Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Everything at work is still on fire and I haven't been reading much but I did manage to finally finish off a few things that have taken me weeks, but nothing for the challenge.

I read Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall which if you're looking for something for the second half of 2023 this comes out next month. I absolutely loved it. It's YA horror set pretty close to where I live in Appalachian West Virginia.

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes had almost the same set up as Bittersweet (family of women with magic) but so very different. It's magic realism with romance so I wasn't as thrilled with it. Don't get me wrong, it's quite good but I'm not much on romance. If you need something for a book containing another language this would work.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa. I about fell over myself to get this in Books a Million because Arakawa wrote one of my favorite manga of all time (Fullmetal Alchemist) This wasn't as good as that but the start isn't bad. I want to see more.

怪物事変 1 Kemono Jihen by Sho Aimoto, another interesting manga start.

QOTW I'm very excited to read Bloodmarked by tracy deon which will be my book tok read. I loved the first book in the series I just wish it wasn't so long (I'm getting weary of books 500+ pages)

I'm also looking forward to Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater. As much as I don't want the world of the Raven Boys to come to an end, I know it must.

It's Thursday! I don't even think I remembered to check in last week! Two week check-in! This laptop sucks and the period question mark and comma rarely work so I will look very excited about everything! Sorry!

FINISHED:
Killers of a Certain Age - I liked this! Kick butt older ladies!

The Raven Thief - I like Gigi's mysteries and this one was nice too

Creepy Cat, Vol. 1 - Manga but reads basically like a 4 panel comic strip! Art is kinda cute but the story\punchlines per page are usually not great


CURRENTLY READING
Before Your Memory Fades
The Enigma of Room 622
The Wishing Game


QOTW:
Mostly I'm just happy I'm reading again at all - so my brain isn't there so much--- but probably Starter Villain because I tend to enjoy most things by John Scalzi


OFF TOPIC:
Here is a cute interview posted today of the dudes who ate my brain last year - since I apparently find it difficult to not talk about them at every opportunity - If adding a mention helps me to get back into posting here - so be it
https://youtu.be/adxS_foWWkw?si=N8X2x...

@Poshpenny copy a period and then you just have to type control v to end your sentence.

Doni wrote: "Yeah, but when they recommended organizing books by color, that's when I checked out. I mean, sure, organize books by color within a subject matter. But not totally. I would never find anything!"

Yeah, I agree with that. I think color order works well for picture books in a child's bedroom, but once you start breaking up series, finding the book you're looking for could get very problematic very quickly.

I have most of my books separated by genre, and then alphabetized by author's last name. My manga and comic books are in a separate space, and I have those alphabetized by series. That's the only way I can manage to find anything.

That being said, I can definitely see the appeal of rainbow shelves, because they are pretty. But personally, I'm not willing to sacrifice the functionality of my shelves.

Okay so here is my list.

Currently Reading:

Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers- Almost done with this one. Just about 4 more chapters. Really liking it so far though.

Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis--and How to Restore Our Sanity- Let's face it, so many of us are too "plugged in" with our tech and social media. This book goes into the psychology of it and how it's bad for us. Currently starting ch.2.

Critical Race Theory, Fourth Edition: An Introduction- 4th ed. was recently released this year. I tried reading it before (3rd ed.) but had a hard time with it. I'm hoping with it having modern/current events that I'll be able to understand it better. About to start. ch.2.

*****

I have 2 books that I want to get started on once I finish 'Portable Magic'. I'm thinking either

Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality

or

The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America .

Since I can't decide between them I'm thinking of letting fate decide by doing a tbr jar with just these two.

K.L. wrote:Yeah, I agree with that. I think color order works well for picture books in a child's bedroom, but once you start breaking up series, finding the book you're looking for could get very problematic very quickly.

I have most of my books separated by genre, and then alphabetized by author's last name. My manga and comic books are in a separate space, and I have those alphabetized by series. That's the only way I can manage to find anything.

That being said, I can definitely see the appeal of rainbow shelves, because they are pretty. But personally, I'm not willing to sacrifice the functionality of my shelves.

This is how I have mine. I've tried doing it by color a couple of times, but for me it just doesn't seem to work out because a majority of my spines are dark, more fall colors (strange) so the rainbow theme doesn't exactly work well. I like seeing books sorted by color and think it's pretty, but I could never do it from a practical standpoint.

