Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Hello members!! How is everyone? I hope you're reading is going well. It's the end of week 12, which means to be on track we should have read about 12 books so far. I know some of you are way ahead and some aren't quite there! Wherever you are I hope you're enjoying it!

This week I read quite a few of the short stories in That Glimpse of Truth (for the prompt "a book of short stories") which I'm enjoying.

I also read the graphic novel Stitches: A Memoir. I'm actually going to use it for either a memoir or based on a true story. I loved this book. It was a beautiful story and had beautiful illustrations. If you are having trouble with the graphic novel prompt this would be a good short read that I think most people would like. The subject matter isn't a cheery one but the book is worth reading.

I'm also trying to get through Big Little Lies and having trouble getting into it. It might be one I give up on, and that never happens.

This week I'm asking for your opinions on something. I was thinking of maybe doing some 'just for fun' type of stuff within the group. I was thinking of maybe doing a weekly pages-read challenge. Since some of us are reading really long books we might only finish one every two weeks. By asking how many pages you read we would get a better understanding of how much people are reading. It would be just for fun and people could have some friendly competitions that could push them to read more. Would anyone be interested in this?

I've also been thinking of adding an "off topic" where people could talk about things not relating to this particular group. They could ask questions about anything or post reviews of movies etc. Really anything appropriate. It would have to be for G-PG rated though as we are not an 18+ group. Yay or Nay on this idea? Thank you all for your participation!

I'd also like to say a few words about the answers to last week's questions about how well you're sticking to the prompts. I love the variety of answers and I want everyone to know that no matter how well they stick to the prompts or how many books they end up reading, everyone is welcome here with open arms!! I'm so glad this group has grown into what it has. I have some ideas of one I'd like to do for 2016 if this one goes strong until the end of the year. So tweak those prompts anyway you want, or stick to them 100%, read 2 books or 104 books (two for each prompt?), either way you are part of this group and we love having you!

Happy Reading everyone!

I have been looking forward to this post all day, because I FINALLY finished Key Competencies in Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy (author I've never read before) for school. I also completed Cut (can finish in a day), which was better than I thought it would be, but still felt incomplete.

I love the idea of creating threads for other things and creating a page-by-page challenge. I don't know how much I'll participate at this point, but any opportunity is great!

That's a great idea, it will encourage slackers like me and push people into finishing what is left of the book they are reading.
I am currently reading four books- Cecelia Ahern's PS I love you, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Veronica Roth's Divergent and Meg Cabot's Awaken- four books at the same time, which is a very bad idea.

PS- I don't know if it was the right place to make this comment, anyway. What is this thread about? Reading Challenge, innit?

Huh, I found Big Little Lies a really, really easy read. I read it this past week.

I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd read the book of hers that some friends had told me was their favourite What Alice Forgot.

Different strokes.

I also read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Speaking of different strokes, I know people adore her. I do. But whenever I read her novels I find that she introduces a lot of characters really quickly and I have a hard time investing in everybody/anybody.

All books have to introduce their cast of characters pretty quickly, it doesn't bother me with all novels. I don't know what it is about the way she does it that doesn't connect with me.

I was about halfway through and I didn't feel like I was getting closer to connecting with anybody so I watched the movie. Went back to the book and found it much, much, much more entertaining.

This week I finished my audio book of The Secret Garden (a book from your childhood) which I really enjoyed! I have a copy of this from when I was a kid, but I'm not totally sure if I ever actually read it.

I'm in the middle of reading Bryant & May - The Burning Man, and it's pretty hard going. Contemplating giving up on it, but because it's a crime book I still want to know who did it!

Don't give up on Big Little Lies, Ann! I really enjoyed it and it might be worth holding on a little longer!

This week I finally finished Jane Eyre for my classic romance. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it as much as I hoped. I'm glad I finally read it though, it had been on my list for a while now!

I've also read The Virgin Suicides (book made into a movie). I really liked this one, though not as much as Middlesex by the same author.

With this book I've reached my goal of reading 30 books in 2015! I wasn't too sure if I was going to complete the whole challenge when I started out in January, but now I feel confident about it and have update my goal to 52 to match the number of prompts/items :)

Adita wrote: "That's a great idea, it will encourage slackers like me and push people into finishing what is left of the book they are reading.
I am currently reading four books- Cecelia Ahern's PS I love you, T..."

This is a weekly check in thread. I like to check in once per week and let people post their progress towards the challenge. It's just a way to keep in touch during the challenge. I also usually ask a question to help with participation. Does that answer your question? Thank you for being an active member of our group!

Cate wrote: "Don't give up on Big Little Lies, Ann! I really enjoyed it and it might be worth holding on a little longer!

This week I finally finished Jane Eyre for my classic romance. I enjoyed i..."

Thank you. It sounds like it's worth keeping up with since both you and Brandy said it might be for me and my sister and best friend both liked it. It might just be my mental state right now. I'm a bit frazzled. I'll keep on with it!

Congrats on reaching your 30 goal! That's great!

Katherine wrote: "I have been looking forward to this post all day, because I FINALLY finished Key Competencies in Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy (author I've never read before) for school. I also comple..."

Congrats on finishing your school book. I know how long and complicated those types of books can be. It can get overwhelming. Great job!

I am currently on my 11th book this year, my ARC of Girl At War: A novel by Sara Nović, I won't be done with it until next week though. I got it through a good reads giveaway and it will be for the book written by someone under 30 prompt. I also finished All The Rage by Courtney Summers, another ARC through goodreads giveaway, for the book published this year prompt. I originally set myself to read 2 books a month but I've been doing more and hope to complete this challenge.

