Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday!  We are getting some hints of spring here in central NY -  almost all the snow has melted, and my early crocuses are finally up and blooming, two weeks later than usual thanks to that late snow.


Admin stuff
The nomination poll for June's group read is open - write in or vote for your suggestion here:   https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...    
Remember this is just the nomination round, and previous group reads from the last two years are not eligible.  A final poll will come next week.
As always, let us know if you are interested in leading any of the group discussions.



This week I finished 1 book, which I'm counting towards the "winter" challenge (which will be an "all year" challenge for me).

White Nights by Ann Cleeves - this was good (not bad, not great, just good).  This is the third book I've read by Cleeves, and it seems that I like her books, but I never love her books.  I do like the Shetland Islands setting, though, and that's why I keep coming back to this series.  This would obviously work for "color in the title" or "title starting with W" but I decided to check off "set on an island" from our "Winter" challenge  so I am now 2/10.


And I DNFed one book:
Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima - this was meant to be my book based on Norse mythology, but it was not for me. I was bored.  

I started reading The Witch's Heart for this same category, and I am really enjoying it.  

Thank you to everyone who recommended both of those books for that category - neither had been on my radar before, and I love discovering new books (even though I DNFed one of them - it wasn't a bad book, just not the book for me)!!



Pop: 16/50   
Winter: 2/10   
AtY: 13/52   
2023 must-reads: 2/12




Question of the Week
Take a quiz! https://www.torforgeblog.com/2023/03/...   What did you get?  How do you feel about your result?


I am ALWAYS a sucker for a stupid quiz.

I have to admit, for most of the questions I didn't recognize most of the choices, so I chose blindly, often choosing the only thing I recognized. But it's just a silly quiz so whatever. In a way, choosing what I recognize should theoretically lead me to the new release I would synch with best, right? I got a book I've never heard of: The Warden. But it sounds good! so I added it to my TBR.

I am going to a rock concert with friends tonight and have off work until Saturday, when I'm doing community service with my probation kids, so I probably won't get much reading done this weekend.

I finished:

Wind Chime Café: Wish you could read for the first time again: This was my 3rd time reading and I loved it as much.

Backup Wife: about divorce (I may be stretching it a little); I was not looking forward to this prompt and had tried several possibilities that felt like a drag to me, so I picked this because it was short and light. I finished it in a few hours.

The London Séance Society: Not for the challenge. This was not as good as the Lost Apothecary, but it was decent. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

Side note: I DNF a lot of books. My philosophy is too many books to read, too little time so why waste it on something you are wholeheartedly not enjoying. I usually figure it out about 10% of the way through, so it doesn't feel like a big deal to stop. I don't normally log them here, because I'm against being negative about a book that I don't finish. However, this past weekend, I stated a book The Last Housewife that I was looking forward to (in hindsight, I'm not sure why), so even though I wasn't enjoying it, I didn't want to give up. Finally at about 45%, I realized that the book was actively making me unhappy and uncomfortable, and not in a meaningful way, so I read spoilers online for the book and then stopped reading. I'm so glad that I didn't waste another 5 hours on what was a gross, unimaginative, exploitative book.

QOTW:
I love quizzes too, but because I was mostly randomly selecting things that I don't know about, it makes sense that the result doesn't seem to suit me very well. I got Sweep of Stars which I have no intention of reading.

Happy Thursday! We had our second DND session on Monday evening and things are progressing well. My character had been shot full of arrows after the first session, and this time one of my friends healed me so we could all carry on together. I’m still a raw beginner and overly enthusiastic about chasing after weird sounds, haha. I’m sure the others feel like they’re playing with a puppy.

In theatre news, we have our cast for Baskerville and I have a separate callback for a summer production of Twelfth Night this coming weekend. Excited!

On the home front, husband has begun his privacy-fence project (aka spring project #1). Got the fenceposts in two days ago and concrete poured, so it had plenty of time to set before the rain came last night. It's been an extremely mild winter here in NEOhio, with lots of rain instead of snow.

Books finished this week:
The Cartographers - DNF at 52%. This one was a bummer because the premise was awesome but I wasn’t connecting with anyone and did not like the main character.

The Count of Monte Cristo - 4.5 stars. Deeply pleased to have finished this! Another giant chunky book off my backlog :) I adored the interwoven stories of the characters. Longest book by pages on your TBR

PS 18/50
ATY 16/52
Mount TBR 15/60

Currently:
Sworn to the Night - first book in the Schaeferverse crossover trilogy
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun - starting today!

QOTW: What did you get? How do you feel about your result?
Quizzy! Right off the bat I didn't recognize more than one song, so off to Youtube I went to listen to all of them :D But my result was Lilith Saintcrow's Spring's Arcana, which is due out in May and now I'm EXCITED. Lilith is one of those authors who's been on my radar forever but I still haven't read anything of hers, and that's gonna chaaaange :D

Another Thursday! *yawns* Happy Spring!

Weather: Not as rainy as predicted as of yet, so it’s been quite nice. The tree outside of our window has lovely white blossoms on it so it does feel like spring!

Bunnies: All good! Mickey’s ‘surgery’ went well, so his molars should no longer have hooks and he should be painfree! The three that needed their yearly shots also got them this past weekend so we’re all good to go for another year! (the other three recently had them before coming to live with us from the shelter, and Mia accidentally got hers as well when there to date Mickey)

Cats: Thor is allergic indeed! Vet suspects a flea allergy, so he’s gotten a shot to help with the itching and after it should be over. So far, so good! I hope his fur comes back soon. We’ve also officially started the reintroducing process for Zira and Crowley, so that means 4-5 weeks of absolutely no contact. So far, so good, but it’s really sad for Zira. She loves being outside in the enclosure, but for that she needs to cross the kitchen. So for 4-5 weeks she can’t go outside. As a compromise for her we’re opening my window during the day, and she’s been enjoying it, thankgods. Fingers crossed this will all pay off eventually!