I have my books alphabetical by genre and then alphabetical by sub-genre and then alphabetical by last name. It helps that I'm able to place plastic labels on my bookshelves so it makes it that much easier to find.

The only thing I do separate is my fiction books. Other than on my Indigenous bookcase where I have my Indigenous fiction, all other fiction books don't mix with my nonfiction.

My Indigenous books get their own case because those are the types of books I have the most of.

The majority of my book shelving has zero system, they just go where there's space. The idea of unshelving everything and trying to put in an order is just not appealing. However I do have two "rainbow" bookcases, ordered by colour. If I'm trying to find a book, I visualise where it is, and that's easier on the rainbow shelves than the disordered ones!

Ellie, that's a neat way to do that. I can normally visualize where a book is, but at the same time when it comes to my books especially, I need the order and structure.

Plus when it comes to putting them in order, it's my version of child's play. I can organize my books for hours and never get bored.

Erin wrote: "At the beginning of the year I made a list of 20 books I wanted to get to this year, and currently I've only read 4. So I'd like to get a few more of those read. But last year I only read 2 of the 20 I'd picked, so I"m not too pressed about it...."


I do that too! But not 20. This year it was only a list of 12. I've now read 9 of them and I just never seem to want to read the last three.

Each year I tell myself I should be less ambitious in the upcoming year because who needs this self-induced stress??? I even allow myself to DNF so all I have to do is pick the book up and read the first chapter and if it's good - hooray! I read it! - and if it's bad, I dnf and check that one off the list.

Cornerofmadness wrote: "I read Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall which if you're looking for something for the second half of 2023 this comes out next month. I absolutely loved it. It's YA horror set pretty close to where I live in Appalachian West Virginia...."



Thanks to Ancestry.com I discovered that my great-grandfather - the one mystery branch in my family tree - was from Appalachian West Virginia, and ever since I've been thinking I should read some more books set in that area. I'll add this to my list! Any others you recommend? (NO magical realism, I can't stand that.)



I'm also looking forward to Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater.

I forgot about that book! LOL that's like the series I hate but I keep reading. It's because I love listening to Will Patton read the audiobook. The voices he does for the Lynch brothers are just great.

Wait... bookshelves can be... organized?? I try to keep books by the same author next to each other, but otherwise, it's a free for all. Mostly my books are on shelves by size, wherever they will fit.

Jennifer W wrote: "Wait... bookshelves can be... organized?? I try to keep books by the same author next to each other, but otherwise, it's a free for all. Mostly my books are on shelves by size, wherever they will fit."



In my house my books are lucky if they are even near a shelf.

If I had all the shelves in the world, I would organize first by genre, next by size (if appropriate - garden books and cook books tend to come in two dramatically different sizes), then by author, then by pub date. Never by color. I can usually remember WHERE a book is in my house, and I can usually remember what color the COVER is, but I rarely remember what color the spine is.

I suspect it relates to whether you are a visual or a language learner. I file my fiction alphabetically and my non-fiction alphabetically within genre. Anal - moi? I love the idea of colour shelving but I would never find anything.

Once my sister moved out I took over her room and then converted my old one into a home library. I love my sister and I love that she comes home every now and then, but selfishly it was one of the best things I've done. LOL!

It makes organizing my books so much easier.

And then to top it off, my current bedroom is also a library of sorts. Aside from my bed, I've got 6 book cases in there as well (1 is for comics/graphic novels and another is for my DVD/Blue Ray collection).

So I guess you can say I've technically got 2 home libraries. My bed just happens to be in one of them.

I just do alphabetical by author mostly, except comics which are on their own shelf, alphabetical by title name (since often they shift authors from arc to arc). I don't really have enough nonfiction or things that aren't in the general sci fi/fantasy/paranormal/horror so it's not worth separating genres out, for me.

They are arranged by size mostly keeping series together as much as possible. Organized chaos to fit the limited shelf space although now there are piles because there are too many.

Naturally I just get to the point where I feel like I can relax and fall into a routine...and everyone gets sick. So, as per usual now, my late update! Blessed Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos for those celebrating.

