BingoDOG - February reads

Feel free to share what you will be reading, what you've read, and/or your thoughts on it. Or wherever else you want to take the conversation.

There is a wiki for BingoDOG:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2015_BingoDOG

(And I am planning to learn to post a photo of some kind before I set up my CAT threads when it's my turn for that, I promise!)

Thanks for setting up the new thread. All the books I've read so far just happen to fit some of the squares. And I like getting book bullets from what other people have read. I'm going to read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry for the LT author box.

I am looking for some guidance on what would fit the square LANGUAGE.

There are a few suggestions in the wiki, under "about language": http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2015_BingoDOG#about_language

Well, for example Lord of the Rings has a lot about language in it. Although they all have a common language, they also use other languages, they comment on the differences in vocabulary between the different peoples. ...

Silence includes bits about acquiring another language and about translation.

I was thinking about books like those, in which the characters are conscious of language(s).

>3 Kristelh: How about books where issues of communication and using language are central to the plot? Books I've read recently that would fit include Embassytown and Ella Minnow Pea.

#3 by @Kristelh> Anything to do with cyphers would also work.

>1 LibraryCin: (And I am planning to learn to post a photo of some kind before I set up my CAT threads when it's my turn for that, I promise!)

there is a fancy thread for that the 75 book challenge group came up with! you can get the scoop on all the fun things to do in your thread check it out here:

How To Do Cool Stuff in Your Threads

8> Pretty awesome. I knew how to do the basic things, but all the other fun stuff is, well, cool!

>8 lovelyluck: Thanks for the link. I'll take a look!

Thanks for setting up the monthly thread, LibraryCin.

I kicked off the bingo month with He Who Fears the Wolf which fit the 'Translated from a language I don't speak' square.

Fits into 'Book with correspondence/letters/epistolary':
The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas

Owned over a year - The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. Currently reading The Snowman by Jo Nesbo for a book club read which will also fit nicely into 'Translated from a language other than your own'.

I'm reading The Gilded Shroud by Elizabeth Bailey, which I've owned for more than one year; I entered it into LT on 12/22/13.

I finished Woman on the Edge of Time, which has several scientists in it.

For my free or "Read A Cat" Square I just finished On The Beach by Nevil Shute. This book fit both the February SFFFCat and the February RandomCat.

I'm reading The Iraqi Christ by Hassan Blasim, which is a brilliant short story collection. A real masterclass in the art form. I could count it towards 'Set in a Country Other than Your Own' because the stories are set in Iraq or Finland, or 'Where an Animal is of Importance' because there are various stories where an animal is key. I'm leaning towards the animal one as I'm sure I'll accumulate a lot of countries by the end of the year.

All of a sudden I found myself reading several books with lots of letters and diary entries.

I finished Der Bibeljäger first. Gottschlich tells of his efforts to find out about how Konstantin von Tischendorf found the Codex Sinaiticus and what that meant then and now for Biblical studies.

I'm reading Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper. James is a coyote. Etta is walking across Canada to see the ocean. James joined the walk, is company for Etta, and gives her advice. At this point I think it will apply to the "where an animal is important" bingo.

I just finished (and loved!) Jandy Nelson's I'll Give You the Sun, which is about twins who used to be close but who have barely spoken to each other since a family tragedy. One of the twins, Noah, is gay, and a large part of his narrative is about coming to terms with his sexuality. An excellent read for the "LGBTQ main character" square!

20> Tempting - very tempting. I already had a book picked out for the LGBTQ square, but I suppose that doesn't have to stop from reading this book, just because.

>21 BookLizard: Very true! :) It is a young adult novel, which I know some LTers don't like…but if you don't mind that, it really is a good read.

22> I do read YA, but mostly SFF lately. There are pretty long waiting lists on I'll Give You the Sun at both library systems I use.

This one's for "Owned +1 year".
My BingoDOG card: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179949#4959505

The Princess Bride / William Goldman
4 stars

In this book, William Goldman tells us that he is abridging the tale of The Princess Bride, originally written by S. Morgenstern. The original tale of love and adventure is then abridged (with comments added in by Goldman).

I really enjoyed this, in particular the tale of The Princess Bride. The comments/interjections, though, I thought were amusing, as well. And there is plenty of humour in the story.

