Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 12: 3/15 - 3/21
PopSugar: 41/50Robot Librarian: 32/52
Finished:
The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics read for a library challenge for women's month. It was only mediocre. I felt like it didn't sufficiently capture the friendship between the women nor did it sufficiently explore their ideas. But before reading it, I didn't really know about any of these philosophers and now at least I have some leads for further reading about them.
One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America for prompt took place in 24-hour period and RL 900's. This was such a cool idea for a book! A journalist chose a day at random, Sunday, Dec. 28, 1986 and researched what had taken place on that day. He did an extraordinary amount of research, following up with people from the news articles he found. The only thing that would have made it better was that if our media focused more on positive stories.
Love Letters for Joy could be used for either prompt LGBTQIA romance or enemies-to-lovers romance. (Don't you find the THREE romance prompts a bit much?) For me, this book was too convenient and cute. I didn't enjoy it all that much. There are way better LGBTQIA books out there.
Over the Woodward Wall for prompt written under a pseudonym. Did you know that Seanen McGuire sometimes writes under Deborah A. Baker? I didn't know that! This book was only so-so. I feel like it's very similar to a lot of fantasy books. Two children get into a strange new world and meet characters along the way. The part I actually enjoyed the most was the breaking-of-the-fourth-wall descriptions explaining choices the author was making in the book.
Started:
X: Straight Edge and Radical Sobriety for prompt title that starts with an X.
Learn More, Study Less
QotW: My answer to this would actually be the book I'm currently reading. X is just a bunch of interviews with various straight edge bands. Although I've enjoyed learning a bit more about straight edge, the collection gets boring fast!
Happy Thursday! Some sort of ickiness has attacked all of us. Not all at the same time, but each day this week another member of the family has fallen sick. And we've had such beautiful weather! No one's felt like going anywhere or doing anything.2024 Reading Challenges: Iāve read 112 books so far this year with an average length of 324 pages and an average rating of 3.78.
52 Book Club: 27/52
ATY: 23/52 (Spring Challenge: 3/12 + Bonus 5/5)
Booklist Queen: 28/52
Diverse Baseline: 8/36
Popsugar: 14/50
Robot Librarian: 27/52
ICYMI Backlist: 3/12
Recently Completed:
The Future: I wanted to love it. The Power was fascinating, violent and disturbing with characters I was interested in and even sympathetic with. I didnāt find that here. (52 Books #36 ā futuristic technology/ATY Spring Challenge ā white cover/Popsugar #19 ā a book set in the future) ā ā ā
Georgie, All Along: 2023 NPR Books We Love selection. Sweet and enjoyableā¦ and the narrator for Leviās chapters has a great voice! (ATY Spring Challenge ā yellow cover/Booklist Queen #32 ā set in a small town) ā ā ā ā
Age of Vice (ATY Spring Challenge ā a gold cover/Booklist Queen #20 ā a debut author) ā ā ā
The Whispers (ATY #42 ā a sound-related word in title) ā ā ā
Once More with Feeling: Another 2023 NPR Books We Love choiceā¦ and I loved it too! (ATY Spring Bonus ā title starts with a letter in SHOWER) ā ā ā ā ā
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years: Lush and gothic. (52 Books #10 ā told in nonchronological order/ATY #22 ā author from African country) ā ā ā ā
Mr. Mercedes: I used to read everything Stephen King put out, but somewhere along the way I missed a bunch. This is one of them, and itās classic S.K. (Booklist Queen #14 ā published in 2014/ICYMI #3 ā published in 2014) ā ā ā ā
Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control: Okay, thereās no way I can implement all of these strategies, but the concept of your house as a container is going to really stick with me. ā ā ā ā ā
Medgar & Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story that Awakened America (52 Books #29 ā published in a Year of the Dragon: 2024/ATY #10 ā a history or historical fiction book) ā ā ā ā
Currently Reading:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (ATY #19 ā title related to a Ben & Jerryās flavor: Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz/Diverse Baseline #7 ā translated book by BIPOC author)
Outrage Machine: How Tech Is Amplifying Discontent, Undermining Democracy, and Pushing Us Towards Chaos: Reasonable Doubt Book Club. (52 Books #39 ā nonfiction recommended by a friend)
They Never Learn (52 Books #13 ā an academic thriller/ATY #36 ā a character in education)
Mass Supervision: Probation, Parole, and the Illusion of Safety and Freedom
The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism
Hang the Moon (ATY #10 ā a history or historical fiction book)
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (ATY #21 ā at least 6 words in title)
Wild and Distant Seas (52 Books #51 ā related to the word wild)
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet (ATY Spring Challenge ā blue cover/Robot Librarian Nonfiction ā the 800s)
Spinning
QOTW: The last book I really struggled to finish was The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch. I just never really cared about Frankie and Ezra. It wasn't a bad book... I wasn't mad at it, but it took months to finish a simple paperback romance. The only reason I did actually finish was that I had purchased the book. If I'd borrowed it from the library, I would have simply DNF'd it with any qualms.
Happy Thursday, everyone!This has been a busy week. I am continuing to work on various household projects, but also spent most of Tuesday getting a new car. It was quite a lengthy process, but Iām loving having a new vehicle.
Even though it was a pretty busy week, I did do quite a bit of reading as well. There were a couple of books that I found rather disappointing, but I really enjoyed the majority of the titles I read. It was so nice to have a chance to read some new manga volumes, especially since I have now finished two of the series that I have been collecting!
Here are my current challenge and TBR totalsā¦
Goodreads Challenge: 119/200
Mount TBR Challenge: 81/150
šPhysical TBR: 48
š±Ebook TBR: 33
š§Audiobook TBR: 0
TBR Checklist Total: 81
I did order a few new releases this week, all of which were manga. I got copies of SpyĆFamily, vol. 11, by Tatsuya Endo; Love's in Sight!, Vol. 6, by Uoyama; Nights with a Cat, vol. 3, by Kyuryu Z.; and Alice in Borderland, Vol. 9, by Haro Aso.
I also decided to get copies of the Agatha Raisin Mysteries, by M.C. Beaton. I was originally planning to continue getting them from my local library, but after learning that it would be about two months before I could get the next book, I decided to just go ahead and buy the series. I managed to get most of the books used, thanks to a seller on eBay.
Then my dad suggested a trip to the comic book store, where I found (and promptly bought) The Haunted Bookstore: Gateway to a Parallel Universe, volumes 1-4, by Shinobumaru.
Finally, I decided to get copies of The Murderbot Diaries audiobooks after borrowing the sixth one from the library.