This week I finally finished NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. I started it about a month ago but put it aside for a few weeks to finish another book. Once I got started again, I flew through it. I really enjoy good horror fiction from time to time and this was very good. I've currently got this one listed as my "book that scares you".

I also just finished Feed, Book #1 of The Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant. It was excellent. Thanks for the recommendation, Ann! It was so good that it has me rethinking my choice for the trilogy prompt. I was planning to read the His Dark Materials trilogy, but now I'm not so sure. I may read The Golden Compass next and decide if I want to continue the trilogy. If I decide to read both trilogies, I think I can slot the Newsflesh books under "one word title", "set in the future", and "female author".

These two books bring me to a total of 16 for the year, which was my goal for the end of March. It's been a good reading week for me. :)

Ann wrote: "Hello members!! How is everyone? I hope you're reading is going well. It's the end of week 12, which means to be on track we should have read about 12 books so far. I know some of you are way ahea..."

I put Stitches on hold at the library. I love me a good graphic novel. Thanks for the recommendation.

And thanks for being such a fun and enthusiastic leader of this group. You really help make this a fun space to be a part of.

Beth wrote: "Ann wrote: "Hello members!! How is everyone? I hope you're reading is going well. It's the end of week 12, which means to be on track we should have read about 12 books so far. I know some of you ..."

Oh my gosh I'm so glad you enjoyed Feed!! The other two are just as good as the first. I think Feed is my third favorite book behind Wicked and The Notebook. In my opinion Georgia is one of the best written characters I've ever read.

Thank you for your kind words. When I started this group I had no idea it would turn into what it is today. I'm so glad there are so many wonderful people here to share my passion for books.

Beth wrote: "Ann wrote: "Hello members!! How is everyone? I hope you're reading is going well. It's the end of week 12, which means to be on track we should have read about 12 books so far. I know some of you ..."

Oh and I think you'll really enjoy Stitches. You should also check out Blankets by Craig Thompson. It's a beautifully written graphic novel. It's longer than Stitches but they are easy reads.

This week I read Dewey: A Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by vicki Myron to fulfill my 'book from hometown/home state' prompt. I would never have picked up this book without this prompt. I am so glad I did. The book includes many historical tidbits about the area I grew up in. I think I enjoyed those more than the cat story. I also read another really short read, Here is New York by E.B. White, which will work for the 'some place I want to visit' prompt. A total fluke because I just wanted a quick read while I traveled today. But whatever works!

Ann- I also want you to know I enjoy this group. I appreciate your work to keep things interesting and active. I look forward to reading and answering our weekly checkin questions. It keeps me reading!

This week I finished two books:
Get in Trouble by Kelly Link for my short story collection. It was very good but I don't think short stories are my thing. It took me forever to read, because as I finished a story, there was no compelling reason to read on. I just really like getting lost in a book and reading "just one more chapter!" As was the case with my other book:
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, which I'll probably use for my book published this year. It was wonderfully suspenseful!

Can't believe we are already at the end of the month! I read six books in March:

The Borrower for an author with my initials
Beatrice and Virgil for a book with non-human characters
The Penelopiad for a book you can read in a day
Song of Kali for a popular author's first book
The Robber Bride for a book by an author you love but haven't read yet
and Maurice for a book over 100 years old

I've read 21 books this year so far. Being graduated from university and only working part-time has left me with so much time to just read which is awesome and I'm so glad I get to read for fun again, without worrying about falling behind on school, work, life, etc.

Last week was the first week of the year / this challenge that I didn't finish a book. Big deadline at work yadda yadda yadda.

Nicole wrote: "This week I read Dewey: A Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by vicki Myron to fulfill my 'book from hometown/home state' prompt. I would never have picked up this book without this prompt."

I was given this book by my bosses one Christmas. I made the mistake of reading it at lunch in the office kitchen. It was a great book, but was it ever an emotional ride!

First I finished This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl for a book that made me cry. I meant to read it for a memoir but I ended up slightly tearing up for it...? I was surprised. I really rarely cry for books. Then I read The Diary of a Young Girl for a memoir. Not entirely sure if this counts as a memoir but I'm pretty sure it does. And now I am 25 pages away of finish Big Little Lies and I am loving it! Ann, how do you not like this??? It'll be for a book with antonyms in the title.

Playing to the GalleryI finished this yesterday. I was going to read it as 'memoir' but it's not really. I might put it in as recommended by a friend as my daughter bought it for me because she thought I'd like it - she hasn't read it though! All else fails I will put it in as owned but never read.
Anyway - it a good book, I enjoyed it
Started reading The King's Curse although I still have a couple of non fiction on the go and an audio. For some reason I love how Phillipa Gregory writes although I get a bit cross with her historical accuracy somethimes. This will probably be my 'based on a true story'
I have Big Little Lies down on my list but I'm worried about it now after mixed reactions above!

Have been away from the group for a few weeks, and struggling a bit to find time to read. I was gratified to find that we are in week twelve, and I have read exactly twelve books... hanging on in there!

I finally finished Robert Anton Wilson's Cosmic Trigger trilogy, which is probably one of the harder going trilogies I could have chosen, particularly as it is not fiction. These are amazing books that I would recommend to anyone with an open and enquiring mind, and they could easily stimulate a year's further reading!

In the weeks away I also managed to fit in a graphic novel, Bryan Lee O'Malley's excellent Seconds. He's the writer of the Scott Pilgrim books, and it shows in this quirky tale although it is perhaps aimed at a slightly older audience. I also read a rather disappointing book-based-on-its-cover, proving that the phrase "never judge a book..." works both ways!

I am now very much down to earth reading the coarse and funny Horse's Arse.