The intro and the other "extras" (including a final “chapter” that is the start of an abridgement of the sequel, Buttercup's Baby) by Goldman are made to sound true, but I kept questioning it. I kept getting a bit confused and had to finally look it up on wikipedia! The interjections he adds into the "abridgement" reminded me of the grandpa reading to a little Fred Savage in the movie, as well. However, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of it, overall.

Another bingo square: Babel-17 is most definitely about language.

Wanted to get others opinion on what would qualify for "based on a fairy tale or myth." Would reading actual fairy tales count?

>26 LittleTaiko: I personally wouldn't count that for my own bingo.

>27 PawsforThought: - Yeah, I was thinking it really didn't qualify since it said "based" but wanted to make sure. I'm reading Grimm's Fairy Tales right now and enjoying it. Maybe it will inspire me to read something that is based one of the tales. That would make for an interesting comparison.

>28 LittleTaiko: Oh, it definitely would!

Just completed Longbourn by Jo Baker which qualifies for the "Inspired by Another Piece of Fiction" square.

I just finished Imogen Robertson's The Paris Winter, which is about a young Englishwoman living in Paris and studying painting. The climactic events of the novel take place during the Paris flood of 1910, so I'm counting it for the "natural disaster" square.

I filled two squares so far this month, protagonist of the opposite gender: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein, I don't remember a single female character in the book, and with correspondence or letters: The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, didn't realize when starting the book, but there was a section where the main character read a bundle of letters from some ancestors.

>32 staci426: The reason you don't remember any women in The Hobbit is because there are none. Not a single one. Might be a couple mentioned (like Bilbo's mum or someone), but no women you actually "meet".

I finished Foxglove Summer for the square 'mythical creature'.

I've just finished Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg for the "book with an LGBTQ main character"

For the "Protagonist Of the Opposite Gender", I used Walt Longmire from The Dark Horse. This aging sheriff is one of my heroes so I was happy to be able to use him for this square.

>26 LittleTaiko: After reading your post and the discussion following it, I realized my choice of Peter Pan for this square wasn't a good choice. I overlooked "based on" in the definition. I might just leave it if I don't come up with something better.

37> It happens. Nothing's truly original, so if you try hard enough you'll find a way to make it fit. Wikipedia suggests that Peter is based on the mythological Pan.

>38 BookLizard: Really? I can't find it. And I don't see how they could manke that connection other than the name being the same.

39> Under Physical appearance: "His name and playing the flute or pipes suggest the mythological character Pan." Also, Pan was associated with the wild and Peter leads the Wild Boys.

Names are important: Barrie chose the names Peter Pan and Wendy Darling for a reason. It wouldn't be the same if they were Peter Smith and Wendy Jones.

I'm about to start Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, which was originally written in German, so it's a good fit for the "translated from a language you don't speak/read" square. I did actually take some German classes in college, but I've forgotten almost all of it now…I definitely wouldn't be able to read this book in the original!

>38 BookLizard: Oh thank you for that, I feel much better. It would have irritated me like gravel in my shoes.

>40 BookLizard: Of course names are important, but the reason for names aren't always what they seem to be. I'm not claiming to know the inner workings of Barrie's brain but the general consensus regarding who Peter Pan is based on is Barrie's brother who died in childhood.
The article only says that the name and appearance of a flute "suggest" the god Pan. Not that Peter is based on him. I would assume the word "suggest" in this case means "bring to mind" as nothing else in the book/play is connected to Pan the god (except maybe a general trickster-iness).
The lack of any other real similarities would make me draw the conclusion that it's just a name that worked well (allitterations are always popular in fiction, especially children's fiction). The flute is probably just a tribute to his namesake.

And the boys in Neverland are called the Lost Boys, not the Wild Boys.

In der Frühzeit des Islams 570-1405 traces the rise of Islam.

43> And the boys in Neverland are called the Lost Boys, not the Wild Boys.
My bad. I must have been thinking about the Duran Duran song.

I'm not suggesting that Peter Pan is a good choice for the "based on a fairy tale or myth" challenge. I'm just helping someone who read it for this category in good faith, to justify it to herself.

