Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I went to my library and the only book I caught the title of was an SAT prep book. I think I'll try one more time next time I go. If I can't see anything then I'll check out the instagrams mentioned on the first page.

Friday was my lucky day :-) A woman on the train home read Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh. I own the german translation Engelsgift and i`m happy it fullfilled this prompt.

I am really amused by this prompt so far, or at least my journey with it. The route that my bus takes after work is very long and a lot of people are there for a 40-minute trip, so there are books out. Every day, being as subtle as I can, I look at the books around me. And then I judge them. I never want to read them. Or I forget the titles. There are people reading Kobos (like me), or their smart-phones, and there are also people with actual books. The problem is, these people with their actual books aren't reading books I'm interested in. Yet.

I actually found a stranger reading in public! A young man was reading Strange the Dreamer in the waiting room at the dentist's office. Bonus that it's a book already on my TBR. I had resorted to "cheating" on this prompt by finding an #amreading post on Twitter for a book I wanted to read anyway. Now, however, I have a book that meets the true intention of this prompt. Yay!

T. wrote: "I actually found a stranger reading in public! A young man was reading Strange the Dreamer in the waiting room at the dentist's office. Bonus that it's a book already on my TBR. I h..."

lucky you!! I really enjoyed that book!! (I STILL have not found a person reading a book in public - except for one guy in a movie theater reading what looked like a law textbook. I've been waiting to spot someone since this list came out last fall!!! )

T. wrote: "I actually found a stranger reading in public! A young man was reading Strange the Dreamer in the waiting room at the dentist's office. Bonus that it's a book already on my TBR. I h..."

*adding to evergrowing TBR* (it sounds awesome)

Today I finally saw someone reading a book that I'm actually interested in reading. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things it is.

I spotted one person at the library reading today (everyone else was on their laptop lol). She was reading Twisted Prey by John Sandford. I've never read him before, but I know a few of his books have popped up on my radar before, so maybe this is the place to start.

EDIT: Just realized it's number 28 in a series... maybe I should wait for the next. lol.

I found one! Someone was reading Consider the Lobster and Other Essays by David Foster Wallace in a waiting room today.

Finally saw someone reading a book this week! I'll be reading Backfire by Catherine Coulter!

Y'all, this is a tale of fate.

I was scoping readers in the library, and saw a girl reading a graphic novel. The art looked familiar, so I asked, "Is that Raina Telgemeier? Which one?"

She showed me it was Dawn and the Impossible Three and I was like, "Ooh I haven't read that - I'll have to check it out sometime!"

And she gave me the book! She said she was really supposed to be reading another book for homework; her mom verified and was like, "Please, take it!"

So that was lovely. Then I brought it home and found it's the next book my daughter wants to read in the series. Bonus!

After finding so many readers at jury duty, I also finally saw someone reading at the library today. They were reading My Life by Bill Clinton, so I'm glad I already found something to fit the prompt so I'm not stuck with that one...

Brittany wrote: "Today I finally saw someone reading a book that I'm actually interested in reading. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things it is."

This was a very good book - highly recommend and it fits more than this category!

Ruthla8 wrote: "I've seen enough kids with YA novels in the waiting room when I take my son to various appointments. I'll count that even if I just see a parent holding the book and don't actually see the child re..."

And now it's June, and I've taken my son to numerous appointments- but of course nobody's had any books out in the waiting room in 2018. They only did it in 2017! And I'm in the library every week but never see people just sitting and reading where I can see them.

I don't take public transportation, I didn't even enter the airport when I dropped my Mom off last week and I think my oldest daughter is picking up my younger daughter at the airport next week. I'll see if I ever actually get to the beach this summer, and if anybody has any paper books there.

I've read 50 of the 52 prompts, and the 51st is already out of the library, waiting to be read. (Book reccomended by another Goodreads member. I'm rereading a series, and reading beyond where I read last time, so I keep putting it off until I finish shorter reads, since I'll want to read the whole series in order.)