Finished 34/50

Every Memory Deserves Respect: EMDR, the Proven Trauma Therapy with the Power to Heal for "book you bought secondhand". Really good. Hugely recommend for trauma survivors!

Currently Reading

Unseen Academicals for "book about a sport". For a very silly satire, I'm surprisingly invested!

QotW

Well, I've been loving getting through Sanderson's books this year, but I'm actually really looking forward to reading Hetalia: Axis Powers, Vol. 1 for "historical fiction". I read a massive Italian war novel last year that covered the Italian front during WWII, which I knew NOTHING about since Italy rarely gets covered in American history, lol. So, now I'm thinking I'll be able to understand the Hetalia jokes better and I'm excited to read something light hearted.

Pallet cleanser time. A short break from all of the NF books I've been reading so starting here.

I might do a TBR jar of only my Nicholas Sparks books.

For now this is the one I'm starting with:

Dreamland

My apartment is short on space so my books are basically wherever I can fit them. Not organized in any order expect for bigger ones at the bottom of a pile to smaller ones on top. I can't wait for a day when I will have the space for actual bookshelves.

my room is a plethora of four bookshelves and a wall of boxes that hold books.

all of the book shelves have two or three rows of books and some are stacked on top of each other. I've tried to keep series together, but i gave up.

the boxes have sorta crawled out into the living room.

I'm trying to downsize. I did get rid of 9 boxes of books. i need to do more though.

"The digital age has given us smarter phones but dumber people."- Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis--and How to Restore Our Sanity

Only just starting ch.3 of this book, but the author does not hold back. LOL!

....I did not actually really realize it was Thursday. Woops.

Not much to report in any case. Peter Pan puzzle has me drowning in blue (send help), and that was just the 'easy' parts. It's very likely I'll have need of my dad joining me again for a couple hours, if only to sort pieces by shapes xD

There is no way I'll stay under 60 hours for this puzzle, hahah!

Still not reading, not even fics anymore. I'm having fun with my puzzle but I'm exhausted each night and barely manage to keep up with daily tasks for the SongPop apps xD Add Trivia Crack to the mix and I'm barely making progress on The Handmaid's Tale. Season 2 so far isn't gripping me the same way season 1 did, which makes me fear for the rest. We'll see!

QOTW
Honestly? At this point? ANY BOOK WILL DO.

Why? Because it's been ages since I read one. Recently GR started telling me I am 'one book behind schedule' which means that my buffer is gone. Rip me.

(On a serious note, though, I started The Three Musketeers with the same one chapter a day approach I used for Moby-Dick, and I'd like to finish that at least. Should probably get cracking on that soon if I want to make it in time!)

Doni wrote: "K.L. wrote: "Doni wrote: "Isn't The Home Edit beautiful? Maybe not all that practical, but beautiful!"

I've been watching the television series on Netflix, and I'm obsessed with the overall look t..."

I sorted my books my color (save for a few themed shelves) and I am very very surprised at how I never lose a book. Might be the autistic brain just remembering what covers and spines look like, and where I put it, but as long as it's on a shelf, I know where it is.

(the ones in the cloth organizers from Illumicrate however ... Out of sigh, out of mind akjdhsf)

OH

(sorry for another message)

A FRIEND RECCED METAZOOA TO ME and it's such a fun daily challenge! Wholeheartedly recommend, and I'd love to hear how you guys fare! I've played three times now, and it's taken me 7-6-9 guesses respectively!

Carmen wrote: "OH

(sorry for another message)

A FRIEND RECCED METAZOOA TO ME and it's such a fun daily challenge! Wholeheartedly recommend, and I'd love to hear how you guys fare! I've played three times now, a..."



Hahaha SAY NO MORE!! I immediately went to play!! I was confused at first but to my surprise I got it in four guesses. I like the little info bubbles it gives you as you play

Nadine in NY wrote: "Hahaha SAY NO MORE!! I immediately went to play!! I was confused at first but to my surprise I got it in four guesses. I like the little info bubbles it gives you as you play"

Without the info bubbles I'd be completely lost, hahah! The game involves a bit of luck for sure, and someone I know who is into this was actually frustrated at the simplicity of it, as they went into much more detail! I can't even imagine knowing what all those words mean.

Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Hahaha SAY NO MORE!! I immediately went to play!! I was confused at first but to my surprise I got it in four guesses. I like the little info bubbles it gives you as you play"
..."



yeah if it wasn't simple I would not stand a chance!!!

Got the new one in 5!

Had to google what a word meant, though, because I wasted a guess not knowing 😂

Nadine in NY wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "I read Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall which if you're looking for something for the second half of 2023 this comes out next month. I absolutely loved it. It's YA..."

Bittersweet does have magic in it, it's paranormal. I guess it would depend on your definition of magic realism. I'm trying to think of other things I could rec in WV but most of my reading has paranormal/magic elements if it's not a mystery

Doni wrote: "Yeah, but when they recommended organizing books by color, that's when I checked out. I mean, sure, organize books by color within a subject matter. But not totally. I would never find anything!.."

You know I would never do this for my own books but I did the rainbow coloring for my nephew's book shelf and weirdly it made him stop pulling ALL the books off the shelf. Plus I think kids books are always out of order anyway and they say it helps the kids put the books away better (not too sure about that one), plus it looks pretty.

For my own books I put in them alpha order by author's LN, then title and they are also separated on two shelves by size, but that is b/c I have one shelf that's a 1x10 and one that's a 2x4. A few years ago I was tired of the stacks of books I had piled in my closet and decided that I had enough room above my clothes to put up high shelves for my books so I built them! I do not have room for bookshelves in my room so this was a great solution. they are out of the way but still organized and with a stool I can easily get to them all.

So I'm a bit late posting even though I have been reading everyone's posts on here since Thursday. :)

This is actually a two week check in and yet I still only have one book to report as finished!

It's been rough! I have so many books borrowed from the library but I just was having a hard time making the time to read. Also I am reading like three books so I keep skipping around, making it hard to just finish one. I also had a few days were I wanted to watch tv instead. I've been watching SWAT and I got in to Who is Erin Carter (finished in like 2 days!) I also have been binging Jack Ryan. I even had to renew most of the books once already! Hoping to finish a few this weekend so maybe next week I'll have more finished books to report.

Headed to the beach tomorrow so maybe I can get some reading done then. With a six year old to watch that might be wishful thinking although my guy and his daughter are also going so maybe just maybe.

2023 Challenges:
Popsugar: 17/50
ATY: 21/52
A to Z: 14/26
50 States: 12/54

Goodreads: 31/50

Finished:
1 finished, 1 Completed Popsugar

Empire of Wild
PS#5, ATY#8
This was a great novel. I read another book of hers last year I think. But this was her debut novel. It's about a Rogarou, a mythical being of the Native people in Canada. (Other cultures have similar things) This one captured her husband and she spends the book trying to figure out how to save him.


Currently Reading
The Secret History
The Quarter Storm (’22 AtoZ)
How to Not Die Alone – Logan Ury
The Best American Short Stories 2018 - Roxane Gay

On the Backburner
Libby

Physical Library Rentals
Starfish
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
The Villa
Miss Iceland
Below Zero

Magazines: (50/195)
Read since last check-in: 0

Question of the Week:
I just found out last week that two of the series I have been reading have new books out. So I went and put holds on them at the library so I get them first, hopefully. There is a new Longmire book The Longmire Defense and a new Front Desk book Top Story. These are the ones I am currently looking forward to.

I too made a list of must reads this year. There is like 19 books on it and I have managed to read one. I'm hoping to read at least one more. Last year I managed to read four so definitely not an improvement. I'm honestly just happy I am keeping up on reading this year. I had set my overall Goodreads goal for half as much this year and put less pressure on myself to read for prompts. Which of course is why they are telling me I am 17 books behind on Popsugar. I see this a being 50/50 right now because, I have read 17 and am 17 behind, LOL.

Hi, everyone!

I am running late this week in the checking in as I really got discombobulated as to the day of the week!

I made more decisions about that pile of library books I had…all coming due with no renewals nearly at the same time. I am returning a couple unread and finished a few as late returns (fine involved). I try not to be late on returning, but I really do not mind the few cents of the fine. But to return a book unread! Still these were mostly books over 500 pages, and I just could not face them due to reading fatigue from the two I just finished.