For the Natural Disaster square. The disaster wasn't the focus of the story, but it happened during the story. (Frank Slide I refer to in my review.)
And this is my Bingo card: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179949#4959505

The Outlander / Gil Adamson
3.75 stars

It's 1903 and “the widow” is running from something or someone. She makes her way to the foothills of the Canadian Rockies where she tries to hide from whatever/whoever is pursuing her.

I could probably say a bit more to summarize, as the back of the book has slightly more info, but I'll leave it at that. This was pretty good. I did find the sections of the book when she was with someone to be more interesting than when she was on her own (at those times, there seemed to mostly be description). There was one question I had that was never answered. I also would have liked an author's note with more info on the Frank Slide. I know about it, but not details, so I “had” to look it up after I finished.

I finished two books for the Bingo this weekend:
Flora and Ulysses has a superhero squirrel who writes poetry, for the book where an animal is important.
Sayonara, Bulle is a mystery set in Tokyo and features a fifty-ish copper detailed to Tokyo, for the book with a protagonist of the opposite gender.

ETC

I read Adam by Ariel Schrag for the LGBTQ square. Although the main character is heterosexual, everyone else isn't and he spends a lot of time learning about what life is like for young lesbians and transgender teens.

If i hadn't read it within the last year i would read Orleans for the natural disaster square.... Hurricane Katrina was the catalyst of a line of super storms that devastates the south.... it was a pretty okay YA fiction book that would fit the square pretty well.... just a suggestion for anyone looking for something to fill that square

>45 BookLizard: I must have been thinking about the Duran Duran song.
Nothing wrong with a little 80's music.

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell was my choice for an author whose first name is the same as my grandmother's.

Finished Their Eyes Were Watching God for the natural disaster square.

I finished Claudius the God by Robert Graves, and used it for the square, takes place in a country other than your own.

I also read Adam for the LGBTQ square. Definitely an educational look at life for a transgendered teen.

For the Animals square.
And, my Bingo card: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179949#4959505
And... this gives me a straight line bingo!!!

Jaws / Peter Benchley
4 stars

When a girl is killed by a shark at Amity, Long Island, the chief of police, Martin Brody, wants to shut down the beach, but he is pressured by the mayor to keep it open, so as not to lose the summer residents altogether, as they keep the small town alive. Until more people start dying...

I really liked this. It was quite suspenseful. I listened to the audio (but had to provide my own Jaws theme music!) and it was done quite well, I thought. It's been too long since I've seen the movie to compare. There was one extraneous part in the middle of the story that I didn't think was necessary and wasn't really interested in, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I hate to see sharks (or any animals) vilified this way, but it was definitely an entertaining story.

>55 LibraryCin: Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I LOVE the movie (I will not disclose the number of times I've watched it because 1. it's embarrassingly high and 2. I don't think I actually know how many times I've watched it) and I've been curious about the book and if it'd be a good one to pick up. Maybe in the summer.

Since we've been having so much fun with literary bingo cards, here are some more http://bookriot.com/2015/02/17/story-tropes-bingo-almost-every-genre/

Not suggesting anyone actually play with these, but they are fun.

#57 by @sturlington> oh they are fun! I might have to do at least one of them.

>58 majkia: I like how MAN PAIN is on almost every card.

>56 PawsforThought: Just be warned that many of the reviews from people who have seen the movie say the book isn't nearly as good. If you've seen it that many times, it might not live up. Since I was probably a kid that last time I saw the movie, I would really like to watch it again as an adult!

>60 LibraryCin: I'm one of those who thinks the movie was better than the book. Definitely watch the movie again! It's one of my all-time favorites.

>57 sturlington: - Those were great! Thanks for sharing.

>60 LibraryCin: I've heard that before, but it's still nice to have a positive review for the book. I'm not planning on reading it right now, but if I have time (not likely!) it'd be a good contender for summer reading.

57> I JUST read something with "Purple Eyes." Now it's going to drive me crazy until I can remember which book it was. Thanks a lot! ;-)

Those were funny and, for the most part, accurate.