The next new release that Iām interested in getting does not come out until the end of April, so I will be taking a break from buying books for a while. I think I probably need to take a break from book-buying anyway. š
āNewā Books Bought in 2024: 83
āNewā Books Read in 2024: 36
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~A Mortal Likeness ā This is the second book in the Victorian Mystery series. While this book was well written, I found the story pretty depressing. I do have the rest of this series on my bookshelves, but Iām not feeling any desire to continue it. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š: āļøāļøāļø
~Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet ā I really enjoyed having a chance to listen to this mystery before bed each night. It was very clever, and I love the characters. After finishing this book, I started watching the Agatha Raisin television series, and I am completely obsessed with it. š§: āļøāļøāļøāļø
~Goldfinger ā This is the seventh book in the James Bond series. It was a pretty fast read, but the movie adaptation is much better than the original text. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š: āļøāļø
~A Grave Robbery ā This is the ninth book in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and thought it was a great continuation of the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š: āļøāļøāļøāļø
~Fugitive Telemetry ā This is the sixth book in the Murderbot Diaries series, and was a re-read for me. I got this audiobook from my library app (prior to buying the whole series as audiobooks), and really enjoyed listening to it before bed each night. The audiobook narrator is really good! š§: āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Yakuza Lover, Vol. 12 ā This is the final volume of this series. I thought it did a good job of wrapping up the story. š: āļøāļøāļø
~SpyĆFamily, vol. 11 ā This was a great continuation of the series. I liked that we got to spend a lot of time focused on Anya. š: āļøāļøāļø
~Love's in Sight!, Vol. 6 ā This continues to be a really cute series! š: āļøāļøāļøāļø
~Nights with a Cat, vol. 3 ā I am loving this series! The artist clearly knows what itās like to live with a cat. The artwork is also super cute! š: āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø
~Alice in Borderland, Vol. 9 ā This is the final volume of the series, and focuses primarily on (view spoiler) I really enjoyed the series as a whole, and thought this volume was a great way to conclude it. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š: āļøāļøāļøāļø
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
~Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder ā This is the first book in the Hannah Swensen series. I have actually read this book before, and really liked it, so I decided to pick up the audiobook on my library app to listen to before bed. Unfortunately, I just didnāt like the narrator, and ended up DNFing partway through chapter three. š§
Currently On A Break:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1 ā I am currently 68% of the way through this book. š
~The Complete Works of William Shakespeare ā I am currently a few acts into King Richard II.š
~Tales of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table ā I am currently 13% of the way through this book. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š
Currently Reading:
~Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener ā This is the third book in the Agatha Raisin series. I'm about two-thirds of the way through this book, and really enjoying it. I will definitely finish it later today. Content Alert: (view spoiler) š
~xxxHOLiC Omnibus 4 ā My copy of this omnibus finally arrived yesterday afternoon, and I am really enjoying it so far. I will also finish this book today. š
~Death on the Nile ā I got this audiobook on the library app. It is a re-read for me, but Iām really enjoying listening to it at night. David Suchet is a fabulous narrator. š§
QOTW:
The most recent book Iāve struggled to finish is Tales of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table. Iām currently taking a break from it, but plan to finish it next month.
The most memorable book I struggled to finish was The Grapes of Wrath, which was required reading when I was in 10th grade. I ended up reading only a couple of chapters (including the final chapter), and yet somehow the essay I wrote about it ended up being the highest grade I ever got from that particular English teacher on an essay. Iām still scratching my head over that one.
Happy Thursday, yāall. The excitement this past week was finally settling down to sleep about midnight and hearing waves! When I investigated, I found that the master toilet had not cut off when fillingā¦and water had flooded the bathroom and had started into both the walk-in closet and the bedroom! Although it was clean waterā¦it was a mess to clean upā¦and took 4 hours to sop all that water up (no mop, lots of towels) and start the laundry just for all the towels!
Anyway, it totally made me want to escape responsibility and instead of using books (concentration low), I turned to mindless reality type TV. And instead of finishing any books, I kept looking for something to start! What a week!
Got my taxes doneā¦now I can look forward to leaving the USA for a bit!
Finished:
Messenger of Truth ā ALCM. Continuing series (#4). This one is set in England between the two WWs. In fact, it is about life after WWI and picking up the pieces. 4*
The Invitation ā PAS, ATY #12. Meditations. I read the chapters and some of the actual meditations. The chapters were interesting and helpful. The meditations were sit/lie quietly, focus on breathing, imagine...etc. Not actually something I do very well. 3*
Carry On ā PS #45 (LBGTQ+ romance). OK...last year I burnt out on LBGTQ+ stories. It seemed to be the topic of the time...and so much the same. But, put it into an already magic story...and it felt fresh and new. 4*
Currently Reading:
Outlander ā Audiobook. Reread. 80%.
Company of Thieves ā PAS. 41%
Just Starting:
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas ā PS #47 (24 letters in title). 1%
Gaudy Night ā ATY #13. 3%
On Deck:
The Yellow Wind ā PAS
An Incomplete Revenge ā ALCM
Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission - PAS
Walks The Fire - PAS
Cinnamon and Gunpowder - PS #6 (Pirates)
PS 7/50
ATY 12/52
GR 51/200
QotW: What is the most recent (or most memorable) book you have struggled to finish?
None recently. Most memorable? Les MisƩrables. I read this book as a library loan and as a Kindle edition. I kept having to check it out from the library over and over...and when I moved finally added it to my Kindle to finish it! Took me 3 years to complete it!
Happy Thursday!Finished:
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Ann Older - 4 stars - for a book set in the future. This series is basically a sci-fi cozy mystery series. This was going to be a solid 3 stars until about 40% in, and then it really picked up and held my attention.
Comics/manga:
Horimiya, Vol. 7
Horimiya, Vol. 8
Persona 5, Vol. 11
I am currently at 25/50 prompts for PopSugar (23/45 and 2/5).
Currently reading:
Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer - nonfiction book about Indigenous people
Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire - according to the series wiki, Verity is 24 in this book, so using this for a book about a 24-year-old prompt. Plus it helps me to read a fiction book alongside nonfiction.
Upcoming/Planned:
Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligenceāand How It Will Change Everything by Martha Brockenbrough for a book that came out in a year that ends with "24" (2024)
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal - not for the challenge (yet)
QOTW:
The most recent was last week, Redsight was a real struggle to get through for me. I didn't care about the characters and a lot of their actions just didn't make sense. I pretty much only finished it out of stubbornness/to finish the prompt.
Another week has whooshed past! I did some gardening at the weekend, finally removed the teasels since I think the goldfinches ate the last of the seeds. Found a bunch of spring bulbs under all the undergrowth and now there's tulips and pansies starting to bloom.Also discovered the juniper is a female while cutting it back. This is important since only the females produce berries (which are actually cones) and you can use them in cooking and flavouring gin. I've had it 7 years, and this is the first berry I've seen, so maybe it just takes that long.
Finished:
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland for pirates. This was ridiculous, and I nearly DNFed since the main character is a bit of a sex pest and kept going on about how much he wanted to have sex with certain members of the crew. But I didn't and the cake competition alone was worth it! Just silly and fun, and OK if you can get past spooky dildo references (no I don't know how a dildo can be spooky).
