Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Uuggh... today I am so hung over from taking ONE Tylenol last night. Anybody else ever have that problem?

I finished Suite Française. It was alright.

I've started A Dangerous Mourning. I don't love it so far. It's possible I'm in a reading slump. They happen.

QOTW: I guess it depends on the books. I like both long and shorter books.

I started my new job this week. It's completely different than anything I've ever done before so I definitely feel a wee bit overwhelmed.

I DID IT! I FINISHED THE BOOK!

Fingers crossed I can pick up another one soon, or continue my years-old eARC or audio, haha!

(Someone mentioned The Book of Doors and I am impatiently waiting for NetGalley to reject my request so I can move on with my life jkshdk)

Doni wrote: "Uuggh... today I am so hung over from taking ONE Tylenol last night. Anybody else ever have that problem?"

Tylenol gives you a hung-over feeling? I've never heard of that before. I can't take aspirin and the like, so I take Tylenol for everything. I also always feel, not quite hung over, but like a slug. I may have to keep tabs on this...

I finished two books and found prompts for both of them, so I finally have movement on my POPSUGAR challenge! I think two of my in-progress books will also work for prompts, so I am looking forward to checking off a couple more soon. I'm at 1/45 and 1/5 for this challenge, and at 6/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Finished:
* The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill, which was a NetGalley read courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press. I used it for "a book about a writer;" and,
* Ghosts of Harvard written by Francesca Serritella and narrated by Karissa Vacker, which I used for "a book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours" since the main character does that later on in the story.

Currently Reading:
* Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, which I should finish over the weekend;
* The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim, which is a Giveaways win;
* Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which is the February pick for both of my book clubs (woo-hoo!); and,
* An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream by Julian Castro. I apparently put in a Libby request to add this title to my library's digital collection back in 2020...and it was fulfilled today! I felt compelled to check it out even though I completely forgot that I'd done this 🤣 I was also notified that another book I'd tagged was also added to the library collection, but I guess I didn't put my name on the waiting list so no pressure to check that one out at the same time 🙃 I can't wait to find out what other random titles I suggested that my library add to the digital collection 3 or more years ago! 🤓

QotW:
Would you rather read one long (900ish-pages) book or three shorter (300-ish pages) books? In my regular reading life, I'm picking three 300ish page books over a single 900ish page book. If I were on vacation, I would probably pick the 900ish page book though because I like tackling long books on vacation. Reading a longer book feels like a decadent treat to myself while I'm relaxing.

Hi all! Officially posting now that I've actually finished my first book of the year! Sigh...
I also signed up today to be a Door Dash delivery driver. I'm hoping it'll let me make a little bit of money when I feel up to it, which I think is the only way I can manage at this point. We'll see. Any possibility of disability payments seem a long ways off at this point, so I need to do something.

Anyway, I finished the 2nd Bone graphic novel- Bone, Vol. 2: The Great Cow Race. I'm using it for self-published author, as he self-published the first book before the rest of the series got picked up. I forgot until reading this one, but these books also include dragons! As I'm not big on fantasy and probably won't happen to pick up a dragon book by chance, I will probably get the 3rd one soon and use that for a dragon book.

I did make some decent progress on Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, but I will return it tomorrow. However, because I'm sneaky (not really, this is totally legit), I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other library in the next couple of days. :}

I also listened to a couple more chapters in Schindler’s List this week.

QOTW: Both! I like settling into a nice long book for a season (or two at my current reading pace...). Last year, it took me 6 months to read When Christ and His Saints Slept. One of my friends asked me how I could keep at it for that long, and I told her it felt like I was picking up with old friends every time I got back into it. As I read several books at a time, it's kinda nice to have that continuity always waiting for me.
On the other hand, big books aren't that great for carrying around. And like many of you, I like the 'check it off my list' feeling of *finishing* a book (which is why I picked up Bone this week!).