Puzzle: No progress, back to back Disney trips have wiped me out, haha! Hoping to get to work on it tomorrow but then I also fell into another trash can (again-ish) so I just want to read fics xD

Disney: I think I mentioned the AP party with my mom, but last weekend I went with my aunt & uncle and sister, and I was so nervous for it. Neither of them are very into Disney, and I felt responsible for them having a good time. Food was also a big stress factor for me, cuz what if they didn’t like any of the food???? I managed to articulate and explain what I was worried about and why (surprise: most of it came back to my mom) even though I rationally knew it wasn’t all on me and they reassured me they wouldn’t blame me. They also refused to let myself feel bad about being in the wheelchair and needing to be pushed, and managed to keep my guilt about doing some characters after all to a low. So, all in all, a great trip! I’m exhausted and Snollebollekes this Saturday will be an experience (especially since my dad is unwell at the moment and isn’t sure he can join and I really don’t wanna go with just my mom; she joined me and dad after all) but I am super excited for our April trip with our carers: we’re gonna go character hunting!

It will come as no surprise with my exhaustion that I haven’t read much, but here we go:

Read
Nothing except over 450 pages of fanfic asdjhkasg (love you Wylan and Jesper)

Currently Reading
Moby-Dick
Tuesday was the very first day I missed a chapter, I just couldn’t get myself to. I spent all day in bed reading Wesper fics, I felt so terrible, and I… couldn’t. And even though I am already ahead of schedule, I still felt I needed to make up for it so I read two on Wednesday. Other than that, still going strong, still ready for it to be over adjkfhag

Six of Crows
To be fair, at the time of writing not yet. I meant to read the first chapter before bed last night, but I was so exhausted (literally so bad I forgot to top up the kibble and water bowls of the cats in my room ajshdf) and my best friend messaged me, so I didn’t get to it. I intend to start my reread today instead! (*coughs* this has nothing to do with Wylan and Jesper and Shadow & Bone season 2 I swear *coughs*)

QOTW
This quiz was super hard because a lot of the answers meant nothing to me xD But my result was Legends & Lattes. Which makes sense. It hits all my boxes. And yet … I have no interest. Woops.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!  We are getting some hints of spring here in central NY -  almost all the snow has melted, and my early crocuses are finally up and blooming, two weeks later than usual thanks to th..."

I'm glad you're really enjoying The Witch's Heart! I raced through that, I loved it! It was the last book I needed for your Q1 challenge :D

Qotw:WEEP OF STARS by Maurice Broaddus

The only way is forward.

The Muungano Empire split from old earth to construct a new coalition of city-states in the stars. Ancestral wisdom, scientific progress, the heart of warriors, and experience of elders are the backbone of the new society that is the setting of your booksona, but the past is jealous of the future. All the human devilry that would suffocate the Muungano attempt to shed the cycles of misery persist.

And what does this say about you, being your booksona? You are caught in the sway of hopeful future and anchor past. But fret not! You’re doing good work. So long as there is hope, and importantly the actions of people to nurture it, a better world will come.

Also check out SWEEP OF STARS by Maurice Broaddus. It’s your booksona after all!

I didn't understand half the questtions, or more accurately, half the answers. I'm not really that much into fantasy.

I finished This Rough Magic as my book that takes place on vacation. I love Mary Stewart's writing, but the plot and characters of this one left something to be desired. Hated the ending.

I'm reading The Pillars of the Earth as my longest book. I'm assuming my next two check ins will just be "still working on Pillars of the Earth."

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! We had our second DND session on Monday evening and things are progressing well. My character had been shot full of arrows after the first session, and this time one of my friends h..."

Man, I'm jealous -- I love DnD but it's been years since I've been able to find a group to play with. So many shenanigans...

Happy Thursday!

This week I attended a "check-in" for the library's Extreme Book Nerd challenge -- basically where we all share our progress, discuss what we've been reading, and help others find books to fill prompts they're having difficulty with. So kind of like our reading challenge check-ins here, but in person and less often (once a month or so). It was surprisingly fun!

Books read this week:

David and the Phoenix -- for “book you read more than 10 years ago.” This was one of my favorite books ever as a kid, and while my adult mind doesn’t find it quite as masterful as I used to, my inner child was thrilled by the nostalgia and being transported back in time. Part of me wishes this would be made into a movie at some point, though I’m terrified they’d ruin the experience…

Paladin's Grace -- for the PopSugar prompt “book with a forbidden romance” and the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “a romance.” I loved the worldbuilding, I loved the broken-but-determined-to-keep-going characters, and I always love Kingfisher’s snarky banter and sly humor.

Changing Planes -- for “favorite prompt from the 2016 challenge (a science fiction novel).” Feels more like a bunch of ideas Le Guin had for fictional worlds that she didn’t have full-fledged stories for, so she loosely tied them together with the framing device of “using airports to travel to other realities.” Still imaginative, just not cohesive.

The Selection -- for the PopSugar prompt “book with a love triangle" and the Extreme Book Nerd prompt "book from a library display." Love triangles are one of my least favorite tropes in fiction… and while I wanted to like this book regardless, it just felt like a whole lot of nothing happened. And I don’t know why it keeps getting marketed as “dystopian” when there’s no real dystopian stuff happening.

DNF:

Beach Read -- was going to be for “a BookTok recommendation.” Just not my type of book I guess…

Ringworld -- man, I swear I loved the “Hugo Award” prompt from last year, why are so many of the books that have won Hugos just not interesting me?

Currently Reading:

Let the Right One In -- for “book that takes place the decade you were born”
George Lucas: A Life -- for “book about or set in Hollywood”
Bryony and Roses -- for “a modern adaptation of a classic story”
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

QOTW:

That was an odd quiz, and some of the answers left me scratching my head. I ultimately ended up with Legends & Lattes as my booksona, which... okay, I'll take it, it was a cute read and I liked it.

Kenya wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! We had our second DND session on Monday evening and things are progressing well. My character had been shot full of arrows after the first session, and this tim..."

I'm still very unaccustomed to playing in person! I got started with tabletop gaming during quarantine, so we did everything online. Sometimes I still wish I could do it that way so I wouldn't have to drive, but playing in person also means food, so I guess it evens out :D

Carmen wrote: "But my result was Legends & Lattes. Which makes sense. It hits all my boxes. And yet … I have no interest. ..."



