qkqCv_KuxB2MX93g3ivzV6bjg9DAR2XcaQdKcf7knJoenfvbc/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+2019+ball+drop.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
I live in a very flat city, so sky scrapers are still an awe-inspiring sight for me. The above is the building where the New Year's ball drop takes place. If you look all the way up top, you'll see the 2019 ball. My brother took a better picture, but I couldn't coax it out of him in time to publish this post. He'll probably send it to me after this post goes up. I may or may not update.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNPOYWyAnPIEB2EgL58eLXY-rF73D9iSm-7_Oj2N36g_0n371QjrFTo_L7bG_8lsg9w-Ja5NRhYWmPdrVQtXzBcCzS6I-WIWtjOxhoUjM2EUjkDEuAA9XY4Sb7wUmbxOlE8hQWLYDlp0/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNPOYWyAnPIEB2EgL58eLXY-rF73D9iSm-7_Oj2N36g_0n371QjrFTo_L7bG_8lsg9w-Ja5NRhYWmPdrVQtXzBcCzS6I-WIWtjOxhoUjM2EUjkDEuAA9XY4Sb7wUmbxOlE8hQWLYDlp0/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g7hzmdYQB9Zrg4jaZ4oHf-5L3v5HlLDCugJA8FWi0ARZ0jFVxeXwnfQ3eBh3EEJK_KGKPfalqlkG-2nnM_S84K25DfK-bwyMNs8VAqmh5cZViLqmnxabexWSm-H7FaBaS7hQohpQjrg/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="700" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g7hzmdYQB9Zrg4jaZ4oHf-5L3v5HlLDCugJA8FWi0ARZ0jFVxeXwnfQ3eBh3EEJK_KGKPfalqlkG-2nnM_S84K25DfK-bwyMNs8VAqmh5cZViLqmnxabexWSm-H7FaBaS7hQohpQjrg/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+friends.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Meanwhile, my sister-in-law (a fellow <i>Friends</i> fan), told me that there was a <i>Friends</i> 25th anniversary thing going on the same weekend we were in New York. Unfortunately, she said that by the time she'd realized it, tickets were already sold out, so here's a photo to commemorate the <i>Friends</i> event I couldn't really go see. Darn...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMPFXOQkz18UlUgbKF1VwFdTJbmXbpanpxUMvy6Bq2Tg8ppuC0tjHwDZmXhXrdq2Yca9Lb9aUzcHEXy7J0k1jf6lQSANGiiaMAhx8gEcomYA8jFSpn0ThhEhp9G528pzm6mqaguVd-kQ/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+stationery+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMPFXOQkz18UlUgbKF1VwFdTJbmXbpanpxUMvy6Bq2Tg8ppuC0tjHwDZmXhXrdq2Yca9Lb9aUzcHEXy7J0k1jf6lQSANGiiaMAhx8gEcomYA8jFSpn0ThhEhp9G528pzm6mqaguVd-kQ/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+stationery+and+me.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
On the other hand, we did go into a lot of other shops, including a place call 'Line Friends' which housed a lot of BT21 goods, including loads of stationery. Being a stationery nut, I was like a kid in a candy store. So here I am, posing next to one of the BT21 characters holding my stationery haul.<br />
<br />
Anyone not familiar with BT21--they are a set of cutesy anime characters drawn by the Korean boy band, BTS, and ended up becoming a pretty big hit. Of course, I didn't even really know about them until I saw a random YouTube video about trendy, fun stationery that involved the BT21 stationery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj564b5WgYPf22tRf-HZnf2MB2bOtkKJlbrW8d92rnL-mcER9YTz9mPYzVld6Ue0wu5QcmBUn_9Zts4evueOBOoLn4eh0ButAzg5sZ_HDnjbIgeYZY7wtN21yvDM5gUpUB4-Gzxk1gzCM4/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+stationery.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="700" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj564b5WgYPf22tRf-HZnf2MB2bOtkKJlbrW8d92rnL-mcER9YTz9mPYzVld6Ue0wu5QcmBUn_9Zts4evueOBOoLn4eh0ButAzg5sZ_HDnjbIgeYZY7wtN21yvDM5gUpUB4-Gzxk1gzCM4/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+stationery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And so here is my stationery haul, which includes a lot of sticky notes, some washi tapes, and a pencil baggy. (I also included in this picture some washi tapes and small sticky slips that I'd bought from a different store, just because I'd promised my BFF that I'd send her a picture of all the stationery I bought in New York.)<br />
<br />
We also walked into a Disney Store where I bought a notebook as a souvenir for my friend. We ended up having to go to a Gap for my mom, whose nose and ears were getting so cold we bought her a warm wool hat. New York was pretty chilly during this weekend, and even in spite of all the walking we did (we all clocked an average of 20,000 steps Saturday and Sunday each), it was still pretty cold.<br />
<br />
Our next stop was the Rockefeller Plaza where we got some lunch of Chinese pork burgers to go, wandered into a Nintendo Store, then went up to The Top of the Rock.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dJ9p44eySPSMrquQIeLEr3ctnuPIxbWXm0cpdGDrwUuF0yA1KgayUA7KlUTek_zZLI_T3xmUKyqL9GuPkLMU5xCxSK8WNVmltTp8boEXn6xe5m09xSc2ufFxd7ZsKegEDTVnL_Rp28/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Rockefeller.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3dJ9p44eySPSMrquQIeLEr3ctnuPIxbWXm0cpdGDrwUuF0yA1KgayUA7KlUTek_zZLI_T3xmUKyqL9GuPkLMU5xCxSK8WNVmltTp8boEXn6xe5m09xSc2ufFxd7ZsKegEDTVnL_Rp28/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Rockefeller.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUcdxrJ_3TXiOxhqOv4neToRe-IhEb78OuOi-48FOXOdBSvaQLtHCO0vq_a5LrIJzXqftmxEudysUAIAsvjea1lq7v8tKYICO_DsttwAQB5DsEMrStkx9bfMQG-yq4bNdNzY1C32SzwM/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+top+of+the+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1000" height="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUcdxrJ_3TXiOxhqOv4neToRe-IhEb78OuOi-48FOXOdBSvaQLtHCO0vq_a5LrIJzXqftmxEudysUAIAsvjea1lq7v8tKYICO_DsttwAQB5DsEMrStkx9bfMQG-yq4bNdNzY1C32SzwM/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+top+of+the+rock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J554NN3cgEzvs6CQnhAgQCAFgrS4-kgGf9m6AuzMDEsWBsZnyLWZn-8o71UtAvONoRuB8UCjbq8fl07fBQ8SSn2xwTKzoVjphIrHIBGprxFwL_y_qM-OKLpiN-tqzNIyZm3ulRNSWbM/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Top+of+the+Rock+view.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J554NN3cgEzvs6CQnhAgQCAFgrS4-kgGf9m6AuzMDEsWBsZnyLWZn-8o71UtAvONoRuB8UCjbq8fl07fBQ8SSn2xwTKzoVjphIrHIBGprxFwL_y_qM-OKLpiN-tqzNIyZm3ulRNSWbM/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Top+of+the+Rock+view.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Isn't that a nice view?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkrHHOUXF63rbZQ-qKwIXeDtI0LeZP0fbwahFtED_WJaPznthIHbP6BkzeKDFWUWKrEp6YcZLQ6yY1X_BX1a2p_v-ggj66_mxTiThIgYB3hvV_7KEYnKAyD9F2GBqumIpkgFkB6jitPA/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkrHHOUXF63rbZQ-qKwIXeDtI0LeZP0fbwahFtED_WJaPznthIHbP6BkzeKDFWUWKrEp6YcZLQ6yY1X_BX1a2p_v-ggj66_mxTiThIgYB3hvV_7KEYnKAyD9F2GBqumIpkgFkB6jitPA/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+rock.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I bought some magnets, a couple key chains, and, of course, a metal bookmark from the gift shop.<br />
<br />
<br />
By now I've already clocked over 10,000 steps and it was only a little after noon. But there would be even more walking ahead of our little group. My elder brother said something about not realizing we'd be done at The Top of the Rock so early, so then we had to improvise and find other things to do.<br />
<br />
So we ended up walking until we got to Central Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E73LFs-nwx4_66O8G1nblMj4Rk-cGUjulT3Apo8FzdI3ALLQS40D9WQr7UL0KltasleOGVIgIKfPWfTKsz5hK74xFce106uyRzVlb7ExCiTF5JxHGMmwrqSL1QuFCT4q1Znw1t2FUOY/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E73LFs-nwx4_66O8G1nblMj4Rk-cGUjulT3Apo8FzdI3ALLQS40D9WQr7UL0KltasleOGVIgIKfPWfTKsz5hK74xFce106uyRzVlb7ExCiTF5JxHGMmwrqSL1QuFCT4q1Znw1t2FUOY/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+horses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ80zJI_xi8wjb6Bo6IXGFpoS76dVj7XkrUEOna8scp8K3oLY3wRKECQKtqWmhnk0qLLpftMPoCAJ9M1X4Eo6Swo1Jz1TxIp4H5zf98qTqTQdo0QpCNH93KYyxBVjYYPUFqintXGGCOM/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+horses+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ80zJI_xi8wjb6Bo6IXGFpoS76dVj7XkrUEOna8scp8K3oLY3wRKECQKtqWmhnk0qLLpftMPoCAJ9M1X4Eo6Swo1Jz1TxIp4H5zf98qTqTQdo0QpCNH93KYyxBVjYYPUFqintXGGCOM/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+horses+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Before entering the park, we came across these statues of horses. At least at first I thought they were three different horses, but as we got closer, I wasn't entirely sure what this was and I didn't notice a plaque or anything explaining the work. Strange looking, interesting, and the second pic, I didn't get a good one, but it kind of shows the horse's innards.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM77IFpZ9VuAra2KMJP9QBJFAPTzRVzyWu-L75wiJuXo1GmKDZprq3mv_lOSR8C0TcyV2P8QRxhWAyd6k8Arw457W9Me14kJhQ-o8F0iFi_rn8cy9KHbe5Ha-aDvJ2Cqr9JwLTJC5Ku6s/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Central+Park+fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM77IFpZ9VuAra2KMJP9QBJFAPTzRVzyWu-L75wiJuXo1GmKDZprq3mv_lOSR8C0TcyV2P8QRxhWAyd6k8Arw457W9Me14kJhQ-o8F0iFi_rn8cy9KHbe5Ha-aDvJ2Cqr9JwLTJC5Ku6s/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Central+Park+fountain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We walked along the trail of Central Park and followed it all the way to the fountain above. Along the way, there were hot dog stands, pretty much every few feet, and around every corner. I ended up buying a bag of honey roasted cashews... just because, even though the price of that two ounce bag of nuts could have gotten me a whole can at Wal-mart.<br />
<br />
But whatevs... vacation.<br />
<br />
Again, a lot of crowd, a lot of people... and apparently Central Park is a hot spot for wedding photography, because, by my count, there were at least six couples, their bridal parties, and photographers wandering and posing around the fountain.<br />
<br />
And then there was also a guy singing the same song on repeat off to the side.<br />
<br />
After making it to this part of the park, we were all pretty pooped and ready to head back. I hadn't realized how close to evening it was until my brother mentioned that we would head back to Flushing, rest up and then get ready for dinner. It was nearing five in the evening by then and would take about forty-five minutes to take the Metro back to Flushing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxWfoEtkr5EUSYRIXJERRQ5PtrQf5nSfbVtS5tgM_0ngu6ovD6qImcdBzdSTXIlCIqqmvHPt36TRykcikVDTcQG7-Fk-r9yc6735aLt7AxIiW8tBnWAIrhzv2B7Jn7185m1Ho1gF6H6g/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+hot+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxWfoEtkr5EUSYRIXJERRQ5PtrQf5nSfbVtS5tgM_0ngu6ovD6qImcdBzdSTXIlCIqqmvHPt36TRykcikVDTcQG7-Fk-r9yc6735aLt7AxIiW8tBnWAIrhzv2B7Jn7185m1Ho1gF6H6g/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+hot+pot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Dinner that night was a place called 99 Favors, which is a hot pot and Korean BBQ restaurant. Food was great, but the problem with all-you-can-eat places like this is that you really DO take the all-you-can-eat too literally. I might have over stuffed myself with more meat than I needed.<br />
<br />
But you can't go to a Chinatown without trying their hot pot restaurants. Anyone who isn't familiar with hot pot or Korean BBQ... The concept is pretty much an experience-based deal, where you cook your own food at your table. With hot pot, they give you flavored soup broth in a pot at your table where you can dunk your raw meats or veggies into and boil until cooked, then eat. Korean BBQ is the same concept, except it's mostly meats, and you grill your food.<br />
<br />
It's just a lot of fun. The pot of red broth in the photo above under the plate of raw beef, is my kimchi broth, which was both yummy and pretty spicy, and I liked it a lot!<br />
<br />
The rest of the night was spent lamenting the fact that I ate too much food and had a hard time sleeping. Meanwhile, my father had somehow bought a bag of Cheez Doodles at some point the night before... and even though I was full, I couldn't resist eating a few doodles...<br />
<br />
<br />
Sunday morning saw us heading out to Manhattan again, this time with no actual destination in mind. But first, we wandered to a nice dim sum place in Flushing for breakfast, stopping at a place called Joe's Steam Rice Rolls. These are basically really thin crepe-like rice flower rolls with different meats and toppings wrapped inside, such as BBQ pork, shrimp, curry fish balls, or beef or pork.<br />
<br />
After breakfast, we hopped on the Metro again and ended up going to visit the 9/11 Memorial first thing. Along the way, I finally learned how to figure out the subway lines and trains, and which train lead to where, how to figure out which stop you were getting off on, and such. Google maps had a lot to do with my new found understanding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d-aersDFcyy7R9krpHAjHDeaklviIi4wee2JLU3YP1yHut5etCHDnxxcwFXZPaAyllyEcv2Q8Qeaw-rQxOisYAOrZ1lm-3nPLCiBw2p0BmoxQJrxhu45XHK9bSZpoOgeeubwP4cEc3c/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d-aersDFcyy7R9krpHAjHDeaklviIi4wee2JLU3YP1yHut5etCHDnxxcwFXZPaAyllyEcv2Q8Qeaw-rQxOisYAOrZ1lm-3nPLCiBw2p0BmoxQJrxhu45XHK9bSZpoOgeeubwP4cEc3c/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In place of the original World Trade twin towers are now two pools, lined with plaques with the names of all the victims lost during the tragedy. Between the pools is the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which we didn't get a chance to go into.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PBMCZOILwogsET6fQtgTmhKZaEQJhZHAhFEUWBknyufAwJy32JKFUwdASUhKu_OvlZtLP9ZyXbozNwBWaZG7pQ0lODHOmy_E7pZtOEu0w0_42hUnRP21sIsDxbo8MsESXqJcm9UUi1c/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PBMCZOILwogsET6fQtgTmhKZaEQJhZHAhFEUWBknyufAwJy32JKFUwdASUhKu_OvlZtLP9ZyXbozNwBWaZG7pQ0lODHOmy_E7pZtOEu0w0_42hUnRP21sIsDxbo8MsESXqJcm9UUi1c/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the signs next to the pool notes that a rose is placed under the person's name on the day of their birth date. I thought that was a nice touch as a memorial.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCLZPRzcyjgUrjLXJRjmpZd7rCx8-tXfBe1q-xeqvHW40UpzrpaM3rEJ9-vgPiH8k9nOPgeRnC3h7FYFJS4hNgTeKjgaKABEN7cH8Q-2BCYjibvJ8A_jPZZVmcOefJvX0nweOtNnLAO0/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+one+world+trade.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCLZPRzcyjgUrjLXJRjmpZd7rCx8-tXfBe1q-xeqvHW40UpzrpaM3rEJ9-vgPiH8k9nOPgeRnC3h7FYFJS4hNgTeKjgaKABEN7cH8Q-2BCYjibvJ8A_jPZZVmcOefJvX0nweOtNnLAO0/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+one+world+trade.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One World Trade Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We sort of just spent some time sitting around the memorial and reflecting and just hanging out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9XkzE1zd3ilXOopjX9ljR1rnQwYSXFBvfCPY99d9K_lmMJkxeCh-rOuUGMxGxEEZPRAF2bl2TIL84nYrSY9hKWo9hyphenhyphenNZahqaFW4oSwVRUtA5L28zPsKtvIEvcx7S5DcMLSCVt8slTQw/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+911.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1000" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9XkzE1zd3ilXOopjX9ljR1rnQwYSXFBvfCPY99d9K_lmMJkxeCh-rOuUGMxGxEEZPRAF2bl2TIL84nYrSY9hKWo9hyphenhyphenNZahqaFW4oSwVRUtA5L28zPsKtvIEvcx7S5DcMLSCVt8slTQw/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+souvenirs+-+911.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I couldn't help buying another bookmark, along with a set of mini magnets. At the same time, I went ahead and made a donation to the memorial.<br />
<br />
After leaving the 9/11 Memorial, we just started wandering with no real destination. Sunday never really had an itinerary, and we soon found ourselves in a lot of random places around Manhattan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJYckBPx3N70d7UJsCmwbFbZcWuYFPm2AuLF7O_WsZFsXrtG-4iOlWFv8ERQcK2CyCArAgbxGtudQQm0RSk1CqDGEjTzujyEUUjYElhfbaAlsykPV6FeHaQl8jFG1BIpsLGBbI7HW88w/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJYckBPx3N70d7UJsCmwbFbZcWuYFPm2AuLF7O_WsZFsXrtG-4iOlWFv8ERQcK2CyCArAgbxGtudQQm0RSk1CqDGEjTzujyEUUjYElhfbaAlsykPV6FeHaQl8jFG1BIpsLGBbI7HW88w/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+pizza.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
We stopped for lunch at Joe's Pizza. I believe this is a Sicilian with spinach. It was pretty good. But huge!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnVfDLx54WpO1F0jmMDPoTwysKOy8l7jeW3TGCNpE_S_ebZxhCWOAscp6W0gBF-JWWpwfhTrvVXo-j7tDPwTpkjr_56R86AElAiXte6qjcNj22aj8EDt5k2_03a9mQGfD7aYQFCRyAXs/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnVfDLx54WpO1F0jmMDPoTwysKOy8l7jeW3TGCNpE_S_ebZxhCWOAscp6W0gBF-JWWpwfhTrvVXo-j7tDPwTpkjr_56R86AElAiXte6qjcNj22aj8EDt5k2_03a9mQGfD7aYQFCRyAXs/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+pigeon.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
And I took a random picture of a pigeon art... just because.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw6C251VG-HiIWd2WGK7E2X-EcVeRp9I5rkFErjNb3r_FYy0CmOJh-DddAYzCT9Xtpz4KmkTE6fVoF3zm65rPO6lAUcGVBLE6bh1MeqNTAR7C2khyTgVCwSMlhh_LX_B6NtrV5Yj-beQ/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+sun+yat+sen.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw6C251VG-HiIWd2WGK7E2X-EcVeRp9I5rkFErjNb3r_FYy0CmOJh-DddAYzCT9Xtpz4KmkTE6fVoF3zm65rPO6lAUcGVBLE6bh1MeqNTAR7C2khyTgVCwSMlhh_LX_B6NtrV5Yj-beQ/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+sun+yat+sen.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
<br />
This is a statue of General Sun Yat Sen in a small park that looks like a playground for senior citizens. There were tables scattered about with chess boards etched into them where a lot of the grandpas and grandmas were either playing chess or playing poker. Another group were hanging around listening to some music and dancing some old fashioned Chinese dances. Another group brought their own karaoke set and were singing with each other.<br />
<br />
After this, we wandered into the Manhattan Chinatown. Fun fact: There are three major Chinatown areas in New York--one in Queens (Flushing Chinatown), one in Manhattan, and one in Brooklyn. We have yet to visit the Brooklyn Chinatown. Flushing is a mostly Chinese culture Chinatown. Manhattan is dominated by the Cantonese. It was kind of nice to walk into a sweet shop in the Manhattan Chinatown and actually understand what someone was saying to me.<br />
<br />
Not that I don't understand Mandarin Chinese, but my main language is Cantonese (next to English, of course). So while I always responded to the people in Flushing in English, I happily responded to the shopkeepers in Manhattan in Cantonese and bought some sweets.<br />
<br />
We soon ended up in Little Italy, and so my sister-in-law could use the restroom, we stopped in at Caffe Palermo and ordered some sweets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZQ03fgQd8Nj7bN3xWWf0_qq1fs6W9tNbLPQbnNfKmC6zBlh-f2YHliQD5nGBShixLTQlzl5Bv3P29vIxnCWW6fVXJHbiNxU-lpD2OvBC9yhMeFG1ZnbbjggJ2c5Apn5C1iW2KHsB6P0/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+cafe+palermo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZQ03fgQd8Nj7bN3xWWf0_qq1fs6W9tNbLPQbnNfKmC6zBlh-f2YHliQD5nGBShixLTQlzl5Bv3P29vIxnCWW6fVXJHbiNxU-lpD2OvBC9yhMeFG1ZnbbjggJ2c5Apn5C1iW2KHsB6P0/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+cafe+palermo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04sXznB6yKE2b8IebxT6RuhT_eyCjVYdahinJ25wj8yqYYUgYqYfoRdn6TCKM6lX7LHzZLVuIV3cmhC_w5PTE-fbwEt1yOwdJRD9K63FJ-H1TbzTzMQQdBTHyvc9fY7qTcV4a1oQiI6g/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+bombolini.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="700" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04sXznB6yKE2b8IebxT6RuhT_eyCjVYdahinJ25wj8yqYYUgYqYfoRdn6TCKM6lX7LHzZLVuIV3cmhC_w5PTE-fbwEt1yOwdJRD9K63FJ-H1TbzTzMQQdBTHyvc9fY7qTcV4a1oQiI6g/s400/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+bombolini.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I ordered some bombolinis, which just seemed like filled doughnuts--two were regular vanilla cream, the other two are hazelnut chocolate cream. They were pretty good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMlsGEyekbZ07Vqj1QFVVkvQg2nsNMddf2NzAF6_4dUg38Np2bf2-nOdwpDlOGHBSz9tFBvyzsSowEbotRuu68z3CkvbtlIbb9EjmBTFyeFwg4gIeu-l1AhSGqHhJqxqjC5f2zMoVDWs/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+lobster+tail.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMlsGEyekbZ07Vqj1QFVVkvQg2nsNMddf2NzAF6_4dUg38Np2bf2-nOdwpDlOGHBSz9tFBvyzsSowEbotRuu68z3CkvbtlIbb9EjmBTFyeFwg4gIeu-l1AhSGqHhJqxqjC5f2zMoVDWs/s400/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+lobster+tail.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>
<br />
My brother ordered a lobster tail pastry, which seemed to be crispy puff pastry-like with a ricotta cheese filling.<br />
<br />
We also ordered a cannoli and a creme brulee... which got eaten too quickly for photos. Sorry guys.<br />
<br />