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio for magical realism and ATY (two word title beginning with the). This was a great take on a multiverse theory, exploring modern dating through the device of an attic that keeps delivering the main character new husbands. She's really changing realities each time rather the husbands being created out of thin air.
Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde for ATY (It's a Wonderful World). My five star drought is officially over, I loved this. Worth the wait and apparently the next one is only two years' away...
PS: 14/50 | ATY: 15/52 | GR: 24/100
QOTW:
I struggled with Jumpnauts which had too much info-dumping and philosophy. I'm trying to keep my NetGalley ratio at 80% otherwise I would have DNFed.
Happy Thursday everyone!Spring break next week! Looking forward to a week off school. Also planning to visit family for Easter, which should be fun.
Books read this week:
Vesper Flights -- not for PopSugar. A thoughtful collection of essays about the natural world and our relationship with it.
Remarkably Bright Creatures -- not for PopSugar. I didnāt think it was as great as the hype made it out to be, but it was still surprisingly enjoyable. I think I like octopuses (octopi?) now.
Bunnicula -- not for PopSugar. I forgot how hilarious this one is. Yes, itās a kidās book, but itās cute.
Falling Up -- for āa collection of at least 24 poems.ā A re-read, but I always love me some Shel Silverstein.
PopSugar Challenge -- 39/45
PopSugar Advanced Challenge -- 3/5
Robot Librarian Challenge -- 24/32
Robot Librarian Advanced Challenge -- 7/10
Robot Librarian Non-Fiction Challenge -- 1/10
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge -- 27/50
Extreme Book Nerd Advanced Challenge -- 6/10
Extreme Book Nerd Non-Fiction Challenge -- 2/10
DNF:
Revelator -- wasnāt holding my attention.
If on a Winterās Night a Traveler -- a little too intellectual for me right now. Iām getting enough of that with my school readingā¦
Currently reading:
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things -- not for PopSugar
Highfire -- for ābook featuring dragonsā
Misery -- for ābook with a character whoās 42 years oldā
The Girl Who Reads on the MĆ©tro -- not for PopSugar
QOTW: Like I stated above, I struggled with If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, and finally just DNFed it. Might try again this summer when I have the brainpower to stick with it...
I believe I mentioned last week that I was out of town at the time I posted. I returned home late on Saturday. I'm getting back into my normal routine, and the trip has certainly helped refresh my batteries, but trips always limit my reading progress as there are so many other things to do!Completed
just one - Along Came a Spider
Currently Reading
Me Talk Pretty One Day
Gellhorn: A Twentieth Century Life - This is the one beside me right now.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Around the World in Eighty Games: From Tarot to Tic-Tac-Toe, Catan to Chutes and Ladders, a Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the World's Greatest Games
Great Cities Through Travelers' Eyes
QOTW
The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the World which I read earlier this year for this challenge
Mod
LOL no! I enjoy reading romance and I found it quite refreshing to see it get so much representation on this year's list! But I can see how it would be tough for someone if it's a genre one generally avoids ...
X: Straight Edge and Radical Sobriety for prompt title that starts with an X.
Why is it called "X"? What's the X got to do with straight edge?
Mod
That seems to be the general consensus I'm seeing for this book. I'm still interested in reading it, because the brain that came up with The Power is a brain I'm interested in, but I'm a lot LESS interested than I had been when it first came out! Maybe I'll get to it someday.
Happy check-in and happy equinox/spring! Naturally it was warm and melty until the first day of spring here. Finished Reading:
Violet Made of Thorns āāā (ATY similar covers)
Comfort read of a ya fantasy. A seer who makes up prophecies as much as she sees them. There were many nods to fairy tales but the author did there own thing which was good. The love/hate thing was what let the story down a bit for me.
El Deafo: Superpowered Edition!: A Graphic Novel āāāā (PS deaf author)
A great memoir that would teach kids a lot. This edition had fan art at the end that was great to see.
Mr. Villain's Day Off 03 āāā
This manga is silly and cute.
Four to Score āāāā (ATY number in title)
This audiobook was very enjoyable. I was laughing a lot. This is a little out dated.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 3 āāāā
There was finally a reference to a manga series I've read, Fullmetal Alchemist.
Once & Future, Vol. 3: The Parliament of Magpies āāāāā
Prime Minister for the fail! Clever series.
The Demigod Files āāāā
Good short stories of Percy Jackson.
PS 22/50
ATY 21/52
Goodreads 70/150
Currently Reading:
The Kiss of Deception
The Prisoner's Throne
Dating You / Hating You
QOTW:
It took me two weeks to finish House of Flame and Shadow which was not normal for much anticipated series. I finished Strange the Dreamer last week despite starting last spring. A Wizardās Guide to Defensive Baking was difficult to finish and I would have dnfed if it hadn't been for a difficult prompt: cozy mystery. Right now I have 20+ books in my currently reading shelf.
Mod
Oh! I'm planning to read that for my "book published 24 years ago" and also for "related to a Ben & Jerry's flavor" in AtY. Duly noted: avoid the audiobook!!
The most memorable book I struggled to finish was The Grapes of Wrath, which was required reading when I was in 10th grade.
Ugh yes, that was required for me in 10th grade, too, and HOW MUCH DID I HATE THAT BOOK. People rhapsodize about how great it is and how great Steinbeck is in general and I do not want to hear it. That damned turtle in the dirt road. WHY???
Good afternoon from Columbus! It is cold but sunny, so Iāll take it. I just got my seasonal Ffern perfume in the mail and Iāve been obsessively sniffing it all day lol. If anyone has seen the ads and thought you might want to try it out, take this as your sign to go for it. Iām really weird about scents, but these are always a 10/10 for me. Itās been another slow reading week for me for no reason other than Iāve been falling asleep really early every night. What a good problem to have š
Finished:
Peter Pan not for a challenge but a book I was listening to at bedtime with my son. This book was way darker than I anticipated it being. Enjoyable but kinda sad.
We Ride Upon Sticks for a book about womenās sports. This was funny, a field hockey team near Salem in the 80s essentially taps into dark magic to help them get to and win the state championship. The story takes a look at the lives of individual team members and their shenanigans as a whole. A very fun book!
All the Sinners Bleed for a book by a formerly incarcerated author. This on the other hand was *not* a fun book. I loved it but wow was this a messed up read. Iāve read this author in the past so I knew to expect some murder, violence, action and drama but this went way past what I was thinking Iād experience. I got through this book very quickly because I wanted to know what happened next, but Iād warn against reading this if violence against children will be too heavy.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories
Itās not on goodreads but Rescued, a Lent devotional from Blessed is She
QOTW:
I think the most painful book that I struggled to finish was probably Gravityās Rainbow. It was truly terrible and I was actually very annoyed with my boyfriend for quite some time for recommending it.