I haven't posted for awhile and was getting a bit behind;
5. Flaubert's Parrotby Julian Barnes (the parrot, it was stuffed but it was an animal)
8. The Cathedral: a novel (The Cathedral: A Novel (St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics) by Oles Honchar Translated by Yuri Tkach and Leonid Rudnytsky
12.Crash by Ballard (TV Scientist)
22 Hamlet by Shakespeare, inspired by Danish Folk Tale

I just read Saga, Volume 1 and Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. I never read graphic novels, and this one has lots of profanity and a few very unpleasant images (I cannot even look at The Stalk!). So I'd say it's definitely "outside my comfort zone"! That said, I'm enjoying the overall story quite a bit, and I've already requested Volumes 3 and 4 from my library. :)

Everyone loves Saga!

>67 PawsforThought: And I would never have heard about it without LT, so thanks to the person (people??) who have been posting reviews recently!

BINGO!! I got a diagonal line and I didn't even realise.

I just added Pride & Prejudice as a novel with letters. The letters are a key part of the novel and the plot delivery strategy so I'm happy counting it. I was going to read one of the collections of letters I have - Sylvia Plath or Hunter S Thompson, but I shall save those for later in the year because non-fiction isn't catching me right now. I think that has a lot to do with the amount of science-related background reading I'm having to do right now for the course I'm writing. My brain needs a rest on my downtime!

Here's my bingo card in its full glory!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/180341#4843862

OK, my turn to get everyone's opinion. Would you consider the terrorist bombing of the Boston Marathon a "major historical event"? I'm thinking it would because it had international implications since so many runners were from outside the U.S. and one of the people killed was Lingzi Lu, a student from China, but I'm too close to have an unbiased opinion. Thanks.

>70 BookLizard: I'm personally not going to count it, though I just received an ER book about the marathon bombing.

>70 BookLizard: Back a few decades ago a group of Palestinian activists around 'Carlos' attacked the OPEC building in Vienna, and took several hostages. Three people died, many more were injured. The hostages included important diplomats.

Do you consider that a major historical event?

I just finished The Lost Prince for reminds me of my childhood, because I first read it then. However I think this is the first time I have read an unabridged version. (from Gutenberg)

This would also be a good choice for published in 1915.

Prophecy, Signs, Portents

The Red Tent / Anita Diamant
3.5 stars

This tells the story of a minor character in the Bible, Dinah. Dinah is born to Leah and Jacob and is raised by four “mothers”, all Jacob's wives who also happen to be sisters. Dinah is the only girl amongst many brothers, so is treated extra-special by her mothers/aunts. The first part actually tells more of her mothers' lives, then it switches to Dinah's life as she grows and becomes a newly married adult, when something happens to change her life forever.

As much as I like historical fiction focusing on women, all the menstrual blood/flow and child birthing in the first part was a bit much for me. I realize that Dinah became a midwife later, and that's one thing, but this was more that I really didn't need to read about! The story itself (once it got going), I could have rated 4 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to rate it that high. Too much for me, though the story itself was fine.

And the link to my BingoDOG:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/180341#4843862

71> I got and read the same book which is why I was asking - just trying to see if it fit in anywhere.

72> Good point. If I lived in Austria, I might think it was a major event. It was before my time, but I've at least heard of Carlos the Jackal, so it must have been pretty major. Just goes to show how everything is relative.

Thanks for the input. I just took a look at the wiki to see what other people were reading for this square and discovered I already have a book picked out.

>72 MarthaJeanne: I'd compare it more with the bombing at the summer Olympics held in Atlanta in 1996. That's still very much a piece of history that most are familiar with and the Boston Marathon bombing was much larger and resonated much more deeply. While it's difficult to say how much importance any historic event will have in later decades or centuries, I'd think it was important enough to count if the reader want to, and will not read something set during WWII this year.

I deliberately chose something with similar mortality that happened outside the US.

76> That's a really good example - a terrorist bombing at a large international sporting event that targets civilians and will be highly televised. But Boston was much more than just the bombing - 4 very eventful days that included the police shootout with the alleged bombers, then the manhunt for the one who survived. The surrounding area was on lockdown for a whole day with almost a million people "sheltering in place." Like Adam Sandler tweeted: “Boston is probably the only major city that if you f**k with them, they will shut down the whole city, stop everything and find you.”

