I grew up surrounded by logic puzzles (school and family). My grandpa had this wall sized crossword puzzle in his house. Every time we visited he was working on it. Unfortunately, I cannot, for the life of me, answer a single line of a crossword. The clues simply tell me nothing. And 100% of the time whenever I thought I got an answer right I was wrong.
I have always liked to challenge my mind. Still, I am not the most analytical person (my high school could attest to this on my career aptitude test). Still, I love puzzles, they help keep my mind working and developing even as I age. My favorite are jigsaws and Sudoku.
Puzzle Baron, aka Stephen, is a huge puzzle fan and the master mind behind Puzzle Baron’s, a network of web sites that include some of the most popular word game and puzzle sites on the web. And they also have books!! Stephen was so gracious as to let me review 3 of them:
LOGIC PUZZLES volume 2.
This book has been the hardest for me. No matter how hard I try I can’t answer a single one of these puzzles!! I do get a few parts of the puzzle correct but not the overall answer.
The logic puzzles in this book are grid-based and can also be known as “logic grid” puzzles. They have 4 components: the back-story, the clues, the grid, and the answer key. A problem may read like this (taken from the back of the book):
A group of 4 friends decided to go hiking in the mountains. They all agreed to meet up at the same location, Grizzly Gorge, but each of the 2 hikers wanted to take a different trail to go there. Due to the difficulty of the terrain, each hiker brought along an experienced local guide. Using only the clues that follow, match each hiker to his/her guide, and determine which trail the hiker used to reach Grizzle Gorge.
The clues follow after the problem is set on the table. I honestly can’t. I simply can’t. I guess I would have a greater chance at doing crosswords than any of these. They also remind me of both middle and high school, ugh.
I do promise to give them a 100th chance! Soon…
The Complete Idiot’s Guide To PICTURE PUZZLES volume 2.
These puzzles are simply loaded with countless hours of fun. They are quite entertaining. All there is to them is to spot the differences. The book has 100 puzzles that range from beginner through expert.
The images at first glance look the same but the closer you see (or the closer you get your nose to the book) you will start noticing the differences. Just try to go through this book in a well lit room, I don’t think you’ll want to strain your eyes from squinting so much. Or it might just be silly-sort-of-blind me!
The more puzzles you answer the harder they get. And Puzzle Baron’s is tricky tricky!! They added 20 images you have to unscramble! But no fret, each one of the books has an answer key on the back. But no. This doesn’t mean you can cheat and look back (leave that to the ol’ school years of yore).
Also, each puzzle has the amount of errors to be found and the fastest time to find them all! So if you really want to challenge yourself make sure to have a stop watch right next to you!
I am sure mister A. would enjoy going through this book with me. He is getting very good at spotting differences.
And last but not least, my favorite!!
SUDOKU!
I have my little sister to blame for my utmost love for Sudoku. She hooked me to these puzzles a few years back when we would fight for the newspaper to see who’d get the Sudoku puzzle of the day. Some days she’d let me win since she loves the most difficulty ones. She is so hooked on these that she is an expert now, she answers them with a pen!
For those who don’t know what Sudoku is, well, it is a number puzzle that consists of a 9-column, 9-row grid, which is then divided into nine 3×3 square sub-grids. Each puzzle begins with a partially filled grid, and with the numbers given you have to solve the rest. Every row, column, and sub-grid has to have each number from 1 to 9, no repeating allowed.
I used to tote a Sudoku book with me all the time until I solved every puzzle. Then I moved on to digital puzzles but they were not the same as having them on paper. Having a paper puzzle in front of me is way better than having to tap the iPad screen. Having a pencil in hand helps me answer the puzzles faster than on the computer. I am weird, I know. Music also helps.
These puzzles go from easy to fiendish. Every single puzzle gets a tad harder to answer. There have been times were, when I get stuck, I either ask for help from the hubs (one single number) or simply guess and hope I guess right!
They are truly fun and entertaining. Truly recommend to give this book a try. You won’t regret it!
- GET IT -
Find these books online:
Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles $14.95 US / $16.00 CAN
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Picture Puzzles, vol 2 $10.95 US / $11.99 CAN
Puzzle Baron’s Sudoku $9.95 US / $11.50 CAN
- WIN IT -
One (1) lucky reader of From PDX with Love will win all 3 books!
Rules
Open US only!!
Contest ends July 9, 2011 @ midnight PDT.
You must be 18 years or older.
Comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.
Please, only one email per person.
The mandatory entry must be done for any other entries to count.
The winner will be chosen using random.org (via Rafflecopter) and will be notified via email.
The winner will have 48hrs to respond or another winner will be chosen.
Disclosure: This was not a paid post. The opinions stated are my own and were in no way influenced by the Hosting Company who graciously provided the product for me to review. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
I like to relax on my deck in the afternoon with a puzzle.
I love to hang outside in the early afternoon or evening out in the garage with a great puzzle book. Thanks so much for hosting this fun giveaway!
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
I like to in the evening when I am watching tv. thanks
I like to do puzzles on rainy days or when I am riding in the car with my husband. Helps distract me from his crazy driving:)
I’m a Logic Puzzle nut and will do them anywhere & everywhere!
I like to do them while waiting somewhere, like the doctor’s office.
While I’m watching TV in the evening.
Like doing them after everybody goes to bed
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I like to work puzzles (especially logic and suduko) while sitting in the living room listening to the evening news.
I like to do puzzle books at night when I am watching tv
I like to do puzzles while waiting for the kids at their activities.
When and where do you like to complete puzzles?
i like logic problems
Sitting in bed at night
I LOVE logic problems! I have since I was a kid. I get in moods where I will do them before bed!
I like to do puzzles on the couch during tv commercials!!
On my breaks at work
I like to finish puzzles in class
at home at night
I like doing puzzles at home, especially when I’m bored
I like to to them in bed before sleeping
On road trips.
when my daughter is sleeping. I like being in bed late at night undisturbed to think!
This is also my reading time
I love to do puzzles after my daughter is asleep and when I am in bed
I can sleep when all is quiet.
I like to do puzzles at home in the evening.
usually do it when waiting at the drs. office or at airports waiting for flights
I love to do them on the plane!
usually at night on my couch – Paul Tran ….. emscout9 at Hotmail dot com
I like to complete puzzles in the car on road trips
I do them to relax before bed…and on airplanes
I do them first thing in the morning with my cup of tea
I like to do puzzles just before I go to sleep, in bed.
Whenever I am on the subway.
Usually sitting on my couch at the end of the day watching TV.
I like to do them when I first wake up, gets my mind sharp for the day
I do puzzles at home.
I like to do puzzles in bed at night all cuddled up.
I like to do them on a plane
I like to complete puzzles on road trips, the doctor’s office, and during down time.
I like doing them in the morning in my living room before the kids wake up.
I like to do puzzles in the bath after everyone is in bed!
I like to do puzzles before bed or during storms, at home
I like to do puzzles in the evening when relaxing.
Usually when waiting at an appointment
I like to do them while I’m just relaxing at home.
I do them at home.
I do puzzles during the day at home.
i like to do puzzles on the weekends in our kitchen
I love doing puzzles before bed
I like to do puzzles on the couch after the kids are asleep.
Anytime and anywhere but usually in the evenings on the couch.
I do puzzles while I’m on break at work