LOL every review I see says this book is so good, but I hate the cover so much that I can't really bring myself to read it

Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "But my result was Legends & Lattes. Which makes sense. It hits all my boxes. And yet … I have no interest. ..."



LOL every review I see says this book is so good, but I hate the co..."

It was good. It didn't change my life or anything, but it was a very enjoyable read.

Happy spring! We had NO SNOW this winter and I am VERY DISAPPOINTED.

Finished 9/50

Gardens of the Moon for "book with a fat lead". WOW this was a zaney ride for a high fantasy novel! Not at all what I expected. I may read more in the series. It was so strange.

Currently Reading

First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew for "book with alliteration in the title". My Lenten read. I'm enjoying it so far!

Deification in Christ: Orthodox Perspectives on the Nature of the Human Person for "book published in the same year I was born". Kinda heady so far, but the premise is cool!

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology for "book about or set in Hollywood" THIS IS A WILD READ SO FAR. Omg this cult is terrifying!!

QotW

I love silly quizzes too! I got Sweep of Stars which I'll also add to my TBR. Apparently this means "You are caught in the sway of hopeful future and anchor past. But fret not! You’re doing good work. So long as there is hope, and importantly the actions of people to nurture it, a better world will come." I dig it.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "But my result was Legends & Lattes. Which makes sense. It hits all my boxes. And yet … I have no interest. ..."



LOL every review I see says this book is so good, but I hate the co..."

OKAY BUT SAME, the cover puts me off so much! I'm also not a fan of fantasy creatures like that, I can't even read a mermaid fic, so ajsdhkf welp

What a busy week. One therapy session last week, two this week.
And to top it off I have jury duty which is a total bummer.

Other than that my reading hasn't consisted of much. I have started this one though:

Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

Question of the Week
Take a quiz! https://www.torforgeblog.com/2023/03/... What did you get? How do you feel about your result?

Interesting QOTW. I got Sweep of Stars. Never heard of it, but okay.

I did like what the blurb had to say: You are caught in the sway of hopeful future and anchor past. But fret not! You’re doing good work. So long as there is hope, and importantly the actions of people to nurture it, a better world will come.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

This week was a little busier than I’d anticipated, but I still managed to do a tremendous amount of reading.

In addition to continuing my reading for March Mystery Madness, this week I also began participating in the Mini-Manga Readathon, which started on Monday morning. It’s been a bit of a challenge to focus on two readathons at once, but I’ve had a lot of fun so far.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 183/400
Mount TBR Challenge: 145/150 (Climbing Mount Olympus) — I should complete this challenge by the weekend.

📚Physical TBR: 128/634
📱Ebook TBR: 6/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 11/13
TBR Checklist Total: 145/883

This week I picked up several new/recent releases, including: A Sinister Revenge, by Deanna Raybourn; Spy x Family, Vol. 9, by Tatsuya Endo; The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Omnibus, by Ryan North; Alice in Borderland, Vol. 5, by Haro Aso; and The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, by Garth Nix.

I also found out that there are two Hamish Macbeth short stories (Knock, Knock, You're Dead! and Death of a Laird) that are currently only available as ebooks. Since I’ve been enjoying the series so much, I decided to buy copies of both stories, and will be reading them before the end of the month.

Since I have picked up so many new books over the past few weeks, I will be taking the first two weeks of April to focus exclusively on reading titles from my “New Books” list. I am determined to end 2023 having read all of the books I purchased during the year, so I can’t afford to fall too far behind.

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 60
“New” Books Read in 2023: 33/60

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Pride and Prejudice — This is one of my all-time favorite novels, and it was a lot of fun to listen to it while I was working on household projects this week. Unfortunately, I did have a couple of issues with this audiobook. While I did like the narrator very much, she consistently mispronounced the names of a couple of the estates (Rosings Park and Longbourn), which I found rather surprising. I was also surprised by the fact that the chapters were not separated into individual tracks. Having only one 11.5-hour track made it very difficult to return to earlier scenes on the occasions when my reading was interrupted. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Stealers Of Dreams — I really enjoyed listening to this Doctor Who story, which featured the Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Jack. Camille Coduri did a great job as the narrator! 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Pest Control — This was a fantastic audiobook, which featured the Tenth Doctor and Donna. I really liked that it was it read by David Tennent. It also had a soundtrack that played during many of the scenes, which really made the audiobook feel like an episode of the tv show. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This week I also continued reading the Hamish Macbeth series, and I am getting very close to finishing it. The titles I read this week (books 26-33) include…
~Death of a Chimney Sweep — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Kingfisher — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of Yesterday — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Policeman — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Liar — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Nurse — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Ghost — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of an Honest Man — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil — It has taken me over two months, but I have finally finished reading this book! It was an interesting read, which did a nice job of separating history from legend, and would be a good resource for anyone doing research on Holmes. Unfortunately, I found it rather slow. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Hobbit Sketchbook — I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about Alan Lee’s work on The Hobbit films, and his experience illustrating Tolkien’s novel. The sketches in this book are incredible! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook — I also enjoyed learning about Alan Lee’s work on The Lord of the Rings films, and his experience illustrating the original novels. The sketches in this book were amazing, and I liked having the opportunity to see sketches of scenes and characters that never made it into the films. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Spy x Family, Vol. 9 — This book was a great continuation to the series! I’m really looking forward to the next one! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Alice in Borderland, Vol. 5 — I have really been enjoying this series, and this book was an excellent continuation! If you have watched the live action adaptation on Netflix, this book covers (view spoiler)[the beginning of the King of Clubs game, as well as a couple of flashback stories about Chishiya and Heiya. (hide spoiler)] It’s going to be really hard to wait until the next book is released. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In addition to those new releases, I also started reading the Demon Slayer series. This was a series that I picked up on a whim at the end of last year, and I’m so glad I did. I’m really enjoying the story and characters, and the art is fantastic. The volumes I read this week include…
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 7 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 8 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 9 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 10 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 11 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 12 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 13 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 14 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 15 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 16 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~Death of a Green-Eyed Monster — I'm really enjoying this book so far, and I will definitely be finishing it sometime this evening. 📚

QOTW:
What a fun quiz! For my “Booksona,” I got Legends & Lattes. I absolutely loved this book, so I’m happy with my result.