Actually, what I really like are short chapters. I don't know why, but I read books with short chapters much faster than books with long ones. Plus, I get that accomplishment feeling as I'm reading! 'Yay! I'm on chapter 30! -Jen, you're only on page 65! -Shhh!!!' lol

Participation in the Heated Therapy Pool classes I teach has been way up lately! I had 20 students last night! Typically I have 5-10! LOL It kinda makes me feel as if I am accomplishing more when there are more students! Interestingly, there have been 3-6 new students in this week’s classes and when I asked their opinion of the class afterward, they looked at me and said, “You don’t come to play, do you?” This seems to be a recurring theme among new students. I guess they have to decide whether they want to be challenged or not! LOL Because they are correct—I come to work out hard and bring them along on that journey! Though I am always very careful to encourage people NOT to perform certain movements if it hurts, but instead to modify the movements for their own comfort level. This is especially pertinent for those who are dealing with or rehabbing from injuries, surgeries, etc. One student just turned 90 years old a month ago and is still living on her own, driving, and participating in my High Intensity classes on Mondays and Fridays. She keeps moving and just doing what she can, but I admire her spunk and determination! All of this makes it more fun for me! Plus it encourages me to create new and sometimes more difficult movements to challenge those who attend regularly! 😉 Need to keep them on their toes!

A list! A new award! The inaugural Nero Awards have been announced! Here is the website and listing of winners, etc.: https://nerobookawards.com/category-w... The mission: Each year, we’ll highlight great authors and outstanding reads across four categories: Children’s Fiction, Fiction, Debut Fiction and Non-Fiction. You’ll be able to take your pick from a collection of 16 books, written by authors based in the UK and Ireland.

Both AtY and 2024 Reading Challenge have upcoming readathons in February! Whoo! Whoo!

***
ADMIN STUFF:
The January 2024 Monthly Group Read of Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is wrapping up! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #19 "A book set in the future." Discussion of this book is ongoing HERE! Thanks to Nadine for jumping in to lead the discussion on this one! You will also find the thread to list a book you have read to fulfill this specific prompt HERE!

And since this is the 1st day of February… The February Monthly Group Read is Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker!! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #1 A book with the word "leap" in the title. (Since “Leap Day”/February 29 does occur in February!) 😊 The discussion thread is HERE! Hooray for Kimberly Barker, the “leaping literary luminar” who has volunteered to lead this discussion! Standing ovation!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏 You will find the thread to list the book you read for prompt #1 HERE!

The March Monthly Group Read is Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems. World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21!
The search is on for a "marvelous manager" to lead the discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! I am looking forward to this one! And I’m not even a huge fan of poetry!

APRIL FINAL SELECTION POLL!
The April Final Selection poll for the Monthly Group Read is live HERE!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #29 A book with a neurodivergent main character. April is Autism Awareness Month!
These are the books to be considered:
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose
The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
This poll will be open through Tuesday, February 13!

Nadine and I have noted that keeping these polls open for two weeks, rather than only one week, does appear to encourage and/or enable more members to participate and vote. We will plan to continue the two-week voting period for the future. And thank you to those who do participate!

The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
Would you rather read one long (900ish-pages) book or three shorter (300-ish pages) books?
I feel as if the shorter books read “faster” somehow. Perhaps it just feels that way since I can count THREE books read rather than just ONE! 😊

2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 14/50
Around the Year (AtY): 33/52
Read Harder: 6/24
52 Book Club: 23/52

FINISHED:
*Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for a Buddy Read and Popsugar prompt #22 A book that centers on video games. While I found this to be an intensely emotional read, it also felt very REAL to me—as if I was living in that world and experiencing the same things… I’m convinced there are many ways to “love” others and each of us does not necessarily “love” any two people in the same way… I appreciate the game creation and business details as well! I definitely want to read Zevin’s backlist! My book club very much enjoyed The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry when we read it almost 6 years ago!
POPSUGAR: #2, NEW #22
ATY: #3-A book 400-600 pages long, #10, #15, #17, #24-orange, green, #33, #36, #49-Sam’s grandparents, #50
RHC: #24-2015: prompt #18 Read a book that someone else has recommended to you
52 Book Club: NEW #6, NEW #10, #14, NEW #16, #19, #24, NEW #26-Historical Fiction/Romance, #31, #33, #43, NEW #44

*As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for a Buddy Read. If you are at all in doubt about people choosing to be “smuggled” into other countries or if you don’t believe their fears to be real or whatever it is that might prevent you from understanding and/or sympathizing with the refugee experience(s)—read this book. Please! Though the subject matter/theme is dire, Katouh’s excellent writing skills make it readable and personal. Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.
POPSUGAR: #2, #17-Syria, NEW #33, NEW #35
ATY: #3-A cultural book, #10-Historical Fiction, #14, #15, #17, #18. #21, NEW #23, #25, #27-Syria=homeland, #28-escape via boat on the Mediterranean Sea, NEW #29-watchhing up in the air for planes/missiles/snipers, NEW #30-Syria, #33, #34-Dr. Zaid-Salama’s mentor and father-figure, #36-Salama was a pharmacy student, #41, NEW #44, #46-Layla’s painting, NEW #48-FAVORITE PROMPT: #3 A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the final list--A book related to “civil rights” or “human rights” (also Dismantling Racism)
RHC: #24-2015: prompt #11 Read a YA novel
52 Book Club: NEW #2-I swear I could smell the lemons!, NEW #5, #6-Salama was in pharmacy school, #14, #19, #24, #26-Historical Fiction/Romance, #44