But I'm absolutely stuck on this one!

I just might read something my daughter reads out on the front lawn, after she comes home. She can be strange! ;)

OK, I've solved it. I noticed some photos of Reese Witherspoon with that month's book selection on Facebook. I'm not going to worry if she was ACTUALLY reading at the time, or just posing with the book- clearly, she reads all the books she selects for the club!

I've so far read 3 books from her book club. The first satisfied "author of a different ethnicity from you", I'd used the second for "book from a celebrity book club" but I just found a photo of Reese with that one, so I used the 3rd book for "celebrity book club" and the 2nd book for "book you saw a stranger reading in a public place."

Okay, you guys!!! I'm flying to Charlotte today, and flying home Friday evening - FINGERS CROSSED that I:
(a) see someone reading,
(b) can decipher the title, and
(c) haven't read it yet and am even a little bit interested in reading the book.

Charlotte is a big airport, I've GOT to find SOMEONE reading something good!!!

(Note that I am not helping the cause at all, because all of my reading is on my ipad - it's just easier to pack than a bunch of books - hangs head in shame)

I hadn’t seen anyone reading a book, but wasn’t freaking out yet as have some travel coming up for work and still could stalk a bookstore or library. But....there were a lot of people reading books on the short cruise to the Bahamas I took last weekend! So many I stopped trying to see the title after I found a couple options. Think I am going with a Jodi Picoult book I haven’t read. Nice to have a plan for this one and glad I didn’t panic!

Technically, the category title doesn't say "a book you saw someone reading in public this year," so... a book you saw someone reading in public at any point you feel like choosing?

Laura wrote: "Technically, the category title doesn't say "a book you saw someone reading in public this year," so... a book you saw someone reading in public at any point you feel like choosing?"

Well, it doesn´t even say "a book YOU saw someone reading" just "read by a stranger in a public place"... So technically anyone, who´s a stranger to you, seen by someone at some point, reading in public...

In my doctor's office I saw someone reading "Origin" by Dan Brown, so that gave me a good excuse to read it. I didn't feel it was as good as the previous books though. :(

Success!! My flights on Wednesday and this evening were fruitful! I stared at everyone in the aiport as I walked by, and if I saw them reading a book, I would unobtrusively circle them to see the title. Sometimes I could only see part of the cover, and I would go google the keywords until I found a cover that matched what I had seen. Most people noticed me looking at them, but they assumed I was looking for a seat at the airport, so hopefully I didn't creep anyone out. It helps that I'm a fat, middle-aged lady = non-threatening!

I even struck up a conversation with one woman! She was thrilled to talk books, and recommended a book to me! The book she was reading was some kind of compilation that you can't find in stores, and she didn't like it anyway - she recommended What Alice Forgot (which I've already read, and enjoyed. This is actually the second person in as many months to recommend this book to me! is it being made into a TV show or something? Or maybe the Big Little Lies show is getting Liane Moriarty more attention?)

Books I saw being read:
The Black Book by James Patterson & David Ellis
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life (I think this was the one - all I saw was "Boundaries" and a red border, but he has a few of these books - doesn't matter, because this is not my kind of book!) by Henry Cloud
True to You by Jennifer Ryan (tbh, what I saw was "Jennifer Ryan" and a cowboy wearing black, I thought that would be easy to narrow down, but Ms Ryan has SEVERAL books with cowboys in black on the cover!!! I'm pretty sure this was the one I saw.)
Price of Duty by Dale Brown
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
Picture Yourself Planning Your Perfect Wedding by Sandy Doell

I know I've complained a lot about this prompt, because I never see people reading, but luckily I have to go on business trips every few months. I HATE business trips, but this little project was really fun! I really enjoyed the "hunt" through the airport, and now I had a nice selection to choose from. "Leviathan Wakes" is already on my TBR, so I may read that, or I may choose something different that I'm not familiar with, like "Price of Duty" or "True to You."