K.L. wrote: "This week I picked up several new/recent releases, including: A Sinister Revenge, by Deanna Raybourn; Spy x Family, Vol. 9, by Tatsuya Endo; The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Omnibus, by Ryan North; Alice in Borderland, Vol. 5, by Haro Aso; and The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, by Garth Nix."

There's a Squirrel Girl OMNIBUS?? *races to the bookstore*

Happy Thursday

I had a week. Back to office two days a week and it was draining. I'm an introvert who loves WFH. And I found out that a friend died on Sunday.

I didn't finish a book, although I made great progress on 2 of them. Penguin Island has finally got interesting. I did manage to watch 2 movies.

Series - 4/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent

Nobel laureates - 1/7
Random books - 1/7

ATY - 11/40
PS - 11/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 8/10
Around the year in 52 movies - 14/52

12. A movie connected to birds, bees, or bunnies - The Secret Life of Bees
(I had read the book years ago)
13. A movie that has an object that is repeated on the cover - The Three Caballeros (3 hats)

Currently reading:

A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories - 75% done

Prentice Alvin - 60% done

Penguin Island - 20% done

The Jane Austen Project - 65% done

QOTW: I got Sweep of Stars, which I've never heard of. It also sounds like SF, which I don't usually read. I'm not sure what my true "booksona" would be. Probably either a Jane Austen book or something Victorian.

Ashley Marie wrote: "I'm still very unaccustomed to playing in person! I got started with tabletop gaming during quarantine, so we did everything online. Sometimes I still wish I could do it that way so I wouldn't have to drive, but playing in person also means food, so I guess it evens out .."

My daughter had a great D&D group before the pandemic. I kept suggesting they hold it over Discord or Zoom, but it never happened. Now they've all gone their separate ways to university and she is missing that social outlet. It's hard to find a group you click with.

DNF:

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (a book with alliteration in the title)

I read through page 80. There was nothing really bad about the book, and I enjoyed the Christie-esque setup of the novel within the novel. However, I kept finding excuses to read every other book I could get my hands on instead of coming back to Magpie Murders, so it is just not for me right now, I guess.

Finished:

Star Trek Voyager: Shadow by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch (3/5, reread)

It's mostly the Voyager crew trying to help an alien group of refugees escape disaster. The Section 31 stuff is involved but mostly serves to raise some obstacles to achieving that goal. If you are not too picky about the entire book taking place in one day (the prologue and epilogue are at different times), then this would be a good book for that prompt.

The Maid by Nita Prose (4/5, a book from a first-time author)

This was, for the most part, a delightful mystery/thriller. It was a joy to see the world through Molly's eyes, and I really appreciated all of the rhyming from her training and grandmother. There was one decision related to Molly's grandmother's death that irked me. I saw the relevance later, but I still don't think it was necessary. To end on a positive note, I love seeing The Olive Garden and Columbo represented in this book!

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 4: I Kissed a Squirrel and I Liked It by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (4/5, not for a prompt)

This could work for someone who needs the "girl" in the title prompt filled. Once again, the fun is seeing how Doreen and her friends interact with each other and solve problems ranging from school to romance to Mole Man showing up. Computer science and biology fans will get extra enjoyment from these issues.

Question of the Week:

I got Legends and Lattes. I was mostly happy to see characters like Red Yoshi and Asajj Ventress in the answer choices while taking the quiz. For the last question, I chose Sheldon because I feel I could take him in single combat. Instead of fighting him, I would rather cuddle Red Yoshi.

Ashley Marie wrote: "K.L. wrote: "This week I picked up several new/recent releases, including: A Sinister Revenge, by Deanna Raybourn; Spy x Family, Vol. 9, by Tatsuya Endo; The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Omnibus, by Ry..."

Apparently, it just came out yesterday. Depending on how you read comics, the Kindle or paperback versions of the individual volumes may or may not be good alternatives to the omnibus. If you want everything in one place in a nice, collectible format, then the hardcover omnibus is great and makes a lot of sense.

Actually, I see that the Kindle version is $40 compared to the $127 hardcover, so the format would have to be very important to the buyer to overcome the price difference. The Marvel Unlimited subscription is another way to experience all of the Squirrel Girl and other comics.

I'm glad you brought up the omnibus because it got me to check out the site and find out that other collections I am interested in are available in that format (like the 2nd and 3rd volumes of the Uncanny X-Men from the Claremont years).

Happy Thursday!

Well, winter has come once again. Yesterday, the mountains surrounding us were white once again. It's been cold and windy the last couple of days. Sunday it rained. I did get to see my niece and nephew. They came down and spent some time here. My niece is already holding her head up! She's only four months old yesterday! I was shocked. She's wants to look at everything and is all smiles except when she's hungry. Oh boy! Does she tell you she wants food now! She's already has teething bumps on her gums too. I swear time flies or is just accelerated around babies.

There's been some tattoo drama at work. Vague county policy and difference of opinions and me stuck in the middle trying to see my way out. My opinion on the hand/finger tattoos aren't relevant. They aren't for me ascetically, but I'm not the one who has to live with them. The director doesn't like them, but they are within the vague county policy. I'm really so over it. HR was involved because my coworker was covering his bases. Lordy, I could go on.

For fyi sake, the tattoos are: an octopus on the hand (needs to be covered because it's too big by policy standards), knuckles of both hands with letters that spell out Book Club. Those were the initial tattoos. The second round was a cross on his ring finger, a pink triangle on the thumb (representing the symbol that gay people were forced to wear in Nazi Germany), and the symbols of man, woman, and transgender.

Other than that, not much is happening.

Popsugar:9/50
Finished: None

Reading:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- Not this version, but it's al the same. ps 4

Aty:10/52
Finished:None

Reading: None

Goodreads Challenge 210/400
Finished:

Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 1
Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 2
Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 3
Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 4
Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 5
The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom Vol. 1
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk, Vol. 1
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability, Volume 1
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability Vol. 2
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability Vol. 3
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability Vol. 4
My Happy Marriage, Vol. 3
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (Light Novel) Vol. 1
Feral Shifter Unhinged
Feral Shifter Unstoppable
Feral Shifter Unleashed
Killian
Jaxon
Beckham
Passion In The Mountains
Going Rogue
Ranger
Jackal

Reading:
I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss, Vol. 3
Getting Closer to You, Vol. 1


Nadine's Mini Challenge 7/10
Finished:None

Reading: None

Mount TBR:
27/150 Ebook
21/150 Physical

QOTW:
I got the Lilith Saintcrow's Spring's Arcana, which sounds pretty cool. I've taken this quiz before and got something else that i can't remember. It definitely wasn't my cup of tea though.