Challenges:
Popsugar - 6/45; 1/5
Read Harder - 10/24
Classics - 2/12
European Tour - 4/10
12 Friends - 6/12
Yearly Goal - 52/150
Doni wrote: "PopSugar: 41/50Robot Librarian: 32/52
Finished:
The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics read fo..."
I loved One Day and really want him to do another one....
2 more days to spring break!I only finished one book this week, the Wager by David Grann, because I realized Saturday that it is due back at the library tomorrow and I hadn't started it yet. So its all I read all week except for a daily dose of Dear California and Proust
Prompts used for:
PS: A book about pirates
52: A book about the ocean
ATY: a book about the sea
Robot librarian: a book taking place in a war NOT WW1 or 2
Currently reading:
Demon Copperhead
Braiding Sweetgrass
Dear California
The Mists of Avalon
The Annotated Arabian Nights
The Sun Also Rises
In Search of Lost time
About to start:
Daisy Jones and the Six
London
QOTW: I had trouble finishing The Echo of Old Books because it was so badly written and poorly researched. I lost respect for the author when the MC found an old copy of the Remains of the Day in 1984....when the book was published in 1989. The MC does not have internet but the author does.
I am also struggling to finish To Paradise which surprises me because I devoured A Little Life. Plan to finish it this summer during break
Mod
oh nooooooooooooooo
Mod
That book looks so intriguing - what a weird idea, right? I'm glad to see you enjoyed it.
I'm racing to my vacation in 2 weeks... everyone seems to need me at work and my agenda is completely packed. I can't even find time to prepare our trip.PS: 7/50
FNL: 11/40
Total: 15/52
Finished
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Changāāā
Very easy to read. Empress Dowager Cixi was one of the āfemale powerhousesā during the second half of the 19th century, like Queen Victoria. She transformed China into the modern age.
Currently reading
Rode sneeuw in december by Simone van der Vlugt
QOTW
I struggled with Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China. Not because it was difficult or poorly written, but because I could find so little time to read it. Every time I finally got 'into' it, time was over and the next time I had to start checking Cixi's story in my notes first. So it cost me a lot more time than I expected.
Hi all! Feel like my attention is being pulled in a hundred different directions. Super busy with Girl Scout cookies every weekend. This weekend is also the local Easter Egg hunt. My kiddo has never gone to one, so we're going to try to make it to this, weather permitting. Her birthday is coming up next month, so I've been trying to contact her friends' parents, which isn't easy (who knew I would miss phone books??). Also shopping for presents and party favors etc. March Madness started. A team I had going to the Sweet 16 is already out, so good thing I don't put money on these things! Then I got a call this week that my dad was in the hospital with a bad (actually partially dead) gallbladder that had to be removed immediately. My dad and step mom are wintering in South Carolina, so that was stressful, but he came through it well enough. So yeah, always something going on! Reading ADHD continues!! Finally picked The Brothers Karamazov back up to read a couple of chapters.
Listened to Burying Water, going well and Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution, whoo... interesting, but super detailed, and the narrator's voice is so soooothing..... zzzz. Huh?! I'm awake!
Read several more chapters in Burntown kinda weird, but I'm intrigued....
QOTW: Brothers Karamazov is going to take forever, but with wordy Russian lit, I expected that. The one that surprises me is Night over Water. Ken Follett is one of my favorite authors (though I might have to take him down a peg after this, ha!), but this one is just meh. I started it a year ago! I read a couple of chapters, put it down for a month or 2, read a couple of chapters... It's one I keep telling myself I'm going to pick up and finish it off, but so many (shiny!) other books are always calling to me.
Mod
My younger daughter is now 18!Ā We made a red velvet bundt cake and iced it to look like a giant cooked shrimp.Ā We achieved ... moderate success.Ā It tastes good though.Ā I always thought I didn't like red velvet cakes, so I was a bit disappointed when she chose that, but I found a good recipe (it includes coffee as well as buttermilk, so it's a nice moist cake, not dry like red velvet so often seems to be).Ā Ā
This week I finished one book.
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig - I picked this up to read for Women's History Month, but it turned out to have three POVs, so I checked that box too.Ā (But the third POV was only occasional, so I might replace it with another book later in the year.)
Popsugar 54% 27 /50
Must Reads 60% 6 /10
AtY 50% 26 /52
QotW
Sure! it happens to me a lot!Ā It seems like I'm always telling my kids "I finally finished my stupid book!"Ā For someone who loves to read, I sure spend a lot of time complaining about it, I guess it's a combination of constantly pushing myself out of my reading comfort zone, and being a generally negative person.
The book I'm reading right now is taking me FOREVER to finish!Ā Iron Flame.Ā This is supposed to be a fun fluffy romantacy, but it has felt like a slog at times - there were days when I didn't even pick it up. I actually skipped ahead and read the last page the other night, in an effort to spur myself along and finish (thinking I'd be more interested if I knew where this hot mess was going) - I NEVER do that!!Ā I should FINALLY finish it today.Ā I'm not saying I hated it, and I'll definitely read the sequel, but this book for sure sags in the middle.
And a non-fiction book that I have borrowed right now is going NOWHERE for me. I read the first chapter and never went back to it. The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America. She's trying to follow too many different women and I keep getting confused. I wish she had chosen just ONE woman to follow.
Prior to these two, I remember being MIGHTY HAPPY when I finally finished Happiness Falls a few weeks ago. That book took FOREVER.Ā It's a good book, but it was just too much, too long, too many philosophicalĀ asides for my taste.Ā Ā I expected a missing-person mystery, and what I got instead was a lengthy exploration of what happiness means.
And the two that stand out most starkly for me:
A Tale of Two Cities - ugh That was the ONE BOOK I was never able to finish for assigned reading in high school.Ā So when that category popped up for us, that was the book I read.Ā I forced myself to read one chapter a day (which works out to about 2% of the book each day).Ā So many people adore Dickens!Ā I thought to myself: I am an adult now and a mature reader and it's time for me to learn how to appreciate Dickens!!Ā LOLOLOL nice try on my part, but no.Ā I did finish the book.Ā But I'm never reading Dickens again.
The Count of Monte Cristo - that was the year we had to read the longest book on our TBR.Ā That was agony for me.Ā I do not understandĀ how this book is so beloved.Ā I finally switched to the audiobook and John Lee is what got me through it - without him, I don't know if I could have made it all the way to the end.Ā No book needs to be 1400 pages!!Ā Ā (I learned my lesson after that and I deleted all long books from my TBR - goodbye, Anna Karenina! - if that category ever comes up again, I will not be stuck reading a 1000+ page doorstop!!!!Ā The longest book on my TBR right now is a 650 page comic book, if I don't count the three cookbooks that I will just delete again if that dreaded category ever comes up again.)