More wandering later, we decided to head back to Flushing, but ended up stopping off at Grand Central Station on the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-dbVpHm-WL14v4P8ucYcYDjS8nytNA_B1AidlMIqLb6LxxvRm5TQoKOns1YIPij8QeaT0AGfaV9ibXccpjpu-TDT3bbdgWU7mgrYVpKGebNgNcTwSngg1a06s6XUuKZCmib9R7x-qSU/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+grand+central+station.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-dbVpHm-WL14v4P8ucYcYDjS8nytNA_B1AidlMIqLb6LxxvRm5TQoKOns1YIPij8QeaT0AGfaV9ibXccpjpu-TDT3bbdgWU7mgrYVpKGebNgNcTwSngg1a06s6XUuKZCmib9R7x-qSU/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+grand+central+station.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcofjYcIi26Hbk75nReMWpipN_9xtpYjUPOP026g8ECYduS7C8Ug_jX0lQ0nl1sxw3rk2JvsgsJQ0yahD6BcRXLeHK0kNq_KfLzVkbbJ7DevT4Lgw09KW7VoRh9Cqnq8tB5BYrbpRTU3E/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+grand+central+station+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcofjYcIi26Hbk75nReMWpipN_9xtpYjUPOP026g8ECYduS7C8Ug_jX0lQ0nl1sxw3rk2JvsgsJQ0yahD6BcRXLeHK0kNq_KfLzVkbbJ7DevT4Lgw09KW7VoRh9Cqnq8tB5BYrbpRTU3E/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+grand+central+station+ceiling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceiling of Grand Central Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIAEn5c2YJfynOKcYOfHpP2qc-WniGuJbxnCvpzZCukACzJhKfyR4CWTbLT3B8ZwMgXB24y5eIAjGL3huolscQgq07Wts6qg4dpayBePcC6pR9aHx5nPvNzpHO3u47Xpmv5mLZJmOcbI/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+polish+parade.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIAEn5c2YJfynOKcYOfHpP2qc-WniGuJbxnCvpzZCukACzJhKfyR4CWTbLT3B8ZwMgXB24y5eIAjGL3huolscQgq07Wts6qg4dpayBePcC6pR9aHx5nPvNzpHO3u47Xpmv5mLZJmOcbI/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+polish+parade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Outside of the station, we found that there was a parade going on right in front of the New York Public Library. It took a while for me to realize that this was a parade celebrating the Polish community in New Jersey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtVjkG79THC_lNs1GoB3ioX5SsrK9amW1gs0y26BWR50xdmnzSzH83qIKAn418CkVkAqNRr9L98VexCozUr6184cJY0ZOmtmIClY93FWch1hkrXvX84i8_J5osYXAGe9l84Vy2cYqC74/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+ny+library.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtVjkG79THC_lNs1GoB3ioX5SsrK9amW1gs0y26BWR50xdmnzSzH83qIKAn418CkVkAqNRr9L98VexCozUr6184cJY0ZOmtmIClY93FWch1hkrXvX84i8_J5osYXAGe9l84Vy2cYqC74/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+ny+library.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, as interesting as the parade was, the streets were blocked off, which meant that we couldn't get into the library without going around somehow. So I contented myself with taking a picture from the outside. Ah well... This just means I'll have to come back to New York another time just to see their library... and maybe eat more food, because there were a lot of little food places in Chinatown I didn't get to try yet.<br />
<br />
And speaking of food... are you guys ready for this?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCzCLXNMEgfaglq7oPkpz45KdhrqHc5uosPeLD6_CR1fXGtERjHdHIwXbbKBbJMNsNi_-bJVXVUYJZ2BWSM4eKPCTJ7TmanzM65akTfOMEwuno_jHeBK4Dak8GZ0pdOupjMn9TTWrTwk/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+seafood+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1000" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCzCLXNMEgfaglq7oPkpz45KdhrqHc5uosPeLD6_CR1fXGtERjHdHIwXbbKBbJMNsNi_-bJVXVUYJZ2BWSM4eKPCTJ7TmanzM65akTfOMEwuno_jHeBK4Dak8GZ0pdOupjMn9TTWrTwk/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+seafood+soup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We went to a Cantonese seafood restaurant after getting back to Flushing. Seafood soup started the dinner off.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPSrFyeTkGHVuj8SnIGUG3kkuyZzOMf5ODKR5nBo0uBdo8bMl9xEQh4DSgjjTyzPu1G-0aD8IKJvFUk3savQWh7_HcNwk1QE4OF3GHJk16wkFLdepZy4KdPfcrIpIi5MyP9jWw2dH46A/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+abolone+and+sea+cucumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPSrFyeTkGHVuj8SnIGUG3kkuyZzOMf5ODKR5nBo0uBdo8bMl9xEQh4DSgjjTyzPu1G-0aD8IKJvFUk3savQWh7_HcNwk1QE4OF3GHJk16wkFLdepZy4KdPfcrIpIi5MyP9jWw2dH46A/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+abolone+and+sea+cucumbers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abalone and Sea Cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of my personal favorite seafood dishes is abalone, and add onto that sea cucumber and I'm a very happy person. It was just unfortunate that this dish was a bit skimpy on the abalone. But it was still good.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz48tgshLYHbQbU_XZo-fi0yRQw86JpzpKOg0g8-JOpoRcL5E19K5G5d4lACXnrxL1jrx5sDTJ79HFiFnkxXbFO-1xNbKWwouKae_e9R2Y1ZAbeTyGHmsS4rbKTC9Es1WTpTJ_dxaRy_Y/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+ginger+scallion+lobster.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz48tgshLYHbQbU_XZo-fi0yRQw86JpzpKOg0g8-JOpoRcL5E19K5G5d4lACXnrxL1jrx5sDTJ79HFiFnkxXbFO-1xNbKWwouKae_e9R2Y1ZAbeTyGHmsS4rbKTC9Es1WTpTJ_dxaRy_Y/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+ginger+scallion+lobster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginger Scallion Lobster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ginger Scallion Lobster is one of the most standard Cantonese seafood delicacies. My coworker told me she felt the need to eat my phone when I showed her the picture. Isn't it pretty? =D<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKobGBocz3o51wJEXf6GKDB4q0bM9id-iUZXIFgQN4EH98V7z9T-Df_c3mGGsX2Rt7DZZpfWnFr26emBelKkzlv8M6c2RIQi6vvvRxvC1tUSyaHGAsAKvPKjGGbNB1vyqzhtocRxH5K8/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+peking+duck.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKobGBocz3o51wJEXf6GKDB4q0bM9id-iUZXIFgQN4EH98V7z9T-Df_c3mGGsX2Rt7DZZpfWnFr26emBelKkzlv8M6c2RIQi6vvvRxvC1tUSyaHGAsAKvPKjGGbNB1vyqzhtocRxH5K8/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+peking+duck.jpg" width="455" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peking Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Peking Duck is something I've only ever had one other time previously in Toronto... where, to be honest, I remember it being much better. The roast duck here was good, but it could have been roasted a bit crispier, and, in fact, <i>should</i> be crispier for Peking Duck.<br />
<br />
Peking Duck is a pretty popular Chinese dish where the duck is roasted to a crisp, then sliced into very thin pieces. You then eat it with either steamed buns, or in the case of traditionalists, a thinner crepe-like bun, adding some <i>hoisin</i> (seafood) sauce to it, and eating it like a little roast duck slider sandwich. In fact, the traditional way of eating Peking Duck has the the wait staff actually slicing the duck into thin pieces right at your table so you can see, hear, and smell how good and crispy it is.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh393qOXOU0rEtAmuanyXGa924m4CxPP6j5kc-gXbfeGlN8EGymIX-kogF45_8sW8KrEx-f6TxiVcEccMLt-1bGdrADBqdav8YaspG5LBum0-5mytq7sgY4-O36r7PiIpZV0EpZI_eVE0Y/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+singapore+stir+fried+rice+noodles.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh393qOXOU0rEtAmuanyXGa924m4CxPP6j5kc-gXbfeGlN8EGymIX-kogF45_8sW8KrEx-f6TxiVcEccMLt-1bGdrADBqdav8YaspG5LBum0-5mytq7sgY4-O36r7PiIpZV0EpZI_eVE0Y/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+singapore+stir+fried+rice+noodles.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singapore Stir Fried Rice Noodles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My mom actually makes this dish regularly at home, so we wanted to try it here at this restaurant, and the truth is, I wasn't all that impressed. Mom's is definitely better.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJkTmClu4D3lFi7x7ogmwhkxpJ34WpD8EeRt2Z23Vq1Oo9jAxETTzIOaKOGOGULfw5mTGCuj2pZq9IBqV169v7PvSzj9snA2n1SFGCSsZHVEH5YAspUTxJNYnptirV5AQQlrjB0wkbKk/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+red+bean+sweet+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="700" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJkTmClu4D3lFi7x7ogmwhkxpJ34WpD8EeRt2Z23Vq1Oo9jAxETTzIOaKOGOGULfw5mTGCuj2pZq9IBqV169v7PvSzj9snA2n1SFGCSsZHVEH5YAspUTxJNYnptirV5AQQlrjB0wkbKk/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+red+bean+sweet+soup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Bean Sweet Soup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you will recall, I wrote a post for the 24 Festive Tasks last year talking about a lot of different sweet soups, which are an Asian cultural dessert. More than anything, sweet soups are an inclusion at a lot of Cantonese restaurants, and I've been to several where you always order a sweet soup to conclude your meal with... and if you didn't, they'd bring you a sweet soup, free of charge anyway.<br />
<br />
It's kind of like how some Chinese restaurants bring you a fortune cookie to go with your bill... but this is better. You get a small bowl of sweet soup, because the Chinese believe that it's important to have a balanced set of flavors. So after all of those savory dishes, a sweet soup and some fruit (yes, they brought us watermelon slices, too!) is a great way to end dinner.<br />
<br />
I don't particularly like Red Bean Sweet Soup myself, but I also don't say no to free food unless I absolutely don't want to eat it.<br />
<br />
<br />
So that was New York, the first family vacation we've had in a long time since everyone started working and moving away from home. My parents always took us on little trips each summer when my brothers and I were just kids, still in school, and those are always memorable. We even talked about it one night at the hotel while playing Tetris on one of my brothers' Nintendo Switches.<br />
<br />
So I felt like we made a pretty good run of New York for just a short weekend trip, and the truth is, I feel like we could have used an extra day or two. My mom had wanted to go to the Queens Botanical Gardens, and I wanted to visit Flushing Meadows, specifically the site of the two Worlds' Fairs that had taken place their. There were also a couple museums that I would have liked to see.<br />
<br />
And then maybe in the future, when we get a chance to visit New York again, I'd also like to see a Broadway show.<br />
<br />
But for now, I think we managed to get a lot done in just one weekend.<br />
<br />
On a side note, I don't fly well and have really bad motion sickness; I also never truly sleep well during vacations. I'm still catching up on sleep and tired as heck. I always find it interesting how you sometimes need a stay-cation at home to recover from a vacation away from home.<br />
<br />
Thanks for sticking with me throughout this insanely long post!<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-21041565350809503902019-10-09T19:01:00.001-05:002019-10-09T19:01:09.497-05:00Monthly Wrap Up -- September 2019September seemed to come and go quite quickly, and now October is already into its second week. As far as reading goes, I made decent progress for Halloween Bingo 2019, but at the rate that I'm going, it doesn't look like I'm likely to get a reading blackout by the end of the game's two-month duration. Of course, that probably won't stop me from continuing forward just to finish reading all the books I'd like to read for Halloween Bingo.<br />
<br />
In other news, I've been offline all weekend because my family and I just got back from a nice family vacation in New York! It's been a long time since the entire family (my parents, my brothers, and I) have gone on an actual vacation together. Visiting my elder brother in Texas, or my younger brother in Kansas City doesn't really count.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a very long vacation and was really just the weekend, starting Friday and ending on Monday, but I feel like we still got a lot of things done, visiting Flushing Chinatown, Times Square, Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial, and generally just spending a lot of time walking around Manhattan and Flushing. I even sort of learned how the Metro works, though it was a bit confusing at first.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm planning a bit of a photo-journal-esque post to go up over the weekend. I've been too tired from the vacation activities to really want to do anything but lay around, read, and be a vegetable. So while I DID finish two books this weekend, I've written no reviews, and it took a while before I was even able to motivate myself to get back to blogging.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, I'll get back into my normal rhythm soon, as I have two reviews that need to be written, a Halloween Bingo update post I want to get published, and one written review that needs to be edited and posted. I also have a lot of clean-up to do, and have so far only gotten as far as doing my laundry.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, here are a few teaser photos, just in case I don't get around to my New York post this weekend.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToM7dFr90o-2h2ycm9pt4yj1WBfNXFrL-3_qUH2XkzhA4-qGEslD4ahpdPacaIBBS_HXcmNYcEPjKM55b8-n5filYtRWUnJf05cl-9mtzJyC40ZRTYK5s_mEBE9YTjfOJvo4d8Xh5YOI/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToM7dFr90o-2h2ycm9pt4yj1WBfNXFrL-3_qUH2XkzhA4-qGEslD4ahpdPacaIBBS_HXcmNYcEPjKM55b8-n5filYtRWUnJf05cl-9mtzJyC40ZRTYK5s_mEBE9YTjfOJvo4d8Xh5YOI/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Times+Square.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Times Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_y2NUKuciKI46nV4YyO-Dd9JOJVckFfReNplqRhd8Z33AodPfaZDFP_IWvXvyCatMX53X1BZfankG1bHxYk31JHOaj9ptgfMwIKPdGaCLVLmK9Gn2cV498OJ1WH3rieOEhdYq25eFP0/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Top+of+the+Rock+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_y2NUKuciKI46nV4YyO-Dd9JOJVckFfReNplqRhd8Z33AodPfaZDFP_IWvXvyCatMX53X1BZfankG1bHxYk31JHOaj9ptgfMwIKPdGaCLVLmK9Gn2cV498OJ1WH3rieOEhdYq25eFP0/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+Top+of+the+Rock+view.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The View from The Top of the Rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeB3J18Pfqsh3VlHazdU1txugAkCqVB-1IZUtOsELeEu0naTlvHQ4_TmslIEPCWdM8s-eiEHCzn3xlz1J8AIPV6aNhbbyY-kIjCSf_KDbgudZXSGywXLkP-B_e29it3y2DTY8O-q32MBw/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeB3J18Pfqsh3VlHazdU1txugAkCqVB-1IZUtOsELeEu0naTlvHQ4_TmslIEPCWdM8s-eiEHCzn3xlz1J8AIPV6aNhbbyY-kIjCSf_KDbgudZXSGywXLkP-B_e29it3y2DTY8O-q32MBw/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+WTC+memorial.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9/11 Memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HFzYfKpPUg3u9TfY9IkMInv8ypj5jvoGdN2J-MMgMyDEwxtZukCx3qyg12TI5zgGG7eS-6dUTVbR8g64aEuIDCVz3FhvU4Hav41t4yPJSdLMwlQkLNXWpcNoVGP49qMG_2zjuQhFrAM/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+hot+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HFzYfKpPUg3u9TfY9IkMInv8ypj5jvoGdN2J-MMgMyDEwxtZukCx3qyg12TI5zgGG7eS-6dUTVbR8g64aEuIDCVz3FhvU4Hav41t4yPJSdLMwlQkLNXWpcNoVGP49qMG_2zjuQhFrAM/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+hot+pot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">99 Favors Hot Pot and Korean BBQ Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_t435p6PXh27OyJEqFqfQrTssFburzXXkBeWvEouoQV6ag93-0h_v45IOmNlWmkvTBKpwRmG3wgCd9poexNUr5H2sVhso2ZCbX9bPWlQEWhvzJ3boqwgYsLb5qjGkXGq2hnWvUxr-VM/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+milk+tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_t435p6PXh27OyJEqFqfQrTssFburzXXkBeWvEouoQV6ag93-0h_v45IOmNlWmkvTBKpwRmG3wgCd9poexNUr5H2sVhso2ZCbX9bPWlQEWhvzJ3boqwgYsLb5qjGkXGq2hnWvUxr-VM/s640/Blogging+Other+-+NY+19+-+milk+tea.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea with Cocoa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Meanwhile, the pups also had a long weekend, having to be boarded at their respective pet hotels. We got back into town nearing midnight, and so picked them up early the next morning. After they both got a bath, Baby and Bear just kind of pooped out and had their nap time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQoTJLYZPUEPjbiMqivDuJUsWWbtGJQy1VU95GWekCaAQPBPogsNQX7dhog8Q3160w-ObxJhQty5PiuYZ4b0caCL5pUrvuU4oYWcSgzclgCF9JdGzpK4xcC_KtmWF_Ulj8Sc1W_tP0Ag/s1600/Blogging+Other+-+Baby+28+-+with+Bear.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1000" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQoTJLYZPUEPjbiMqivDuJUsWWbtGJQy1VU95GWekCaAQPBPogsNQX7dhog8Q3160w-ObxJhQty5PiuYZ4b0caCL5pUrvuU4oYWcSgzclgCF9JdGzpK4xcC_KtmWF_Ulj8Sc1W_tP0Ag/s640/Blogging+Other+-+Baby+28+-+with+Bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As much as I loved the vacation, it feels very good to be home. The doggies seem to feel the same way as well!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>September Reads</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s200/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" width="133" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvegJaSGDIHU1OBUzFEDKuCSazTbI4GNNpNdphKjscsxohprtEG3TeB0iCMmlKrLjflZ7OeY6d9mcoolvnL6FS_jU1OvcFGXW0rwGMxz1bG-jlcVlF8UPr53ZnmrOc-BJJj8rXo78UUM/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" width="127" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBkrffTdoqAUXPbxWJzj_5w9cUkvBTgsUxYfB2e5s7TI7BiaWnUptkMiaHkpWKJcaBEKaEGsyhpgkTMynD7rGsMpTH7hO1PONg47PvioDzBhs37TFFGXuxEn55WpO3mZNllKpAsU2r0o/s200/Woods%252C+Alisa+-+Mercy+Strange.jpg" width="125" /><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" width="133" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="123" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Books Dropped/Put On Hold</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQlwBcw3oECQMP9DXvVhlkhmo5fW7eUP4V-q_MAm8nXEgHNJYB6PpjGi9-QapDsjtxmsFdiirWvq0eKiZd7I2i0Vx5TrzoxoEZPu-hYgpniTbQ_LUZh9VBM4KPpJhp8jAHFtOQ5HhH-0/s200/Yong%252C+Ed+-+I+Contain+Multitudes.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>On Hold until after Halloween Bingo.</b></div>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Currently Reading</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>September Reading Stats</b></h2>
<b><u>Total works read</u>: 9</b><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>8 print/e-book novels</li>
<li>1 audio book</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Average rating</u>: 3.56 Stars</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Highest Rated: </b>4 books <b>// 4.0 Stars</b></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li>(1) <i>Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer</i></li>
<li>(2) <i>Ice by Linda Howard</i></li>
<li>(3) <i>Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire</i></li>
<li>(4) <i>Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Lowest Rated:</b> 3 books <b>// 3.0 Stars</b></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li>(1) <i>The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle</i></li>
<li>(2) <i>Mercy Strange by Alisa Woods</i></li>
<li>(3) <i>Firelight by Kristen Callihan</i></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Series I started reading</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Epic Crush of Genie Low by F.C. Yee</li>
<li>Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson</li>
<li>Darkest London by Kristen Callihan</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I completed</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>None</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I have made progress on</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle</li>
<li>InCryptid by Seanan McGuire</li>
<li>Legal Magick by Alisa Woods</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Favorite reads</u>:</b> So I had a lot of <b>4.0 Star</b> books in September, which makes me really happy. Each one of those books were wonderful, and of the four I listed above, I'd say that my favorite was <i>Lost Among the Living</i> by Simone St. James.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Disappointing reads</u>:</b> My lowest rating was <b>3.0 Stars</b>, which doesn't really mean anything since that's still an okay rating in my book. I still liked the books I read and listed as my lowest rated books. So if I had to choose one that kind of disappointed me, it would probably be Alisa Wood's book, <i>Mercy Strange</i>, simply based on how much I've liked all of her books so far as guilty pleasures. <i>Mercy Strange</i> just didn't do it for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Reviews & Notable Posts</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Reviews Written</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/brief-thoughts-death-in-stocks.html" target="_blank">Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/long-rambling-thoughts-epic-crush-of.html" target="_blank">The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/quick-thoughts-footsteps-in-dark.html" target="_blank">Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/thoughts-half-off-ragnarok.html" target="_blank">Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/fairly-brief-thoughts-ice.html" target="_blank">Ice by Linda Howard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/thoughts-walk-on-earth-stranger.html" target="_blank">Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson</a> | Review transfer</li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/brief-thoughts-lost-among-living.html" target="_blank">Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Memes</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Did not meme this month!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Posts</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/its-sunday-and-halloween-bingo-begins.html" target="_blank">It's Sunday! And Halloween Bingo Begins!!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/halloween-bingo-2019-update-1.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/halloween-bingo-2019-update-2.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #2</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Coming Up In October</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Tentative TBR</span></u></b></h4>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveXQUPjMTLNlHukyGFrp1HWq5EjuEBCx4MT1yzYhNiVR9LKbrBnu3rYNpnyKULZuKhDRM2qZ8iSZpmh9m6OjwElus_uM7t_g9LVFHBSElwVnlgpUkUAG4Q-l35nFQz3SUa0ZdfyH9PnE/s200/Stewart%252C+Mary+-+Thornyhold.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s200/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" width="132" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf7u6ZLD-n0LV9KXuxkTlHfbnZ9jCSrfTjiFgHPZyFDT7RG9VH5MjrEbxCNEeXrX0oLnp82euXF715U1K3IIq8zO6rwhDhySdx_CrvTkLFXfX-Oop72UPPeMvJzSlBk3rdZMZubydJy0/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Moonglow.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM7yA-cun3RleAX7_MC5IUSu1TkdQMgikJnC22XOCaNjdTlkPqVysk3a5hHLWXd1Sn0_OUzSPM0Y9HoCa_RXFCCMr0bp0zM7supBfOjGXsyExNfqMFhblzbMKUPsQqGua8GpBtEms0Sg/s200/Woods%252C+Alisa+-+Verity+Strange.jpg" width="125" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVuG2wZLXUcBRX3gfO4wczU2bO6YRhUqywO8jGZn03gbOxTtkGQnWq0xYO44ziy698DHIWzNr2_X_vKzYFrMVM344OSE9mYseAtN-0ZQ7mlcedT4bM5mATp5xxlSSU8khoUVhxuc6mMo/s200/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Sacred+Sins.jpg" width="122" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCmpzL2Aa7V8I6ksk_vdKQG7za0kjf2H6dN6FdEflkPZWVNJ8k7dtjFr57O-DzsLyisBZnSZaExV3GprnxJ6pclEljQaxO9nJRUZJwAB1YlEmAcicGWSjq7-rVC4B1MVipusJk7DF-J4/s200/Roberts%252C+Nora+-+Brazen+Virtue.jpg" width="130" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eYeVWdL4KPGT4MXR0zzM9zrkKeUEy31azONnqCpZzycYGUd5wf-XOASBbROD4l5Stv7TtaBUhRxrGfzgv7s2-Jc0oNdY770ruI4MkDiVHwqZkrAItgKAAA9XbFS-8OU2qjhXKNETB78/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Sinner.jpg" width="111" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="293" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpz5LO0nZlAtA9Tu4ZeidYtI2i5fdbugJKyV8GP6lWZqwWPqBMKgjkj2264iFJnltlEnayXTmm6LfESP-nbfyc8L6GyENzEJqBAyS-J4N3c01DSUK_8gDZM2x2woxof_29ozExuWL8vY/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Awakening.jpg" width="123" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff</span></u></b></h4>