I love a good quiz that's silly. Or even those stop the book cover as they speed through them.

Happy Thursday!

Heat was back on last Thursday. Turned out to be a blown fuse in the central air system in the attic. Not a place I go nor a system that I know to check. And, I have definitely enjoyed it during the new cold spell of freezing weather early this week!

I am one of those introverts that enjoy reading and being on my own. However, I got used to doing things with my husband, and then COVID came along. So, one of my goals for this year was to engage in activities and seek to do things with others. A friend has joined me in some weekend activities, since she works during the week; plus she is young and is not always around.

I tell you that to set this report up, and because I am so proud of myself. (Oh, and I should say that I live in HORSE oriented country.) In fact, Aiken (a city near my small town and the county seat) was once the Winter Colony for the rich and famous from the North.

March is Steeplechase time…and Horse Show time in Aiken. I got up nerve enough to meet people (during a talk on steeplechase), get tickets (pricey) and make plans to go this upcoming weekend to the steeplechase by myself; to plan on attending the horse show and finding where it is in Hitchcook Woods so I can find it. AND again, no one is going with me. Yet I am excited, because I stepped out and got the info I needed and made plans all on my own.

Finished:
A New Lease of Death by Ruth Rendell – ALCM. A classic mystery by a classic mystery writer. 3*
The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell – ALCM, PAS, old challenges. This mystery was a bit more thriller than I usually read. Book 2 of a continued series set in Sweden. It did include recent events in Latvia. 4*
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalván – ATY (book about a disability). This story is about a highly decorated soldier who did two tours in Iraq and returned from the first tour with PTSD and injuries. It is his memoir of trying to come to terms with his eventual diagnosis, his failure and the failure of the VA to recognize his emotional injury once his body had healed, and how he learned to live with and beyond the diagnosis. I gave this book 5*.
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah – Ebook. RwS. After reading this story written by a Kiowa writer, I decided to use this book for PS #48 (two languages) as the writer, Oscar Hokeah, incorporated Kiowan words throughout this story, which is a novel told in the voices of the various characters in the story. 4*
On a Street Called Easy, in a Cottage Called Joye by Gregory White Smith – PS #29 (friend recommended). This book tells the story of the mansion (cottage) named Joye, which still stands in Aiken, SC. It was initially built in the 1800s during the time the rich and famous from up North came to Aiken and established the Winter Colony. There were many Winter Colonies (I know of another in Fort Myers, FL), but Aiken was for the Horse Owners. As a result, it is still very horse oriented with race horse training, polo, steeplechase, and other events happening here over spring, summer, and fall. 4*
Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert – no prompts. A fun, cozy mystery in a series that I had already started. 4*
Rock with Wings by Anne Hillerman – Audiobook. No challenges. Another mystery that I am reading. This is a continuation of the Leaphorn and Chee series originally written by Tony Hillerman and now continued by his daughter, Anne. I have not read this series in order, but rather have dipped into it from time to time. 4*

Currently Reading:
An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew – Old challenge, PS #36 (friend would like). Kindle. 25%. Turns out that this is a biography and is initially set in NY state. (Referrals to Jamestown had me confused with VA.)
The Son – ALCM, PAS, ATY, old challenges. 14%.
Death of Riley - ALCM. Another continuation of a mystery series that I have started. Book #2. 62%.
Song of the Lion – PAS. Another mystery series, book #21. 0%. Starting today.
A Christmas Mystery in Provence – ALCM, RwS. 62%.
The Roman Hat Mystery - ALCM. 7%.
Harold and Maude – PS #42 (based on movie). 61%.

Considering for On deck: (none for prompts)
For the Love of Mike
O’Artful Death
Old Wounds

PS 11/50 and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 12/52 and 8/12 for Q1 Challenge, 1/12 for Q2 Challenge
GR 63/200
RwS 3/30 (new seasonal challenge)

QotW: Take a quiz! https://www.torforgeblog.com/2023/03/... What did you get? How do you feel about your result?

SPRING’S ARCANA by Lilith Saintcrow

Since my responses were based on guesses not knowledge...and since most of the responses were for characters or situations I had never heard of, I am rather amazed that I am matched with a book that holds genres of Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, and Paranormal - some of my most favorite genres!

Dubhease wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "I'm still very unaccustomed to playing in person! I got started with tabletop gaming during quarantine, so we did everything online. Sometimes I still wish I could do it that w..."

If she's able to get back in touch with any of them, we all used Roll20 for online gaming! Or I think they also have options for if you want to join a game :)

Ashley Marie wrote: "There's a Squirrel Girl OMNIBUS?? *races to the bookstore*."

Yeah, it just came out this week! It's an absolutely massive book!

Nadine in NY wrote: "And I DNFed one book:
Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima - this was meant to be my book based on Norse mythology, but it was not for me. I was bored. ..."

Sorry if my recommendation led you astray! I have to admit, I'm relieved though, because I DNF it either. Which was strange. I usually read middle reader fantasy. But it didn't grab me either. I don't know what to read for that prompt now!

We had one beautiful day of sunshine at the weekend before the weather turned grey and wet again. I can't wait to be able to spend more time outdoors, I have garden things to do but can't bring myself to do them in the rain.

And I'm halfway on my cut-down Popsugar challenge (I'm doing 40 prompts but a mix of standard and advanced).

Finished:
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty for main character name in title and ATY (full name in title). Loved this tale of magic and pirates set in the 12th century around the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. It's refreshing to have a forty-something woman protagonist in a fantasy, I feel like so many have been teens and twenty-somethings. Amina proving women my age still have a fighting chance against sea monsters 🤣

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto for spring release and ATY (unusual title). This was fun but I think she should have either not mentioned Vera's age or made her older, because she came across as too frail for a sixty year old. It's on the same "meddling aunties" level of her previous books. I would read another if it becomes a series.