Last week it was still winter but felt like spring, and today it's spring but feels like winter!I play in my church's handbell choir, and since Easter is early this year, we've been having extra rehearsals to compensate, which makes for some pretty long days. Just a couple more weeks!
Finished:
Roaming - Despite the length, this one didn't leave much of an impression on me. I liked the art, but not the characters.
Rental Person Who Does Nothing - A short book that I took my time with. An interesting concept, though I don't think I learned all that much about how the whole thing works.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 12 - Finally got to this one, just in time for the next volume to come out in English.
Currently reading:
XAIPE
Rivers in Your Skin, Sirens in Your Hair
Convergence Problems
The Princess Imposter
QOTW:
If I'm really struggling with a book these days, I'll just DNF it. The most I put up with a book before that, though, is either Infinite Jest, where I got about 300 or so pages in (not counting footnotes) before realizing I just didn't want to continue reading about these characters, or Les Mis, which I was listening to on audiobook on CD, and about 19 (out of 46!) discs in, my car's cd player refused to recognized the discs, so I took it as a sign.
As for books I actually finished, I read The Provincetown Seafood Cookbook for last year's Read Harder challenge, and while I chose it because it read more like a book than a normal cookbook, that meant that I actually had to read it, and it was slow going.
Mod
LOL that made me look up who the audiobook reader is!! That's funny because it's Xe Sands! She's on my "never listen to again" list. Her reading style irritates me to no end.
Mod
Accurate!! š
Nadine in NY wrote: "... Why is it called "X"? What's the X got to do with straight edge?..."It's a reference to how bouncers would mark an X on the
hands of underage concert attenders to indicate that they couldn't drink alcohol. Straight edgers refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, or doing drugs.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "and Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution, whoo... interesting, but super detailed, and the narrator's voice is so soooothing......"Interesting. I see she narrates a lot of books, but this is the first time I've listened to her. I don't mind her narration, but I'm early in the book and the author has gone into the *entire* history of Birmingham (did you know they produced as much iron and steel as Pittsburgh? did you need to know that...?? lol), and there's a lot of people that won't even be around by the time we get to the Civil Rights and the bombing of the 16th Street church.
Mod
It sounds very interesting. I've not read philosophy for a while...
"One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America for prompt took place in 24-hour period and RL 900's. This was such a cool idea for a book! A journalist chose a day at random, Sunday, Dec. 28, 1986 and researched what had taken place on that day. He did an extraordinary amount of research, following up with people from the news articles he found. The only thing that would have made it better was that if our media focused more on positive stories."
What an interesting concept!
"Love Letters for Joy could be used for either prompt LGBTQIA romance or enemies-to-lovers romance. (Don't you find the THREE romance prompts a bit much?)"
Ha! Ha! I didn't even notice there were 3 romance prompts! LOL
"Started:
X: Straight Edge and Radical Sobriety for prompt title that starts with an X"
Huh. I might enjoy this one!
"QotW: My answer to this would actually be the book I'm currently reading. X is just a bunch of interviews with various straight edge bands. Although I've enjoyed learning a bit more about straight edge, the collection gets boring fast!"
Well, maybe I wouldn't enjoy this one after all!! LOL
Bea wrote: "Happy Thursday, yāall. The excitement this past week was finally settling down to sleep about midnight and hearing waves! When I investigated, I found that the master toilet had not cut off when ..."
Oh dear....
Happy Thursday! Surprisingly this week has flown by. I only finished one book Phantom Road Vol. 1 that wasn't for the challenge. I really loved this graphic novel despite being very confused lol. The second volume is going to be out in June and I'm excited. I started a bunch of books this week and I'm plugging away at them all.
CURRENTLY READING:
Vox
Call Us What We Carry: Poems
Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine and I just started
City of Bones
Question of the Week:
What is the most recent (or most memorable) book you have struggled to finish? For me it was Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells it was a long listen and the subject matter was heavy especially when she started talking about the lynchings of her friends.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Ugh yes, that was required for me in 10th grade, too, and HOW MUCH DID I HATE THAT BOOK. People rhapsodize about how great it is and how great Steinbeck is in general and I do not want to hear it. That damned turtle in the dirt road. WHY???"I've never really understood Steinbeck's appeal. I did have a lot of English teachers who just raved about him though.
Happy Thursday!Not me checking all afternoon to see if this was up yet, but then dinner and pets and packing and ... 30 posts behind. Sadly I can't read them due to my alarm going off at 6am to go to Disney for the night and I really want to watch some Shameless before bed. Then I gotta download some eps for the traveling, and I'll be all good to go!
Puzzle is almost done! I think I'm about 40% done with the last section!
Watched
Zone of Interest. Wow. What a movie. I was actually exhausted when I watched it, so it felt a bit boring due to me being numb, but afterwards when thinking back on it, and reading other people's comments had me go Wow. It's chilling in its own way and would wholeheartedly recommend. They won Oscar for Best Sound, and I truly don't believe any other movie could deserve it more, given the sound in this movie tells its own story.
I am also 3 episodes away from finishing Shameless season 8!
Read
Fics!!! I've read fics!!! It's been terrifying, given I get spoiled googling the most innocent things. Like I googled if Funkos existed for this show and got spoiled for the finale xD But I've been sticking to 2014 fics so should be safe. Downloaded a 161k and 310k one for on the bus and trains in case I want to read instead of watch!
QOTW
I can't really answer this due to me not reading at all recently. I could say The Color Purple, but that wouldn't be fair to the book. No book would have been able to keep me going. I suppose The Worldship Humility counts, as even when I was still reading I didn't really want to get back to that. I suppose I still will someday.
Mod
It's a reference to how bouncers would mark an X on the
hands of underage concert attenders to indic..."
ohhhhhh!! I'm no straight edger, but I know what it means because I love Minor Threat. I never knew about the "X" reference, but that makes so much sense, thanks!
Doni wrote: "PopSugar: 41/50Robot Librarian: 32/52
Finished:
The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics read fo..."
Thatās nuts my birthday is 12/28/87 Iād probably have lost my mind if they had picked one year later lol
Happy Thursday everyone! Hope everyone is doing well.Been taking it easy lately. I'm waiting for my paperwork to be processed before I can officially start my classes for school so that's the only thing I've got going on at the moment.
Still job hunting as always, but that never pans out, but I'm still trying. I just want school to start soon so I can have something new to focus on.
In the meantime I'm just taking it easy.
*****
My Book News:
- Finished:
Just Read It: Unlocking the Magic of Independent Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms - āāāā
This is more of a reference guide, but I still read the whole thing. Absolutely loved it! It's got a lot of great tips, especially for first year teachers which is the goal I have so it will be nice to have this updated information.
On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US - āāā
This was a very easy read. Only 130 pgs so it was cool. It was very basic with things I'm already familiar with so there wasn't really anything new. Still enjoyed reading it though.