Inspired by other fiction

Eye of the Crow / Shane Peacock
3.5 stars

13-year old Sherlock Holmes is bullied at school and mostly skips it, anyway. When a woman is murdered and a boy arrested, Holmes is convinced the boy is innocent and goes out to find the real killer.

Well, I enjoyed this! I liked the extra background information on Sherlock Holmes – his family and his life beyond Watson and solving crimes. And it was fun getting to know some of the other characters – Holmes new friend, Irene, and the young local crime boss in the area, Malefactor. The mystery itself started off slow for me, but picked up in the second half. I enjoyed this and will read the next in the series.

And the link to my BingoDOG:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/180341#4843862

LGBTQ Protagonist

Affinity / Sarah Waters
3.5 stars

It is 1874 and Margaret Prior is visiting a women's prison to hear some of the stories of some of the prisoners. She becomes particularly interested in one prisoner, Selena Dawes, who is a medium and was imprisoned for murdering a woman who took her in, but Selena insists it was a spirit who caused the woman's death.

The book alternated between Margaret in “present” day and Selena's perspective beginning two years earlier. I found the “present” day storyline much more interesting, though there were still parts I glossed over a bit. It's not fast-moving, but it's a good story and it did pick up at the end. I didn't think I was going to like the ending, but wow, I was in for a surprise! I do approve of the ending, after all.

And the link to my BingoDOG:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/180341#4843862

I got two more squares:
Inspired by another piece of fiction: Rip-Off! is a collection of sci fi/fantasy short stories where each author took the first line from a famous piece of literature and turned it into a new short story.
Translated from a language you don't speak: Silence by Shusaku Endo, Japanese.

>81 staci426: How was Rip-Off!? Sounds like an interesting premise but could be gimmicky if not done well.

>82 sturlington: I really enjoyed it. I thought most of the stories in the collection were pretty good and it did not feel gimmicky to me. I believe it's only available in audio format, each author introduced their story and told a little about why they picked the particular line and then each story is read by a different narrator.

>83 staci426: Sounds like a fun book.

Where an animal is important

I read We Bought A Zoo by Benjamin Mee which also worked for the Random Cat this month.

Unfamiliar topic

I, Robot / Isaac Asimov
3 stars

This is a bunch of linked short stories focusing on robots and their evolution. There were characters that did span the entire book and most of the stories. It was written in 1950, and the first story was set in the '80s and it went further and further into the future from there.

It was ok. Like with most short story collections, I liked some more than others. There was one – the first one, with the robot Robbie, nurse/nanny to Gloria – that I would have rated 4 stars and the rest varied between 3 and 3.5 for me, but mostly 3. I listened to the audio, and though I had no issues with the narrator, it is easier for me to lose focus and I often did with this book. Science fiction is not real high up there for genres for me, and I really don't know much about robots. Sadly, even some of the stories I thought were good, I've already forgotten, though. To be honest, I think the only one I managed not to miss any of was the Robbie/Gloria story.

BingoDOG link:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/180341#4843862

Mythical creature

Frostborn by Lou Anders **

Children's fantasy. I loved the concept and the main characters were interesting, but the main plot was a ripoff of The Lion King, and the dialogue was too modern in many parts. Sadly, I can't recommend this book to anyone.

Autism - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon

Really wanted to like this book more and maybe my expectations were too high since so many people seem to have loved this book. It just didn't work for me, particularly the adults in the story. They just didn't seem very believable.

>88 LittleTaiko: I also didn't love that book when I read it years ago, so you aren't the only one :). I much preferred Marcelo in the Real World.

88 & 89> Good to know. I originally intended to read it since "everyone" else had, but I realized if I hadn't read it by now, I really didn't want to read it.

Do we have a thread for March?

I don't see one.

Guess I'll do it.

Link to March thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188726

Sorry everyone! I had made a March thread on Mar. 1:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/188504

I should have posted the link!

I read 3 books in February and they all 3 covered a square:
With a natural disaster: Their Eyes Were Watching God
You've Owned for More than a Year: The Left Hand of Darkness
Read a CAT: Gone Girl

I think the speed of covering squares will start to slow down a bit - the first 8 were pretty easy. Still no bingo though, although I suppose I could have made different choices.