Nothing but the Rain by Naomi Salman for ATY (author from continental Europe). This was very apt considering the weather! A short but excellent novella set in a rainy town where the rain washes away memories,told in journal entries, which worked well in highlighting the missing memories.

Currently reading Ink Blood Sister Scribe and listening to A Gift of Poison.

PS: 20/40 | ATY: 18/52 | GR: 30/100

QOTW:
I got Spring's Arcana which I hadn't heard of but kinda sounds up my street? I'll add it onto my 2023 releases list.

I've been reading a lot this week, and I don't feel good about it. I feel like I should be focused on other things. Oh well...

Finished: How to Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality This was full of useful information. Would be good to use with high-schoolers, I think.

Mindful of Race: Understanding and Transforming Habits of Harm Didn't really add much new if you've read books on mindfulness and books on racism.

Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock This is the second book by Jenny Odell I've read and I didn't really like either of them. Sorry Jenny!

The Last Chance Library I read this in a day. Good, light read. This was a reader's choice at my local library,

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe re-read.

Started: Aftershocks: Pandemic Politics and the End of the Old International Order The thing I'm most impressed about by this book is that it shares how inept Trump is without deteriorating into mud-slinging. It addresses how the whole world responds to the pandemic, says that it can't be explained by autocratic/democratic responses, but rather, by how recently leaders have failed at other emergency situations, thereby making them take more drastic and effective measures at the beginning of the pandemic.

QotW: I got Legends and Lattes. Which I'm not particularly interested, but my friend liked it, so maybe I will too. One of the quiz options, I didn't know what any of them referred to, so I took this somewhat blindly.

Carmen wrote: "OKAY BUT SAME, the cover puts me off so much!..."

I think the UK publisher felt the same way because we got a version with a coffee shop chalkboard style cover instead.

My husband bought me a Cricut for Christmas (I mentioned one day that it seemed like it might be fun...), and I finally got it out. I've spent A LOT of time putting labels on EVERYTHING (instead of reading). Now I'm obsessed with intricate paper-cutting SVGs. So many great patterns on Etsy! I see myself spending big bucks on cardstock and frames.

Popsugar Challenge: 19/50
Nadine's 1st Quarter Mini-Challenge: 10/10

Completed: Some of these might be slotted in challenge prompts, but I haven't gotten that figured out yet. If anybody has any ideas, I'd love the input.

The Kaiju Preservation Society: OMG, I loved this book! I listened to the audio version read by Wil Wheaton. It was just the weird, silly sci fi I needed to hear. ★★★★★
My Heart Is a Chainsaw: An homage to slasher movies... and really great horrific fun! (Q1.3: a book with five words in the title) ★★★★
The God of Endings: A mix of fantasy and historical fiction. It's a really smart vampire story. ★★★★
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century ★★★★
Snow Crash: Oof. I know this is supposed to be classic sci fi, but I really didn't like it. Originally published in the 1990s, some portions just don't hold up. ★★
Memoirs of a Polar Bear ★★★



Currently Reading: I don't know where any of these fit either. I'm never going to finish this challenge if I don't start picking out books that actually fit prompts.
Sam
Fiona and Jane
A History of Wild Places
The Art of Logic in an Illogical World
Kept Animals
Blaze Me a Sun
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

QOTW: "To you belongs an exquisite duality. One arm deftly pens canny inscriptions whilst you delicately craft enchantment from causal strands curling gossamer through the air. The other arm is painted all the way up with gross engine grease way past where calloused fingers loosely grip an oft-used lug wrench."

I got Spring's Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow (I also made a lot of guesses, but I love quizzes!). It sounds interesting. I tagged it on Libby, so I'll know when its available.

Hi, everyone. Not too much to report this week for me.

Finished:
The Mimicking of Known Successes - 3.5 stars - for a book released in Spring 2023. I enjoyed it, but I also kept getting distracted from it, so that it took a long time to read a short novella.

The Unhoneymooners - 3.5 stars - for a book about a vacation. This was a cute rom-com and a fast read. Overall, I liked it, although as usual, the misunderstandings bothered me.

Comics & manga:
Honey Lemon Soda, Vol. 1
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! Vol. 2
That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! Vol. 3
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! Vol. 4
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 3

I am currently at 15/50 for Popsugar (9/40 and 6/10). I am also at 8/10 for Nadine's Mini-Challenge #1.

Currently reading:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - for a book set in or about Hollywood. I'm just starting this one, but hoping it lives up to the hype.

The Echo Wife - I'm listening to this as an audiobook while at work. So far, it's interesting. I'm familiar with the narrator from a podcast audio-drama she was in, so I have to remind myself this is a different character speaking, but that's a 'me' problem, not a problem with the book.

Upcoming/Planned:
The Witch's Heart

QOTW:
I got The Terraformers, which sounds pretty good. I think it was already on my to-read list. :)

Ellie wrote: "Carmen wrote: "OKAY BUT SAME, the cover puts me off so much!..."

I think the UK publisher felt the same way because we got a version with a coffee shop chalkboard style cover instead.

[bookcover:..."

I hate that one, too. I can't help it *sobs*

Brandon wrote: "DNF:

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (a book with alliteration in the title)

I read through page 80. There was nothing really bad about the book, and I enjoyed t..."



That book didn't do anything for me, either. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.



The Maid ... To end on a positive note, I love seeing The Olive Garden and Columbo represented in this book!

Yes! I loved the Columbo mentions!!

Hello everyone from a cold and rainy Cleveland, Ohio. I haven't checked in for a few weeks mostly because of life and working from home. We go back to the office on Monday and I sorta don't want to go. I've gotten used to being back at home. I did manage to finish a few books, but none of them were for the challenge:

The Bone Farm A short novella that I found on Audible. It was pretty cool.
Mimosa I gave this graphic novel 5 stars. I identified with the charachters. I'm an over 30 Queer woman and the themes all hit home, plus I love going to brunch on Sunday's with my group of friends.
We're Alive: A Story of Survival, the First Season This audiobook was sooooo excellent! I love a full-cast performance and this story never failed. I was on the edge of my seat and rooting for everyone and sad when they lost someone. I also wondered how I would react in that situation. I downloaded the remaining seasons before I even finished this season.