However, the crazy part of that decision is that I checked out that longest book (Against All Enemies - over 700 pages) again! I thought that I would try to read a few pages a day...well, it has been 3 days and I haven't started it yet!

Attended the senior center class on creative writing. Its focus is memoir writing and poetry. Wow! I really enjoyed it. What a challenge it will be!

I love learning new things. The college extension course on Android Devices was fun. I found my phone’s flashlight and QR code reader! Now for you younger people that may be ho hum, but it was major for me at my senior age! Now I am dangerous! Bring on those QR codes.

Finished:

The Diviners – Old challenge. 4*. I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. It felt a bit silly to me...a bit of fluff. But, then it picked up depth and speed, and it was a hold on roller coaster ride.

Call Down the Hawk – PAS. 3*. It took me a bit to see how all the disparate people and stories meshed together. It was a bit disconcerting to get into one person's story and then be dealt a completely different person with a completely different story in the beginning. It was only when all those people and stories started to intercept that I began to catch on. Never really figured out who to root for in the quest...the dreamers or the hunters.

The House in the Cerulean Sea – PAS. 4*. So for once, the hype held up. I really enjoyed this fantasy. Why ever did it take so long for me to get around to reading it?

Reading on hold:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book.
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%.
Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly - ATY Seasonal. 11%
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – PS #50. 38%.

Currently Reading
Therapy – ATY Seasonal (Summer). 71%. This one is overdue as of yesterday. Maybe I can finish it today. Thriller genre is not my favorite, and this one is a psychological thriller.

Need to start as due back to library by next weekend:
Tell Me, Pretty Maiden - other challenge
Home Fire - PS #14
Born in Ice - other challenge
and
Washington Square - for discussion group on Tuesday

On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Pudd'nhead Wilson – ATY #34
Against All Enemies - PS #49
The Chemistry of Death - ATY #35

PS 32/50 and 7/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 33/52 and 7/12 for Spring Challenge (Q1), still planning Fall Challenge (Q4).
GR 181/200

QotW: What book are you really excited to read before the end of 2023? Why are you so excited for it?

Any and all for planned prompts! I don't usually look forward to new books as I have too many to read and do not enjoy the limited loan on new books.

Trying to complete the prompt for a book that comes out in the second half of 2023 is a problem for me may end up with me stealing someone else's looked forward to book!

Ron wrote: ""The digital age has given us smarter phones but dumber people."- Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis--and How to Restore Our Sanity

Only just sta..."

That sounds like an interesting book! Because my job is digital (digital government), I'm really concerned about whether we can handle all the information, self publication, clickbaits and algorithms. I know what's happening out there and the ignorance and disinterest of so many people is really concerning.

Bea wrote: "... Call Down the Hawk – PAS. 3*. It took me a bit to see how all the disparate people and stories meshed together. ... Never really figured out who to root for in the quest...the dreamers or the hunters. ..."


Wow! I'm surprised! Maybe you haven't read the series that came before (Raven Boys) and that's why it wasn't clear which people to root for? Stiefvater's fans ADORE Ronan, which I always assumed is the entire reason she even wrote this series - that is backstory I already knew, so it was obvious to me that Ronan is the hero of the story, no matter how cranky he gets.

You had a different experience if you'd never read The Raven Boys series, and that's really interesting!!

Ron wrote: "This is how I have mine. I've tried doing it by color a couple of times, but for me it just doesn't seem to work out because a majority of my spines are dark, more fall colors (strange) so the rainbow theme doesn't exactly work well."

I have a lot of books with black spines, so I would have a similar issue.

Ellie wrote: "However I do have two "rainbow" bookcases, ordered by colour. If I'm trying to find a book, I visualise where it is, and that's easier on the rainbow shelves than the disordered ones!."

I wish I could do that! I've always had my books in alphabetical order within genres, because it's the only way I can keep track of what I own.

Why are short weeks the worst for working?? Whew... what a ride. So, I know last week I mentioned that a colleague reached out about a job within my current company- I applied on Tuesday and by Wednesday ANOTHER colleague reached out with an opportunity. I am truly humbled and grateful to be in this situation, but man this is hard. I'm trying to be respectful to all and make the right decision, and of course my current manager is like you can always stay in your current role, which is the option I will be culling first. If anyone has been in this situation before, any tips are appreciated. Also, I leave for my vacation to Greece on Thursday for 10 days and it couldn't come sooner. I am very excited to take some time off and trying to stock up my kindle in advance.