I have walked through my public library. Most people are using the computer for something other than reading. I've seen someone reading a magazine, someone reading a newspaper, and someone reading a textbook. I've looked around in my doctor's office - no one reading. I've gone to a coffee shop - some people reading textbooks. I even went early to my daughter's concert, I was the only one reading while we waited. I think I may just read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green - my sister saw someone reading this on a recent trip to Boston.

Pie wrote: "I went to my library and the only book I caught the title of was an SAT prep book. I think I'll try one more time next time I go. If I can't see anything then I'll check out the instagrams mentione..."

The man in front of me on the train this morning was holding his book so I could see the reflection in the window. However he had his bookmark obscuring most the title, argh! I thought it might be The Idiot but can't find any covers that fit. It was possibly non-fiction as the inside appeared to have panels and I think one chapter title was about kidneys but it's hard to read mirror text! It definitely started with The Id... the cover was yellow text on a dark background. Any ideas?

Ellie wrote: "The man in front of me on the train this morning was holding his book so I could see the reflection in the window. However he had his bookmark obscuring most the title, argh! I thought it might be ..."


ooooh a puzzle!!

Idiot
Idiom
Idea
Ideal
Iditarod
Identical
Idol
Idle

Ideal Team Player
Identicals
Idea Factory

oooh! maybe I've got it!!! There is an edition with a yellow cover:
Idiot Brain (that looks really interesting actually!)

Nadine wrote: "Ellie wrote: "The man in front of me on the train this morning was holding his book so I could see the reflection in the window. However he had his bookmark obscuring most the title, argh! I though..."

I've read The Idiot Brain (my book given as a gift) and it's really good. I did think it could be a different edition of it but no luck. I'm hoping he's still reading it tomorrow and I can get another look. If someone accuses me of stalking, this group is my defence, right? :D

It could also be this one , and I bet there is a version of The Idiot by Dostoyevsky that has a yellow cover.

In any case this is a classic version of "the book has a yellow cover, but I don´t remember the title" query that I think all librarians and book store workers know about ;)

And yes, of course we are your defense. I think you should ask him, if you can´t get a better view, because we HAVE to solve this mystery!

Johanne wrote: "It could also be this one , and I bet there is a version of The Idiot by Dostoyevsky that has a yellow cover.

And yes, of course ..."

Didn't she say yellow text on a dark background? Or did I misinterpret, since everyone's posting yellow background books?

Raquel wrote: "Johanne wrote: "It could also be this one , and I bet there is a version of The Idiot by Dostoyevsky that has a yellow cover.

And..."

Oh yes, sorry. I misread it... I still think she should ask...

It was definitely dark background with yellow text. And also not long enough to be Dostoyevsky... would be under 400 pages. I haven't spotted him again, but the train formation was wrong this morning so no one was where they normally gravitate to. Very frustrating!

I found it! Although now I'm disappointed as it doesn't sound like something I'd want to read:

Ellie wrote: "I found it! Although now I'm disappointed as it doesn't sound like something I'd want to read:

"

I am curious about how The Idea Factory involves kidneys, though! :-)

Yesterday I saw someone reading To Kill a Mockingbird

Ellie wrote: "I found it! Although now I'm disappointed as it doesn't sound like something I'd want to read:

"

I´m glad the mystery is solved!

FINALLY! I was in the supermarket just browsing the book selection while waiting for a friend to finish ransacking the clearance. A stranger approached- so of course like a total creep I stood there watching and waiting for him to pick something up and skim it.

He picked up: The Body

At which point my friend was calling me and I skipped joyously away.