CONTINUING:
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
A priority for February!
*Quicksand by Nella Larsen for my Harlem Renaissance challenge
*Passing by Nella Larsen for an IRL book club
*Emily Climbs (Emily #2) by L.M. Montgomery
Almost done with this and anxious to read the last of this trilogy!

PLANNED:
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

For the first time ever, I’ve used up all 10 of my available holds on Libby. Most of those books will be available in “several months”. How sad! They’re popular books, and my library system is pretty small so it’s probably going to happen more often than when I lived near Detroit and its massive library system or in Pennsylvania with access to the Philadelphia Free Library. I still think my public library is better than most, even if they can’t purchase a ton of copies.

I forgot that some audiobooks are included in Spotify Premium. I can listen to 15 hours a month. I’m making a list of books I could finish in that allotment so I can free up some holds for other books.

Finished
Come Tumbling Down (a book with a neurodivergent main character). I’m not sure if this is really the last time we’ll see Jack, but if it is, this is a good ending for her.

Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change, and Courage (an autobiography by a woman in rock n roll). Written by Tori Amos. I hate this prompt because I dislike reading books by celebrities so much. This book was probably the best I could have read for it. It’s about her songwriting process and the politics and experiences that influence her. She has a lot of important things to say, so I'm glad I found this book.

Kindred (a book about a writer). Horrifying, but wonderful. It took me forever to read because of how tense I was the whole time I was reading it.

Reading
The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights (a book set in the snow). I’m assuming there will be snow in at least one of these stories.

Wrong Place Wrong Time (a book with a main character who is 42-years-old). The narrator’s husband is 43 when the book begins. According to the summary, it sounds like the narrator will be traveling back in time to the previous year at some point.

DNF
All the Bad Apples. This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. After listening to about 20% of the audiobook, I realized I wasn’t going to connect with it any better. There isn’t any one thing I didn’t like about it. It just wasn’t the book for me. I’m sure plenty of readers love it.

QOTW
There are so many wonderful short books and novellas being published in my favorite genres now. My preference has changed to short books. I think it was Neil Gaiman who said books should only be as long as they need to be. I’m glad publishers have eased up on their page/word count minimums these days.

Jennifer W wrote: "Actually, what I really like are short chapters. I don't know why, but I read books with short chapters much faster than books with long ones. Plus, I get that accomplishment feeling as I'm reading! 'Yay! I'm on chapter 30! -Jen, you're only on page 65! -Shhh!!!' lol..."

This is definitely a thing, I was reading about chapter length this week because I was worried my novel's chapters are a bit on the short side. But, the general consensus is that short chapters make faster paced books. If the chapters are long, you're less likely to "just read one more".

Though I am weird and put books down in the middle of chapters.

Wow! February already!

Carmen, so sorry to hear about your knee issue at Disney. My friend had a knee replacement done about 10 days ago and ended up on Wednesday making a trip to the ER. I was asked to accompany her and her husband. (We are all in our 70s.) Spent hours in the ER supporting both of them and finally got home late afternoon. Beat! [She ended up with clots in her lungs and had to stay the night.]

While in the ER, my brother called and asked if my planned trip to him could be moved up! So now I am suddenly trying to finish up stuff to get on the road (5h drive) tomorrow for a week’s visit.

Is it any wonder that I missed yesterday was Thursday? And, I haven’t packed yet…but I have planned which books are going with me!

Finished
7th Heaven - Other challenges. This one finished another 2023 challenge! 4* And, I had forgotten how quick a short chapter book could be.

X'ed Out – PS #50 (Title stars with X). 4*. GN. Enjoyed this!

Spy x Family, Vol. 1 – Other challenges. 4*. GN. OK...I will look for the next book. I did not expect this to work for me, but it did!

Start Shooting – Other challenges. 4* I have avoided this book for so long, mainly due to cover and title...and yet it turned out to be a very engaging story.

The Rosie Project – PS #29 (neurodivergent main character). 4* Wow! Enjoyed. Read it for another challenge for humor but I must admit that I seldom LOL to most books. Didn't with this one either.