56/75 GoodReads Challenge
39/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
1.) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (PS #38-Read over 10 yrs ago) ⭐⭐⭐⭐: This was a re-read for me, and I found it just as captivating as I did back in school. The way Hurston paints Janie and told this story of love in the Florida everglades just hurt my heart.

2.) Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (No PS Prompt) ⭐⭐⭐: The first part of this really worked for me, and then I lost interest. The writing and words were too weighty and I didn't love the narrator Mia. I appreciated the footnotes and the whole topic of Eugene communicating to his family or lack thereof made for a compelling plot, but just was a little too bloated for me.



Currently Reading:
1.) The Count of Monte Cristo
2.) Bright Young Women
3.) Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West



QoTW: What book are you really excited to read before the end of 2023? Why are you so excited for it?

I made myself a list of books that I really wanted to read this year (mostly carry overs from last year that I didn't get to) so I'm still excited for those... I know there's no way I'll actually get to all of these with finishing the PS challenge and book clubs choices.

Notes on an Execution
Take My Hand
When We Were Bright And Beautiful
All the Lonely People
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

and from this year & next...
Fourth Wing
The Light Pirate
None of This Is True
Pineapple Street
I Have Some Questions for You
The Women
One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In

Ron wrote: "So I guess you can say I've technically got 2 home libraries. My bed just happens to be in one of them."

My original intention was to have only one library in my home, but the books had other ideas, so I've got multiple library spaces as well. Most of my genre fiction is on the shelves in my main library, while my manga and comic books are in the game room. I've also got a couple of bookcases in my bedroom, which I use for my Tolkien collection, special editions, and romance novels. I don't have a tremendous amount of nonfiction, so I keep those books in my office.

Carmen wrote: "I sorted my books my color (save for a few themed shelves) and I am very very surprised at how I never lose a book. Might be the autistic brain just remembering what covers and spines look like, and where I put it, but as long as it's on a shelf, I know where it is."

I'm super impressed that you can do that! There is no way that I would remember where my books are (or even which books I own) if I put them in color order.

JessicaMHR wrote: "You know I would never do this for my own books but I did the rainbow coloring for my nephew's book shelf and weirdly it made him stop pulling ALL the books off the shelf. Plus I think kids books are always out of order anyway and they say it helps the kids put the books away better (not too sure about that one), plus it looks pretty."

This is fascinating to me, because I've heard from multiple sources that rainbow organization (whether it's books, toys, art supplies, etc.) can help kids improve their tidying skills. But I don't have any kids of my own, so I don't have any first-hand experience with this.

I'm curious to know...has anyone else in our group used color/rainbow organization at home? Do you think it's helpful?

Nadine in NY wrote: "Wow! I'm surprised! Maybe you haven't read the series that came before (Raven Boys) and that's why it wasn't clear which people to root for? "

Actually I have read the series, but it was so very long ago....2018. And there have been over 1000 books since then!

Britany wrote: "Why are short weeks the worst for working?? Whew... what a ride. So, I know last week I mentioned that a colleague reached out about a job within my current company- I applied on Tuesday and by Wed..."


Super exciting for you!! I have no advice, (a) this has never happened to me! and (b) I don't know your field but I suspect it's quite different from where I worked. I GUESS you talk to both hiring managers and see which one feels like hte best fit, and be completely open about the fact that you are being recruited by another dept at the same time.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Britany wrote: "Why are short weeks the worst for working?? Whew... what a ride. So, I know last week I mentioned that a colleague reached out about a job within my current company- I applied on Tu..."

I agree with Nadine. If possible, I would interview with both departments to get a sense of what each of their culture is like (especially since that sounds like a big part of your current problem). I was stuck at a low level dead end position at my last company until a position finally opened in a different department, which I applied for and interviewed for. Then, I got a call from a different agency for an interview (after I had been shopping around for a year and a half, I finally got 2 interviews! go figure). I interviewed there as well. They both offered me a job. I decided to stick with my own agency. The deciding factor? The supervisor at the other agency didn't laugh at my jokes. And I'm hilarious, if I do say so myself! ;)

K.L. wrote: "I have most of my books separated by genre, and then alphabetized by author's last name. My manga and comic books are in a separate space, and I have those alphabetized by series. That's the only way I can manage to find anything.