So my Halloween Bingo plans definitely changed, and some of the above books I'm tentatively wanting to read for the game. Each of these books has a spot I can place them in, I hope, but if not, I've still got one more Transfiguration Spell in my hands. But since I'm not entirely sure that I'm going to get a reading blackout anyway, I'm not too concerned.<br />
<br />
As stated above, I've got some posts I'm prepping for post, hopefully throughout this week and the weekend. I'm still on a vacation hangover, so the chances that all of my blogging plans will be dashed is very high. It's possible I'll just keep reading and then do one big long update at the end of the month. That's my mood right now, truth be told.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>2019 Wrap-Ups</b> </h2>
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/p/wrap-ups-other.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Past Monthly Reading Wrap Ups</a> (2016 / 2017 / 2018)<br />
<b>See Also: <a href="http://anicheung.booklikes.com/other_posts" target="_blank">2015 Reading Wrap-Up posts</a></b> (scroll to bottom of page)<br />
<br />
(updated as year progresses by month)<br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/02/monthly-reading-wrap-up-january-2019.html" target="_blank">January</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/03/monthly-reading-wrap-up-february-2019.html" target="_blank">February</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/04/monthly-reading-wrap-up-march-2019.html" target="_blank">March</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/05/monthly-reading-wrap-up-april-2018.html" target="_blank">April</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/06/monthly-reading-wrap-up-may-2019.html" target="_blank">May</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/07/monthly-reading-wrap-up-june-2019.html" target="_blank">June</a><br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/monthly-reading-wrap-up-july-2019.html" target="_blank">July</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/monthly-reading-wrap-up-august-2019.html" target="_blank">August</a> | September | October | November | December<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-71236322473769172019-10-01T23:30:00.002-05:002019-10-01T23:30:36.221-05:00Thoughts: Truly Devious<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s1600/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s1600/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Truly Devious</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Maureen Johnson</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>Truly Devious</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38898759-truly-devious" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place" he said, "where learning is a game."<br />
<br />
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym, Truly Devious. It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.<br />
<br />
True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
If I wanted to be honest, it was hard not to compare stories and characters between <i>Truly Devious</i> and <i>The Name of the Star</i>. Both books involve a young girl starting at a new boarding school. And both books involve each respective girl's acclimation to this new school, making new friends, learning the culture of the new school, going through classes, and so on. And of course, both books involve a murder mystery... both of which take a long time to build up to.<br />
<br />
And if I really wanted to be honest, I think I found <i>The Name of the Star</i> a bit more enjoyable than <i>Truly Devious</i>. Don't get me wrong, I liked Stevie enough, but there were times I had a hard time keeping up with her train of thought, as well as understanding her actions. I took Stevie to be a rather intelligent kid, even if a little unique and different. So the fact that she keeps getting taken in by Hayes seemed a bit out of character. The fact that she makes a few questionable decisions during her time at Ellingham Academy seemed forced.<br />
<br />
I DID like seeing that Stevie was a rather socially awkward type of person though. It was a nice touch to her unique personality--her enjoyment of spending time studying crimes instead of going out and being the traditionally stereotyped teenage girl her parents want so badly for her to be. The conflict between Stevie and her parents brought a rather enlightening addition to Stevie's depth as a character, even if it was also a bit difficult to follow for the purposes of this story.<br />
<br />
I want to say that <i>Truly Devious</i> spends a lot of time setting up the world and the series and the story, and while it was also punctuated by tidbits of the Ellingham cold case mystery, it still felt like a whole lot of nothing but mundane happenings took place for the first half of the book. This was rather a similar set up to <i>The Name of the Star</i> as the excitement didn't truly start until a good percentage into the book.<br />
<br />
The difference was that I absolutely loved Rory's voice in <i>The Name of the Star</i>, where she was quirky, fun, and my kind of dry sarcasm, with a hint of normal, everyday girl. In contrast, Stevie's character seemed to be trying too hard to stand out, and her quirkiness, while cute at times, seemed less endearing and more... well, boring, to say the least. I didn't have as much fun following Stevie's POV, and I also wished there'd been more fun character interactions.<br />
<br />
The only other character I actually liked in this book was Nate, if only because even though he was sullen for most of the book, it came off in a strangely endearing kind of sullen. Which is strange, because there were moments where I wanted him to just get over himself and participate in life with everyone else. And then when he DID have brief moments of interactions with Stevie, it was extremely enjoyable. Too bad it seems like Stevie's love interest is someone else...<br />
<br />
As far as mysteries go, the Ellingham cold case is an interesting premise to study, although little hints here and there are leading me to wonder just how many underlying secrets are involved in the entire affair.<br />
<br />
As far as the present-day murder mystery, while I didn't really know who the culprit was, I also wasn't surprised at the end about the reveal. Unfortunately, I also had a hard time following Stevie's logic or deductions, so it took me a while to figure out where she was going with all of her questions and her discoveries.<br />
<br />
Finally, the book leaves a lot of loose tangents unresolved, and even the main conflicts remain somewhat open-ended. But with the ongoing Ellingham mystery still unsolved, I'm absolutely going to continue reading the rest of the series. I'm just also hoping for some more excitement, or maybe some more character interactions that don't seem steeped in tension, secrets, or evasions.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, this book was entertaining enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-59910063893509473882019-10-01T23:05:00.001-05:002019-10-25T15:28:52.776-05:00Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #3 and Mid-game Book Rambles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s640/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" width="525" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween Bingo 2019</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hosted by <a href="http://moonlightreader.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Moonlight Reader</a> and <a href="http://oblue.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Obsidian Blue</a></div>
<br />
<br />
This post will be both, an update of my stats and progress, as well as a collection with some ramblings of all the books I've read for Halloween Bingo 2019 thus far. In other words, this will be a fairly long post to mark the mid-game point of Halloween Bingo.<br />
<br />
At this time in the game, I've so far finished nine books, which is a little less than half of the books I need to read before the game is finished. I'm currently reading <i>The Visitor</i> by Amanda Stevens for the <b>Grave or Graveyard</b> square, and <i>Dreamer's Pool</i> by Juliet Marillier for <b>In the Dark, Dark Woods</b>. Both books are quite long, so I may or may not be finishing these two books anytime soon. There is also always the possibility of starting a new book...<br />
<br />
And also, I just realized that I'd somehow inserted the wrong bingo card as my unmarked card above, so this will be rectified starting today... I'll go back and change earlier update posts when I get a chance. This is what happens when you get lazy and simply do a lot of copying and pasting from old posts to new posts. I had gone back to last year's Halloween Bingo updates and did a copy and paste and apparently forgot to swap out for my 2019 card.<br />
<br />
Ah well...<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'm going to try my best to blackout my card, because it IS possible for me to read sixteen books in a month, but at my current pacing, I'm not sure that'll happen. My other option may be to pick up a couple short stories, though short stories have never truly been my thing. We'll play by ear, because I'm not entirely too concerned with getting a blacked out card, if I want to be honest with myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Updated Marked Card</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uMjldEZPIeqKwRuMny0Ym_6ktMrz31E76ok4B-XCC0Z0iRqKZcK5ReBAoIrBiyaTP72JZGVMy-ayoCWruBJ2wpdzgi7kjZXpHca7-dp6R3udappAc2QRZUR_yQ8TC3SOnKmtVYiFpJQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uMjldEZPIeqKwRuMny0Ym_6ktMrz31E76ok4B-XCC0Z0iRqKZcK5ReBAoIrBiyaTP72JZGVMy-ayoCWruBJ2wpdzgi7kjZXpHca7-dp6R3udappAc2QRZUR_yQ8TC3SOnKmtVYiFpJQ/s640/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+3.jpg" width="525" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Read:</b> Red-Eyes Penni<br />
<b>Called:</b> Green Square Outline<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Currently Reading</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Up Next</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s200/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" width="132" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkeXEjZcz-UZHOAsr6i4-OiQQNnz-1E9NB-VVz3sbpYsKdQZiNSS6MEHeOerctBRvzVbNqlfOM__j0MoLbMAB01lG-PSLYWZk2UfpD-13gYoNI84NbCxIcQjVT5NxCNqEbCpvTzzuxac/s200/Stewart%252C+Mary+-+Thornyhold.jpg" width="130" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAG8H_4D81BcRY1_m5GvCJZxESTwPJsy08pUt7zavRSCb1VihTsbanzGOa5-h6lOq5x_gUPyHjicettR6N3QpuEsTOavY47A34R6CKHzqGWakgwPlYEEHKLaxNMu9enQ4gYBi5OE8nBE4/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+The+Vanishing+Stair.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" width="122" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uG-6NIWmKhlFf_DQQ6tcMVgQLx883ZIgJ6nBAKllVh5wNXQN9pZCawDrvPkiOVDLQ8xJe7i44xkUtYkqvAeEEnwALH0LI-zn_5NFeLI370wAdWGyqY6mOmKWf_Jc6gY3LBZPd200nE/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Broken+Girls.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_8U5GxintCOZ-x1_LxUSG_dIU53CR0YXV037ojzUxKvpA7eUMup9whqUDqXH4kwhj1mfNZ5Ig1IL_7rQFdFucZ5pEu2PA7Cd_KZa1iVZDyFZUjJBei_AzmPiw43nJB9Et3Q24HOTwvQ/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Moonglow.jpg" width="123" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Books Read and Unallocated</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
TBA<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Book Ramblings</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s320/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" width="209" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOtUSXLkBMYIQTIAzvDehOGG17yCBEx_xX3SvJLGwL05KN0AVHcMsyTnXsMvPoGkzOICTh91zeULEO48Bf7lERGMlxO5p376mI8pZMZ11H052NDa3pPpA3nin-R87VKpTJ_sR5ZTtze0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+19+-+locked+room+mystery.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 3.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
I can't say that I enjoyed this <i>Sherlock Holmes</i> story as much as I've enjoyed the very few others I've listened to previously. There wasn't much of a plot twist to the mystery, and dare I say, the story itself was a bit flat.<br />
<br />
But there was a romance for Dr. Watson that irritated Sherlock, so that was something to giggle about. As with other classics, I don't really know how to review this save for the few sentences above, so I'm just going to leave it at that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s320/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" width="213" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee</b><br />
<b>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo #1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b></div>
<br />
I was delighted to find this book while searching for something to read for <b>Diverse Voices</b>. I don't know why I was so resistant to use a book by, say, Sherry Thomas, but I wanted to read something diverse written by someone diverse, and unfortunately, while Sherry Thomas is Chinese, she writes rather mainstream historical romances set in England. So even her <i>Lady Sherlock</i> series, a historical mystery, was something I was hesitant to pick up.<br />
<br />
A book written by an Asian author based on a well-known, beloved Chinese legend was like dangling a carrot in my face. <i>Journey to the West</i> and anything Monkey King is such a widely known story in Asian culture, as well as something I grew up with, so I just couldn't resist the temptation. While it wasn't everything I had hoped and dreamed for, it was still entertaining. And you also get a very millennial-ish retelling of <i>Journey to the West</i> in the protagonist Genie Lo's voice, contained within two pages--quite intriguing if you don't already know the tale.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/long-rambling-thoughts-epic-crush-of.html" target="_blank">Long Rambling Thoughts: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s320/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" width="208" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
My original intention was going to be to read <i>Behold, Here's Poison</i> by this same author, which is why I read <i>Death in the Stocks</i> before the start of Halloween Bingo. But then <i>Footsteps in the Dark</i> became available via library hold, and I found that it was a book in the <a href="http://booklikes.com/apps/reading-lists/810/halloween-book-bingo-country-house-mystery" target="_blank"><b>Country House Mystery</b> reading list</a>, and the premise sounded much more interesting, what with a haunted house and all.<br />
<br />
I'm not certain that this book felt like a Country House Mystery when all was said and done, but I'm not entirely an expert on mystery, so I'm simply going by the fact that it was on the list. I mean, well the book DOES take place at a country house... it just isn't really a closed circle mystery, truth be told.<br />
<br />
I will willingly read <i>Behold, Here's Poison</i>, though if this is the case.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/quick-thoughts-footsteps-in-dark.html" target="_blank">Quick Thoughts: Footsteps in the Dark</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s320/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" width="198" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire</b><br />
<b>InCryptid #3</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
I'd been meaning to get back to the <i>InCryptid</i> world, and I figured that Halloween Bingo was a great reason to do so. It absolutely fits perfectly into the <b>Monsters</b> square, so there we have it.<br />
<br />
This book wasn't as squee-worthy as the first two books, but I loved it nonetheless.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/thoughts-half-off-ragnarok.html" target="_blank">Thoughts: Half-Off Ragnarok</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvegJaSGDIHU1OBUzFEDKuCSazTbI4GNNpNdphKjscsxohprtEG3TeB0iCMmlKrLjflZ7OeY6d9mcoolvnL6FS_jU1OvcFGXW0rwGMxz1bG-jlcVlF8UPr53ZnmrOc-BJJj8rXo78UUM/s320/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" width="204" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ice by Linda Howard</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
Ice storm--check. Nighttime danger and suspense--check. I'm so happy I found this book, because this square was going to get Transfigured otherwise. I now have a bit more free room to use my Transfiguration cards as needed.<br />
<br />
What can I say? Linda Howard is a go to author for some of my random Romantic Suspense needs. I enjoy some of her books, and I find some of them kind of bleh. This one was actually quite entertaining and suspenseful, so there is that.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/fairly-brief-thoughts-ice.html" target="_blank">Fairly Brief Thoughts: Ice</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBkrffTdoqAUXPbxWJzj_5w9cUkvBTgsUxYfB2e5s7TI7BiaWnUptkMiaHkpWKJcaBEKaEGsyhpgkTMynD7rGsMpTH7hO1PONg47PvioDzBhs37TFFGXuxEn55WpO3mZNllKpAsU2r0o/s320/Woods%252C+Alisa+-+Mercy+Strange.jpg" width="200" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTgUcDrlRhIsuZDM2vfpHi9K_1jQWR6F-P83-z260qt-ZG6unlbo8fn7ccdLo5CBo1g1t5qL0-bGZX_gyvc7uHUBTA00zksGd52VW2MrypP-rk6APGX8VeZR4brCfh4xIrZnkFKMxvSg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+04+-+spellbound.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mercy Strange by Alisa Woods</b><br />
<b>Legal Magick #2</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 3.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
I was originally going to read <i>Sourcery</i> by Terry Pratchett for this square, but on a whim I decided to read the next <i>Legal Magick</i> installation instead, since I DID very much enjoy the first book in the trilogy. I'm a little conflicted as to whether or not this was ultimately a good idea, because while the book was entertaining and easy to read, I didn't find it as enjoyable as I'd been hoping, which was disappointing.<br />
<br />
Last year, I'd read Alisa Woods' <i>River Pack Wolves</i> trilogy and loved it as a guilty pleasure. The books weren't all that great, but they were so much fun and enjoyable that I loved them despite all the many glaring flaws and writing quibbles. The same could be said about <i>Ever Strange</i>, the first book in this series.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, somehow I couldn't really overlook the flaws in <i>Mercy Strange</i>, and while I breezed through the book and found it agreeable enough, a nagging sense in the back of my head kept telling me that this book was way too juvenile for the content matter and the target audience... as well as the characters. Mercy Strange is supposed to be some sort of genetics expert... but she often comes off acting like a teenager, which ended up making it really hard for me to take her seriously. And the love interest, Swift was kind of stereotypical and one-dimensional.<br />
<br />
But whatever, I will be reading the last book, and maybe I'll like it, maybe I won't.<br />
<br />
It was still entertaining. I'm probably not going to officially review this book by itself, so the last two paragraphs will probably be it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s320/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" width="213" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
Another great historical ghost mystery by Simone St. James--a great haunted house mystery with a lot of unexpected twists. While things might have gotten a bit chaotic as the story progressed, I still very much enjoyed this one a lot.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/09/brief-thoughts-lost-among-living.html" target="_blank">Brief Thoughts: Lost Among the Living</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s320/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" width="211" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson</b><br />
<b>Truly Devious #1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b></div>
<br />
Maureen Johnson has a great sense of wit, and a quirky sense of humor, giving us fairly non-standard YA heroines that are fun to follow. <i>Truly Devious</i> was a cute little mystery, involving a young girl who dreams of becoming a great detective, with aspirations for joining the FBI. This book wasn't perfect, but it was quite entertaining.<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b>Thoughts: Truly Devious</b> (link coming soon)<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s320/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="198" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Firelight by Kristen Callihan</b><br />