The Book of Names – Other challenges. 4*. Loved this one! Felt like an Indiana Jones vibe with Jewish mysticism.

Currently Reading:

Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World – PS #42. 29%. Taking this one with me.

Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies' Table Our Journey Through the Middle East – Other challenge. 21%. I was able to renew it and will hopefully get it done before due (Valentine’s day). However, it is not going to Tennessee with me, so it will be at 21% for next check-in.

The Big Gold Dream: The Classic Crime Thriller – PS #36 (formerly incarcerated author). 30%. Ebook.

Blood Cries – Other challenges. 1%. I own this one; but it is for a challenge that ended in January, so I will try hard to get it read in the next week or so.

Ragman and Other Cries of Faith – Other challenges. 2%. Will start working on this one again today and will take it with me.

The Revolt of the Animals – No challenge. 48%. This is an inter-library loan that is due next week. I will finish today, so that I can get it back to the library. Interesting story of animals and people’s mistreatment. Skipping the historical, educational bit about the writer due to the pressure to get this book back to the library today.

On Deck:
The Wife Between Us – ATY #7 (pronoun in title)
The Book of Cold Cases – Other challenges.

On Back Burner for now
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – 27%.
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 14%.

PS 2/50 [Finally got this challenge started!]
ATY 5/52 [On hold as next book #6 not yet received from the library. I have all the rest of the planned Feb books on my desk.]
GR 23/200

QotW: Would you rather read one long (900ish-pages) book or three shorter (300-ish pages) books?
Short book team!
Big books intimidate me! [And, that used to mean anything over 400 pages. Now it is about 600 pages.] I am most successful reading really big books with a buddy, when I decide to tackle one. But what a wonderful sense of accomplishment when I do!

Lynn wrote:

The March Monthly Group Read is Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman!

Are you serious?!

Well okay then. I was going to read this for Feb. in honor of Black History Month, but I can hold off and read it then.

Doni wrote: "Uuggh... today I am so hung over from taking ONE Tylenol last night. Anybody else ever have that problem?"



No, never. (Of course, I can't remember the last time I took Tylenol, either. Probably back when I was pregnant in 2006 and not allowed to take ibuprofen.) Is your liver function okay?

I personally can't stop in the middle of a chapter unless I absolutely have to, so I definitely prefer chapters to be on the shorter side! I've read books where chapters were 20-30 pages and it made it so hard to 'read a little bit' before bed!

Not to mention the books without chapters at all, hahah!

I am 21/50.

West with Giraffes: Genre you avoid: This was for my book club, and I'm glad they picked it, because I never would have, but I really enjoyed it.

Low Pressure: book about a writer: This was my first Sandra Brown. I thought it was good, but drug on too long. I also figured out the twist by the halfway point.

The Gift: Not for the challenge: This short story was not one of her best, but it had the usual big twist.

She Drives Me Crazy: Women's sports: I really wanted to like this one, but I found the main character so unlikeable that it made it difficult. There was a bit of a redeeming arc, but not enough for me.

Murder in Paradise: Not for the challenge: This one wasn't very good. There was nothing about it that set it apart from the million other FBI series.

Currently reading:

The Retreat: Not for the challenge: This one is okay, but I don't think the character development is strong enough to bounce back and forth between perspectives.

Lucky Leap Day: Leap in the title: I know this one doesn't have the best ratings, but I'm 1/3 of the way through and I'm enjoying it. It isn't spectacular, but I think it is cute and charming.

QOTW:
Short books always. Short books. Short chapters. I have a system when I read and long chapters and long books bog me down.

Megan wrote: "I can't wait to find out what other random titles I suggested that my library add to the digital collection 3 or more years ago! 🤓..."



LOL!!! I get those "SURPRISE!" books on Libby sometimes too.

Jennifer W wrote: "I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other library in the next couple of days. :} ..."



That can be a fun adventure!

A few weeks ago my daughter wanted a book that was available at another library, and she didn't want to wait for it to be transported to our library, so we drove out there. It was like driving to another country even though it's only 20 minutes north - we never go up there. The library is part of my county system, and that branch is RIGHT on the county line, so the school district its in is actually a school district belonging to the other county, because this place is weird and the political borders of counties, towns, school districts, zip codes, and libraries are ALL different boundaries. I don't understand why they are all mixed up like this.

