Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Week 3 = Done!

In case you haven't done the math, to stay on pace for the challenge, we should read 3/4 of a book a week. At this stage, you should have two books completed and be almost halfway through the third. However, if you are among those who started with the 600-page book, that page count should sort of count as 3 books in my opinion (or at least two!)

I finished Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari last night for my "book written by a comedian." I know there are quite a few of us reading this one right now. (OK, I know of three of us.) It's a different type of book because while it's nonfiction, it's not really a memoir. It's a sociological study (with research groups and literature review and all that) of dating/meeting people in the 21st Century. It was definitely interesting. Somewhat funny. Not laugh out loud funny but giggle in your head funny.

I am at 5/41.

How about you? How's your progress this week? (And remember, no beating yourself up if you aren't where you want to be: this is supposed to be FUN!)

I finished book from the library (The Witness) and book you can finish in a day (Living Dead Girl). Brings my total progress to 3/41.

I was reading my self-help book but then I decided that I wanted to listen to it as an audio book so I'm on the wait list for that at the library.

I'm reading The Goldfinch as my 600 page book. I'm loving it so far. I'm right around the 40% mark. I can see how some people would get annoyed by it - as the author is wordy and describes every little thing but I'm in love. And the audio-book is perfect. I like switching back and forth between the eBook and the audio.

Hopefully everyone stays safe with this winter storm coming - grab an extra book at the library to read while the snow falls!! :)

I am currently reading book number 4. The Forever War for the science fiction prompt or the blue cover.

I actually made a lot of progress this week (to make up for my complete lack of progress last week!). I finished the following:

Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon for my book with 600+ pages. I didn't intend to use a reread for this category, but that's just how it worked out :) I've got a couple other large books planned for the year anyway

Ghostwritten by Isabel Wolff for my book with a blue cover.

Thorn by Intisar Khanani for a book based on a fairy tale.

So I've checked 5 prompts off so far this year!

I started reading Inkheart last night for my book translated to English. We are about to get snowed in so I should have plenty of reading time over the next three days!

This week I read Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Which was wonderful. Right now it's sitting in my finish in a day category. That was my second one down. I'm working on my 600 (or 850) pager (Outlander) and listening to Frog Music as well. I'm enjoying it but it's definitely slowing my progress. I love that were getting the longest out of the way first!

I read A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler as my book with a blue cover and have started Emmeline Pankhurst's memoirs of the suffragette movement as my political memoir

I have 1 down and am 540 pages into book 2 (about 200 to go). I'm hoping to finish book 2 this afternoon with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace.

Earlier in the week, I finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (guaranteed to bring you joy), and then took a few days off to focus on other things. I'm feeling better about my progress (3 books read), as I still intend to average a book a week this year.

I've read four for the challenge so far. Rump, a book based on a fairy tale. Daughter of Deep Silence for a book from the library. Troublemaker by Leah Remini for a book written by a celebrity. lastly, Diamonds and Deceit for a book set in Europe. currently reading The Girl on the Train for a book that's becoming a movie. Happily, all of these books were already on my to-read list.

Wait, no. I've read five. I also completed Kiki & Jacques which is set in my home state of Maine. I'm checking boxes much faster than last year mostly because all of the books I've picked up happen to match up with categories. But last year I left some of the more difficult categories until the end so I have to be more conscious of that this year.

This week I finished How Fiction Works for my library book and How I Became A Famous Novelist which is written by a comedian (he wrote for SNL and American Dad).

I'd meant to read A Clockwork Orange because I've got a really nice copy out from the library, but then I couldn't stop reading my comedy book! I haven't really read much comedy except Terry Pratchett so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this. It got less funny as it went along, though, and focused on a writer who went off the rails and ruined his life/career which means it got very similar to the book I read for my satire ( Straight White Male). That is definitely a reflection of my reading choices rather than all comedy being the same, ha ha!

So this week I am determined to read A Clockwork Orange for my book I haven't read since high school, and hopefully get it finished in time to start on my 600+ book Gone with the Wind.

I'm reading 'Some Luck' by Jane Smiley for my "recommended by a family member" book, and I've ordered 'F*ck Feelings' for my self-improvement book. I was going to skip that category altogether until a friend of mine suggested it yesterday. Sounds like it's right up my alley!

Martha wrote: "I've ordered 'F*ck Feelings' for my self-improvement book. "

Let me know how you like it. I've got my eye on that one!

My home state is Maine too Lisa! You're the first I've seen on here :)

Still working on The Casual Vacancy this week, and still only 1 prompt done. I think I'm going to need to start playing catch-up, haha.