<b>Darkest London #1</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Rating: 3.0 Stars</b></div>
<br />
This book wasn't really what I was expecting, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. When I was choosing for this square, I was mostly looking at Amanda Quick or Sherry Thomas, but happily decided to go with a series titled <i>Darkest London</i>, because, why not?<br />
<br />
See my review:<br />
<b>Some Thoughts: Firelight</b> (link coming soon)<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Squares/Books/Called Dates/Update Post Links</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<b>Progress on my card:</b> 11 squares called || 9 books read || 6 squares completed<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" class="tablehb18" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<!-- First Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRGXfqDXB-z9jjWJOWQugqh3Mxon_HL8H_zbXwl9u6xx4SlYimkAumxkBcvoDPst8U88a0_PGtwSV8BcxRdXJn6-ifL4LfKdKsrZx2wwbP2kcJr1dIeCgPsmX2bhdOLiz6y6ieAab2eM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+01+-+paint+it+black.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKLPjmGoOI8iPTVRJMjbtt0C1M9zuOVS-PbDyxE7oqCwK3dIx7vg9ywn6Ihjvs3QxnrAOeC5-nwrCsdL7DAFYYZl_7v_aUPC7BU2qqhfLeurHMpChjwZq2qYwXaQIj10SUl3BUTIED2I/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+02+-+Halloween.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiC_X95qCU7KlPM_ygK30D2B2mG8bhnZCHuCykpBAcpvQadMjHPfbcEln_Yuoy1sGzVbEKYgdY0aMvXEctFDxLyAZ8RGM0NwL4LD9NRUIcqUtYlWjK2R3srxHuVwc2Rp0EHcsS8vDHQ4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+03+-+dark+dark+woods.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTgUcDrlRhIsuZDM2vfpHi9K_1jQWR6F-P83-z260qt-ZG6unlbo8fn7ccdLo5CBo1g1t5qL0-bGZX_gyvc7uHUBTA00zksGd52VW2MrypP-rk6APGX8VeZR4brCfh4xIrZnkFKMxvSg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+04+-+spellbound.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DIcSGi12Ff2RofmGtMC5-DiK4bddq8TPxSB7c7J1yKQqpzCWP3MXv1el2p3JQkR6O1nG_SOO977xXSbfKkhXaVeDi9g3K63_1_YgW-OAxM6sQoXdf2aIaTcgrPaJBHVaXdkepBlLNPk/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+05+-+international+woman+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/28/19<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/26/19<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/22/19</b><br />
<b>Read: 9/19/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s320/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaXUHND8hZPLJolUZH-lSAmuefZbK_NT77gm3qhq0AaRduxlWVLjrmk04Mx7iq_hfQ-gOWMjUzwty6_zzgz_sR4kr7D-SGPhZ1uurriprHOxDESkWNvoEGECa27MVB-w1Iwy2zMct8c4/s200/Woods%252C+Alisa+-+Mercy+Strange.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkeXEjZcz-UZHOAsr6i4-OiQQNnz-1E9NB-VVz3sbpYsKdQZiNSS6MEHeOerctBRvzVbNqlfOM__j0MoLbMAB01lG-PSLYWZk2UfpD-13gYoNI84NbCxIcQjVT5NxCNqEbCpvTzzuxac/s200/Stewart%252C+Mary+-+Thornyhold.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>A Study in Death<br />by</b><br />
<b>Anna Lee Huber</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Dreamer's Pool<br />by</b><br />
<b>Juliet Marillier</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Mercy Strange<br />by</b><br />
<b>Alisa Woods</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Thornyhold<br />by</b><br />
<b>Mary Stewart</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Second Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw06PuudHjs1SUVNlEUDZlHS_Q2yyL7z0FGI_q1AwANC5QlhPieiOcdkf8cucrZtrQuAwrBkAxkneuQKyWfnHVXvLFLVRk9S77Xx25kRqsc90WgzyaBlz4OHRnIy9HGY3cogWzVuuf604/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+06+-+flashlight+or+candlelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowetn2ZU0rQNp9oi5uCh5WXPRAoLzjh2KHfc05y8HaW44cCJnyvH-tFeN3TQNw4WFhqACx_WmdMLWUT7rGJ7nWCxuFtmGYHHEyLlTYC4hGf2UGZ9gXbKwJnt-OQawRvmRr1IDo0IQFeQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+07+-+sleepy+hollow.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rIOdwv01IHT6TmOYWkau6NlCSYAouopk3w8n5gqDlWjn89QLzcpT5KPvm3d5UB_WSX2BRP0Hurh9-R9V1gDiAZOYWmdAkQ4qOS-0oQyMCdT_KvPtBMVwMqdbxHjrr7sga3lXSFV2aj8/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x3+-+dark+academia.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/20/19<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/27/19<br />Read: 9/15/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/13/19<br />Read: 9/11/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/23/19<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uG-6NIWmKhlFf_DQQ6tcMVgQLx883ZIgJ6nBAKllVh5wNXQN9pZCawDrvPkiOVDLQ8xJe7i44xkUtYkqvAeEEnwALH0LI-zn_5NFeLI370wAdWGyqY6mOmKWf_Jc6gY3LBZPd200nE/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Broken+Girls.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstVD9KeH_t4S7UG77sd4merHJLpgQJtMijnLo_EY-kUoAetKQca8hyVcqcXTrZPBP4tzAREof8U0AwKaueIvdCUE30hKGAJYMywhGJ9mQtoCzGlxgxAEBld3CI-o41FkciCFdyeGifNI/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIB-nOn5w6ee7ROQAigpnYBFB069UjCa3fURQzgzFOsPEQjz3jtqT6TIL75pwC5xriSuEROIdotJT3EWjMF3QH2QNGEwADa5_8GGRb4-Byuo6K6JwpUOZTDl0L9lPZF5tDoQlPwcUSLg/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+The+Vanishing+Stair.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Broken Girls<br />by</b><br />
<b>Simone St. James</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Ice<br />by</b><br />
<b>Linda Howard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Footsteps in </b><b>the</b><br />
<b>Dark</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Georgette Heyer</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Vanishing Stair<br />by</b><br />
<b>Maureen Johnson</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s320/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" width="320" /><br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Third Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTh81jFgS8Dpe_jkJPSIJIynZGgRX1SAxi2ttrEJj11m0_cZxJcRgoydpkYeszzbyHbvqIjnc8L_Mk_MgtPY6wfx4F2DyKjaJaCFKwUeor4TGe2dVyZTwELW8t3vGoMEYG_gG2Qe2VgQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+11+-+gothic.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeYjHvj_ULZ2xZ5ySikjOZ61w61REhARTbxcs2Cx3hW6SBn0VuYuz4Nz7cpzMg5TrlJ8m9MGDa2urhjw756Fa9xAhG_aKYK-Wr6EYi9KXCKRtURT_9K3zNdcPdxd2KZwpI7reGk_7U/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+12+-+grave+or+graveyard.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienmHj1Ixcz8NEHCYE0z8rHWTXb83Mau-uf4EnMcAXMAPEqhnjpPNG4a8XchXIV0GwNwG1_I_vbR5amK2cBdxURlm4c5uFVvIstCcrNGnr55GYQmndFv1k_RJYid1GvKoxaA7o7a4x-EQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+13+-+free+space.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JkWTf6ux3uXP8dWqBf3AiGwfQZRGZER0SOUineEqPaDQoZ4LAskyoY6Y1iFs-qZsLQIFT7gaLlKwqUQFaj4Nl4irZtHA09qu2MhY4Fq9DQBY3S8RQGhqOm8ClaJPC-pQio8oQoAwOHg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+15+-+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/17/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Visitor<br />by</b><br />
<b>Amanda Stevens</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Truly Devious<br />by</b><br />
<b>Maureen Johnson</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fourth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOtUSXLkBMYIQTIAzvDehOGG17yCBEx_xX3SvJLGwL05KN0AVHcMsyTnXsMvPoGkzOICTh91zeULEO48Bf7lERGMlxO5p376mI8pZMZ11H052NDa3pPpA3nin-R87VKpTJ_sR5ZTtze0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+19+-+locked+room+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamff5PeY5ZQ5G_NkSVZHyBPGyQsSQY4lOsiQtjV-1-2ABCUF04AByouFk0iuS5YRrFaSaM2_AZKG6V147CU641ETAoa8Be99-Yg2Ty0Tao-5UaFSYG3PXOb_OehctDGB-jGQvuw99_tE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+20+-+amateur+sleuth.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/17/19<br />Read: 9/29/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/14/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/1/19<br />Read: 9/23/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/30/19<br />Read: 9/1/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/4/19<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s320/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s320/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Firelight<br />by</b><br />
<b>Kristen </b>Callihan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Half-Off </b><b>Ragnarok</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Seanan McGuire</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Lost Among the</b><br />
<b>Living<br />by</b><br />
<b>Simone St. </b><b>James</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sign of</b><br />
<b>the </b><b>Four</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Arthur Conan</b><br />
<b>Doyle</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fifth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-iY9uQVIbCvTJPG3Jax-FJrwJwph2UYORhfSK0rh5tqx8PWG-kuQgyF7CDq9Z2cF2AKByw6_7AqlbmAXZSJHNJdYqpETdb64L_q-m_IisFtPYZYhJ-BwQ2-LBaYMiRR5si4T3QLp3A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+22+-+romantic+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnMbYTamDq45osIJWhQK4Os5CApUlH2STBHbF4M7CodSIt1YDS1EDWUaSWwq6hu7pkBtjfClo0j2lNvKgnKzjPGEAM1mCrzzpEVQn9VoWWvX4e1r33PUrfe2vV94_b4w10IplCOFDMgw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x1+-+cryptozoologist.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbIsbQT59WgXawqHbLvuYk1Z2lvmtV4l9c-7NXbMJvPDdkMjfcBJWvT6eJk0xhcqMg7FopNG89Qrt1DC3FWsQWM8vdTpvkm24NHlkPlrIH3XB8ySCnRKgrvRfqmRF2bbyCFaBT3zvY7A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+24+-+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fLvYJcXZrDsmndx2Gfk0jIQ120zd58CRyqWc6bp8LbimJ85mOgW3LqodZMrHi-EVbeEJcZ6A4qWw8ZTPLGkz_QEr71Y3urR5JBsfECdCZ4z3Kt7mKLp8kngsrAcZsqanpbC5EzJp1xw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+25+-+full+moon.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/2/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s320/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s320/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_8U5GxintCOZ-x1_LxUSG_dIU53CR0YXV037ojzUxKvpA7eUMup9whqUDqXH4kwhj1mfNZ5Ig1IL_7rQFdFucZ5pEu2PA7Cd_KZa1iVZDyFZUjJBei_AzmPiw43nJB9Et3Q24HOTwvQ/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Moonglow.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Epic Crush</b><br />
<b>of Genie Lo<br />by</b><br />
<b>F.C. Yee</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Pocket Apocalypse<br />by</b><br />
<b>Seanan McGuire</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s320/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" width="320" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Calls</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="4" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 75%;">
<tbody>
</tbody><colgroup>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="165"></col>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="165"></col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/01</b></td>
<td><b>Ghost Stories</b></td>
<td>10/01</td>
<td><b>No Call or Free Space</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/02</td>
<td>Genre: Horror</td>
<td>10/02</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/03</td>
<td>Creepy Crawlies</td>
<td>10/03</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/04</td>
<td><b>Amateur Sleuth</b></td>
<td>10/04</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/05</td>
<td>American Horror Story</td>
<td>10/05</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/06</td>
<td>Dystopian Hellscape</td>
<td>10/06</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/07</td>
<td>Fear Street</td>
<td>10/07</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/08</td>
<td>Black Cat</td>
<td>10/08</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/09</td>
<td>Relics and Curiosities</td>
<td>10/09</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/10</td>
<td>A Grimm Tale</td>
<td>10/10</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/11</td>
<td>Stranger Things</td>
<td>10/11</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/12</td>
<td>Creepy Carnivals</td>
<td>10/12</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/13</b></td>
<td><b>Country House Mystery</b></td>
<td>10/13</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/14</td>
<td>Classic Horror</td>
<td>10/14</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/15</td>
<td>Supernatural</td>
<td>10/15</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/16</td>
<td>Psych</td>
<td>10/16</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/17</b></td>
<td><b>Darkest London</b></td>
<td>10/17</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/18</td>
<td>Cozy Mystery</td>
<td>10/18</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/19</td>
<td>Southern Gothic</td>
<td>10/19</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/20</td>
<td><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read by Flashlight or Candlelight</span></b></td>
<td>10/20</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/21</td>
<td>Modern Noir</td>
<td>10/21</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/22</b></td>
<td><b>Spellbound</b></td>
<td>10/22</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/23</td>
<td><b>Dark Academia</b></td>
<td>10/23</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/24</td>
<td>Deadlands</td>
<td>10/24</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/25</td>
<td>Slasher Stories</td>
<td>10/25</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/26</td>
<td><b>In the Dark, Dark Woods</b></td>
<td>10/26</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/27</b></td>
<td><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>It was a Dark and Stormy Night</b></span></td>
<td>10/27</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/28</td>
<td><b>Paint It Black</b></td>
<td>10/28</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/29</td>
<td>Truly Terrifying</td>
<td>10/29</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/30</b></td>
<td><b>Locked Room Mystery</b></td>
<td>10/30</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td></td>
<td>10/31</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Transfiguration Spell</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 of 3 used</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-33917207985681072832019-09-28T07:20:00.001-05:002019-09-28T07:20:32.163-05:00Brief Thoughts: Lost Among the Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s1600/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s1600/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Lost Among the Living</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Simone St. James</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25329513-lost-among-the-living" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i><b>England, 1921.</b> Three years after her husband, Alex, disappeared, shot down over Germany, Jo Manders still mourns his loss. Working as a paid companion to Alex's wealthy, condescending aunt, Dottie Forsyth, Jo travels to the family’s estate in the Sussex countryside. But there is much she never knew about her husband’s origins… and the revelation of a mysterious death in the Forsyths’ past is just the beginning…<br />
<br />
All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever.<br />
<br />
And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…</i></div>
<br />
<br />
There was a lot going on in this book, but I found myself really loving it. Between the atmosphere and the haunted house premise, as well as Jo's character, this is probably my second favorite of Simone St. James's books I've read. Of course, when we got into a lot of the pre- and post- Great War tangents, as well as the big surprise twist in the end, the story might have started untangling a little bit.<br />
<br />
And the truth is, I saw the plot point concerning the mystery behind Alex's disappearance from ten miles away. It was pretty obvious so I wasn't so surprised when the big surprise twist came around. Hopefully, I've given nothing away, but, again, it was pretty obvious from the beginning where St. James was going with her story.<br />
<br />
If it's one thing that St. James seems able to do, it's create appropriately creepy atmospheres involving all the hauntings depicted in her books. Truth, I felt a very big chill go through me in the beginning, when Jo first arrives at Wych Elm House, and sees the girl sitting silently in the parlor. Something about the way that scene was described was so vivid that I couldn't help seeing it in my own mind and being dutifully freaked out. A lot of the other later scenes, such as when Jo sees the ghost girl Frances walk past her bedroom door out of the corner of her eye was also a great scary, and atmospheric moment.<br />
<br />
Or maybe I'm just easily scared.<br />
<br />
Jo's story was a good one, with a wonderfully strong starting point, but I feel like the characters' directions kind of got lost when more plot devices started getting added to the book. So this book wasn't entirely perfect, but it was entertaining enough that I really, really liked it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-59366591504432790962019-09-23T13:10:00.001-05:002019-10-18T16:39:53.989-05:00Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s640/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" width="551" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween Bingo 2019</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hosted by <a href="http://moonlightreader.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Moonlight Reader</a> and <a href="http://oblue.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Obsidian Blue</a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm not entirely sure how often I'm going to update, so I'm just going to wing it as I go. Reading has been slow going and I think I've only finished two more books since the last update, a little over a week ago. It's not bad progress, but I'd been hoping to have at least one other book finished reading by now.<br />
<br />
I've decided to go ahead and declare a couple Transfigurations: (and I will move these graphics to the proper section in future updates)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Modern Noir</b> and <b>Magical Realism</b> are the two squares I'm feeling the least interested in reading for at present, and I've felt the least interested in reading them since the beginning of the game. I have books lined up for the squares I'm transfiguring them to already, so I'm going to go ahead and make this commitment, even though I haven't actually read for those squares yet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIB-nOn5w6ee7ROQAigpnYBFB069UjCa3fURQzgzFOsPEQjz3jtqT6TIL75pwC5xriSuEROIdotJT3EWjMF3QH2QNGEwADa5_8GGRb4-Byuo6K6JwpUOZTDl0L9lPZF5tDoQlPwcUSLg/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+The+Vanishing+Stair.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" width="122" /></div>
<br />
Mainly, I just wanted <b>Dark Academia</b> on my card, because it's my favorite of all the newest Halloween Bingo squares--and, oh look at that, the square just got called! I swear, I started putting this post together before today's (9/23) call. I'm planning on reading the second book in the <i>Truly Devious</i> trilogy since I'm enjoying the first book right now.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I should hopefully be getting the next <i>InCryptid</i> book via library hold soon, so I'm going to go ahead and put <b>Cryptozoologist</b> onto my card.<br />
<br />
Moving along with this update, I've just recently finished reading <i>Mercy Strange</i> by Alisa Woods for <b>Spellbound</b>. I know I'd intended to read Terry Pratchett's <i>Sourcery</i>... but plans change. That is all.<br />
<br />
The next book I finished was <i>Lost Among the Living</i> for the <b>Ghost Stories</b> square.<br />
<br />
And while I'm currently reading <i>Truly Devious</i> by Maureen Johnson for the <b>Baker Street Irregulars</b> square, I felt like I needed to read some more romance of some sort, so I decided to go ahead with <i>Firelight</i> by Kristen Callihan for <b>Darkest London</b>. Yes, I know, I've already read at least three other books that have romance... I just need more. For me.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm sort of picking and choosing which books to read next based on which ones are library books and which ones are for squares on my card that have already been called.<br />
<br />
So you see, there's a somewhat strategy going on... not really, but maybe. No. Not really. There is no strategy.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I went ahead and added some graphic to my card to indicate the Transfigurations, which I hadn't been quite sure how I wanted to do it, but I kind of like the effect... for now. When Penni gets added to the square, we'll figure something else out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Updated Marked Card</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa_GnifqX1y_32JG5ToKzofZpdMtll5bG7Eo-Jksfx_0J5WiXjXb7FATlcLSu2e5izcM2KKO6dQbMHDBqMuO6chNto3i_AhsTnVPPd6gnLVYUp1v_75FXcuNTKstipPTRImSuGN5m4KU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+2.2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa_GnifqX1y_32JG5ToKzofZpdMtll5bG7Eo-Jksfx_0J5WiXjXb7FATlcLSu2e5izcM2KKO6dQbMHDBqMuO6chNto3i_AhsTnVPPd6gnLVYUp1v_75FXcuNTKstipPTRImSuGN5m4KU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+2.2.jpg" width="525" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Read:</b> Red-Eyes Penni<br />