QOTW: I got Spring's Arcana by Lillith Saintcrow
I've never taken one of these quizzes so I'm slightly clueless but it was fun and I understood the references.

Greetings from rainy NYC! Having an off day work-wise - I think I crashed a bit and need some slower time before re-entering the fray. I've learned over nearly 40 years of practice that you grab the quieter moments that cycle through to rebuild your own stamina and rest the mind and body for the next round. There is always a next round.

PS - 24/50. ATY - 31/52

Finished:
The Honjin Murders - PS - book with map, ATY - book with sun on cover
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet wonderful read! - ATY - set in UNESCO city of literature - Seattle
The Love Goddess' Cooking School
The Moving Finger - ATY unusual title and PS words only on cover

Currently reading:



QOTW: LOVE a quiz, especially about books!

Like Nadine, I had no idea who just about any of the featured characters, songs, books are -- it's my advanced age and lack of kids I'm sure. Never fear, I had a great time interpreting what little info I could glean and picking answers. My result was I think pretty accurate and I've added the book to my TBR:



Description: SPRING’S ARCANA by Lilith Saintcrow

To you belongs an exquisite duality. One arm deftly pens canny inscriptions whilst you delicately craft enchantment from causal strands curling gossamer through the air. The other arm is painted all the way up with gross engine grease way past where calloused fingers loosely grip an oft-used lug wrench.

Do you get what I’m saying here? You’re equal parts witchy and mechanic. Ethereally gritty, with a booksona to match: SPRING’S ARCANA by Lilith Saintcrow. It’s a high stakes journey across a continental United States full of wayward gods adapting to the convenience and decay of modern America.

Might be a reach, but you probably have at least one cool tattoo. Probably 2+

PSST: No tattoos but I do love the reality competition Ink Master.

Hi all! Been nice here in NY this week, we've actually gone outside after school a few times. Supposed to get cold again- 30s and 40s next week. I'm over the cold, I wish it would stay warm.

I finished Our Missing Hearts for a celeb book club. I really liked it. I haven't read this author before, but I will again. I know many of you don't like books without quotation marks, and there are none in this book. There's not a ton of dialog and I was never confused as to who was speaking, but if it bugs you, be forewarned.

I made progress in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War and I got back to Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. I also listened to some more of Les Miserables

QOTW: I also got Spring Arcana. It sounds like it could be OK, but not something I'm eager to rush out and get. Maybe if some of you read it when it comes out, let me know how it is.

Mandy wrote: "There's been some tattoo drama at work. Vague county policy and difference of opinions..."



LOL what? The county won't let employees have visible tattoos??? This is still a thing, in 2023??

Milena wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "But my result was Legends & Lattes. Which makes sense. It hits all my boxes. And yet … I have no interest. ..."



LOL every review I see says this book is so go..."

Cozy fantasy read that we read for my Feminerdy Book Club (and picked by the member who reads nothing except SFF) this month. Everyone loved it, just the light fun read we needed and led to highlighting amusing generational differences in the group: I kept pointing out all the literary allusions to Tolkien, etc. And those under 40 looked at me tolerantly and said that those are all references to DnD...which I then said had to have been inspired by the classics like Tolkien to start because DnD started in the 80s, or maybe late 70s, though I have never played.

Your basic chicken and egg discussion. 🤣🤣🤣

Oh I forgot to add that I'm reading Soul of the Deep for the PopSugar prompt that features a mythical creature(Mermaids)
And I DNF'd Song of Solomon I found myself not even picking the book up when I had other books around me. I'll probably pick it back up later.

Hi All,

Another exhausting week. Started Monday with another urgent vet appointment. Teddy was lethargic, not eating, and threw up (which for him is generally a sign of a Problem). So had to rush him to the vet first thing in the morning, where he was running a fever. Vet thinks he picked up an infection from the catheter that the antibiotics he was on wasn't catching. So he got put on MORE antibiotics, anti-nausia/vomiting meds, anti-inflamatory meds, and got some fluids. He's doing a bit better, but he's really tired of being cooped up and really angry at having so many pills shoved down his gullet. And I was looking forward to being DONE shoving pills down him, instead of adding another round. Poor guy. Also i've been hovering in a state of "kind of but not quite sick" since Tuesday or so. I think it's just from all the stress of the past couple weeks, since I've literally not left my house except the vet in the last couple weeks. It's just enough to make me feel run down and gross, but not quite bad enough to say "yes, i'm definitely sick" and feel justified in calling in. I keep being worried that the next day I'll wake up and REALLY be sick so not wanting to take off until it's actually clear that i'm at peak "ok now is the time".

This week I finished:

Alanna: The First Adventure - This is my book published in year I was born. I have to say it did NOT age well. Although I've been assured by some Tamora Pierce fans that she's accepted criticism of her early works, apologized, and has learned and grown since then, so that's good to know. Maybe I'll check out some of her newer works in the future.

Siren Queen - this is my book set in/about Hollywood. I liked this one a lot. It reminded me of her The Chosen, The Beautiful, but I liked this one much more. I think the other was really stymied by being locked into the Great Gatsby narrative too tightly. She didn't deviate from it enough so the magic elements didn't make sense or have room to breathe. This one was it's own story so it was strange and interesting and I really liked the vibe of it.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - this is the april books & brew read for my irl book club. I know this one got rave reviews all over good reads and such, and I did like it...but it fell a little flat when I expected to LOVE it. I'm in a creative field, I did consider going into game design at one point, I like playing video games...I expected to find it right up my alley. But honestly I found both Sam and Sadie so insufferable it really made a lot of the grand sweeping moments fall flat. Counting it as my booktok book

Currently reading:

The Echo Wife - part of my tbr challenge with my book club. Considering using it for a forbidden romance, we'll see. A guy creating a secret clone of his wife to cheat on said wife with with that wife's stolen research and conditioning that clone to be everything that wife isn't, seems pretty forbidden to me. but I'm not sure how much the relationship is involved later on in the book, so we'll see how I feel later on. (all that is in the book blurb/within early pages, I don't think that counts as a spoilers)

A Holly Jolly Diwali - audio book, will be for my holiday that isn't Christmas

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer - Fudging this a little because I don't like the prompt, I am going to use this for book based on an existing movie. Buffy was technically a movie before a tv series. I don't like Star Wars which seems to be the most common suggestion for books based on movies. And I've read a lot of the other suggestions like As You Wish.