That being said, I can definitely see the appeal of rainbow shelves, because they are pretty. But personally, I'm not willing to sacrifice the functionality of my shelves..."

My shelves are mostly organized by genre, fiction alphabetical by last name, and one bookcase organized by color within the genre. The organization makes sense to me, but maybe not to other people because I have a fiction shelf amid other shelves that are non-fiction in one bookcase instead of having all the fiction together. I like having a sense of a lot of variety and I get that more by not lumping everything the same together. I have a philosphy and picture books shelf, a creativity shelf, and way too many TBR shelves that are double-loaded onto other shelves. Organizing books is fun for me, but if I re-organized everythig at this point, I would have no idea where anything is!

Bea wrote: "Now I am dangerous! Bring on those QR codes...."

LOL. That is awesome. You rock the QR codes!

Britany wrote: " If anyone has been in this situation before, any tips are appreciated...."

I haven't been in that situation before, but you might be able to leverage the other job opportunities to get a raise in your current position. My male friend did that and my response was, "If you were a woman, that would have never occurred to you." So, consider it!

Until this discussion, I had never thought so much about my shelves! Mine are not organized...well, not alphabetically or by author or color or anything else that I recognize. :)

To some extent, fiction is with fiction unless the book is too big to fit that bookcase and then it might be in the catch-all bookcase.

The computer room has two bookcases with 4 shelves each. Hardcover fiction is mostly on those shelves.

The guest bedroom has two bookcases of 3 shelves each. They hold all the short story collections, some non-fiction, and all the spiritual, new age, native american writings that I have. The idea was to put books that someone might pick up and peruse in that room.

My bedroom has three bookcases. One is tall with five shelves and the other two are 3 shelves each. The shorter ones mostly have a mix match of paperback books with some hardbacks. One of the shorter bookcases in the past has been organized to hold books I own that are planned for games.

The big bookcase has religious books and writings, some huge fiction, and some non-fiction.

Funny, but usually I know what is where and can just put my hands on the book when I need it.

Erin wrote: "Currently reading:
Yellowface- I've heard so many opinions about this book, both positive and negative, so I want to see how it works for me. The first chapter was pretty entertaining!."

Looking forward to your thoughts. I thought it started off extremely strong and then the last 30% was nuts.

Erica wrote: "@Poshpenny copy a period and then you just have to type control v to end your sentence."

I do that most times the buttons act up, and sometimes I get frustrated and just give up. But I really wanted to post and that day all I could manage was angry exclamation points! lol Luckily right now all keys are working.


My poor shelves are very neglected. What I really need is more room but taking the time to do that hasn't happened. Right now I have three bookcases, two tall and a shorter one between because of a high window. The left has middle grade, YA, picture books and graphic novels. The right has adult fiction and non-fiction, sorted mostly by genre/subject. I do still have a middle shelf I had been filling with books that fit the identity month topic that I would change out. I think it's still on AAPI from a year and a half ago. The middle case was meant to be special. Sherlock Holmes collection at the top, then mysteries. Astronauts have a shelf and then stuff that didn't fit. I still have stacks and bags of books with no home.

Luckily I've only added a handful of new books to the piles lately. I have, however, collected a few fun things from my pirates (like a magic hourglass! so cool), and would like a shelf for them too. I think I just need more bookshelves and less of everything else. I don't really need a futon if I have a chair, right? It's not like anyone else ever comes over.

poshpenny wrote: I do that most times the buttons act up, and sometimes I get frustrated and just give up. But I really wanted to post and that day all I could manage was angry exclamation points! lol Luckily right now all keys are working.

If you have windows you can put up a keyboard on your screen.
Just go to Windows Ease of Access then On-Screen Keyboard.
I think you have to use your mouse which can be harder but, may help you with your punctuation issues. Also if you have the 10-key on your computer (looks like a calculator) there is a period over there as well.