<b>Called:</b> Green Square Outline<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Currently Reading</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="123" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Up Next</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s200/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" width="132" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkeXEjZcz-UZHOAsr6i4-OiQQNnz-1E9NB-VVz3sbpYsKdQZiNSS6MEHeOerctBRvzVbNqlfOM__j0MoLbMAB01lG-PSLYWZk2UfpD-13gYoNI84NbCxIcQjVT5NxCNqEbCpvTzzuxac/s200/Stewart%252C+Mary+-+Thornyhold.jpg" width="130" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAG8H_4D81BcRY1_m5GvCJZxESTwPJsy08pUt7zavRSCb1VihTsbanzGOa5-h6lOq5x_gUPyHjicettR6N3QpuEsTOavY47A34R6CKHzqGWakgwPlYEEHKLaxNMu9enQ4gYBi5OE8nBE4/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+The+Vanishing+Stair.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" width="122" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uG-6NIWmKhlFf_DQQ6tcMVgQLx883ZIgJ6nBAKllVh5wNXQN9pZCawDrvPkiOVDLQ8xJe7i44xkUtYkqvAeEEnwALH0LI-zn_5NFeLI370wAdWGyqY6mOmKWf_Jc6gY3LBZPd200nE/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Broken+Girls.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Books Read and Unallocated</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
TBA<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Squares/Books/Called Dates/Update Post Links</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<b>Progress on my card:</b> 7 squares called || 7 books read || 3 squares completed<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" class="tablehb18" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<!-- First Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRGXfqDXB-z9jjWJOWQugqh3Mxon_HL8H_zbXwl9u6xx4SlYimkAumxkBcvoDPst8U88a0_PGtwSV8BcxRdXJn6-ifL4LfKdKsrZx2wwbP2kcJr1dIeCgPsmX2bhdOLiz6y6ieAab2eM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+01+-+paint+it+black.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKLPjmGoOI8iPTVRJMjbtt0C1M9zuOVS-PbDyxE7oqCwK3dIx7vg9ywn6Ihjvs3QxnrAOeC5-nwrCsdL7DAFYYZl_7v_aUPC7BU2qqhfLeurHMpChjwZq2qYwXaQIj10SUl3BUTIED2I/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+02+-+Halloween.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiC_X95qCU7KlPM_ygK30D2B2mG8bhnZCHuCykpBAcpvQadMjHPfbcEln_Yuoy1sGzVbEKYgdY0aMvXEctFDxLyAZ8RGM0NwL4LD9NRUIcqUtYlWjK2R3srxHuVwc2Rp0EHcsS8vDHQ4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+03+-+dark+dark+woods.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTgUcDrlRhIsuZDM2vfpHi9K_1jQWR6F-P83-z260qt-ZG6unlbo8fn7ccdLo5CBo1g1t5qL0-bGZX_gyvc7uHUBTA00zksGd52VW2MrypP-rk6APGX8VeZR4brCfh4xIrZnkFKMxvSg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+04+-+spellbound.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DIcSGi12Ff2RofmGtMC5-DiK4bddq8TPxSB7c7J1yKQqpzCWP3MXv1el2p3JQkR6O1nG_SOO977xXSbfKkhXaVeDi9g3K63_1_YgW-OAxM6sQoXdf2aIaTcgrPaJBHVaXdkepBlLNPk/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+05+-+international+woman+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/22/19</b><br />
<b>Read: 9/19/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s320/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaXUHND8hZPLJolUZH-lSAmuefZbK_NT77gm3qhq0AaRduxlWVLjrmk04Mx7iq_hfQ-gOWMjUzwty6_zzgz_sR4kr7D-SGPhZ1uurriprHOxDESkWNvoEGECa27MVB-w1Iwy2zMct8c4/s200/Woods%252C+Alisa+-+Mercy+Strange.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkeXEjZcz-UZHOAsr6i4-OiQQNnz-1E9NB-VVz3sbpYsKdQZiNSS6MEHeOerctBRvzVbNqlfOM__j0MoLbMAB01lG-PSLYWZk2UfpD-13gYoNI84NbCxIcQjVT5NxCNqEbCpvTzzuxac/s200/Stewart%252C+Mary+-+Thornyhold.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>A Study in Death<br />by</b><br />
<b>Anna Lee Huber</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Dreamer's Pool<br />by</b><br />
<b>Juliet Marillier</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Mercy Strange<br />by</b><br />
<b>Alisa Woods</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Thornyhold<br />by</b><br />
<b>Mary Stewart</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Second Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw06PuudHjs1SUVNlEUDZlHS_Q2yyL7z0FGI_q1AwANC5QlhPieiOcdkf8cucrZtrQuAwrBkAxkneuQKyWfnHVXvLFLVRk9S77Xx25kRqsc90WgzyaBlz4OHRnIy9HGY3cogWzVuuf604/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+06+-+flashlight+or+candlelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowetn2ZU0rQNp9oi5uCh5WXPRAoLzjh2KHfc05y8HaW44cCJnyvH-tFeN3TQNw4WFhqACx_WmdMLWUT7rGJ7nWCxuFtmGYHHEyLlTYC4hGf2UGZ9gXbKwJnt-OQawRvmRr1IDo0IQFeQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+07+-+sleepy+hollow.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rIOdwv01IHT6TmOYWkau6NlCSYAouopk3w8n5gqDlWjn89QLzcpT5KPvm3d5UB_WSX2BRP0Hurh9-R9V1gDiAZOYWmdAkQ4qOS-0oQyMCdT_KvPtBMVwMqdbxHjrr7sga3lXSFV2aj8/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x3+-+dark+academia.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/20/19<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/15/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/13/19<br />Read: 9/11/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/23/19<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uG-6NIWmKhlFf_DQQ6tcMVgQLx883ZIgJ6nBAKllVh5wNXQN9pZCawDrvPkiOVDLQ8xJe7i44xkUtYkqvAeEEnwALH0LI-zn_5NFeLI370wAdWGyqY6mOmKWf_Jc6gY3LBZPd200nE/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Broken+Girls.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstVD9KeH_t4S7UG77sd4merHJLpgQJtMijnLo_EY-kUoAetKQca8hyVcqcXTrZPBP4tzAREof8U0AwKaueIvdCUE30hKGAJYMywhGJ9mQtoCzGlxgxAEBld3CI-o41FkciCFdyeGifNI/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIB-nOn5w6ee7ROQAigpnYBFB069UjCa3fURQzgzFOsPEQjz3jtqT6TIL75pwC5xriSuEROIdotJT3EWjMF3QH2QNGEwADa5_8GGRb4-Byuo6K6JwpUOZTDl0L9lPZF5tDoQlPwcUSLg/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+The+Vanishing+Stair.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Broken Girls<br />by</b><br />
<b>Simone St. James</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Ice<br />by</b><br />
<b>Linda Howard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Footsteps in </b><b>the</b><br />
<b>Dark</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Georgette Heyer</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Vanishing Stair<br />by</b><br />
<b>Maureen Johnson</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s320/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" width="320" /><br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Third Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTh81jFgS8Dpe_jkJPSIJIynZGgRX1SAxi2ttrEJj11m0_cZxJcRgoydpkYeszzbyHbvqIjnc8L_Mk_MgtPY6wfx4F2DyKjaJaCFKwUeor4TGe2dVyZTwELW8t3vGoMEYG_gG2Qe2VgQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+11+-+gothic.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeYjHvj_ULZ2xZ5ySikjOZ61w61REhARTbxcs2Cx3hW6SBn0VuYuz4Nz7cpzMg5TrlJ8m9MGDa2urhjw756Fa9xAhG_aKYK-Wr6EYi9KXCKRtURT_9K3zNdcPdxd2KZwpI7reGk_7U/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+12+-+grave+or+graveyard.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienmHj1Ixcz8NEHCYE0z8rHWTXb83Mau-uf4EnMcAXMAPEqhnjpPNG4a8XchXIV0GwNwG1_I_vbR5amK2cBdxURlm4c5uFVvIstCcrNGnr55GYQmndFv1k_RJYid1GvKoxaA7o7a4x-EQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+13+-+free+space.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JkWTf6ux3uXP8dWqBf3AiGwfQZRGZER0SOUineEqPaDQoZ4LAskyoY6Y1iFs-qZsLQIFT7gaLlKwqUQFaj4Nl4irZtHA09qu2MhY4Fq9DQBY3S8RQGhqOm8ClaJPC-pQio8oQoAwOHg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+15+-+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Visitor<br />by</b><br />
<b>Amanda Stevens</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Truly Devious<br />by</b><br />
<b>Maureen Johnson</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fourth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOtUSXLkBMYIQTIAzvDehOGG17yCBEx_xX3SvJLGwL05KN0AVHcMsyTnXsMvPoGkzOICTh91zeULEO48Bf7lERGMlxO5p376mI8pZMZ11H052NDa3pPpA3nin-R87VKpTJ_sR5ZTtze0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+19+-+locked+room+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamff5PeY5ZQ5G_NkSVZHyBPGyQsSQY4lOsiQtjV-1-2ABCUF04AByouFk0iuS5YRrFaSaM2_AZKG6V147CU641ETAoa8Be99-Yg2Ty0Tao-5UaFSYG3PXOb_OehctDGB-jGQvuw99_tE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+20+-+amateur+sleuth.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/14/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/1/19<br />Read: 9/23/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/1/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/4/19<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s320/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s320/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Firelight<br />by</b><br />
<b>Kristen </b>Callihan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Half-Off </b><b>Ragnarok</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Seanan McGuire</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Lost Among the</b><br />
<b>Living<br />by</b><br />
<b>Simone St. </b><b>James</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sign of</b><br />
<b>the </b><b>Four</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Arthur Conan</b><br />
<b>Doyle</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fifth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-iY9uQVIbCvTJPG3Jax-FJrwJwph2UYORhfSK0rh5tqx8PWG-kuQgyF7CDq9Z2cF2AKByw6_7AqlbmAXZSJHNJdYqpETdb64L_q-m_IisFtPYZYhJ-BwQ2-LBaYMiRR5si4T3QLp3A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+22+-+romantic+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnMbYTamDq45osIJWhQK4Os5CApUlH2STBHbF4M7CodSIt1YDS1EDWUaSWwq6hu7pkBtjfClo0j2lNvKgnKzjPGEAM1mCrzzpEVQn9VoWWvX4e1r33PUrfe2vV94_b4w10IplCOFDMgw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+x1+-+cryptozoologist.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbIsbQT59WgXawqHbLvuYk1Z2lvmtV4l9c-7NXbMJvPDdkMjfcBJWvT6eJk0xhcqMg7FopNG89Qrt1DC3FWsQWM8vdTpvkm24NHlkPlrIH3XB8ySCnRKgrvRfqmRF2bbyCFaBT3zvY7A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+24+-+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fLvYJcXZrDsmndx2Gfk0jIQ120zd58CRyqWc6bp8LbimJ85mOgW3LqodZMrHi-EVbeEJcZ6A4qWw8ZTPLGkz_QEr71Y3urR5JBsfECdCZ4z3Kt7mKLp8kngsrAcZsqanpbC5EzJp1xw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+25+-+full+moon.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/2/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s320/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChvo6luOEry9-JWtYDo7d12yEsVb_KVsqAjkBYSfQjONkLKRegMte-Za6Wh7RHsRxsb4HMnR4gHApvJwavSvh46EV7R7T-syv_HVSk98AlO2hlTVbaZQGjKE-_j7YNEEIGHrxObkclQI/s320/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Pocket+Apocalypse.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Epic Crush</b><br />
<b>of Genie Lo<br />by</b><br />
<b>F.C. Yee</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Pocket Apocalypse<br />by</b><br />
<b>Seanan McGuire</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s320/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" width="320" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Calls</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="4" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 75%;">
<tbody>
</tbody><colgroup>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="165"></col>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="165"></col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/01</b></td>
<td><b>Ghost Stories</b></td>
<td>10/01</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/02</td>
<td>Genre: Horror</td>
<td>10/02</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/03</td>
<td>Creepy Crawlies</td>
<td>10/03</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/04</td>
<td><b>Amateur Sleuth</b></td>
<td>10/04</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/05</td>
<td>American Horror Story</td>
<td>10/05</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/06</td>
<td>Dystopian Hellscape</td>
<td>10/06</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/07</td>
<td>Fear Street</td>
<td>10/07</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/08</td>
<td>Black Cat</td>
<td>10/08</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/09</td>
<td>Relics and Curiosities</td>
<td>10/09</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/10</td>
<td>A Grimm Tale</td>
<td>10/10</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/11</td>
<td>Stranger Things</td>
<td>10/11</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/12</td>
<td>Creepy Carnivals</td>
<td>10/12</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/13</b></td>
<td><b>Country House Mystery</b></td>
<td>10/13</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/14</td>
<td>Classic Horror</td>
<td>10/14</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/15</td>
<td>Supernatural</td>
<td>10/15</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/16</td>
<td>Psych</td>
<td>10/16</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/17</td>
<td><b>Darkest London</b></td>
<td>10/17</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/18</td>
<td>Cozy Mystery</td>
<td>10/18</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/19</td>
<td>Southern Gothic</td>
<td>10/19</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/20</td>
<td><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read by Flashlight or Candlelight</span></b></td>
<td>10/20</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/21</td>
<td>Modern Noir</td>
<td>10/21</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/22</b></td>
<td><b>Spellbound</b></td>
<td>10/22</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/23</td>
<td><b>Dark Academia</b></td>
<td>10/23</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/24</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/24</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/25</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/25</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/26</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/26</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/27</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/27</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/28</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/28</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/29</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/29</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/30</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/30</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td></td>
<td>10/31</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Transfiguration Spell</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 of 3 used</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSVyr1WokH8IDnNTJw0KSbk5GCFr4HZ575ZRPVjHBaa5jHNzcbi_63O_3MuVy1_31Q2DfXKwbtHzLQLi635WE7NtGF6FiaaDbo6bORqu-UwgZIHzi40gMi3kkElmIVJIN1vIi-D8_GCE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25231.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_T1COt7-ev8OV8vV_8cEFCVvBWPURnNEOkbjtNPqXppiqbOYNw303OPBc8rzk1IsDOX7459qT32whm_Bkz_MjrlfkgG9BlPY-fPg7lkiTbY5Ors33As3sBXeu1QjQtgfAsi5x8BW18o/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell+used+%25232.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-91080302135028991042019-09-22T22:09:00.000-05:002019-09-22T22:09:00.258-05:00Thoughts: Walk on Earth a Stranger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHqlogCKmuHEswEt3l-mHmDPWeacy-fBcM4RwOXwgmRtwTQ4S46z38oPsnFfT4vZmzMctf8WX7o3iUceEEfRQaBejLMpDD0_ftIfbhhNbnOaNhjYLbRpaYgk_B-8f78xqjwdhOWpgF7U/s1600/Carson%252C+Rae+-+Walk+on+Earth+a+Stranger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHqlogCKmuHEswEt3l-mHmDPWeacy-fBcM4RwOXwgmRtwTQ4S46z38oPsnFfT4vZmzMctf8WX7o3iUceEEfRQaBejLMpDD0_ftIfbhhNbnOaNhjYLbRpaYgk_B-8f78xqjwdhOWpgF7U/s1600/Carson%252C+Rae+-+Walk+on+Earth+a+Stranger.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Walk on Earth a Stranger</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Rae Carson</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>Gold Seer Trilogy</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17564519-walk-on-earth-a-stranger" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<br />
I absolutely adored Rae Carson's <em>Fire and Thorns</em> series and so, unintentionally, I might have done a little bit of compare and contrast; and I might have over-hyped myself with the announcement and publishing of <em>Walk on Earth a Stranger</em>.<br />
<br />
Officially "Historical" books aren't my typical genre and for whatever reason that is, I couldn't possibly say. I've just never really been one to seek out historical fiction as part of my reading consumption, but every so often I run into a gem of one. Unfortunately, I'm conflicted as to whether or not <em>Walk on Earth a Stranger</em> is that gem.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>The Story in Brief</u></strong><br />
<em>Walk on Earth a Stranger</em> takes place during the gold rush to California in 1849. Leah Westfall starts her journey from Georgia after the murder of her parents. As she is able to divine gold like a dowsing rod is supposed to find water, she somehow figures out that her greedy, creepy Uncle Hiram was the man who murdered her parents and stole their stash of gold dust. And since he has plans for her, she chooses to run, to catch up with her best friend, Jefferson, who has already left ahead of her, telling her that he'll meet her in Independence if she decides to go west with him.<br />
<br />
And, of course, throughout Leah's adventure, as she travels, disguised as a boy for convenience and safety, using the name Lee McCauley, she meets many new people and makes friends and begins forming a kinship with many of them.<br />
<br />
This little ragtag group of people, working together for a common cause is what I loved about the <em>Fire and Thorns</em> trilogy, as well as what I DO like about <em>Walk on Earth a Stranger</em>. Especially since, in this particular book, the characters are all from such different backgrounds and would all be the last to try and make friends with the people they are traveling with.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>My Overall Thoughts</u></strong><br />
The book has a very monotonous feel to it, and while I self-proclaim my love for adventures, and this book actually spent the <em>entire</em> time traveling, I just couldn't quite get that adventurous feel of it. There were ups and there were downs; and there were exciting times and there were draggy times. And then there were also the "what the heck is going on here?" times. And while overall, <em>Walk on Earth a Stranger</em> was quite enjoyable, it stayed at a fairly flat progression throughout--it started off quite slowly, gave us a strong turn of events, and then just kind of maintained that same, flatness throughout the rest of the book.<br />
<br />
Aside from the traveling and the few mishaps that happen during traveling and a few scattered events here and there (that felt like a textbook check-off list of "things that could happen when traveling west in 1849"), nothing else really happened. Even the looming base plot of "Uncle Hiram murdered my parents and wants to use me for my gold divining magic" seemed insignificant for a duration in the book.<br />
<br />
Rae Carson is a great writer with excellent attention-to-detail. The book is still grounded in historical facts with detail to the correctness of prejudices and behaviors with a pretty good collection of culturally diverse characters gathered together on this journey to California. And while there are exciting moments, the book really read very much like the <em>Oregon Trail</em> game wherein anything and everything that could possibly happen to a troupe of travelers during those harsh times DID happen to Leah and her group: from cholera to broken axle wheels to crossing a river and losing animals... and even several deaths to boot.<br />
<br />
Again, it was like a travel book check list of possible disasters to look out for during historical times of America. Historically accurate, great to know about, but uninspiring and lackluster in execution.<br />
<br />
<br />
In summary: Yes, this book was enjoyable. No, nothing overly exciting actually jumps out at you. Yes, there was an adventure to be had. No, it wasn't really all that exciting and didn't quite elicit much in the "oh this is so much fun" department for me--not that harsh travels, asshole troupe leaders, and sickness and death is fun, but you know what I'm talking about adventure-wise, right? Yes, this book had a "friends-to-love" romance implanted... and no, there were no FEELS to be had.<br />
<br />
In fact, I don't know whether to be disappointed about the romance or to be glad that maybe there's more development to look forward to in the next book--that the romance wasn't the foremost concern of the story plot, unlike many other YAs we encounter regularly. Because while I really dig the whole "friends-to-lovers" romantic plot device, I was having trouble accepting Jefferson and Leah as a couple if only because they rarely show any inclination towards romantic notions aside from a few words and a marriage proposal of convenience. Sure, Leah gets a little jealous when Jefferson seems to be spending so much time with another young girl in their traveling group. And sure, Jefferson says a few things here and there that make you wonder.<br />
<br />
The romance just didn't feel very well developed and I sincerely hope that there's more to build on it in future books--future books I still have intentions of reading.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<i>This review was originally posted at <a href="http://anicheung.booklikes.com/post/1300945/thoughts-walk-on-earth-a-stranger" target="_blank">Ani's Book Abyss / BookLikes</a> in December 2015.</i><br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-48744265553512393352019-09-20T18:06:00.002-05:002019-09-20T18:06:56.053-05:00Fairly Brief Thoughts: Ice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvegJaSGDIHU1OBUzFEDKuCSazTbI4GNNpNdphKjscsxohprtEG3TeB0iCMmlKrLjflZ7OeY6d9mcoolvnL6FS_jU1OvcFGXW0rwGMxz1bG-jlcVlF8UPr53ZnmrOc-BJJj8rXo78UUM/s1600/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvegJaSGDIHU1OBUzFEDKuCSazTbI4GNNpNdphKjscsxohprtEG3TeB0iCMmlKrLjflZ7OeY6d9mcoolvnL6FS_jU1OvcFGXW0rwGMxz1bG-jlcVlF8UPr53ZnmrOc-BJJj8rXo78UUM/s1600/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ice</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Linda Howard</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36511049-ice" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders. A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbor who’s fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere, and make sure Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It’s a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make given the bitter winter weather–and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly.<br />