Finished book 2! 2/41! City of Heavenly Fire my 600+ book! Happy to have it under my belt, and loved the end of the series!

I finished My Beautiful Enemy for the "book" part of "a book and its prequel" after reading the prequel last week. I enjoyed it a lot! I also got about halfway through with A History of Money: A Novel, for a book translated to English. It's beautiful, but not a quick read by any means.

I have completed 3 tasks this week so I am 8/40. I'm trying to complete this as fast as I can so I can focus on some long series that don't really fit anywhere in the challenges.

4. A book you haven't read since high school- The Thief of Always by Clive Barker 1/18/16

7. A romance set in the future-The One by Kiera Cass 1/21/16

14. A book you can finish in a day- The Guard by Kiera Cass 1/15/16

5/41 so far. Looking at the dates I just finished 1 this week- My book based on a Fairy Tale The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.

Currently working on The YA Bestseller- Graceling. The Science Fiction- Starship Troopers. & The book under 150 pages- The Old Man and the Sea.

I hope to finish at least 2 of these before the week is out. I also have others put aside to finish more prompts if and when I complete these 3.

I don't think I FINISHED any books for the challenge in week 3! (I was reading a non-challenge book and wanted to get that finished and out of the way.) I'm in the middle of:
Yes Please (written by comedian ... would also work for written by a celebrity)
Nemesis (either translated or set in Europe, not sure which category this will ultimately fill, depends on what I find for the other category)
and
Winter (600+ pager! This would also work for fairy tale or blue cover) I am LOVING this book - if I wasn't so tired every night I'd be much farther along.

Oh maybe I finished The Cuckoo's Calling this past week, now I can't remember if it was this week or last - it was great and I highly recommend it to people who enjoy mysteries.

According to my little spreadsheet, 6% of the year has elapsed, and I've completed 10% of the challenges, so I'm not at all worried :-)

I am on book 4!

I finished The Historian for my 600+ page book. Could also be used for "Set in Europe", but I'm hoping to find something much shorter than that.

Finished Night for my Oprah's Book Club. Could also be used for "Under 150 pages", "Set in Europe", and "Translated into English".

Finished Andre the Giant: Life and Legend for my Graphic Novel.

Currently 60% through Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography for the Autobiography (could also be used for "Written by Celebrity" or "Written by Comedian"). Good fast read. Should be done with it tonight.

This week I finished one book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for "A book that's more than 600 pages"

That puts me at 3 books so far, which is right on pace where I want to be. I'm aiming for one book a week (and hopefully soon I will get ahead of schedule), seeing as there are a few books for prompts that are a part of series, and I would like to read all of them in one go.

I finished Outlander which is my NYT Bestseller (though it could tick off other categories) and I listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on CD. I'm not sure if this is going to count toward my challenge total or not. At the least, it brought me joy so I can use it for that prompt if need be. I'm a bit behind and just started my third book, The Wise Man's Fear. My copy is 1,107 pages long so it's safe to say it will take me some time to finish despite the fact I'm thoroughly enjoying it. This is for the "recommended by a family member" prompt.

I finished Inkspell by Cornelia Funke for the 600+ page book. Admittedly, I started reading it late last year so I didn't read all 634 pages in this calendar year.

I also read The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins for the book recommended by someone that I just met. Although I haven't met the 'recommender' in person, I "met" him (or her) in /r/ravenclaw, the Ravenclaw subreddit, when he (or she) suggested this book for our monthly read.

I'm now at 8 of 41 books. Four of these books, however, were 150 - 200 page books by H.G. Wells that I could read in an evening.

I spent most of the week working my way through my 600+ page novel which I finished bright and early this morning and I'll discuss next week. But needing a break from that, I read The Complete Maus. by Art Spiegelman. I read three graphic novels last year loved two (volumes I and II of March by John Lewis) so I thought I would love this one and chose to just dive into both volumes of this at once. I didn't love it as much as March. But I thought the father son story was very real and raw and well worth the read.

I plan to read Persepolis for the autobiography prompt later on this year. I'm undecided, though, right now if I will break it up into two volumes for the purpose of this list or not. Time will tell.

I finished the last few pages of Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman which I thought I would use for National Book award winner but slotted into a different category on a different challenge. Loved it, though, really loved it.

3/41 for this challenge and 5/52 for the other.

Reading War and Peace for my 600 page prompt. This will take a while. Last year, I chose Gone with the Wind for my 500 page prompt, so I guess you can say I am an over-achiever.