I'm also in this weird twilight zone: my mailing address (and closest library, AND closest school, although it's not our school) is Liverpool, the town I'm actually in is Clay, and my school district is Cicero-North Syracuse - but at least all four of those towns are all in the same county LOL! Oh, and Liverpool, which is a giant school district and a giant mailing area, is actually a tiny little village within the larger township of Salina. Is it like this any where else?

Where I grew up in NJ it wasn't like this AT ALL. Town boundaries were like bright lines in the sand, we all knew where the boundaries were, and our mailing address and school district and library and actual town we lived in were all the same thing.

Jennifer W wrote: "... Actually, what I really like are short chapters. ..."


Yes! Sometimes I read a book with really short chapters, and it's so refreshing, I feel like I'm FLYING through the book!!! I wouldn't want ALL my books to have super short chapters, but I do enjoy it when I get it.

Ellie wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Actually, what I really like are short chapters. I don't know why, but I read books with short chapters much faster than books with long ones. Plus, I get that accomplishment fee..."

Does that make us weird that we put books down in the middle of chapters? I mean, I know I'm weird in other ways... just add it to the list, I guess! :)

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other library in the next ..."

Maybe it's a New York thing? This is common on Long Island. My mailing address and school district are different also. I live on the very edge of my town, so the school district is the next town north. It means you have to be aware of all those things when buying a house, if school districts are important to you.

L Y N N wrote: "CONTINUING:
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
A priority for February!..."



HOLY CROW that's 1184 pages long??? LOL oddly relevant to this week's QotW :-)

Bea wrote: "And, I haven’t packed yet…but I have planned which books are going with me!..."


LOL you've got your priorities in order :-)

Milena wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other..."

Thank goodness I don’t have to deal with multiple school districts or town lines. My town only has one district for the county. And town lines are miles apart. Vegas and Reno/sparks have to deal with that stuff.

When I went back east, it boggled my mind that your neighbor across the street could live in a different town.

Milena wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other...



Maybe it's a New York thing? This is common on Long Island. My mailing address and school district are different also."



Oh that's interesting!!! I had been assuming it's because the towns up here are "younger" than where I grew up so that suburban sprawl caused the mishmash, but it would make more sense to be a statewide thing. But, seriously, WTF NY??? This is a hot mess!!

I finished 3 books this week, making my total for January 10, which is awesome for me! I was trying to finish some of my leftover Book of the Month books that I hadn't gotten to yet and all of them happened to be thrillers.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
I really enjoyed this. A great take on the thriller/mystery that takes place on in a remote location with a limited number of suspects. Told from 1st person. I gave it 5 stars.
(view spoiler)[Prompt #33: A book with an unreliable narrator. (hide spoiler)]

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
I loved this book so much. It left me reeling at the end, still unsure what the hell was going on. 5 stars.
Prompt #46: A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours. (They're in a coma, hope that counts).

The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak
This book was a just kind of middling for me, not bad but not that memorable either. It's a spy story that takes place in different countries and goes back and forth between the past and present. It was very Russia vs. US and just didn't draw me in with the whole spy plot. I gave it 3 stars but it's more of a 2.5.
I couldn't find a prompt for this one.

Prompts: 9/50

Jennifer W wrote: "However, because I'm sneaky (not really, this is totally legit), I discovered another library in the system has it in but won't ship it because it's a new book. I, however, put it on hold and can go pick it up at the other library in the next couple of days. :} "

I love doing this. So much.

I was told in high school that my card worked at the neighboring town's library, and with my car, I could go get the books faster than they'd come to me through inter-library loan. And I spent many happy hours at that town's much bigger (two-story!) library. I live in a big library system now, and wait times get out of hand. (There are 5000 people waiting for Fourth Wing.) So when I realized that another library system was closer than my favorite Chinese buffet, I started checking their catalogue for anything with extremely long wait times in my own library system. I don't mind a short drive if I get the book months earlier.

Melissa wrote: "J(There are 5000 people waiting for Fourth Wing.)..."




whoaaaaaa!!!! that puts my holds list of 50+ for that book in perspective!!!

I am #50 in the North of Boston (NOBLE) hold list for Fourth Wing. Let's see if MA or NY readers return their copies faster, Nadine!

Happy Friday!

Finished
The Murder of Mr. Wickham Fizzled a little at the end. I mean, I figured it was coming, but it still fell a little flat. (view spoiler)[I mean, all the suspects are Austen's beloved characters, she's not really going to turn one of them into a cold-hearted murderer. So I knew it wasn't going to be a reveal like that. But the explanation for the murder and the way the story resolved with a little boring. (hide spoiler)]. I ended it thinking I'd read on in the series, although I didn't rush to the library to get the next, so we'll see if that happens. Used for non-neurotypical character (Jonathon Darcy).