QOTW:

I also got Sweep of the Stars. It looks alright, but not interesting enough to make me immediately go out and put it on my TBR. I do like Sci-fi so that's not the problem, description just isn't jumping at me.

Jealous of the Legends and Latte people, I loved that one haha.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "There's been some tattoo drama at work. Vague county policy and difference of opinions..."



LOL what? The county won't let employees have visible tattoos??? This is still a thing, i..."

they do have visible tattoo policy. but the drama is with the director (who told him not to get more without consulting her. Not kosher) and my colleague (who talked to hr to cover his bases before getting the second set of tats. without consulting her. cuz he didn't need to.)

The tattoo policy is vague enough that it's a mess.

Bea wrote: "March is Steeplechase time…and Horse Show time in Aiken. I got up nerve enough to meet people (during a talk on steeplechase), get tickets (pricey) and make plans to go this upcoming weekend to the steeplechase by myself; to plan on attending the horse show and finding where it is in Hitchcook Woods so I can find it. AND again, no one is going with me...."



Wow your story just pulled a completely forgotten memory up from the dark recesses of my brain!!!!! I went to some sort of horse event like this. It wasn't a steeplechase, not exactly, but it was a race, and there were jumps, so ... sort of. Maybe it was a mini steeplechase. I think I was in my 20s, and I think I was in Tennessee with my college friend who lives in Nashville for a few years. But I'm not sure, because that doesn't sound like the sort of thing she'd attend. Maybe it was an event in NY. I have no idea how I found out about it or where it was. I just have this one disjointed memory, I can't even remember who I was with! I remember grass, a lot of grass.


Congrats on getting out because you wanted to get out, even though it felt a little uncomfortable. I am a happy introvert, too. I'd happily stay home alone all the time, but I'm not really alone, I live with my daughter. If I lived alone, I'd eventually want to go out and do something too. Even the most introverted of us have to get out some days!!!!

Doni wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "And I DNFed one book:
Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima - this was meant to be my book based on Norse mythology, but it was not for me. I was bored. ..."

Sorry if m..."



Oh was that your rec?! I appreciate the rec, even though I didn't even though I ended up DNFing. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for YA fantasy. (Ironically, my original plan had been the first book in Riordan's Norse series, so I was planning on YA all along!)

Ellie wrote: "We had one beautiful day of sunshine at the weekend before the weather turned grey and wet again. I can't wait to be able to spend more time outdoors, I have garden things to do but can't bring mys..."




that sounds like it would be an interesting companion read with Memory of Water which is about not having ENOUGH water

Doni wrote: "I've been reading a lot this week, and I don't feel good about it. I feel like I should be focused on other things. Oh well... ..."



I know it sounds funny in our group of hardcore readers, but I understand, and I have felt that way before.

Ellie wrote: "

I think the UK publisher felt the same way because we got a version with a coffee shop chalkboard style cover instead.

Legends & Lattes..."



ohhhh I would be MUCH more interested in the book if that were its US cover!!

Happy check-in! Lots of short reads this past week. Bye bye page count average.

Finished Reading:

Those Left Behind Better Days and Other Stories The Shepherd's Tale Leaves on the Wind Serenity: No Power in the 'Verse ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Clearing out the tbr.

Burn Bright ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY repeat objects on cover)
One more in the series to go.

Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts ⭐⭐⭐ (PS set in Hollywood)
Almost dnfed this but I'm glad I didn't. I learned a couple of interesting things about the show/fandom I love.

Aquicorn Cove ⭐⭐⭐
I loved the Tea Dragon Society but this was disappointing. It does a good job promoting caring for the environment though.

Chobits, Vol. 6 ⭐⭐
I've committed to finishing this series but I'm not liking it much anymore. I want to know how it ends so I will continue.

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
She makes some good points and I'm just a fan of how she writes.

Where the Crawdads Sing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS celebrity book club)
I loved this, it didn't fall short of the hype for me. The poetry thrown in was a nice surprise.

Bloodlust & Bonnets ⭐⭐ (ATY author from continental Europe)
This was really stupid but it fit well for a prompt so I finished it.

PS 22/50
ATY 24/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 73/200

Currently Reading:

Magic Tides
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

QOTW:
I got Spring's Arcana and I've read this author before. The quiz was a marketing fail so it's put me off this book.

Theresa wrote: "I kept pointing out all the literary allusions to Tolkien, etc. And those under 40 looked at me tolerantly and said that those are all references to DnD...which I then said had to have been inspired by the classics like Tolkien to start because DnD started in the 80s, or maybe late 70s, though I have never played.

Your basic chicken and egg discussion ..."



LOL! But Tolkien came first, so obviously D&D is referencing him, therefore it's not exactly wrong to say they are Tolkien references.


My daughter and I just watched the three Lord of the Rings movies. I'd read the books as a kid, but I'd only seen the first movie, and she's only read The Hobbit, so that was fun for both of us. I was frankly AMAZED at the number of things in the story that Rowling also included in Harry Potter. (Of course I can't remember any now.) Back when Harry Potter first came out, it had been a long time since I'd read LotR, so it didn't jump out at me as much, instead I was very focused on the many similarities between her books and Gaiman/Rieber's Books of Magic comic book series. (It's entirely possible that she had never read Books of Magic and the similarities were a coincidence, but it's a big coincidence.

And THEN I started reading my Norse mythology books, and I was amazed at the number of things Tolkien had taken from Norse mythology!!! Everyone borrows from something!

Jai wrote: "Oh I forgot to add that I'm reading Soul of the Deep for the PopSugar prompt that features a mythical creature(Mermaids) ..."



I've been thinking about reading Skin of the Sea. I guess you'd recommend it!?

@Nadine Yes I definitely recommend Skin of the Sea!!