<br />
But there’s no talking back when your dad is the town’s top cop. And there’ s no turning back when night falls just as Gabriel arrives–and discovers that the weather outside isn’t the only thing that’s frightful. Spotting strangers in Lolly’ s home–one of them packing a weapon–is all it takes to kick Gabriel into combat mode. And his stealth training is all he needs to extract Lolly from the house without alerting her captors. But when the escape is discovered, the heat–and the hunt–are on. And the winter woods are nowhere to be once the ice storm touches down, dropping trees, blocking roads, and trapping the fleeing pair in the freezing dark.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Ice</i> was pretty much like an exciting action/thriller and romance movie. While the beginning of the book was kind of slow to start up, once our couple gets trapped in the ice storm on the mountain, the action just kept moving forward. This isn't a mystery or anything, really just a suspense and thriller that takes place throughout the night in an ice storm, with danger lurking everywhere in the form of mother nature as well as human.<br />
<br />
Character development was sorely lacking, but I still found that I liked the main hero and heroine enough. I wish we could have delved more into the relationship between Lolly and Gabe, because the ending of the book seems rather abrupt.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, this was a rather exciting and entertaining read, even if not my favorite of Linda Howard's work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-60943567546506353292019-09-20T18:03:00.001-05:002019-09-20T18:03:13.559-05:00Thoughts: Half-Off Ragnarok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s1600/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s1600/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Half-Off Ragnarok</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Seanan McGuire</b><br />
<b>Book 3 of <u>InCryptid</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18486250-half-off-ragnarok" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>When Alex Price agreed to go to Ohio to oversee a basilisk breeding program and assist in the recovery of his psychic cousin, he didn't expect people to start dropping dead. But bodies are cropping up at the zoo where he works, and his girlfriend—Shelby Tanner, an Australian zoologist with a fondness for big cats—is starting to get suspicious.<br />
<br />
Worse yet, the bodies have all been turned partially to stone...<br />
<br />
The third book in the InCryptid series takes us to a new location and a new member of the family, as Alex tries to balance life, work, and the strong desire not to become a piece of garden statuary. Old friends and new are on the scene, and danger lurks around every corner.<br />
<br />
Of course, so do the talking mice. </i></div>
<br />
<br />
I went into this third book in the <i>InCryptid</i> series knowing that we were switching perspectives from Verity Price to her older brother, Alex Price. I hadn't exactly decided on any kind of expectations, but I was still a bit wary about how much I'd like the book based on what little you get to know about Alex from Verity's POV in the first two books. And while I didn't really squee or love <i>Half-Off Ragnarok</i> as much as I loved the first two books, I admittedly enjoyed following Alex's POV very much.<br />
<br />
Alex Price is a science nerd and his sort of socially awkwardness only makes him so much more endearing. Especially since this book didn't really focus on the quirks of his personality, even while displaying them in ways that I absolutely enjoyed. I'm not sure how I felt about Shelby, although she seemed a bit one-dimensional and stereotyped--though this could have just been because of the first person POV wherein we only really get to see things from Alex's perspective.<br />
<br />
The mystery of who was turning people to stone was actually a rather great premise to start the book off with, and made this an interesting page-turner... even as the rest of the book felt a bit lackluster.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong--I absolutely enjoyed myself reading this book. But somehow it just didn't bring about the giddy feels and the laugh-out-loud moments that I'd found so much fun from the first two books. This could just be because of the little book time you get with Alex's splinter colony of Aeslin mice, or maybe the absence of a specific carnage-loving Gothic-lolita Waheela whom I ended up loving from the second book. Even Alex's miniature griffin, Crow, didn't really help much, cute as the little snot was.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, this was definitely a great inclusion to the series, and I actually kind of appreciate seeing the cryptid world from more than just Verity's perspective. And the nerdy scientist thing that Alex is sporting is quite endearing.<br />
<br />
We still could have used more time with the Aeslin mice, though... just sayin'...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-70927384243228844812019-09-15T15:49:00.002-05:002019-09-15T15:49:33.057-05:00Quick Thoughts: Footsteps in the Dark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s1600/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s1600/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Footsteps in the Dark</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Georgette Heyer</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9982788-footsteps-in-the-dark" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>Locals claim The Prior is haunted and refuse to put a single toe past the front door. Left empty for years, and even their deceased uncle chose to live in a different house, far away from this particular property. But the ramshackle old house, with its rambling charm is the perfect setting for a much-needed holiday for siblings Peter, Celia and Margaret, who have inherited it from their uncle. It wasn't the lack of modern conveniences that made a summer spent at the ancient priory mansion such an unsettling experience. It was the supposed ghost... or whatever was groaning in the cellars and roaming the countryside around Framley Village after dark.<br />
<br />
But when a murder victim is discovered in the drafty Priory halls, the once unconcerned trio begins to fear that the ghostly rumors are true and they are not alone after all! But traditionally ghosts don't commit murder. And in this case, the things which go bump in the night are deadly. With a killer on the loose, will they find themselves the next victims or will they uncover the true in time? Does the key to the crime lie in the realm of the supernaturalr? Or is the explanation much more down to earth with a more corporeal culprit of flesh and blood?</i></div>
<br />
<br />
The premise for <i>Footsteps in the Dark</i> was definitely one that I was extremely excited about. Even though I'm a scaredy cat, and don't really like scary stories, I get really giddy about haunted house stories, and a double whammy would be a haunted country house setting.<br />
<br />
This is my second Georgette Heyer book, and while I didn't care for the first one I read of hers, <i>Death in the Stocks</i>, this book definitely made up for it. By rights, it's not the best book in the world, and the investigative process was probably a bit questionable, but the characters were fun, even if the humor slipped into "tackily overdone" territory a few times.<br />
<br />
And yet, I still found the bit of comical interactions rather appealing. I DO wish that the women had more of a role in the investigation... and well, more of a role at all in the book--they seemed like background scenery, to be totally honest.<br />
<br />
The romance was most definitely insta, which made it a little hard to take it seriously, especially since Margaret's love interest was more or less a creepy unknown who kept secrets when they first met. I'd have been happier if their courtship didn't only consist of one walk together and a cryptic conversation in which Margaret is still unsure whether or not Michael Strange was a killer.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, the rest of the book was very enjoyable. The few moments involving the Monk got appropriately creepy enough to maintain the haunted house atmosphere. The side characters were also appropriately delightful as comic relief.<br />
<br />
And so I'd definitely give Ms. Heyer my continued interest in her work.<br />
<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-17317883445488211052019-09-14T23:44:00.001-05:002019-09-20T18:07:49.645-05:00Halloween Bingo 2019 | Update #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yCfc4VrISIhJlciuF8af6pYS4Cjabw0ubGdtVI71KM1SfsXTIRvi6GgQ7Jupp8s9E_ETOR3dQgN4hHxAH3bbsKEO4CE-Q-qqGY3P5Cl9s5WUgwvKD5q1qg3hOqMDkgLshyAby83X_PM/s1600/2018+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yCfc4VrISIhJlciuF8af6pYS4Cjabw0ubGdtVI71KM1SfsXTIRvi6GgQ7Jupp8s9E_ETOR3dQgN4hHxAH3bbsKEO4CE-Q-qqGY3P5Cl9s5WUgwvKD5q1qg3hOqMDkgLshyAby83X_PM/s640/2018+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+card.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween Bingo 2019</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hosted by <a href="http://moonlightreader.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Moonlight Reader</a> and <a href="http://oblue.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Obsidian Blue</a></div>
<br />
<br />
So there's a nasty flu thing going around knocking out my co-workers, and apparently it had decided to make its way to me. I started off being laid up in bed for a couple days, but even after feeling like maybe I was recovering, I've still been rather dizzy where the infection settled in my ears, so I spent the rest of the past week in a perpetual state of motion sick.<br />
<br />
It has been an excruciatingly long week, and I haven't felt like doing anything at all, not even reading. Sleep or staring off into space on the couch seemed to be my main recreations, and it wasn't until a couple days ago that I finally started feeling like maybe participating in life again.<br />
<br />
So here's an overdue update for Halloween Bingo, of which I'm quite glad I've managed to finish anymore books at all.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Red-Eyes Penni has returned to help me with my bingo game, as I was just too blegh to really feel like coming up with anything else fun. We'll just return to a nice, tried and true marker that I, personally, really liked.<br />
<br />
I've already made a lot of changes to my previously listed possible books, and I'm also going to determine a couple squares I'm definitely going to Transfigure, probably in the next update. As for how I'm going to depict that in my graphics... we'll come up with something. Now that I'm ready to human again, I might feel a bit more creative... maybe not. We'll see.<br />
<br />
I've just finished reading <i>Footsteps in the Dark</i> and <i>Half-Off Ragnarok</i>, and am planning reviews to go out soon in the next week. I'm also hoping to be moving onto the next few books pretty quickly, as <i>Ice</i> and <i>Lost Among the Living</i> are both books by authors that I've always enjoyed, and will fly right through their books.<br />
<br />
I'm super curious to jump into <i>Truly Devious</i>, which will actually be the second Young Adult book I will be reading for this game, which is more than I can say about most of the year already. If I like it, there's a high possibility that I'll want to read the rest of the series... maybe for this game.<br />
<br />
Happy reading and hope everyone's staying in good health.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Updated Marked Card</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aJNph94SeNHuTK_zeu3HU47EYKZTkzcigMUlvcNkvQrw7Lvq8zOFUn7tLZD_nnCDn82Nocbbc64W-4iXBe55jRj6zugVST3h_9C165LFXUZ9ZF3FiFXiHGrJ0YraeO_R9Fnp_Zy-X68/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aJNph94SeNHuTK_zeu3HU47EYKZTkzcigMUlvcNkvQrw7Lvq8zOFUn7tLZD_nnCDn82Nocbbc64W-4iXBe55jRj6zugVST3h_9C165LFXUZ9ZF3FiFXiHGrJ0YraeO_R9Fnp_Zy-X68/s640/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card+-+update+1.jpg" width="551" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Read:</b> Red-Eyes Penni<br />
<b>Called:</b> Green Square Outline<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Currently Reading</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" width="133" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstVD9KeH_t4S7UG77sd4merHJLpgQJtMijnLo_EY-kUoAetKQca8hyVcqcXTrZPBP4tzAREof8U0AwKaueIvdCUE30hKGAJYMywhGJ9mQtoCzGlxgxAEBld3CI-o41FkciCFdyeGifNI/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" width="127" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Up Next</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="123" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Books Read and Unallocated</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
TBA<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Squares/Books/Called Dates/Update Post Links</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<b>Progress on my card:</b> 3 squares called || 4 books read || 1 squares completed<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" class="tablehb18" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<!-- First Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRGXfqDXB-z9jjWJOWQugqh3Mxon_HL8H_zbXwl9u6xx4SlYimkAumxkBcvoDPst8U88a0_PGtwSV8BcxRdXJn6-ifL4LfKdKsrZx2wwbP2kcJr1dIeCgPsmX2bhdOLiz6y6ieAab2eM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+01+-+paint+it+black.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKLPjmGoOI8iPTVRJMjbtt0C1M9zuOVS-PbDyxE7oqCwK3dIx7vg9ywn6Ihjvs3QxnrAOeC5-nwrCsdL7DAFYYZl_7v_aUPC7BU2qqhfLeurHMpChjwZq2qYwXaQIj10SUl3BUTIED2I/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+02+-+Halloween.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiC_X95qCU7KlPM_ygK30D2B2mG8bhnZCHuCykpBAcpvQadMjHPfbcEln_Yuoy1sGzVbEKYgdY0aMvXEctFDxLyAZ8RGM0NwL4LD9NRUIcqUtYlWjK2R3srxHuVwc2Rp0EHcsS8vDHQ4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+03+-+dark+dark+woods.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTgUcDrlRhIsuZDM2vfpHi9K_1jQWR6F-P83-z260qt-ZG6unlbo8fn7ccdLo5CBo1g1t5qL0-bGZX_gyvc7uHUBTA00zksGd52VW2MrypP-rk6APGX8VeZR4brCfh4xIrZnkFKMxvSg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+04+-+spellbound.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DIcSGi12Ff2RofmGtMC5-DiK4bddq8TPxSB7c7J1yKQqpzCWP3MXv1el2p3JQkR6O1nG_SOO977xXSbfKkhXaVeDi9g3K63_1_YgW-OAxM6sQoXdf2aIaTcgrPaJBHVaXdkepBlLNPk/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+05+-+international+woman+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHzGAwrXY32GW7aUSe4D-HDsMQaqETdBfdRUK3c_BK0nOQ5hhhzlm8RDFHQ9UobYwcF-gUD2l4H5WOFaRmHRrK-ChlL7_NfdxIuosBnnO_IPcwektEdmw4fIHuMG5b92zcuEr1nwyxM/s200/Marillier%252C+Juliet+-+Dreamer%2527s+Pool.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Dreamer's Pool<br />by</b><br />
<b>Juliet Marillier</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Second Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw06PuudHjs1SUVNlEUDZlHS_Q2yyL7z0FGI_q1AwANC5QlhPieiOcdkf8cucrZtrQuAwrBkAxkneuQKyWfnHVXvLFLVRk9S77Xx25kRqsc90WgzyaBlz4OHRnIy9HGY3cogWzVuuf604/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+06+-+flashlight+or+candlelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowetn2ZU0rQNp9oi5uCh5WXPRAoLzjh2KHfc05y8HaW44cCJnyvH-tFeN3TQNw4WFhqACx_WmdMLWUT7rGJ7nWCxuFtmGYHHEyLlTYC4hGf2UGZ9gXbKwJnt-OQawRvmRr1IDo0IQFeQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+07+-+sleepy+hollow.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt35kzO5Wsz5Klqt9S-MokIa5VfSllfweQAzbcZGT9cKnrElaaVuJJsK7h7vR-_DxtR74xE57e4xvIAPr1c9cg__s2vDOBh2v5NdvumaZ0dSiDQfLuE7eq_iu5HeTTnmdNzRGVq7H0zY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+08+-+dark+and+stormy+night.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6CupEAgvubL1Zky0jEI5d_dY548o7pyy_hWlB19PvqS1cZOmYao3sbfvNltTGMtBzcr5dgE83kgRgp7K8pWqHyy4cduJbdTVAeNaiG5naL_QmglwjGpd1d-PF9aZFWCnx7p857vfdjY/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+10+-+modern+noir.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/13/19<br />Read: 9/11/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstVD9KeH_t4S7UG77sd4merHJLpgQJtMijnLo_EY-kUoAetKQca8hyVcqcXTrZPBP4tzAREof8U0AwKaueIvdCUE30hKGAJYMywhGJ9mQtoCzGlxgxAEBld3CI-o41FkciCFdyeGifNI/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Ice.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Footsteps in </b><b>the</b><br />
<b>Dark</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Georgette Heyer</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Third Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTh81jFgS8Dpe_jkJPSIJIynZGgRX1SAxi2ttrEJj11m0_cZxJcRgoydpkYeszzbyHbvqIjnc8L_Mk_MgtPY6wfx4F2DyKjaJaCFKwUeor4TGe2dVyZTwELW8t3vGoMEYG_gG2Qe2VgQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+11+-+gothic.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeYjHvj_ULZ2xZ5ySikjOZ61w61REhARTbxcs2Cx3hW6SBn0VuYuz4Nz7cpzMg5TrlJ8m9MGDa2urhjw756Fa9xAhG_aKYK-Wr6EYi9KXCKRtURT_9K3zNdcPdxd2KZwpI7reGk_7U/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+12+-+grave+or+graveyard.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienmHj1Ixcz8NEHCYE0z8rHWTXb83Mau-uf4EnMcAXMAPEqhnjpPNG4a8XchXIV0GwNwG1_I_vbR5amK2cBdxURlm4c5uFVvIstCcrNGnr55GYQmndFv1k_RJYid1GvKoxaA7o7a4x-EQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+13+-+free+space.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lmt9q4W4_OSx5sQkY16JGhdaVqgeOpQ5NrfWWpqAkG_XO_Ibtl1t7SFg1lcCEn2dEZjXjuk9j5Wdx21D1oYkNanpCvBoJ6BQj5psJZvOWUEh3-_ii_glC6Kk9YXsVA_jb_dwwXCl6TU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+14+-+baker+street+irregulars.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JkWTf6ux3uXP8dWqBf3AiGwfQZRGZER0SOUineEqPaDQoZ4LAskyoY6Y1iFs-qZsLQIFT7gaLlKwqUQFaj4Nl4irZtHA09qu2MhY4Fq9DQBY3S8RQGhqOm8ClaJPC-pQio8oQoAwOHg/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+15+-+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPczC5uTALWeXKe760PyEWJC_QqhCtrvBrY9j_aNORDoWezKNoWSJmv9nKZseMv8p8COtOo0BHkn-wewjfETgRJi_V0q_rQw_Dh-D-bHDuZdC1x8Jwh0KCC1UhC5KTkcwWpCwhg_7zXbk/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Visitor<br />by</b><br />
<b>Amanda Stevens</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Truly Devious<br />by</b><br />
<b>Maureen Johnson</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fourth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFcJfXOMhCGhNYWc5bGm2_mdLYZryqwuXAcRbNo0mIuJhnMwsoJt0PHYvAiLsUxrOf2QT_8wu8m0AN_hhXoRtI0H2XvG7gLwWvY7ZnjWcwHvFNRwsGfuirLf9uHDx-6VpcZhchksFlMU/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+18+-+ghost+stories.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOtUSXLkBMYIQTIAzvDehOGG17yCBEx_xX3SvJLGwL05KN0AVHcMsyTnXsMvPoGkzOICTh91zeULEO48Bf7lERGMlxO5p376mI8pZMZ11H052NDa3pPpA3nin-R87VKpTJ_sR5ZTtze0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+19+-+locked+room+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamff5PeY5ZQ5G_NkSVZHyBPGyQsSQY4lOsiQtjV-1-2ABCUF04AByouFk0iuS5YRrFaSaM2_AZKG6V147CU641ETAoa8Be99-Yg2Ty0Tao-5UaFSYG3PXOb_OehctDGB-jGQvuw99_tE/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+20+-+amateur+sleuth.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/14/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/1/19<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/1/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called: 9/4/19<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s320/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s320/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Firelight<br />by</b><br />
<b>Kristen </b>Callihan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Half-Off </b><b>Ragnarok</b><br />
<b>by</b><br />
<b>Seanan McGuire</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Lost Among the</b><br />
<b>Living<br />by</b><br />
<b>Simone St. </b><b>James</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sign of the</b><br />
<b>Four<br />by</b><br />
<b>Arthur Conan</b><br />
<b>Doyle</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<!-- Fifth Row -->
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1-iY9uQVIbCvTJPG3Jax-FJrwJwph2UYORhfSK0rh5tqx8PWG-kuQgyF7CDq9Z2cF2AKByw6_7AqlbmAXZSJHNJdYqpETdb64L_q-m_IisFtPYZYhJ-BwQ2-LBaYMiRR5si4T3QLp3A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+22+-+romantic+suspense.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstZOTI9_wbIT9yI9pgC2qpOxcRbWsLHyncjW79L2bke62YM-CkzUqPNxsuhNF7IdzbEGarBhg4eanUYEwlCAvnqrZ-WgOsIivkrvM0LSKNo02kiAtGW0D0MuVa8CFuzhtselRxNs9NAw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+23+-+magical+realism.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbIsbQT59WgXawqHbLvuYk1Z2lvmtV4l9c-7NXbMJvPDdkMjfcBJWvT6eJk0xhcqMg7FopNG89Qrt1DC3FWsQWM8vdTpvkm24NHlkPlrIH3XB8ySCnRKgrvRfqmRF2bbyCFaBT3zvY7A/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+24+-+mystery.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fLvYJcXZrDsmndx2Gfk0jIQ120zd58CRyqWc6bp8LbimJ85mOgW3LqodZMrHi-EVbeEJcZ6A4qWw8ZTPLGkz_QEr71Y3urR5JBsfECdCZ4z3Kt7mKLp8kngsrAcZsqanpbC5EzJp1xw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+25+-+full+moon.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read: 9/2/19</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Called:<br />Read:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s320/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