Deadly Class, Volume 3: The Snake Pit Despite the main character really doing nothing but whine and take drugs, I'm still hooked somehow. This issue had something happen that's quite different from the tv show and I was legit shocked. Not for a prompt.

Bad Cree Slow to start, but around the halfway point I got sucked in and then finished the whole thing in one shot. Really atmospheric and moody. Used for the magical realism prompt thanks to a blurb on the back cover describing it that way. Second time that's happened to me this year!

Stories for Chip: A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany. Had some highlights and lowlights as with almost any anthology. Did find a couple authors who I added to my TBR. No PS prompt, but used for ATY's less than 2024 ratings.

Currently Reading
VenCo Really enjoying the witchy magic.

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead Unlike The Murder of Mr. Wickham, on finishing the first in this series I did head the library for book 2. This one is a little slower to get going.

A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son For one of my book clubs tonight and I'm less than half through - eep! This is a letter to the author's son, as he goes off to college, with lessons the author wants to share about how to be a man, and issues affecting modern men. It's pretty well researched and written. For some reason, I can't keep the fact that it's a letter to his son in my head, though, and so in every chapter when he addresses "you", I get confused! Who, me? Don't know why that's happening!

QotW
Both. I just want to read all the books!

Theresa wrote: "Because I had friends who had a Groundhog's Day party for a couple of decades, rather than New Years or Christmas or even Hannukah - they each had different beliefs, were basically athiests,and felt we all needed a party in the dreariest part of winter here in NYC - beginning of February. It was a blast with great food, conversation, cocktails and cheered everyone up. "

I love this Theresa, because I have friends who do an annual Robbie Burns' day party for similar reasons - a needed winter party, plus they didn't want it to be for a thing where many people might have multiple party invitations (New Years, Halloween).

Hi all,

This week has been awful, so I'm glad it's finally Friday. My FIL watched the Lions lose, which apparently caused AFIB, that then later caused a mini-stroke and sent him to the hospital. He's doing ok now, stable, lucid, etc. But was still scary and a rough start to the week. And just a a bunch of other little things that just piled up that wouldn't have been so bad but since we were already stressed feel much worse.

This week I finished:

Exit Strategy - I've apparently abandoned all rhyme or reason in my reading and sunk into a murderbot hole. It's nice here. lots of media.

The Chronology of Water - finally finished the audio book. It was pretty good overall. Decided I'm counting this as a queer memoir, not a woman in sports. While swimming did feature a lot in the narrative, the competitive aspect was almost entirely glossed over. Much more focus was on her relationships and her personal life.

Currently reading:

Network Effect - more murderbot hole. almost done, will probably finish at lunch. We'll see if I decide to read something else, or just go check out fugitive telemetry because I don't actually own that one yet.

The Leftover Woman - I needed an audiobook in a hurry and didn't really have time to research one that would for sure fill a prompt so I just grabbed the first one that looked kinda interesting. I think at least the current narrator implied she might be 24 though, so it might work for that?

Womb City - i keep setting this down, it's not really grabbing me. I can't decide if I want to dnf it, or try again later, or if maybe i'll read something else and circle back closer to the return date to see if i can latch on better. I'm not DIS-liking it, i just can't seem to get hooked into the story.


QOTW:

I generally prefer the shorter books, it makes me feel accomplished if I am at least getting books read even if nothing else is getting done. But I do like to sink into a long book on occasion, as long as it's a long book that deserves to be long. Priory of the Orange Tree and the prequel whose name I keep forgetting didn't FEEL like almost 900 page books. Whereas I read the first Crescent City book by Maas and got into the 400s and was like "how am I so far in this book when so little has actually happened?"

Sheri wrote: "Hi all,

This week has been awful, so I'm glad it's finally Friday. My FIL watched the Lions lose, which apparently caused AFIB, that then later caused a mini-stroke and sent him to the hospital. ..."

Damn, that's awful, Sheri! Glad he's doing better now!

Happy Friday! I agree that it's too warm. And that too warm weather in winter always freaks me out. Also, I treated myself to a super warm winter jacket and have only been able to wear it once. I think if I wear it when it's over 30 degrees I will pass out.

Finished:
Land of Milk and Honey
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
I really liked both these ToB longlist books. Only one made the shortlist.