*****
-Up Next:
Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up - I've heard conflicting views on this book. Some people agree and like it and others not so much. I have no idea who this author is and no idea what it's about. I just liked the title so I figure I'll judge for myself. (I ordered this book so it won't arrive until Sunday.)
- Other than that I don't have any upcoming books. I'm at a loss of what to read after 'Bad Therapy' so I might just go to my TBR jar and make my pick from there.
*****
QOTW:
What is the most recent (or most memorable) book you have struggled to finish?
Oddly enough I haven't had any books I've been struggling to finish. Normally that's the case, but I've been on track with my reading so far which has been great.
This Thursday has just whizzed by! It's evening and I'm only now opening GR let alone checking in. PS - 22/50 ATY - 38/52
Finished:
Glory Be - Edgar nominee for the Lillian Jackson Braun award and a delightful start of a new cozy mystery series. Great character. No prompt
The Lithium Murder - no prompt but a fun 3rd in series set in a world of science - these are mostly OOP - I sourced this one from a used bookstore, some are available in ebook. This is a good series and pity it's OOP.
Currently Reading - my reading has been really off - watching more idiot tv and have been just plain busy! Need to crank out some finishes:
The Alchemist
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
The Silence of the Girls
Need to start and finish in next week to 10 days:
Gingerbread
Iron Widow
Crooked Kingdom
Of Manners and Murder
QOTW: Hah! Having that problem right this very minute with The Silence of the Girls. It's really good but I am crawling through it, reading other things more than it. Part of the reason is that it's a print book and I can't really read it late at night after going to bed because my eyes are tired and the light just isn't strong enough. The other reason is that I am more in the mood for very light amusing reads, not 'good books' with serious themes.
Happy Thursday2 book clubs in one day does sound exhausting. The one I' was in is canceled for this year,
I finally finished a book. And I will be finishing 2 more this week. I know some of you read 5 books a week, but I can't seem to finish one a week.
I also started the Writing Retreat, Nothing murder wise has happened yet, but I'm totally into the drama of them having to write 3000 words a day. I've done NaNo and that's hard enough, plus you don't have to go to 2 hour critiquing sessions.
Finished:
Meddling Kids
ATY prompt: A book with a secondary color on the cover (orange, green or purple)
Popsugar prompt: An LGBTQ+ romance novel
Series - 2/12
Nobel laureates - 1/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 3/13
ATY - 9/45
PS - 5/30
Currently reading:
Mortal Coil - 75% done
The Inheritors - 20% done
The Writing Retreat - 35% done
Buddy Reads:
Mere Christianity - 85% done
This Present Darkness - 40% done
QOTW: Most recent - It was Meddling Kids - it took me 4 weeks to read instead of 2 because it's not the book I was expecting and I found parts of it uninteresting.
Memorable - IT. King put so much extraneous and disgusting detail in that it was hard in places. Apparently, he wrote it on a word processor so that it couldn't be edited. It's over 1000 pages and should have been 750-800.
Happy Thursday! This week has seen some very back-and-forth weather. It's been cold, with a few days of snow flurries, but also sunny (which SHOULD mean WARM but it doesn't because weather is a LIAR). There were flurries off and on throughout Wednesday morning, culminating in a full-on blizzard around lunchtime... then when I left work a few hours later the sun was out and there was no snow to be seen!I got hit with a pretty big reading slump last week and wasn't making progress on anything (read: the four books on my nightstand) except for my audiobooks at the office. So I said the heck with it, put all those books back on the shelves (or back to the library) and picked up Midnight Blue-Light Special instead. It's been a wonderful ride!
So, to recap:
Finished this week: 0
Currently reading:
Midnight Blue-Light Special
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley - this is excellent and I'm taking my time bc BRing it with a friend, otherwise I likely would've finished this week!
Vampires of El Norte - I'm not usually one to waste my time with angsty stuff, but this is SO well written and the narrators do a fantastic job Horror book by a BIPOC author
PS 13/50
ATY 14/52
Mount TBR 5/48
...I really need to get back on track with my owned-backlog, ha!
QOTW: What is the most recent (or most memorable) book you have struggled to finish?
If I hadn't been BRing The Cruel Prince with a close friend last year, I would've DNF'd it instead of forcing myself to finish lol
Mod
OMG no one told me this book is angsty! I LOVE angsty stuff!! I NEED to read this book now. (Too bad it doesn't seem to fit any challenge categories I have unfilled.)
Is The Cruel Prince angsty too? Because I'll bump that one up on my list too LOL!!!
It is cold out there! I love it. I am not ready for spring, because I feel cheated out of a real winter.Finished:
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde I guess paranormal romance is not for me. I didn't hate it, but it's not nearly as good as Seven Days in June.
None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive for full sentence. I am bad at this, so someone please tell me if it's not a full sentence.
Pageboy for memoir that explores queerness. Really good.
Currently reading:
The Blind Assassin for book published 24 years ago.
Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years
Glass Houses on audio. Unfortunately, no one dies in the first chapter.
QOTW:
A Tale of Two Cities was a real struggle for me, but I loved David Copperfield. The worst was The Tale of Genji was the year we had longest book on your TBR. I am not one to DNF.
QOTW: timely question. I am still working From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present and am only a little over halfway through. I'm going to push through and be done by next Thursday. There it's in print on the internet, so it has to be true.
Happy Thursday! There's been a lot of construction around my apartment building this week. A few days ago PG&E was doing something and I knew I'd have no power all day, so worked in the office, but it turned out they'd also blocked off my entire street for the day, and it wasn't cleared up by the time I got home. I had to park a ways away and then basically get permission to walk through the trucks to get to my building. And then today my landlords finally put in a new mailbox after our last one got trashed- over 2 weeks already we haven't been getting mail... and they still haven't given us the keys to the mail boxes??? Finished:
Boys Weekend- this was my antidote for the disappointing fantasy books I'd been reading. This was really good, the weirdness of this future world, the start up speak, and then exploring the constant transphobia and how people drift. Really liked it
-19 A book set in the future
The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution- if you follow politics a fair amount, there's not a lot of new information in this. I think there's an attempt to cover so much information, that it doesn't really explore anything that deeply
-no prompt
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore- liked it, but definitely preferred his book Sourdough
-no prompt
Up Next:
The Jasad Heir-going to try some fantasy again. I've heard good things, fingers crossed!
QotW:
Lately, it feels like I'm struggling through everything. But the one I've struggled with most recently was definitely The Count of Monte Cristo. Took me most of last year to get through it. Some parts I liked. Some parts- Franz!!!- took me forever to get through
Still going so slow (this week's question of the week couldn't be more applicable if it tried)Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower ( A book about a 24-year-old) I have a love hate relationship with the whole real historic person as a sleuth trope. This time it's Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa solving the case. It's Willa's story which worked a little better for me. I did enjoy this (Emily is 24)
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Stephen king) for A book originally published under a pen name. This was not the Bachman book I wanted to read but I don't own any and this is all the library had. I'm not much on dystopias and this feels like the inspiration for the Hunger Games but making even less sense. Wiki said it was one of the first novels he ever wrote (so around the year of my birth in 67) It felt like it should have been a novella. Way too long and made too little sense.