<td class="tablehb18" style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKRutN3xZx8aN1HLLT_j0myM3xVVVjSHQmCljTSu1mOydcyYfakTwq4EAGhq5dIrr9Olz-0BSFnkGPvNaiEzqiFtwKUtDLF0OZyaKzQGR2ajXm9MMHlVanf3BhhyXhy9AF5fap7Q698/s320/Bookish+-+Undecided+Cover+Place+Holder.png" style="padding: 2px;" width="99" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>The Epic Crush</b><br />
<b>of Genie Lo<br />by</b><br />
<b>F.C. Yee</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>book<br />by</b><br />
<b>author</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Calls</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="4" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; width: 75%;">
<tbody>
</tbody><colgroup>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="150"></col>
<col width="50"></col>
<col width="150"></col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
<td><b>Date</b></td>
<td><b>Square</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/01</td>
<td><b>Ghost Stories</b></td>
<td>10/01</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/02</td>
<td>Genre: Horror</td>
<td>10/02</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/03</td>
<td>Creepy Crawlies</td>
<td>10/03</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/04</td>
<td><b>Amateur Sleuth</b></td>
<td>10/04</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/05</td>
<td>American Horror Story</td>
<td>10/05</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/06</td>
<td>Dystopian Hellscape</td>
<td>10/06</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/07</td>
<td>Fear Street</td>
<td>10/07</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/08</td>
<td>Black Cat</td>
<td>10/08</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/09</td>
<td>Relics and Curiosities</td>
<td>10/09</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/10</td>
<td>A Grimm Tale</td>
<td>10/10</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/11</td>
<td>Stranger Things</td>
<td>10/11</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/12</td>
<td>Creepy Carnivals</td>
<td>10/12</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>09/13</b></td>
<td><b>Country House Mystery</b></td>
<td>10/13</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/14</td>
<td>Classic Horror</td>
<td>10/14</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/15</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/15</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/16</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/16</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/17</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/17</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/18</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/18</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/19</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/19</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/20</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/20</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/21</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/21</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/22</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/22</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/23</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/23</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/24</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/24</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/25</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/25</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/26</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/26</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/27</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/27</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/28</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/28</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/29</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/29</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09/30</td>
<td></td>
<td>10/30</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td></td>
<td>10/31</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>Transfiguration Spell</u>:</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq91dENLRkvplw4DNBtIGh2MnDJx_wG3Yuw7suDnRofW78hihWi43DQw1plA4yIcGgcDksoSO7wqJ_ugcsqohak7ds4_9d-nP3uBH4d1F7rBmNg339-gKfUiBRR80XvUBgZjQO90uv7E/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+transfiguration+spell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
No Transfigurations used as of present.<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-4808075731418643652019-09-05T22:57:00.002-05:002019-09-05T22:57:54.724-05:00Long Rambling Thoughts: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s1600/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s1600/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by F. C. Yee</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30116958-the-epic-crush-of-genie-lo" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>Genie Lo is one among droves of Ivy-hopeful overachievers in her sleepy Bay Area suburb. You know, the type who wins. When she’s not crushing it at volleyball or hitting the books, Genie is typically working on how to crack the elusive Harvard entry code.<br />
<br />
But when her hometown comes under siege from hellspawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are dramatically rearranged. Enter Quentin Sun, a mysterious new kid in class who becomes Genie’s self-appointed guide to battling demons. While Genie knows Quentin only as an attractive transfer student with an oddly formal command of the English language, in another reality he is Sun Wukong, the mythological Monkey King incarnate—right down to the furry tale and penchant for peaches.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, acing the SATs is the least of Genie’s worries. The fates of her friends, family, and the entire Bay Area all depend on her summoning an inner power that Quentin assures her is strong enough to level the very gates of Heaven. But every second Genie spends tapping into the secret of her true nature is a second in which the lives of her loved ones hang in the balance.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
I don't know what I was expecting when I went into this book, but it certainly was much more delightful and fun than I'd anticipated. While the voice of Genie Lo's first person POV might have felt a bit immature, I sincerely appreciate all the humor and sarcasm--truth, there are some moments when the comical nonsense is overdone, but I'm not complaining, really. As far as the story goes, at times I felt like I was watching/reading a cross between <i>Inuyasha</i>, <i>Dogma</i>, and various other modern adaptations of <i>Journey to the West</i> mashed together. There might have even been a lot of American pop culture references, though I probably would have been MUCH more impressed had Yee included some Chinese pop culture references as well.<br />
<br />
But seeing as we are looking through the eyes of uber millennial Chinese-American Genie Lo, I can kind of see the voice working.<br />
<br />
While there have been a numerous amount of movie and television adaptations of <i>Journey to the West</i> or a simple Monkey King retelling, I think this is the first time I've stumbled across a book retelling based on the legend. So, needless to say, I was very, very intrigued.<br />
<br />
For anyone not familiar with this tale, <i>Journey to the West</i> follows the adventures of a Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who is tasked by the heavens and his king to travel west in search of a set of holy scriptures, which is said to be crucial in helping to alleviate the world of suffering. His disciples include the infamous Monkey King, Sun Wukong; the Piggy Demon, Zhu Bajie; the River Demon, Sha Wujing; and Xuanzang's white horse, previously an exiled dragon prince. As the tale goes, each of Xuanzang's disciples has been selected for this journey by the Siddhartha Buddha because they each have terrible sins to atone for, and therefore must guard Xuanzang on his journey. Along the way, the five monks go through a lot of trials and tribulations, testing their resolve and determination.<br />
<br />
It's actually a really, really long tale, but one of the most well-known legends in China.<br />
<br />
Getting back to this book, <i>Epic Crush</i> was written in a chaotic fashion, but it still managed to draw me in, especially since Genie, her friends, and her mother were portrayed in a way that I really could relate with. Genie is a very American, Chinese-American teenager living in modern-day America, under the close scrutiny of her very traditional Chinese mother. We get to see glimpses of the affect culture has on Genie and her mother amidst their behavior towards one another, from the high expectations and immense pressure that Genie's mother puts on her, and Genie's latent need to seek approval and acceptance from her strict mother even in spite of her more independent, gruff personality.<br />
<br />
Of course, heart-rending, heart-warming, self-revelation journey about a teenage girl, this book is not.<br />
<br />
Because this book is more about Genie's destined path in life based on who she was in a previous life. Basically, as Genie herself finds out, the fate of of the Bay Area is in her hands alongside that of a strange kid claiming to be the great Monkey King of old Chinese mythological lore. Demons have been loosed from the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and the gods have decided that it's up to Genie and her Monkey King partner, Quentin Sun, to take care of the problem.<br />
<br />
So... in a way, this book is sort of a hero's journey, following Genie as she relearns her magical abilities from her previous life of fighting evil demons. Truth... I was quite floored by just exactly <i>who</i> Genie was in her previous life and chuckled my ass off. Sorry Genie--you're a wonderful character, but that plot twist was gold!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, this book touches upon so many tangents that I'm not entirely certain we get a clear focus on any of the significant conflicts at all. And the ending, truth be told, might have been a little rushed, and very deux ex machina... if only because this is, after all, a book based on Chinese mythology, and the gods and goddesses tend to have a hand in everything, while they torture the poor characters who are stuck on Earth who have to do their bidding. In other words, the gods and goddess want the Earthly beings to take care of themselves, but they aren't above interfering to get the job done if the need arises... and <i>only</i> when they feel inclined to do so, which is usually whenever a story plot backs itself into a corner and needs divine intervention that had been denied for the past forty-nine episodes of a series, or two and a half hours of movie, or three hundred pages of book.<br />
<br />
Le sigh...<br />
<br />
One thing that I already knew about Chinese mythology and their gods... a lot of times, they act even more human than we expect them to, seeing as there's equal opportunity corruption, shirking of duties, irrational expectations, and childish behaviors. In Chinese mythology and religion, gods, goddesses, and even Buddha are not infallible after all, and, as this book shows, can all be kinda douche-y.<br />
<br />
Anyway, a few quibbles stood out to me, but might just be my own personal bias or whatever.<br />
<br />
For instance, I had a hard time believing that Genie had no idea who the Monkey King is. Maybe it's a generational thing, or maybe it's a Westernized upbringing. But <i>Journey to the West</i> and the Monkey King is such a widely told legend in China, and there have been adaptation after adaptation, both old school and modernized, that it's hard to believe that Genie had never even heard of him. Even my youngest brother, who has the least Chinese knowledge in my family, understands references to the Monkey King, even if he doesn't know the story or the details.<br />
<br />
I would have expected Genie to at least be familiar with the name even if not familiar with the legend. As Quentin puts it, it would be like American teens NOT knowing who Batman is... although I probably wouldn't have used that kind of comparison--Batman and the Monkey King are both two very different kinds of characters.<br />
<br />
But I suppose if she never took any interest in her own culture, that might be possible.<br />
<br />
The other quibble I might nitpick is how all the Chinese gods, goddesses, and even the demons all speak colloquial English without fail. I might overlook that, because maybe our author just didn't want to go through the whole "he said in Chinese" narration--I understand that sometimes that can get a bit tedious. Or maybe it's an unofficial understanding that the gods and goddesses just know how to blend into whatever setting they land in, whether it be ancient historical China, or modern day Bay Area California. And so they somehow know how to speak flawless English with all the right slang and using all the most up-to-date references and such. Who knows?<br />
<br />
But being that Genie spends a good chapter ruminating about Quentin's perfect handle of the English language, I guess I'd have thought that she'd make note of whether someone was speaking English or Chinese at the time. Or the fact that all of the very Chinese gods, goddesses, and demons spoke modern-day American English.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I DID like the random thrown in Chinese phrases, denoted in italics. And for those Asians out there who are interested, apparently the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin chooses to make her random exclamations in Cantonese instead of Mandarin, unlike the other Chinese characters in this book. Just pay attention, if you understand Chinese or Cantonese, you'll note the pronunciations and romanizations are different.<br />
<br />
My final quibble with this book is the extreme romanticizing of the Monkey King, <i>Sun Wukong</i>. While I like the idea of a the Monkey King posing as a high school boy to implore Genie to help him with his demon hunting, I'm having a hard time reconciling the Monkey King I'm familiar with from the tales, the movies, the television series, with the immature teenage romantic depicted in this book. In fact, I'm not even entire sure that romance was really necessary in this book (and I'm a hopeless romantic who reads romance like I breath air).<br />
<br />
The Monkey King is a self-important, egotistical, arrogant being who loves himself, and loves his little monkey followers, loves his monk master and monk siblings, and loves his Goddess of Mercy... but not in a romantic sort of way. Sun Wukong loves those he considers his or his family, but romance has always been beyond him, and as a monk in training, romance is even a strictly forbidden emotion. In Buddhist teachings, human emotion oft times leads to suffering, and the only way to achieve Nirvana is to completely dispel all human emotion from one's being.<br />
<br />
This means that the Monkey King, his monk siblings, and his master, aside from setting off to obtain the Holy Scriptures from the West, are also on a journey to obtain the highest level of monk-hood.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that the Monkey King would be completely immune to human emotion, and in fact, the whole point of the journey is to obtain that higher state of being. So there will be trials and tribulations that test his ability to reach that higher level of Nirvana.<br />
<br />
The impression I get from this story is that the <i>Journey to the West</i> adventure has already come and gone, and it's been centuries since. I would have thought the Monkey King would be a little wiser than a teenage boy and show more maturity. Yes. The Monkey King was always a jokester and troublemaker, but his actions were always explained away by his lack of understanding about society's expectations, as well as the rules and regulations of the Earthly and Heavenly worlds, or even Hell.<br />
<br />
But by this time in his life, after centuries... I wouldn't have expected him to so readily develop feelings for a teenage girl, even <i>if</i> she were the reincarnation of one of his best demon fighting partners. Even if, setting aside the age difference, I wouldn't have expected the legendary Monkey King to be acting like an immature teenager at all, especially after the journey he went through with his monk master and monk siblings to reach that higher level of monk-hood.<br />
<br />
<i>Epic Crush</i> aside, this is actually one of the hardest concepts for me to get behind--a supernatural being who has lived for hundreds or thousands of years, who's seen and experienced so much, showing up in a YA novel, acting like an immature child, and romancing main teenage hero/heroine, who, by the way, could very well pass for a great-great-great-great, many times great, grandchild... at best. I don't care that you still look like a sixteen year old boy or a sixteen year old girl... you're not, so don't act like one. It's hard to get behind, which is one of the biggest quibbles I have with this book.<br />
<br />
Of course, my familiarity and impression of the Monkey King is obviously a personal opinion. And over the years, the entire <i>Journey to the West</i> and the Monkey King stories have been recreated in rather romanticized ways in different, more modern movies. And, spoiler alert, in the end, there has always been a rather bittersweet ending to those romanticized notions.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's kind of my two-cents... or twenty, seeing as how I've rambled on.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, this was a rather fun read and I may or may not continue with the next book. I DID enjoy Genie Lo as an individual, though she's a lot more prone to violence than I'd have expected. And I also hoped to see more of her friendship with best friend, Yunie, just because we see so few positive female relationships emphasized on.<br />
<br />
I would recommend this book for fun, or if you're interested in Chinese mythology. But I wouldn't go by Genie's snarky retelling of the Monkey King's tale, if I want to be honest. It's not a terrible one and touches upon all the most important events that happen to Sun Wukong before the events of <i>Journey to the West</i>, but her rendition might be a bit more comical than it needed to be.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halloween Bingo 2019</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-22164070283632230632019-09-02T21:29:00.001-05:002019-09-02T21:29:39.411-05:00Monthly Reading Wrap Up -- August 2019August felt like it started off pretty strong with the end of Booklikes-opoly, but I think things tapered off as the anticipation for Halloween Bingo 2019 started building up. I had wanted to insert another book after finishing <i>Death in the Stocks</i>... but didn't want to be stuck trying to finish a non-Halloween Bingo book when Halloween Bingo officially started.<br />
<br />
So instead, I spent my time watching YouTube videos, creating new planner layouts for the rest of the year, and taking up habit tracking as a new thing. If anyone is curious about what I've been up to, I blogged about it in my <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/bout-of-books-26-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">Bout of Books 26 Wrap Up</a> post. There are photos involved and other links as well.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, now that September has started, so has Halloween Bingo 2019, and I'm pumped and already ecstatic about having finished two books already. I hope I can keep up this pacing, but I'm sure my reading will be sporadic. But no worries, there are a lot of books I'm really looking forward to reading, so I'm optimistic!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>August Reads</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5JvxJCuoy0_5Bn1xva92Iz6zPAWxEUFjlcJoKfkjSk3dZF_WSioyL5OD3w2rloepwbeHrCC1HM_L4KQsFW7_UYt00j8hgFJrklteiRVHkP56-4OBf81Mc_Ke_njUGSmygckDmKc0BsM/s200/Krentz%252C+Jayne+Ann+-+Deep+Waters.jpg" width="125" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJjLGBZ6trHLkzlnIcAj7o0BzU7cT5pbyzQ5ZnVeScKIpWZZXGdiTf9artdkUzz83OOqSjoDA0QbGWf3IriSsYwhByJYIGoHF5jXFQZykFSGBA4Cfv7dfWHWR5QKR4dYsmA_hyphenhyphenerODE8/s200/Walker%252C+LynDee+-+Lethal+Lifestyles.jpg" width="125" /><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKToSKI8LmkpJ6vtO5imON4i1SeBgMaBsQJQZ_i86XJ6Jc3GS-9tpf3a_UfLuKcJ_SUHPdb5z5PycqIUWwcJMc8b177yHaChcSlO6FynKd5rl1LQV61IMl-Jf_rghduHqNWJ7AUOWKtbI/s200/Ayres%252C+D.D.+-+Necessary+Force.jpg" width="133" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UJ0gEaDdrDWzU-eIAXZIlGddnw9fP_zJfJurEX6ZI3hfEfUzwtD4DObtiR9WXtQjVMtGDtG_Kx5N9-V37rLAZ5_813xN-Oqzk99AQtpBYNO79pfDydbtj4Fw1-7EPspUJrNxW-95hpY/s200/Howard%252C+Linda+-+Open+Season.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9DDhVr39bJL5YB4gHYjYW5lCRgtP5x6tdGkjgOd_j4nCe9nEGUocf2V57l8f3GfWkoxcUlB8ODAz1ALYt2q5dtBg00lfwyHoXjVWxfZrkmFfZOyInwjgJjG-8CignS-lzK2a2rNPD7A/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Ember.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA8eRlS3WxCLlmTndVPA4LqfCyqbCOQtErDr11b68Ehxer9FUjPGVfL3CsMaah0j3sUW_rYyL9t7gs_z-kr0NHkTvc-giEQahITYgROAoN73uhotY4nlBmvy7NaqiqFeBa19rYzqjVAA/s200/Butcher%252C+Jim+-+Storm+Front+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="357" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHhnWkujhVnkLJxn7ikZIX3j5Nspsx6avpa89fHNLaJjzuHf_VmSup4aj2RVNstZVulTn9EZWQcV_Y6ewaK4fKzOxJ1hIGfpljLTNlUfHxhuDuUCEZyx0uf2R7FhpOq4-vdQlFOHym-o/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Death+in+the+Stocks.jpg" width="142" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Books Dropped/Put On Hold</b></h2>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
None this month! Yay!