Currently reading:
The House of Doors
David Copperfield
The Complete Essays of Michel de Montaigne
Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years
All the Sinners Bleed I am almost done with this book. I am with all the people that were bummed that it didn't make the ToB shortlist.

QOTW:
It depends on the book. Some are worth the length. I am currently reading David Copperfield and loving it. But I do have way less patience for longer books than I did when I was younger.

Kenya wrote: "Sweet Bean Paste -- for “book recommended by a librarian.” This book both made me crave some dorayaki (pancakes with red bean paste) and tear up over the real-life tragedy that this book touches on. It’s GOOD..."

They turned this into a movie, and it was really good! I haven't read the book so I don't know if they changed anything, but I really loved the movie. It used to be on netflix, but it looks like it got removed.

Joanna wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Because I had friends who had a Groundhog's Day party for a couple of decades, rather than New Years or Christmas or even Hannukah - they each had different beliefs, were basically ..."

Exactly! Love the Robbie Burns idea - same type of thing.

Melissa wrote: "Working from home is so amazing. I don't clean between meetings, but I have done laundry or loaded the dishwasher. And yes, eating lunch at my kitchen table where no one can interrupt my reading is glorious..."

Yes, just the chance to get some dishes done so they don't get all piled up in the sink has been a huge help!

Sheri wrote: "I've apparently abandoned all rhyme or reason in my reading and sunk into a murderbot hole. It's nice here. lots of media. ..."

It's really nice here and lots and lots and lots of wonderful others down here with us!

I'm holding off on Fugitive Telemetry --- cause I just want to know there's one there in the TBR Tower, at hand, ready for discovery....

Oh yeah, I also read Segues for poetry with at least 24 poems...

I'm shocked by the temps in Chicago this week, the snow has melted and while it's still "cold" it's by no means freezing. The month of January which normally is the slowest, longest month of the year, feels like it FLEW by (what is this witchcraft?) - work is still insane and I'm currently considering a work relo to Charlotte...

Challenges:
8/75 GoodReads Challenge
6/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
1.) The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (PS #46) ⭐⭐⭐: I did not really care for this book, there was a personal hat tip to the universe that I can appreciate, but I just found the actions so unbelievable, it completely took me out of this one.



Currently Reading:
1.) Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
2.) One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In



QoTW: Would you rather read one long (900ish-pages) book or three shorter (300-ish pages) books?

100% the shorter books, Every. Single. Time.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I have had Fourth Wing on hold for several weeks now, there were over 50 people ahead of me so I figured I'd be lucky to get the book in April or May ... guess what just came in on hold for me yesterday??? Yep. I guess none of those 50 people were members of my specific library branch that happens to own a copy so I unexpectedly LEAPfrogged the list. There was no way for me to be able to predict this! So, next week I'll be finding out what all the fuss is about with this book!! I hope it's a fun and fast read..."

I'm equal parts excited and terrified for your reaction on this one Nadine. :)

It was a bit warm for this time of the year which felt weird. This was also one long week. I've been training a new person at work which required some overtime days. But only one more week of training left! I also made my first attempt at making homemade sushi. It ended up tasting very good if pretty messy looking. I think I will have to practice my rolling skills.

Finished:

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking (ATY cozy mystery) 2 stars. Cute idea but too unrealistic for me. Even for a book set in a world with magic.

The Poet X (ATY X connection) 3 stars. I liked this one but I wish it was a little longer. Elizabeth Acevedo is phenomenal at writing in verse which must be hard skill to master.

The House Across the Lake (ATY boats, beaches, bars, ballads, or Jimmy Buffet) 2 stars. At first it was a pretty basic mystery but then the author added a (view spoiler)[ paranormal element (hide spoiler)] near the end which felt really out of place. The book also felt like 3 different books smashed together.

Currently reading:

This Poison Heart (ATY main character black, indigenous, or poc)

The Writing Retreat (ATY chilling atmosphere)

Upcoming:

Station Eternity (ATY title ends in A, T, or Y)

QOTW: I would much rather read 3 shorter books than one long one. If a short book isn't as good as you thought, you can finish it faster. Also, as I have gotten older my attention span is a lot shorter than it used to be.

Britany wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I have had Fourth Wing on hold for several weeks now, there were over 50 people ahead of me so I figured I'd be lucky to get the book in April or May ... guess what just came i...



I'm equal parts excited and terrified for your reaction on this one Nadine. :)"



LOL!! I can't even guarantee that I'll be gentle if I hate it - there may be a huge rant coming on next week. OR maybe I'll love it and tell everyone the hype is real.