In the past five weeks I have been on two 10-hour flights, two 5-hour flights, and two 3-hour flights, and on ALL of these flights I have walked slowly and creepily down the aisles trying to see what people are reading, and I have surmised that people ONLY read thrillers on planes. And I don't read thrillers. Today was my last flight, and I FINALLY saw a stranger reading a book I'm actually interested in! He was sitting on the aisle right in front of me and had this year's Pulitzer winner, Less, sitting on his tray table. When I saw it I excitedly hit my husband and told him I had finally found "the one," and he dryly pointed out that the guy wasn't actually reading it. What a buzzkill. I was going to go with it anyway regardless, but then, with just 30 minutes of the flight remaining, HE PICKED IT UP AND READ IT! Woohoo! And that will be my pick. I hope it's good. But if not, at least it's short and I can say I read this year's Pulitzer winner.

Today on the train I saw someone reading Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus.
I´ve seen quite a few people reading in public the last few weeks, but their books are either facing downwards or I can´t make out the title (I´m slightly shortsighted, which is a handicap for this prompt). I spotted the book I want to read for this a while ago (Annihilation), but will just keep posting if someone else can use it.

Today I spotted The Widows of Malabar Hill. Someone else was reading too but I couldn't make out the title.

On the train Friday, I saw someone reading Shadowland. I may add it to my list.

On my train ride home I saw a young man reading

... *curses app*... A little life by Hanya Yanagihara (Danish translation, but I think that's not important for this prompt).

Today I saw a man reading Robin

I've wanted to read Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging since I saw a woman reading it on the tube while I was in London. I hope my library will buy it.

Don't have many ideas if that doesn't work out. I used to see people reading at the gym, but I guess everyone uses glowing rectangles now. (As do I.)

I finally saw a stranger reading a book at the intermission of a play last weekend and was so excited to ask him what he was reading. I explained why I was asking and the couple thought the challenge sounded fun. It also broke the ice while we were sitting there waiting for the second act. He didn't get much reading done, though. :)

Unfortunately it was a book by an author with a completely different viewpoint of American politics than I have, and I'm hopeful I will find another book along the way. I read enough of all sides of the political spectrum that I don't want to read this one.

The book, in case I don't find a better option, is Grant Comes East by Newt Gingritch. It is apparently the second book in a trilogy and isn't factual history but more of an alternate version.

I just read someone's previous comment about using a book from an author's book reading. I just went to such a reading a couple of weeks ago for I'll Tell You What... by Ann Edwards Cannon, a local author whom I have never met before and is therefore a stranger. I think this just solved my dilemma. Thanks so much for the suggestion, Anna!

Today at the beach I saw someone reading Det der ikke slår os ihjel, Danish edition of The Girl in the Spider's Web. I now wonder why it was translated like that... The Danish title is translated directly from the original Swedish title and means: "That which does not kill us", which makes perfect sense in English. Oh well, title translations are a constant source of mystery and bewilderment to me.

There were actually quite a few people reading at the beach, which made me happy. The others had their book covers facing downwards.

I read Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. " ‘Is she pretty?’ Brunetti realized Patta must have found out about the difference in age between the dead man and his widow. ‘If you like tall blondes,’ Brunetti said. ‘Don’t you?’ ‘My wife doesn’t permit me to, sir.’ " Leon, Donna. Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Brunetti Mystery (p. 52). Grove/Atlantic, Inc.. Kindle Edition. --- Easy paced police procedural in Venice. My first Donna Leon read amd I will return to the Commissario Brunetti series.

I had to recruit my boyfriend to help me find options for this one, since he takes public transit to work and I'm rarely in places where people would be reading. Lucky for me, he saw someone reading Still Me, which I really wanted to read anyway!

Starting to see more books about at the train station, still hard to identify them and nothing I want to read yet. The one woman who always holds books so I can see them has very different taste to me!

Spotted Gone Girl and The Line of Beauty.

Spotted on the DC metro this weekend: The Little Lady Agency

So far I've seen 3 books being read in public that I'm considering, two are sequels to others I haven't read: Me After You, A Storm of Swords. Any recommendations if either of these stand alone or if I need to read previous books first if I want to do either of these.