</div>
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Currently Reading</b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQlwBcw3oECQMP9DXvVhlkhmo5fW7eUP4V-q_MAm8nXEgHNJYB6PpjGi9-QapDsjtxmsFdiirWvq0eKiZd7I2i0Vx5TrzoxoEZPu-hYgpniTbQ_LUZh9VBM4KPpJhp8jAHFtOQ5HhH-0/s200/Yong%252C+Ed+-+I+Contain+Multitudes.jpg" width="131" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHmkXDfEXVb7bhBN55RikszguOvLadLej9GxsXbjOrHK3cS2FEe-BbYNrsZN48WqGEKL9RhLxBZB65sfyKhAaw95rA6BNC3ZRAjKz4Yte6jMpuqWmnunNkAAfZGLCsDSMS3MlEVuCWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" width="130" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEPBg2zLhBvmHKDzUccXFW4vkAHLci9dPp380QEMAJ_7WBVKqT-QXqH5-LamXxvGPsG0k62J7UVEo3i0a45Zu8uBBjEG5FDGoCJ0WgWAQGAGIRPz7Rm-vXakMc-GlW_-_GzJFzwF6dyU/s200/St.+James%252C+Simone+-+Lost+Among+the+Living.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>August Reading Stats</b></h2>
<b><u>Total works read</u>: 7</b><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>4 print/e-book novels</li>
<li>1 audio books</li>
<li>2 novellas</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Average rating</u>: 3.14 Stars</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Highest Rated: 3</b> books <b>// 3.5 Stars</b></li>
<ul style="list-style-type: none;">
<li>(1) <i>Lethal Lifestyles by LynDee Walker</i></li>
<li>(2) <i>Necessary Force by D.D. Ayres</i></li>
<li>(3) <i>Open Season by Linda Howard</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Lowest Rated:</b> <i>Storm Front by Jim Butcher</i> <b>// 2.5 Stars</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><u>Series I started reading</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher</li>
<li>Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemmingway by Georgette Heyer</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I completed</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>None</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Series I have made progress on</u>:</b>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller by LynDee Walker</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Reviews & Notable Posts</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Reviews Written</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/brief-thoughts-madam-will-you-talk.html" target="_blank">Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/quick-thoughts-lethal-lifestyles.html" target="_blank">Lethal Lifestyles by LynDee Walker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/brief-thoughts-ember.html" target="_blank">Ember by Kristen Callihan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/review-girl-of-fire-and-thorns.html" target="_blank">The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson</a> | Review transfer</li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/more-of-fangirl-squee-than-review-crown.html" target="_blank">The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson</a> | Review transfer</li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/more-squee-and-somewhat-of-review.html" target="_blank">The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson</a> | Review transfer</li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/thoughts-storm-front.html" target="_blank">Storm Front by Jim Butcher</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Memes</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Did not meme this month!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Posts</span></u></b></h4>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/booklikes-opoly-2019-roll-20.html" target="_blank">Booklikes-opoly 2019 | Roll #20</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/booklikes-opoly-2019-end-game-update.html" target="_blank">Booklikes-opoly 2019 | End Game Update and Brief Wrap Up</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/halloween-bingo-2019-pre-party-set-1.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 Pre-Party - Set 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/read-thon-bout-of-books-26.html" target="_blank">Read-a-thon: Bout of Books 26</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/halloween-bingo-2019-anis-tentative.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 | Ani's Tentative Reading List!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/bout-of-books-26-starting-post.html" target="_blank">Bout of Books 26 - Starting Post</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/bout-of-books-26-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">Bout of Books 26 Wrap Up</a></li>
<li><a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/halloween-bingo-2019-this-weeks-early.html" target="_blank">Halloween Bingo 2019 | This Week's Early Start!</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>Coming Up In September</b></h2>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Tentative TBR</span></u></b></h4>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="357" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieF40MVDYfWhPFBZcE79FukTqJGfOpzpUHTka7wSNiQ-4QGCqyGsMWQp3MOPcIGTqOT2u3OH5IE81nQVrukVEpVSrNT6fF2khhdjjYCv3Zy5pMVLEEJeRzk3gkTa6qedQKUTdarB1G9z0/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Behold%252C+Here%2527s+Poison.jpg" width="142" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5TUYpvWY1auzEGLV1-_hX-klLsDruE99OxNmmoAn1AQpiSMq2l3B2fuBK3mgdcidIlmTGT6xVKp0DhhMqe0-LJ7edTi3X0IEUSxTt8bc8GpPlDkDAx-gmbqr6pn6PmUm3KcCI01AbF0/s200/Johnson%252C+Maureen+-+Truly+Devious.jpg" width="131" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBwLkI8sT96Ztqii540Ok5aXYVDl35_9sr_Wx4sXiFD37XzHjbf6LEQd04GgUNR5kikEitCPNG7imuJ_iHikdH5-n2F4NrbStcKxjdhMq2r-N_5iGle3KN1-cRm92T25VGGvM0dD48IE/s200/Huber%252C+Anna+Lee+-+A+Study+in+Death.jpg" width="132" /><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidt-bgzutOpzAhBIXggFRH0Y3vrpELpSy0wORvHSBLHsOLZFOLVbVr9cEh_WsXh7bW0_c7k1YDBLw-wja3s8uBvNMPxPVgPCOHQqws6sljsvOiKIMmOG7WOxRzeQv8A8oRgHFiC_WF88/s200/Butcher%252C+Jim+-+Fool+Moon+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="123" /><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitZLntDJ05QMoNP2BadrYOT1CghDu8kZLUyy-PxYCu7QgseupwVM7ikFFu5_VGxB1iATvzuGjdrE3GdIUPZdJwg-n7pAmml4iKDqaBzKPZyuwUK3a2qkXrgvsUkGpVYCRDqueOpCL1ec/s200/Stevens%252C+Amanda+-+The+Visitor.jpg" width="126" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff</span></u></b></h4>
So I'm going to try to keep up with my Halloween Bingo updates as well as I can, but the main goal will just be to read and review. I've been working on setting up how my tracking page will look, but I think I might end up falling back on some old, tried and true stuff I've used before.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, there should be another review coming up soon, and I'm also still going to do a mid-Bingo summary as well as an end-of-Bingo summary in October. Otherwise, I don't really have a whole lot of plans for the next two months outside of reading, reading, and reading some more! =D<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b>2019 Wrap-Ups</b> </h2>
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/p/wrap-ups-other.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Past Monthly Reading Wrap Ups</a> (2016 / 2017 / 2018)<br />
<b>See Also: <a href="http://anicheung.booklikes.com/other_posts" target="_blank">2015 Reading Wrap-Up posts</a></b> (scroll to bottom of page)<br />
<br />
(updated as year progresses by month)<br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/02/monthly-reading-wrap-up-january-2019.html" target="_blank">January</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/03/monthly-reading-wrap-up-february-2019.html" target="_blank">February</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/04/monthly-reading-wrap-up-march-2019.html" target="_blank">March</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/05/monthly-reading-wrap-up-april-2018.html" target="_blank">April</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/06/monthly-reading-wrap-up-may-2019.html" target="_blank">May</a> | <a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/07/monthly-reading-wrap-up-june-2019.html" target="_blank">June</a><br />
<a href="https://anicheungbookabyss.blogspot.com/2019/08/monthly-reading-wrap-up-july-2019.html" target="_blank">July</a> | August | September | October | November | December<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-6675987274085984652019-09-02T20:14:00.003-05:002019-09-02T20:14:40.585-05:00Brief Thoughts: Death in the Stocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHhnWkujhVnkLJxn7ikZIX3j5Nspsx6avpa89fHNLaJjzuHf_VmSup4aj2RVNstZVulTn9EZWQcV_Y6ewaK4fKzOxJ1hIGfpljLTNlUfHxhuDuUCEZyx0uf2R7FhpOq4-vdQlFOHym-o/s1600/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Death+in+the+Stocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="357" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHhnWkujhVnkLJxn7ikZIX3j5Nspsx6avpa89fHNLaJjzuHf_VmSup4aj2RVNstZVulTn9EZWQcV_Y6ewaK4fKzOxJ1hIGfpljLTNlUfHxhuDuUCEZyx0uf2R7FhpOq4-vdQlFOHym-o/s1600/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Death+in+the+Stocks.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Death in the Stocks</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Georgette Heyer</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemmingway</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ Goodreads ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3.0 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i><b>A Moonlit Night, a Sleeping Village, and an Unaccountable Murder...</b><br />
<br />
In the dead of the night, a man in an evening dress is found murdered, locked in the stocks on the village green. Unfortunately for Superintendent Hannasyde, the deceased is Andrew Vereker, a man hated by nearly everyone, especially his odd and unhelpful family members. The Verekers are as eccentric as they are corrupt, and it will take all Hannasyde's skill at detection to determine who's telling the truth, and who is pointing him in the wrong direction. The question is: who in this family is clever enough to get away with murder?</i></div>
<br />
<br />
I don't know what to say about this one. I enjoyed it and found the mystery interesting. The writing was excellent and gave the book a nice British mystery vibe... if that makes any sense. But the characters were all terrible people and I had a really hard time relating to them. And it wasn't like they were monstrous people or anything... they were just all very unlikable characters.<br />
<br />
The suspects were all jokey and flippant about their own situations. Witnesses were belligerent and rude. The entire Vereker family were entitled, spoiled, and over dramatic. The one character I ended up even liking ended up being the culprit.<br />
<br />
And then there was a strange attempt at a romance, which... I'm not familiar with Georgette Heyer and this is the first book I've read of hers... But are all of her romances as detached, instantaneous, and barely significant as this?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I was considering the next book in this series for Halloween Bingo 2019, so it'll give me another look at Georgette Heyer's writing. On the other hand, while I had a lot of things to complain about, the writing was rather fun to follow and the book was just so that I couldn't really look away and never really felt the need to stop reading.<br />
<br />
So I was entertained even if I didn't like the characters.<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-12170524760753865982019-09-01T08:31:00.002-05:002019-09-01T08:31:49.844-05:00It's Sunday! And Halloween Bingo Begins!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2YIsdHxqspLuD4MRG6FxGi1w5E3iYzzpHE7Wizh8HZSVDsrjI5nOMoa2MZQ3DyKF4KSPfV5vRNmVgZUqI8Fx_OCOZuLRHRI-6koJ5RNYHmIIKBzJP0p187jzlTG6cKQ0eNCgA2IYdQ/s400/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+bingo+card.jpg" width="344" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I haven't quite decided on a tracking system yet, and am working out the details in my tables, so this is a little kick off update for Halloween Bingo 2019! Just to let everyone know that I've already finished my first book and am now moving onto my next ones! I've been anticipating starting books all week that I didn't even have it in my to try squeezing in one more book before the end of August.<br />
<br />
And so I spent my time watching random YouTube videos and doing some more planning for Halloween Bingo. It was pretty calming, truth be told.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>What I Have Finished</u></b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtol1xQYK-QW1GTwwg-sre9r5yXHKyuzqvSxJurEyXDca-M-P3GAzKjjJauHsUnAMD2KEvPLosNhTKHX6j5z2EeYcExzlpiSnaqTaT_6CKGyTL2XyhLfIpsSVmFQidy8U26yIQYiQxHJI/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Complete+Sherlock+Holmes+The+Heirloom+Collection+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="200" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vDoNS8jwiGCOipxgpTCxxBEPgiMBn4jdwURwp8m3N2I0hHOHw3L6d2xYhTfFsjdchdAvZqhWaldcHP4wHl1Mr2IQ6KS29NWnGYENVSiXvsa49_Qc9qdv7oCIzq38CA4HW2ox9F0fA_I/s200/Doyle%252C+Arthur+Conan+-+The+Sign+of+the+Four+%2528Penguin%2529.jpg" width="130" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOtUSXLkBMYIQTIAzvDehOGG17yCBEx_xX3SvJLGwL05KN0AVHcMsyTnXsMvPoGkzOICTh91zeULEO48Bf7lERGMlxO5p376mI8pZMZ11H052NDa3pPpA3nin-R87VKpTJ_sR5ZTtze0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+19+-+locked+room+mystery.jpg" /></div>
<br />
I started off Halloween Bingo with a <b>Locked Room Mystery</b> by listening to the audio of <i>The Sign of the Four</i> by Arthur Conan Doyle, which was part of the <i>Complete Sherlock Holmes</i> collection, narrated by Simon Vance. I probably could have benefited from starting a different book, since this was only a three hour audio... and I realized I'd have finished it way before Halloween Bingo starting date, so I had to take my time. I finished the last chapter this morning so I could count it towards the game.<br />
<br />
It was an interesting listen, but I can't say that I enjoyed it as much as the other, few, <i>Sherlock Holmes</i> mysteries I've read so far. There didn't seem much of a plot twist or mystery, and I was somewhat taken aback by the way that the Indians were portrayed... although I probably shouldn't have been surprised by that considering the time period this book was written.<br />
<br />
And then there was romance... seemingly of the insta-variety, but I'll take it. It was cute, in a way. Almost. If only because it irritated Holmes, and that made me giggle.<br />
<br />
I may or may not review this book... or just leave it at this. At this point, I'm just giving the book a <b>3-Star</b> rating and moving on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>What I'm Currently Reading</u></b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicumkjxFG_dbeQrKLDO0UinISKd4K4FOaioMjZSKZqkB5d2LKmxn6d8K2oghN5xRMrPKMo41DyBx5dKiQPtj5Mb8KYq5PiyqNORHfNDDUriv3gbWX3I5PaH25dpp9-EMUro_GIg0UaAWE/s200/Heyer%252C+Georgette+-+Footsteps+in+the+Dark.jpg" width="130" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodsuKpYWc8KTceHqZe1EOC5LRb7-3ex3GUiPvQiP0eBDW_tBbMKh5CVgugggYl5idEF8ggvEMVvCRo0R1NuFx9Zfw7Ba1YZcCSMWlTQy5OLEbZVZZS7ArRj-ZrH1lzoIdScPREGi3Tm4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+09+-+country+house+mystery.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATZYvpUm0Tq_UhVDp5qk6qZGeBEaC2vlRc-1RJZg4GzpkZWL9E3RLYUf5wzK_AWIR6ZlJnDpdgsDXTbdu8_mm_bAMCypgL55Ck_BGyR56iyY7OByWaB2w3ZkFYhyphenhyphen4Txpzx-vIKk4Uijg/s200/Yee%252C+F.C.+-+The+Epic+Crush+of+Genie+Lo.jpg" width="133" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSC61Wo5OH-bWhcwgwnjSJ9Mw2Zalf8SohxWb0M7-07WEmdzKdP-4zwm8Qu-p1U6ZTx82w5NPAJZ5A097SvlLYU2dkBhQfAYmCFli72FnFywhR8TF8V3nlFrylgUye9iB-4od8UTdhZ0/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+21+-+diverse+voices.jpg" /></div>
<br />
I had originally wanted to read the next book of <i>Inspector Hannasyde and Hemmingway</i> by Georgette Heyer, <i>Behold, Here's Poison!</i> for the <b>Country House Mystery</b>, but I changed my mind. A mystery involving a haunted country house seemed like it'd be much more fun. And even though I'd found <i>Death in the Stocks</i> a bit unappealing, I'm only one chapter into <i>Footsteps in the Dark</i> and am already enjoying myself, so I'm glad I made that last minute decision.<br />
<br />
I have also started reading <i>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</i> by F.C. Yee, and have not yet formed an opinion of it. I'm so far removed from young adult books that it sometimes takes me a little bit to really get into one, but the premise of this one seems interesting enough, involving Monkey Kings and demons and a high school girl being initiated into saving the world from said demons... or at least that's the impression I got from the summary, so I'm game!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="subhead2">
<b><u>What I'm Planning to Read Next</u></b></h2>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo7u48qw82TN37Eq00R_emwBix6lydXWdcBEqlIZn9K0z7jMhwQZCWV5G497YGsFtEyZLdo814QYpZIo1kihpbnxMXNefbQTMtIE1idpSWqR1FoDCeQltTW8mN5M1R5wWrgDf9BPSr5Q/s200/McGuire%252C+Seanan+-+Half-Off+Ragnarok.jpg" width="123" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEUDJ2j8lT9U-2NRecZGMYCw5nm-BH2gDYphS2yYxM5ciE3wy1WY74SOxoZqKk8i_RO5MSMYKamRM7abQRoChrpfV5HhpCZIsSeh42STWyLPQQ-_yVPkkBTNB4oWXU-jI4MDuY_2xYuE/s200/Callihan%252C+Kristen+-+Firelight.jpg" width="123" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBwk6mpcqdQ9Ce5l-lzM1gfbl_O4tFyCk7v7O9rh-DZlCWLbgoe5fbi1n5iVIFubMQeWQGx9pMXapSZFG592Oeh2AqB5thcjr1CunBdtcSha9NmaZFqE6jv387X7jjKmZfhGknZ3mGoA/s200/Butcher%252C+Jim+-+Fool+Moon+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<br />
These are the books I'm considering next, with pre-chosen squares for them as well... except for <i>Fool Moon</i>. Since I didn't really enjoy <i>Storm Front</i>... and am now kicking myself that I didn't save it for the <b>Dark and Stormy Night</b> square, because there's a scene that involves a dark and stormy night, I'm having second thoughts about listening to <i>Fool Moon</i>. I'll make a decision at some point, but audio books tend to be a little easier for me to follow if I'm not sure if I'll like the book or not, so I might just jump into it.<br />
<br />
I'll be reading <i>Half-Off Ragnarok</i> by Seanan McGuire and <i>Firelight</i> by Kristen Callihan for the following squares, and very much looking forward to both books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPGiSIKAwu79orjzIKuiavsFDAc5EI5oyATM1N_AserPToHdvIa7SeaE3IIJuAp_MU_4NZE0nGt7UCXfCt5CeDS9Cqb0fyDnnu1PUkb8T4C73R-GUhOt6gmcP-xN9nCR-y1FDIsqcUqM/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+17+-+monsters.jpg" />
<img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW4Yv_A9wm4dMrDolEBaNSFtCWVA9dhTTzyT8JXLlVbF93xbju1ZcRPVchy21jP9k97ZVhHfrSVeQb-7El8vb8Erl3tt38tvGVEHsvMwH0MkcG2mBJrb8SaQGybPZJIgdQOHHXhhVEC4/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+16+-+darkest+london.jpg" /></div>
<br />
And obviously, <i>Fool Moon</i> by Jim Butcher will be for:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fLvYJcXZrDsmndx2Gfk0jIQ120zd58CRyqWc6bp8LbimJ85mOgW3LqodZMrHi-EVbeEJcZ6A4qWw8ZTPLGkz_QEr71Y3urR5JBsfECdCZ4z3Kt7mKLp8kngsrAcZsqanpbC5EzJp1xw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+25+-+full+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fLvYJcXZrDsmndx2Gfk0jIQ120zd58CRyqWc6bp8LbimJ85mOgW3LqodZMrHi-EVbeEJcZ6A4qWw8ZTPLGkz_QEr71Y3urR5JBsfECdCZ4z3Kt7mKLp8kngsrAcZsqanpbC5EzJp1xw/s1600/2019+RC+-+Halloween+Bingo+-+25+-+full+moon.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Halloween Bingo everyone!<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700449331064670085.post-21504119495043821602019-08-28T21:47:00.001-05:002019-08-28T21:47:13.079-05:00Thoughts: Storm Front<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA8eRlS3WxCLlmTndVPA4LqfCyqbCOQtErDr11b68Ehxer9FUjPGVfL3CsMaah0j3sUW_rYyL9t7gs_z-kr0NHkTvc-giEQahITYgROAoN73uhotY4nlBmvy7NaqiqFeBa19rYzqjVAA/s1600/Butcher%252C+Jim+-+Storm+Front+%2528audio%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA8eRlS3WxCLlmTndVPA4LqfCyqbCOQtErDr11b68Ehxer9FUjPGVfL3CsMaah0j3sUW_rYyL9t7gs_z-kr0NHkTvc-giEQahITYgROAoN73uhotY4nlBmvy7NaqiqFeBa19rYzqjVAA/s320/Butcher%252C+Jim+-+Storm+Front+%2528audio%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Storm Front</span></u></b></h3>
<b>by Jim Butcher</b><br />
<b>audio book narrated by James Marsters</b><br />
<b>Book 1 of <u>The Dresden Files</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13543646-storm-front" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 2.5 Stars</b><br />
<br />
<div class="blurb">
<i>Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.<br />
<br />
Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks.<br />
<br />
So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting.<br />
<br />
Magic - it can get a guy killed.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
So well, apparently I'm one of few who wasn't immediately enamored of this book/series. And strangely, I'm not sure if it was the book itself or my own personal habit of not getting along with urban fantasies. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book enough--it was easy to listen to on audio, and there were some parts that were interesting to an extent. And it's not like I purposefully go into any book, ever, planning not to like it. In fact, I was excited about listening to this book because I'd seen so many great reviews about the series.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, history has shown that I somehow just don't really get into urban fantasy very well. I try, because I've always been interested in urban fantasy, and all of the series sound like something that I would love to follow... but so far, there's only really been one or two series I've found that I like.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, there was more about this book that didn't really hook me in the way I'd been expecting to be hooked, based on all the squee and high star ratings I'd been seeing all over the place. Of course, I know better by now that I don't always have to like what everyone else does, so no big deal. It's entirely possible I'd over-hyped myself. And maybe things get better as the series progresses.<br />
<br />
As far as the story goes, the mystery itself was intriguing, and the entire concept of a wizard private investigator had loads of potential. Harry Dresden had his appeal, but I think that he maybe sometimes went a bit overboard with the snark... and that maybe he's a bit of a doormat compared to pretty much EVERYONE in this whole book.<br />
<br />
I had a hard time seeing the close friendship between Harry and his Chicago P.D. connection, Karrin Murphy. In fact, the two of them seemed like master and slave, going by the way they interacted with one another. I understand that Harry wanted to remain on good terms with Murphy so he could continue to consult with the police through her, but there comes a time in life when one can only let another harass, insult, and bully him so much before maybe drawing a line somewhere.<br />
<br />
As friends, Murphy seems to readily beat and threaten Harry without a care for him when he tells her that he can't help her with the murder investigation they way she wants him to help. I mean, would it kill her to just listen to Harry's reasons as to why he probably shouldn't go and research how to use magic to explode someone's heart?<br />
<br />
As business associates, Murphy seems to have little respect for the help that she requests from Harry. He'd give her a bit of information, and all she tells him is, "That's not good enough, Harry." And when he requests some information that could potentially help him figure out what he's dealing with, she refuses to tell him anything. Ya'know, cause that's reasonable somehow.<br />
<br />
Of course, it probably also doesn't help that Harry keeps his secrets as well. As much as I'd like to argue that Harry needs to be allowed to explain to Karrin why he can't do certain things... well, he doesn't exactly try very hard. It's kind of martyr-ish, in a way. And the annoying kind at that.<br />
<br />
I keep listening to him get abused and insulted and bowled over by everyone in the book. I keep seeing him get angry, outraged, even... and then he just moves on without setting people right about mistaken ideas or whatnot. He mopes about how alone he feels and how no one understands the difficulties of his position... but doesn't bother telling anyone why. And even dismisses all of their behaviors as just not really knowing or understanding. Kind of a, "It's not their fault they didn't know this about me..." type of ordeal.<br />
<br />
Well, Harry... TALK TO THEM!<br />
<br />
The rest of the book was kind of a play on cliches, as Harry's life (and this book) is surrounded by sexy women who are attracted to him despite his social awkwardness, and self-proclaimed "terrible luck with women". There is not ONE character in this whole book, except maybe Bob the magic skull, whom I actually really liked--everyone is either rude or just plain mean. Even the EMTs who make a brief appearance are assholes. Seems like Harry, flaws and all, is the only person in this book who acts rational... until he doesn't.<br />
<br />
Are there no good, nice people in the "Harry Dresden" world? Is it a given that all people in urban fantasies have to act like jackasses? Because I seem to keep coming across this kind of thing.<br />
<br />
Maybe I just don't read the right urban fantasies--though, as I'd stated earlier, there IS one particular series I'm hooked to. But others seem to only appeal to me long enough to read just the first book. This is probably my own problem.<br />
<br />
Anyway... I'm considering hopping into the next book anyway, just to see if the rest of the series will hook me enough to keep me going. I'm not out to flambe a series I don't like. I'm genuinely hoping I'll get hooked. So... we'll see, I guess.<br />
<br />
On a side note, the audio narrated by James Masters was quite good. He's not the best narrator in the world--there was a LOT of huge breaths being taken and a LOT of sighing going on that kind got a bit irritating after awhile. But Marsters seems to give Harry that snarky, dry sarcasm that's scattered all over the book. He doesn't exactly manage the rest of the characters all that well, but the audio book made it easy to follow the story.<br />
<br />
<br />anicheunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04354599944470683233noreply@blogger.com0