Britany wrote:

2.) One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In

OMG I am reading this one too! What do you think of the book so far?

Nadine in NY wrote: "Britany wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I have had Fourth Wing on hold for several weeks now, there were over 50 people ahead of me so I figured I'd be lucky to get the book in April or May ... guess ..."

I've had it on hold since August, and it finally came in on Wednesday. I finished in last night. It was definitely a fast read for me. "Only" #978 in line for book 2!

January is dead to me. It was a dreadful month full of illness and pain and cold and gloom. And it is over. Let the rejoicing begin!

After years of hardly being able to walk, a myriad of tests, and basic inattention by medical professionals, I was given an injection in my back last week and it has been amazing. Unfortunately I was sick all week and didn't get to enjoy it nearly as much as I would have liked but I've been fairly giddy. I can stand up and walk without wanting to cry. I've been doing household chores (getting the mail, taking out the garbage, stupid things everyone takes for granted). The injection is starting to wear off, but I get the second and more powerful one on Friday. It's been a miracle, one I wish would have happened a couple of years ago, but I'm grateful nonetheless.

I've been reading through the weekly threads, and a couple of weeks ago it was mentioned that an author named Kristen Lepionka has pulmonary hypertension. I too am one of the unlucky ones with this illness, and as I had never read her books before, I immediately bought the first one for my Kindle. Us rare disease girls have gotta stick together!

I hadn't done any planning for the challenge until the past couple of days, but I've got it together now and am ready for the year to move forward. Bring on the books!

Finished
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - 4 stars; PS #20 (set in snow)
I must have put this on hold at the library for a Christmas read but it didn't come in until January. It's a short fiction about a man who realizes the terrible conditions of the mother and baby home in his town (based on actual places run predominantly by religious orders in Ireland through most of the 20th century). Lots of snow.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow - 4 stars; PS #35 (magical realism)
I had this on my Kindle but hadn't read it yet. Seemed like a good book to read in January. I really enjoyed it and don't know why I waited so long.

Endless Night by Agatha Christie - 4 stars; not for challenge
My monthly Christie. Turns out it was a re-read though, as I realized part way in but decided to finish anyway since it had been a long time ago - too bad as it would have fit into the challenge nicely (but I don't count re-reads).

Goodreads: 3/100
Popsugar: 2/50

QOTW: When I was in high school, I wanted as big as I could find as I wasn't able to get to the library very often. While I still enjoy a big long book every year or so, reading challenges have convinced me that shorter books (200-500) are the way to go. I do love checking off books!

Since I see people are posting a bit about movies/TV - I watched Disney+ "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" while sick last week. And I was quite frequently bored. Was it just me in my illness funk? I really, really love all the Riordan series I've read and I expected much more.

Teri wrote: "Since I see people are posting a bit about movies/TV - I watched Disney+ "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" while sick last week. And I was quite frequently bored. Was it just me in my illness funk?..."

I still loved it, but it missed the humor and fun vibe the books have, in my opinion. It also moved way too fast due to the few episodes and them being short, so I really hope if a season 2 happens that it'll be better in that regard. I was thrilled to see an adaptation so close to the books, though!

Teri wrote: "Since I see people are posting a bit about movies/TV - I watched Disney+ "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" while sick last week. And I was quite frequently bored. Was it just me in my illness funk?..."



I haven't watched it. The movies were pretty bad, so that means no one in my household is interested in trying the show.

SPEAKING OF SHOWS though! We watched the first two episodes of the remake/spin-off "Mr & Mrs Smith" with Donald Glover & Maya Erskine (whom I had never heard of before, but I'm impressed ... obviously I had never watched PEN15) - it was pretty good! I definitely plan to get back to it and watch the rest of the series. Caution though: so far two of my favorite actors have been killed in just the first two episodes. So if someone you like shows up as a cameo, don't expect them to survive.

Teri wrote: "January is dead to me. It was a dreadful month full of illness and pain and cold and gloom. And it is over. Let the rejoicing begin!

After years of hardly being able to walk, a myriad of tests, an..."



Ugh sorry. I hope February is better for you. Sounds like things are already looking up!

Ron wrote: "One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In - I had heard about this book last year, but totally forgot when it was going to be released. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across it this month, the month it was released.."

I'm reading this one now too. I love her podcast and this just feels like a longer form of that. I agree that the chapters are way too long, but I am going to use it for the #2 Bildungsroman book prompt. I think it definitely counts. I just moved into Part 2 - the 2000s.

The Percy Jackson show was much better than the movies, imo.