Megan wrote: "Reading War and Peace for my 600 page prompt. This will take a while. Last year, I chose Gone with the Wind for my 500 page prompt, so I guess you can say I am an over-achie..."
"War and Peace" is so worth it, though! Time well spent.

I have 5 or 6 done so far, but started off with shorter books to get going.

I've finished my 600+ pager (Cyador's Heirs by LE Modesitt) and my Oprah's Book Club (The Invention of Wings which was a great audio). Almost finished listening to my Book set on an Island (The Buried Giant). Started reading my Book about a Road Trip (A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains). Should be done with it in 3-4 days. So I think I'm on track.

I've finished my book recommended by a family member. I chose "Some Luck" by Jane Smiley. As always, I enjoy her writing, and am looking forward to the next two books in this series.

So my stats are 9 books for the year so far. Four for this challenge and two categories filled in other challenges.

This week, for this challenge, I read:
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore for the book and it's prequel (I'll be reading the prequel next week)

I'm starting late so I'm just working on my first book. I'll catch up quick!

As I only found this challenge today, I have looked back at the 8 books I have already read this year to see if any of them fit and I was pleased to see that 3 of them do!

So I am ticking off...
* A book recommended by a family member - Life After Life which was recommended to me by my sister. Loved this book, and have bought A God in Ruins which follows one of the same characters. Really love forward to starting that one!

* A murder mystery - Murder Most Unladylike, a 9-12 book - with being a teacher, I read a lot of children's books. This one was great! I found it funny and amusing what with the 1930's girl boarding school slang. Also did not guess who the killer was, always a bonus!

* A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy - A Thousand Nights I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I knew that I would love this book as it is just so beautiful! And I did! LOVED IT!

Pleased that I am not far behind at all!
3/41

I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last Sunday. So I'll be checking that off of my 600+ book. I'm also about 75% done with Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

3 out of 41 done :)

Just finished "Don't Look Back" by Karin Fossum for my murder mystery.

First book you see in a bookstore - Doctor Sleep - Finished!
A murder mystery - The Tuesday Club Murders: A Miss Marple Mystery - working on it!

I've never read a Miss Marple mystery before, but I am 110% ready to rectify the hell out of that.

Hi! I just joined the group but so far I have read Amy Poehler's Yes, Please as my book by a comedian and Leah Remini's Troublemaker for my book by a celebrity. They both could double as autobiography and books from the New York Times Bestseller List if anyone needs suggestions. Not sure if that's how the group works but I'll be looking back to see and read more! This is a great idea! Was looking online for suggestions for the Popsugar challenge when I came across this group.

Finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to get to 3/41.

Continuing Under the Dome. Started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, likely for my sci-fi book, but that also fits "book that takes place on an island" or "book with a blue cover."

I'm late to the game! So far, I've read:
The Dinner by Herman Koch, book set in Europe (Amsterdam)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, for a book translated to English

I also read A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean. I suppose I could find a category for this one if I got creative. I was just in the mood for a romance! Keeps me out of reading slumps!

I have finished 3 prompts and am halfway done with a book for my fourth prompt.

I read Cinder by Marissa Meyer for my fairy tail prompt, Best of me by Nicholas Sparks for a NY Times best seller and The girl on the train by Paula Hawkins for a book becoming a movie this year.

Currently I am reading go set a watchman by Harper Lee for my book with a blue cover. It was hard to get into since the beginning is kind of slow but, now that I am halfway done it is picking up. I think since I loved to Kill a Mocking bird and this one seems a little off from it I am having trouble getting through it. I hope to finish it this week and then start another prompt! Happy reading everyone!!

I'm doing this challenge along with the GoodReads Around the Year challenge, so unfortunately this one has taken a bit of a backseat until now. I read The Witches as my classic from the 20th century. Over the next few weeks, hopefully my reading toward both challenges balances out a little although I am prioritizing ATY since that was the one I committed to first.

I've finished 4 books: All the Pretty Horses (National Book Award Winner), Penguins with People Problems (A book you can finish in a day), The Wind up Bird Chronicle (more than 600 pages) and Half Broke Horses (a book from the library).

I am reading Ready Player One (A romance set in the future) and The Girl on the Train (A book set in Europe) currently.

I read At The Water's Edge by Sara Gruen for a Book that's set in Europe (LOVED IT!) and last night I read Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offhill, which I finished in about an hour. It was definitely different and kind of quirky, but I'm glad I read it. I have now completed 5 categories of the challenge and am starting The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine for the Book Based on a Fairytale category. :)