QOTW
Oh yes right now The Reformatory by Tananarive Due I feel guilty over how long it's taken me because I got it as an arc and then was diagnosed with cancer so reading took a back seat. This is also a horror set within the Dozier school in Florida which is a real life horror (and the author's uncle died there) So this is depressing AF and so very long. I keep setting it aside because it's so much.
I have another arc that is in that category though I'm just starting it I know it's going to take me awhile. I hate not finishing an arc and I don't want to leave a bad review on it either (I tend to just DNF books I don't like and don't review them) but I've been on the other side, sending out arcs with no reviews and it hurts. Sigh.
Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker is the follow up to book one which I liked so I was like yes to the arc (Note to self start looking at page counts because older I get the less I want 450+ paged books) This one is so full of rage that we're not 5 chapters in that the young pov character has done something so awful, I don't really want to finish it. I might have to DNF it (netgalley does have an i won't be review this option)
K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!This has been a busy week. I am continuing to work on various household projects, but also spent most of Tuesday getting a new car. It was quite a lengthy process, but Iā..."
I loved the Hannah Swenson series until the author made a horrible plot choice (imho). It was out of the blue too. I angered me so much.
Happy Thursday. For those on the east coast happy Friday. My sister and family came down on Sunday. They havenāt been up here for two months and the baby just happen to be sick that day. Anyway, so they went home early after visiting the other grandma and grandpa.
Come to find out that the baby has hand foot and mouth disease. so I found this out on Monday afternoon. YAY!
So I had to tell my colleague now my boss I had to stay home for 3 to 6 days, which is the incubation period for HFMD. Saturday will be the sixth day and if I donāt have it by then I can go to work on Monday.
We did hire a new person, but I havenāt gotten to actually worked with her yet, because, yay, got exposed to a highly communicable disease.
So I have not had access to my computer which has all the books that I read and itās just too hard to do it from my iPad.
Anyway, so I got a lot of reading done Iāve caught up on one series. I am going to the next book of second series and Iāve got another series planned. Theyāre all kindle light novels some Iāve read before and I just need to read the last couple but Iāve been enjoying my time being incarcerated in my home.
The weather has been very nice. I got up and to the low 70s but winter is not over in about three days itās going to be in the 50s again. Best thing thatās going to happen is itās probably going to freeze and kill all the nasty bugs are already coming out. Iāve already seen some flies and a stink bug already tried to get in my house at night in the dark thankfully I had boots on, and it kicked off the step.
Other than that by impromptu vacation is pretty okay.
Milena wrote: "None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive for full sentence. I am bad at this, so someone please tell me if it's not a full sentence...."You're in luck! That's a full sentence.
Hey, can you guys help me out? I have a vague memory of someone reading a book about Hook. Maybe Never Never Does anybody remember if this was the right book and if it was worth reading?
Hello hello,I had made plans to catch up on some reading this week (like my own mini read-a-thon) since my nephew was at his dad's this week (it's Spring Break) but, then I didn't make much progress over the weekend and then come Monday when my Supervisor calls and asks if I can help out with a revision at Target. A revision is when we take down all the greeting cards and move them around. It's like when you go into a store and they've moved the toilet paper two aisles down.
So I just spent the last three days working 8-10 hours each day. The first two days were doing the Target revision but, today I had to cover three stores for a sick co-worker and also do one of my own stores. I was wishing for a day of rest after those two long days at Target but since my nephew was coming home tonight, and I have to watch him tomorrow, I had to work today.
Of course when I was telling my guy that I had to watch my nephew tomorrow he was like oh well that's like a day of rest. My thoughts: Ummm...sure if you call watching a rambunctious 6 yr old a restful day.
But I am excited that my bestie is coming home in 4 days!! She'll be here for Easter and also the beginning part of Merrie Monarch week.
I only managed to finish one book this week (today in fact). And like many of you it is one of my ADHD book choices. I found myself without an audiobook a few days ago and downloaded two random books that were available, and ones I only kinda wanted to read. I decided though that they had to fit in at LEAST one of my challenges and both worked for the A to Z challenge so I borrowed them.
2024 Challenges:
Popsugar: 19/50 **It's irritating me how much slower I am finishing Popsugar.**
ATY: 32/52
Robot Librarian: 28/52
A to Z: 18/26
Physical TBR: 0/92
Kindle TBR: 1/111
Goodreads: 36/50
Book Clubs:
PS Monthly: 21/50
Reese: 28/91
Oprah: 11/100
Jenna: 7/62
OSS: 6/39
Finished:
1 finished, 0 Completed Popsugar
Run, Rose, Run
ATY#33, AtoZ
A book that had been on my radar but, I had no intention of reading right now. But like I said it was available and I needed an audiobook. This book was ok and was even getting kind of good when bam it was poorly wrapped up and over. I HATE when a book does that. It's like... I don't know how to finish this so I'm just gonna jump ahead and tell you I'm ok now and also happy...The End. UGH!
-------
Currently Reading
The Quarter Storm
Seoulmates
The Second Murderer: A Philip Marlowe Novel
XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual's Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness
Frozen 2: Forest of Shadows
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?
On the Backburner
Libby
Physical Library Rentals
Back of Beyond
Shady Hollow
Just My Type
The True Love Experiment
Sounder
The Luminous Dead
Zazen
Magazines: (1/148)
Read since last check-in: 0
Question of the Week:
The only one I can think of is The Quarter Storm which I have been "reading" for 2 or 3 years now. I pick it back up every few months or so but, I think because it is A) a kindle book and B) a book I own, I don't seem to be in a rush to read it. Although I keep telling myself to just finish it already!
Mandy wrote: "I loved the Hannah Swenson series until the author made a horrible plot choice (imho). It was out of the blue too. I angered me so much."I've only had the chance to read the first book, but I'm planning to borrow the others from the library at some point.
Have you seen the movie adaptations? It's a series of Hallmark movies called Murder She Baked, and stars Alison Sweeney as Hannah. I thought they were really good.
Non-reading recommendation:I've been watching the Poirot movies that Peter Ustinov starred in in the 1980's. He's a delight in the starring role, and it's so wonderfully weird seeing those stories set in what was then the present day. Murder in Three Acts also has Diana Muldaur as a guest star, which warms my Star Trek: TNG-loving heart.
The trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte dropped, and it looks like it will be a sweet ride. I'm going to the rerelease of The Phantom Menace in May, which is fun by itself, but I will also get to see the featurette about The Acolyte after the movie.
Finished:
The Little Book of History by DK (3/5)
At 500 pages, it's not going to go too deeply into anything. I did learn a few new things, mostly some of the glaring gaps in my US and Europe-centric history classes.
A Time to Sow/A Time to Harvest by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore (4/5, reread)
This is a solid duology for Star Trek: The Next Generation. It can be read by itself, but it also ends up following up on an episode of the show, and it is part of a series that leads up to Star Trek: Nemesis.
Princess of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (3/5)
My Dune fever was high after seeing the recent movie, so it was nice to spend more time in that universe. It is a middle of the road entry in the series.
Currently reading:
The Bible Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
A Time to Love
Dragon and Soldier
Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga
QotW:
The Farther Shore was the hardest one for me to finish this year.
K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I loved the Hannah Swenson series until the author made a horrible plot choice (imho). It was out of the blue too. I angered me so much."I've only had the chance to read the first b..."
No I havenāt. I wanted to buy hallmark is a little stingy about letting others stream their stuff.
Itās book 19 that has the horrible plot choice. Just fyi. I couldnāt even read the book before it cuz I was that upset.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Road to Roswell (other topics)Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up (other topics)
The Scarlet Letter (other topics)
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice (other topics)
Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nathaniel Hawthorne (other topics)Lori Gottlieb (other topics)
Elizabeth Acevedo (other topics)
Uzma Jalaluddin (other topics)
Crystal Hana Kim (other topics)
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Still busy with other people these last two weeks. My husbandās birthday was Saturday so we went to his favorite restaurant with his best friend and his partner. It was such a good time! First time weāve done that in a very long time. We stayed almost 3 hours talking, eating, talking, laughing, drinking lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and hot chocolate, andā¦talking!!
The morning of Wednesday, March 13, I was suffering from a ābook club hangoverā! LOL š Two book club discussion group meetings in ONE day on March 12! It was a fun day!
The book club I facilitate has grown by one more new member who happens to be our most recently added memberās daughter. Our group now includes people aged 22-81! LOL I personally believe the more diverse a book discussion group is, the more interesting!
***
ADMIN STUFF:
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!
Joanna is the "marvelous manager" who has volunteered to lead this discussion! Kudos to her!! THANK YOU, Joanna! ššššššš I am awaiting my copy to be delivered later this week! I imagine she recorded the audiobook version and can only imagine it must be a wonderful listening experience as well! I will be starting this today!
JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION POLL IS LIVE!
Nadine has created the Nomination poll for the June Monthly Group Read HERE! This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #18 A book set in space.
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, please write it in. But please check that book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2022-present) are eligible. Please remember to consult the listing of these books that are NOT eligible for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
Here are the books currently under consideration:
Places in the Darkness
The Spare Man
Far from the Light of Heaven
Renegades (Renegades #1)
To Be Taught, If Fortunate
Floating Hotel
A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe (The Salvagers #1)
The Scourge Between Stars
Dead Silence
The Hitchhikerās Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1)
The Deep Sky
Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)
Project Hail Mary
Since I have read several of these, I voted for one I have not yet read! Please help us out by voting! šš
DISCUSSION LEADERS NEEDED FOR APRIL AND MAY!
THE APRIL MONTHLY GROUP READ is The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #29 A book with a neurodivergent main character. April is Autism Awareness Month! I'm certain there is at least one member out there fitting the description of "knowledgeable navigator" to lead this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ ISā¦All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #41 A memoir that explores queerness.
I'm certain there is at least one member out there fitting the description of "guru guide" to lead this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! I have wanted to read this one so badly!! Glad it was selected!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
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Question of the Week:
What is the most recent (or most memorable) book you have struggled to finish?
I ask this because I am STILL struggling to complete We by Yevgeny Zamyatin!! I know, right?!? I feel as if Iāve been reading this thing for months! Andā¦it is a relatively āshortā book at just 199 pages! I am DETERMINED to finally finish it today! And I have my fingers crossed that by the end of this I feel as if it has āspoken to meā in some way. It is supposedly the first dystopian novel published. Anything! Really! At halfway through it has finally appeared that just maybe there will be a tie-together. Finally. Please?!? Pretty please?!? š (See, it even has me babbling! LOL)
Question of the Week: (FROM LAST WEEK!)
What are some of your favorite books from childhood? (up to age 10 or so)
Dr. Seuss are the first books that always come to mind for me! I LOVED them!
From then I went to mysteries: Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, some Westerns (Zane Grey), and then books with animals, and then to some hard-core classics once I reached 12ā¦
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 18/50
Around the Year (AtY): 45/52
Read Harder: 10/24
52 Book Club: 34/52
FINISHED:
*Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (Days at the Morisaki Bookshop #1) by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa āāāāā for an IRL book club. This book provided so much fodder for discussion! There was an usually large group of 12 at this meeting and it grew to be a bit wild, but we all really got a lot out of sharing our varied perspectives! There is a sequel, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, which most all of us would like to read, so hopefully that will be one of this groupās selections in a future month!
POPSUGAR: #14, #17-Japan
ATY: #3-A book with a leap (Kakako takes a āleapā by moving into Saturoās bookshop), #14, #24-Green & Orange, #33, #37
RHC: #8, #20, #24-2015: prompt #7 Read a book set in Asia
52 Book Club: #9, #14, #15, #30, #43
*Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree āāāāā āāāāā reread for an IRL book club. This was the third time Iāve read this and I foresee coming back to it off and on in the future! I just adore these characters as well as the plot! I trust Baldree is working on a second installment, Legends & Lattes #2!!
POPSUGAR: #2, NEW #10, #11-Romance, #14, #27, NEW #37, NEW #38
ATY: #2-Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3), #3-A book with a strong sense of place, NEW #19, #24-Green, #27-land to have a coffeeshop, #33, #34-HAPPY-Viv!, #37, #38/#39, #44, #46, #49-Laney, #50, NEW #52
RHC: NEW #1, #24-2015: prompt #6 Read a book written by a person whose gender is different from your own
52 Book Club: NEW #12, #14, #24, #26-Romantasy, #30, NEW #36, #43
*The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston āāāāā was quite an enjoyable read! (I read it back in February and am just now getting it documented.) Although it is a romance it was complex enough to hold my attention. And very few sexual details! YAY! I was very pleasantly surprised and would definitely read more of her writing!
POPSUGAR: #17, #35
ATY: #3-A book involving politics, public service or publicity at any level, #5-NYC, #6, #16, #24-Orange, #32, #33-time travel, #34-HAPPY, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2015: prompt #13 A romance novel
52 Book Club: #3, #4, #5, #9, #10, #14, #22/#23, #24, #28, #30, #43
CONTINUING:
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
A priority for March/April!
PLANNED:
*Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree for an IRL book club
*Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman for our monthly group read
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*11th Hour (Womenās Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin