Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 14: 3/28 - 4/4
Happy Thursday! I went back to the gym for the first time in two years… and I feel great! A little sore, but not too bad. I decided to start with swimming. Easy on the joints, uses the whole body. I’m a terrible swimmer, but I imagine I’ll get better as I shed some weight and gain strength.2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 129 books so far this year with an average length of 323 pages and an average rating of 3.81.
52 Book Club: 32/52 (April Mini-Challenge: 1/3)
ATY: 28/52 (Spring Challenge: 5/12 + Bonus 5/5)
Booklist Queen: 30/52
Diverse Baseline: 9/36
Popsugar: 25/50
Robot Librarian: 30/52
ICYMI Backlist: 3/12
Recently Completed:
Karma of the Sun: Adventures Underground Book Club. I thought a weird mashup of post-apocalyptic Earth and Buddhism would somehow be more interesting than it ended up being. Don’t get me wrong, there’s stuff to like here, but the overall story never seemed to rise to the point where I got interested and engaged with what was going on. (Robot Librarian Advanced #6 – author has written only one book) ★★★
You, Again (Robot Librarian #4 – author with a color in their name: Kate Goldbeck) ★★★★
Interesting Facts about Space (ATY #8 – author from Canada, Australia, or New Zealand/Booklist Queen #3 – about mental health) ★★★★
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life: Nyle DiMarco is not only one of the most gorgeous humans on earth, but his memoir was remarkably informing and inspiring. (Booklist Queen #45 – inspiring nonfiction/Popsugar #9 – author is deaf or hard of hearing) ★★★★★
The Longest Autumn: Fantasy that wasn’t fantastic. The relationships as well as the characters themselves felt superficial. (Booklist Queen #37 – set in autumn/Robot Librarian #1 – published in 2024) ★★★
This Could Be Us: I LOVED this book! I only give 5 stars if it's a book I'd read again, and this one definitely qualifies. Soledad and Judah are in their early 40s. Soledad has three daughters and a philandering husband. Judah is divorced and raising his twin autistic sons (in a congenial partnership with his ex-wife who is happily remarried). He's also the man who uncovered her husband's $6 million embezzlement and the absolute right man for her. It's complicated and touching and sexy and loving. (52 Books April Challenge #2 – “(Never Gonna) Let You Down”/ATY #25 – involving a crime other than murder/Robot Librarian Advanced #10 – romance with characters over 30 years old) ★★★★★
Currently Reading:
Annie Bot (ATY #1 – title ends in A, T , or Y)
The Book of Doors (Booklist Queen #49 – a book about books)
Murder in Westminster: “Goodreads Giveaway” that I’m finally getting around to.
The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of Obsession (52 Books #31 – includes a personal phobia/ATY #43 – Edgar Award-winning author)
Homegoing (ATY #13 – on a “Five Books” list/Diverse Baseline #12 – about colonization by a BIPOC author/Robot Librarian #25 – set in Africa)
Hana Khan Carries On (Popsugar #4 – about a 24-year-old)
The Girl on the Train (Booklist Queen #44 – a popular book you’ve never read/ICYMI Backlist #3 – published in 2015)
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet (ATY Spring Challenge – blue cover/Robot Librarian Nonfiction – the 800s)
Spinning
QOTW: I loved Lunar New Year Love Story, a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang.
Here's the blurb: "Valentina Tran was named after Valentine's Day, which used to be her favorite holiday. But when Val learns the truth behind what happened with her parents and why she's being raised by a single father, she realizes true love is a lie. This is reinforced when she meets the spirit of Saint Valentine, who tells her she and her family are cursed to always be unlucky in love. Val is ready to give into her fate, until one Lunar New Year festival, where a mysterious lion dancer hands her a paper heart, and ZING. Val becomes determined to change her destiny, prove Saint Valentine wrong, and give her heart to the right person.
Meanwhile, lion dancing is the only thing that has given Jae peace after his dad passed away. It's also what keeps him connected to his father's side of the family. Both Jae and his cousin Leslie notice Val at the Lunar New Year festival, and for some inexplicable reason, Jae hands Val a paper heart. But it's Leslie, with his K-Pop good looks, who starts to date Val. Jae still feels this connection with Val and feels it's somehow tied to how he feels about losing his father.
Both Val and Jae struggle with the spirits who haunt them as they are inextricably brought together in a love story that is satisfying, sweet, and moving."
It's been a quiet week for me. Completed
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
Man Made Monsters - for PS
Romeo and Juliet - re"read" via audiobook
Animal Farm - re"read" via audiobook
The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight - for PS
Cat of the Century
Murder on the Orient Express - re"read" via audiobook
Popsugar Progress: 37/50
Currently Reading
Hiroshima
The Complete Christmas Stories - yet another audiobook re"read"
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Me Talk Pretty One Day
Great Cities Through Travelers' Eyes
QOTW
I have multiple four-star reads from March. (I rarely give all five stars.) It's very hard for me to pick a best anything, but I will say Gellhorn: A Twentieth Century Life is still taking up space in my mind.
Popsugar: 48/50Robot Librarian: 36/52
Only two left!!
Read: Vivian Lantz's Second Chances for second-chance romance. Weak on the romance, but that was okay by me.
The Creative Heroine's Path: Live Your Creative Life A lot of heart, lean on fresh ideas.
Learn More, Study Less I haven't actually implemented many of these ideas, but am looking forward to his new book coming out!
Started: The Message to the Planet for prompt 24th book by author. This is taking me for-ev-er (like 5 days instead of the usual 3.) It is only so-so
QotW: I gave two books 5 stars for the month of March. One was Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family which was such a powerful and compassionate memoir and the other was An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. The funny thing is, I barely remember anything about Hank Green's book. I just remember that I liked it.
Tomorrow is Opening Day (home opener for my baseball team) and we are expecting rain. In SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA! I do not want a rain out....I did not finish any books because life happened.
In progress:
London
The Sun Also Rises
The Age of Innocence
The Mists of Avalon
This Impossible Brightness
Dear California
QOTW:
In March I read several 4-5 star reads:
There There: 5 stars, excellent writing and story. Obvious why it was a pulitzer runner up ( and IMO a better book than The Overstory, which beat it)
Demon Copperhead
The Wager
Happy Thursday!Finished:
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal - 3.5 stars - not for the challenge. I liked the characters. The pacing was a little odd but it still kept me reading. I'm willing to read the next one.
Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligence—and How It Will Change Everything by Martha Brockenbrough - 4 stars - a book that came out in a year that ends with "24" (2024). This is a very accessible book on the basics of AI written for teens and young adults. The author goes over the history, what it is and what it isn't, and the dangers and benefits of AI. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a basic breakdown of the current (last few years) state of AI.
Comics/manga:
Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 1
Something's Wrong With Us 19
Spy x Family, Vol. 11
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 10
I am currently at 28/50 prompts for PopSugar (26/45 and 2/5).
Currently reading:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa - for a book from an animal's POV
Upcoming/Planned:
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden - not for the challenge (yet).
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker - for a book by a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing author
The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa - not for the challenge (yet).
QOTW:
Probably What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. I found it a charming and cute love letter to books and reading.
Happy Thursday aka Friday Junior everyone lol. This is going to be a 2 week check-in for me. My reading habits have been all over the place. READ:
Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine is the only book I read for PS#2 A bildungsroman book. Uche is a second- generation black doctor that grew up and lives in Brooklyn, New York. it was part memoir and part call to action for healthcare and medical racism in the United States.
Killadelphia #31 My favorite vampire series has Spawn fighting demons!!
Killadelphia #32
Killadelphia #33
Phantom Road Vol. 1 A new interesting graphic novel series that left me with a bunch of questions and wanting the second volume to hurry up and come out.
I DNF'd a few books :
City of Bones I still can't get into this book
Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas
CURRENTLY READING:
Call Us What We Carry: Poems I'm 80% finished with this book
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More and
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture
Question of the Week
What's the best book you read this March?
I would have to say the best book I read this March was Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine It wasn't eye-opening regarding medical racism, because I've known about it for so long, but the author's desire to follow in her mother's footsteps as a Doctor and to truly make a difference in the community.
There's been plenty of rain where I am, and even a little snow! Crossing my fingers for good weather on Monday, since the library where I work is throwing a big viewing party for the eclipse.Finished:
XAIPE - (A title I had to look up in the dictionary) I've never read any e.e. cummings before, and I probably won't seek out any more of his work either.
The Princess Imposter - A fun story of a fairy who trades places with a princess. The princess' story was the more interesting one, but it was a quick read, and an interesting take on fairy magic.
Nayra and the Djinn - This takes place during Ramadan, though that's not the reason I read it. A little lackluster.
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy - The resolution was a little too quick for my liking, but the relationships between all the characters felt realistic. And it featured Little Shop of Horrors, one of my favorite musicals, so it gets extra points for that.
DNF:
Rivers in Your Skin, Sirens in Your Hair - I'll be honest, the fact that I was reading this on Hoopla, and for some reason it wouldn't resume where I left off (usually not a problem) was a major factor to me dropping it. I couldn't remember which poems I'd read and which I hadn't, so I figured it wasn't for me.
Currently reading:
Convergence Problems
Dead Collections
The City We Became
The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies
In Buddha's Kitchen : Cooking, Being Cooked, and Other Adventures at a Meditation Center
The Fox & Little Tanuki, Volume 6
QOTW: The best book I read was also the first book I read in March: Monstrilio. Big thanks to the ToB for putting on the shortlist, since I never would have picked it up on my own.
Mod
oh well done! I probably need to go sign up at the Y again myself - for now, I'm sticking with walking my dogs when the weather permits.
And I've added Lunar New Year Love Story to my TBR :-)
Mod
Completed
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 ..."
So ... do you actually know how to win at Tic Tac Toe now?? And I think I want to read it just to find out which properties are most valuable in Monopoly - my mom and kids and I always end up arguing about that when we play.
Happy Thursday all!I have four books to go for PopSugar! Once I'm done with those, I can move on to focus on finishing my other two challenges...
Books read this week:
Redsight -- for “book by a blind or visually impaired author.” Ended up finishing it this time around… and while it’s a bit of an overly fast-paced mess storywise and about as scientifically accurate as your average Star Wars movie, it had some fascinating concepts and characters.
Highfire -- for “book featuring dragons.” Kind of a letdown after I enjoyed Artemis Fowl so much. It takes more to graduate to adult novels after YA novels than filling your books with swearing, violence, and toilet humor, people…
The Paris Apartment -- not for PopSugar. Can we get a psychological thriller where the main characters aren’t all unlikable jerks? Thanks in advance.
Paladin's Faith -- for “book where a character sleeps for longer than 24 hours.” LOVE this series so much, and it’s great seeing us edge closer to one of the series’ most burning questions.
PopSugar Challenge -- 42/45
PopSugar Advanced Challenge -- 4/5
Robot Librarian Challenge -- 26/32
Robot Librarian Advanced Challenge -- 7/10
Robot Librarian Non-Fiction Challenge -- 2/10
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge -- 30/50
Extreme Book Nerd Advanced Challenge -- 8/10
Extreme Book Nerd Non-Fiction Challenge -- 3/10
DNF:
Misery -- too bleak at the moment. I need to space out my King books, haha…
Currently reading:
The Ardent Swarm -- not for PopSugar
Stand on the Sky -- for “book whose title is a complete sentence”
Mary Jane -- not for PopSugar
Silverwing -- not for PopSugar
QOTW:
Favorite book of March? Huh... probably a toss-up between The Shining and Vesper Flights.
Happy Thursday!After having spring, we're back to winter. We're getting/have had 10-20 cm of snow from last night until Friday morning. Seriously, April, get it together. Most people got their snow tires off and there was a city bus in the ditch today. (I decided to WFH)
The good news - I finished 2 books. I got myself out of my PS deficit. The Oscar Wilde one was a short story, but it was charming.
The bad news - I missed getting a book. With the conversion from Overdrive to Libby, they converted over the books I had borrowed and wanted to borrow. The one thing that didn't get converted was notifications. Overdrive used to email me when a book was waiting. Libby did not. Now I have to wait another two weeks.
I'm down to reading William Golding. This book is supposed to be better than Lord of the Flies (which everyone seems to love to read). I find it kind of boring.
Finished:
The Writing Retreat
ATY prompt: A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024
Popsugar prompt: A book about a writer
The Canterville Ghost
ATY prompt: A book with a title that ends in A, T or Y
Popsugar prompt: A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person
Series - 3/12
Nobel laureates - 1/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 4/13
ATY - 13/45
PS - 8/30
Currently reading:
The Inheritors - 40% done
Buddy Reads:
This Present Darkness - 40% done
QOTW: Mere Christianity and The Writing Retreat
Hi all, Been kinda busy the last few weeks, and migraine-y due to all the up and down weather. Haven't been checking in, i don't think. Unless I forgot I did. But I don't think I did.
The last couple weeks I finished:
True Biz - This is my books & brew book for April, looking forward to talking about it. I learned a lot about Deaf culture, a bunch of stuff I hadn't realized. My book written by a Deaf or HoH author.
Shades of Milk and Honey - this is my nanowrimo book, picked mostly because i'd read her Lady Astronaut first book and I liked it. This was fine, I liked the magic as art system. I'm not huge into Regency type stuff, not an Austen fan so it was a bit slow and too manners focused for me.
The First Ten Years: Two Sides of the Same Love Story - off my TBR challenge, this was interesting. Kind of weird getting that intimate of a look into someone else's relationship, but also interesting getting two sides of the same story. I'm counting this as neurodivergent "character", since both people in the relationship are neruodivergent.
Cry Wolf - another book off my TBR challenge, i'm counting it for book set in snow. Most of it takes place in the mountains after a heavy snow. This was alright, i think I like the Mercy Thompson books better.
Rebel - this was for an online book club. It was ok, historical romances aren't my favorite. I did like it better than expected, but still not my genre of choice.
Currently reading:
Redsight - i know a lot of people aren't feeling this, but at least so far i'm enjoying it well enough. I'm about halfway through. Probably will end up being pretty forgettable, but it's not a slog. Will be my book by a blind/visually impaired author.
QOTW:
March wasn't an amazing reading month for me, so i'd probably just go with Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire.
Happy Thursday, everyone!I had planned for this to be a super productive week, but while it started that way, things took a turn to the unproductive side when I managed to injure my foot. I have no idea what I actually did to it, but it hurts badly enough when I stand or walk that I’ve ended up spending the last couple of days sitting with it elevated. Hopefully it will feel better soon, because I actually feel like getting things done, and I need to be able to move around in order to do that.
As far as reading is concerned, I’ve had a great week! I’ve been able to finish quite a few books from my “New” Books list, and I’ve also gotten back into one of the classics from my TBR list that I stopped reading during March Mystery Madness.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 141/200
Mount TBR Challenge: 81/150
📚Physical TBR: 48
📱Ebook TBR: 33
🎧Audiobook TBR: 0
TBR Checklist Total: 81
I did not buy any new books this week!
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 93
“New” Books Read in 2024: 56
Finished Reading (Fiction):
This week I continued reading the Agatha Raisin series. I am really enjoying these mysteries! The stories are very clever, and the characters are a lot of fun. The books I read this week include…
~Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham — This is the eighth book in the Agatha Raisin series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden — This is the ninth book in the Agatha Raisin series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam — This is the tenth book in the Agatha Raisin series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell — This is the eleventh book in the Agatha Raisin series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also finished the following audiobook…
~Peril at End House — This book was a re-read for me. I got the audiobook from my library app to listen to before bed, and I really enjoyed it. Hugh Fraser (who played Hastings in the Poirot television series) is a really good narrator. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finally, this week I started listening to The Murderbot Diaries on Audible. This series is a re-read for me, but it is my first time listening to the audiobooks (apart from Fugitive Telemetry, which I borrowed from the library app a few weeks ago). I thought that Kevin R. Free did a marvelous job with the narration! This week I finished the following audiobooks…
~All Systems Red — This is the first book in the Murderbot Diaries series, and one of my favorite books in the series. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Artificial Condition — This is the second book in the Murderbot Diaries series. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Rogue Protocol — This is the third book in the Murderbot Diaries series. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently On A Break:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1 — I am currently 68% of the way through this book. 📚
~The Complete Works of William Shakespeare — I am currently a few acts into King Richard II.📚
Currently Reading:
~Exit Strategy — This is the fourth book in the Murderbot Diaries series. I just started this audiobook last night, so I’m only on the second chapter, but I’m enjoying it so far. 🎧
~His Majesty's Dragon — This is the first book in the Temeraire series. I’m currently 17% of the way through this book, and it has been good so far. The pacing is a little slow at the moment, but I’m hoping that things will get more exciting once the main character and his dragon begin their training. 📚
~Tales of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table — I did get back into this book at the beginning of the week, and have actually made a decent amount of progress. I am currently 24% of the way through this book, and hope to finish it in the next couple of weeks. To be honest, I’m not really enjoying this book, but I am currently planning to finish it. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚
~Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came — This is the twelfth book in the Agatha Raisin series. I'm only a couple of chapters into this book, but I'm enjoying it so far. 📚
QOTW:
I read (and re-read) a lot of great books in March, but I especially enjoyed A Grave Robbery, which is the newest Veronica Speedwell mystery. It was a great continuation of the series!
We had lovely weather for the bank holiday weekend, and now it's back to raining all the time!I got back editorial feedback on my novel last week, and I've been mostly trying to apply the advice. Editing is such hard work, but I think I'm getting there. Funnily, I managed to accidentally use a place name from LOTR. I haven't read the book, so this was quite a feat.
Finished:
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal for ATY (JQX or Z in author name). This took me so long to read, and it was only after I finished that I saw it that it's set in the same world as her other books. I think maybe I was missing some context? And there wasn't nearly enough of the tearoom slash blood house that I thought it would be set in. Was OK, probably won't read the second book.
QOTW:
Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde. It really built on the world building of the first book and was smart and funny. It didn't even matter that it had been over a decade since I'd read the first, I picked up the threads so quickly.
Oh I meant to add that I also DNF'd Vox I got about 100 or so pages in and I just couldn't finish it. It was just slow. I like the story and the idea, however.
I finally finished From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present. FINALLY!.Now, I'm reading Nemesis.
QOTW: I don't have a lot of choices, because that stupid book took me 3 weeks to read. So, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Happy Thursday!! I think it’s safe to say I’m back on the reading train after a week+ break. We’ve had some weird weather, early spring storms etc this week but nothing too rough, and it’s due to warm up next week (plus we have the total solar eclipse to look forward to). In baseball-world, I’m encouraged by the choices of Cleveland’s new manager and my favorite players are already setting a good tone for the season. In tv-world, we’re caught up on Only Murders in the Building (s4 NOW PLEASE) and I adored the first season of Percy Jackson.Oh, and the tawny owls on the Yorkshire livestream I watch have three chicks! :D
Books finished this week (yes, multiple! Huzzah!):
Vampires of El Norte - 3.75 stars. YES I’m splitting hairs here but idc. I adored the atmosphere Canas created, the characters had the perfect amount of angst and romantic tension (gawd the tension), but I wanted more VAMPIRES! This definitely takes a harder angle toward the romance and results in more of a horror-lite sort of read - I’m not mad about it, I just wish I’d known beforehand. A little heavier on the horror next time pls. Second-chance romance
The Sea of Monsters - 5 stars. I’m loving every minute of this Percy Jackson reread. I hadn’t read this one in a decade+ and accordingly had forgotten so much of it. These are some of the most wholesome characters in fiction and I love them all.
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley - 4 stars. Although I appreciated the compare/contrast angle, I think this would’ve worked better as a 2-book set as they’re both named Mary (it gets confusing). Regardless, a compelling and easily-readable piece on both women. Book about a writer
Under This Red Rock - 3 stars? I saw a review that said McGinnis had shifted to writing one sort of character and now I can’t unsee it, even if I don’t 100% agree. I skimmed parts of this because it didn’t seem to move as quickly as I’m used to with her other books, but overall still enjoyed myself. Neurodivergent main character
Feed Them Silence - 4.5 stars. This gave me James Cameron’s Avatar + Animorphs vibes. I would love to see a longer version of this story (the audio was only 4 hours) but regardless I loved it. Natalie Naudus narrates brilliantly. Set in the future
PS - 18/50
ATY - 17/52
Mount TBR - 7/48
Currently:
The Berlin Stories - continuing my obsession with Cabaret by going back to the source material! My dad bought me the ebook last year and the first story, Mr Norris Changes Trains, is excellent so far.
A Certain Appeal - one of my besties is back on their Pride and Prejudice train, so I decided to finally pick this retelling up! Let’s see how bonkers it gets.
QOTW: What's the best book you read this March?
Ha! I only read 4 books in March, but I adored Hild and Midnight Blue-Light Special.
Happy Thursday! I realized this weekend that between Libby, Hoopla and physical books I have 30 books out from the library. Which is ridiculous. So now I'm trying to see how many I can read before my loans run out. It's like beat the buzzer, book edition.This week has been a bit frustrating, but I'm seeing a friend this weekend, and my parents are coming up for lunch too. I don't think they've been over to visit in for about a year now, so that'll be fun. I just have to do some cleaning before they get here...
Finished:
The Jasad Heir- I loved this, can't wait for the sequel. One of my favorite fantasy reads of the year. There is a bit of romance, but it's the slowest of slow burns, so if you don't love romance, it's not too much
-no prompt
Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki- a graphic novel/manga I picked up because a friend had recommended the movie and then told me it was sad and for some reason I decided reading it was the better choice. I liked it, but it's not a favorite. It was nice
-no prompt
I Do Everything I'm Told-this was the 4th or 5th poetry collection I tried. I think for me poetry collections are never going to be a hit. Individual poems I absolutely love, but I don't seem to connect with poetry collections
-48 A collection of at least 24 poems
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie- really entertaining historical romance. Looks at the way people on the autism spectrum were misunderstood/mistreated in the past. If Libby ever gets the sequels I'll probably continue on with the series
-29 A book with a neurodivergent main character
Currently reading:
The Fox Wife- I read Ghost Bride and didn't completely love it, but this book sounds really interesting. Just barely started it, but hoping for the best
My Vanishing Country- listening to this memoir. It's good, but audiobooks aren't really been grabbing my attention
QotW:
I actually had a decent reading month in March-even though I did read a few terrible books mixed in there. I think my favorite was The Warm Hands of Ghosts, but The Jasad Heir and How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures were pretty close too!
Hi all! Dreary few days here in NY. Not much fun for a kiddo on spring break, but we're managing. This weekend is her family birthday party, so I've been trying to get her to pick up some of her things, with limited success... She and I watched the new Disney movie, Wish. Plot was pretty flimsy, but the songs were good.
I finished a book! Burying Water I picked it up looking for a light romance novel (which I almost never read). Yeahhh... not so much. There's loads of abuse in this book, but by the time I realized that, I was already hooked. I'm using for a book where a character sleeps for more than 24 hours. It would also work for 24 year old (main male character), 42 year old (bad guy), and several ATY prompts, too.
Other than that, I read a smidge more in Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution and The Brothers Karamazov. I think I will shift my focus back to Hanging Mary.
QOTW: My best book (of 2 that I finished in March) was Floodpath: The Deadliest Man-Made Disaster of 20th-Century America and the Making of Modern Los Angeles. I found the science and engineering parts fascinating, but I'm a nerd like that! :)
Happy Thursday, y’all. Not much to report. I am spending my time trying to get all those library books read and returned before my trip. Currently I have 3 not yet started and 3 in progress with 12 days to go. Since I will be finishing one today and, I hope 2 more this weekend, I should manage to clear my desk of all easily.
Once that is done, I will work on books I own.
Finished:
Bundori – PS #30 (single word title w/meaning unknown). Bundori means a war trophy. 4*. Set in China. Continuation of a series.
World After – PAS. 4*. Part #2 of a fantasy thriller series with angels and the apocalypse. Very engaging.
Gaudy Night – Ebook. ATY #13. 4*. Classic Dorothy Sayers.
The Map of Salt and Stars – ATY #14. 3*. Liked the way the two disparate parts (several hundreds of years apart) mirrored each other...and the ending.
A Crafter Knits a Clue– ATY #15. 4*. Cozy mystery.
Cinnamon and Gunpowder - PS #6 (Pirates). 4*. Enjoyed this story of a female pirate with a mission and a captured chef.
Currently Reading:
Fireworks – PS #5 (K-pop). 3%
The Cat Who Played Post Office - ATY #16. 51%
Among the Mad - ALCM. Continuation of a series. 34%
Just Starting:
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas – PS #47 (24 letter in title). 1%
Code Name Hélène – ATY #17. Will start this weekend.
On Deck:
Dead Dead Girls – ALCM
PS 9/50
ATY 15/52
GR 62/200
QotW: What's the best book you read this March?
Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission. I gave it 4.5*.
Its genres of War, WWII (really burnt out on this genre), and Military History are not ones that I particularly enjoy. And History and Nonfiction are usually only in particular areas of interest that I like to learn about. And, yet, this true story of rescue and battle in WWII was so well written that this story almost got a coveted 5* from me. It is a book that I can recommend about a group of forgotten men and those who saved them.
I particularly liked the way the writer wrote about how the cultures of the Japanese and Americans influenced their behaviour and misunderstanding of each other.
Greetings from NYC! Had some drama on the street outside my window last night. The weather has been rain, rain and more rain, ending last night with powerful high winds that made me happy to be inside. Suddenly I hear wood cracking and a slow crash to the ground. It's late and very dark - nothing to be seen in the streetlights on my side of the street or in the street. Everything looks normal - but it's really dark so can't see much. No human noises or screams, no car alarms going off (happens when anything hits a car here), and it reminded me of a sidewalk shed collapsing from the high winds. I shrugged and promptly forget about it. My day started early and was non-stop meetings, crisis, zooms until early afternoon when I suddenly thought to look outside again to see if I could see anything that could explain what I heard last night. This is what I saw - wind snapped it like a toothpick!
Now to books. PS 28/50 ATY - 42/52
Finished:
Dragon Actually - PS dragons ATY air - flying dragons and air battles.
Of Manners and Murder - PS - MC is 24
Crooked Kingdom - PS pirates, ATY boats, bars (the Jimmy Buffet one)
Currently Reading:
The Silence of the Girls
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice and London
Clean Sweep
QOTW: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - she created a complex, exciting, interesting conclusion to her duology that built on and expanded the first, Six of Crows yet still brought it to a satisfying conclusion.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - captured the period perfectly, delivering a great story, great characters human and animal, and one of the best dual timelines ever.
Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes - WWII era - written during the war an these are each a little gem - funny, touching, bittersweet, sad.
Well ... I bought some books. They’re actually short stories not available at libraries. I’ve really loved the Wayward Children and Shady Hollow series this year, so I decided to buy all of the short stories set between the books while I wait for the next in the series. I plan to read them next weekend during Dewey’s Readathon when I need a break from the novels I’ve picked out. Finished
The Color Purple (a book by a blind or visually impaired author). This was a difficult story, but excellent.
Reading
The Four Million (a book by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person).
X (a book that starts with the letter X).
Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea (a book with at least 3 POVs).
QOTW
Murder Road by Simone St. James. It’s one of my favorites by her, along with The Sun Down Motel and The Haunting of Maddy Clare.
Finished a few books in spite of it being a seriously weird week.I read
by Jana Denardo for 37. A book written during NaNoWriMo. I know a lot of people are struggling with this prompt. This book was a fun paranormal LGBT romance (so it could be read for that too) set in the beautiful Hocking HIlls of Ohio. Lots of fun ghost hunting detail by an author engaged in that activity.
by Carolyn Haine (21. A book that came out in a year that ends with "24") It'll be out in May. I asked for this arc because I do a 50 state challenge and Mississippi is hard and in spite of being book 27 in a series I've never read this was fun. 
a lesbian fantasy romance for the YA graphic novel loving crowd. It was cute.QOTW
The above mentioned
by Jana Denardo was a ton of fun (I like ghosts)
by Amanda Flower was a good historical mystery centering on Emily Dickinson
by Paige Shelton was another good mystery set in Scotland
Happy check-in! It's been spring here and so nice to go out for walks again. I had a great reading week too.Finished Reading:
Xingu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS x title)
I loved this so I'm going to use it for the x title even though it's a short story. This follows a book club meeting where the author shows up to answer questions and it's funny.
Once & Future, Vol. 4: Monarchies in the UK ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A good retelling idea but the characters are what make this so great.
Odd and the Frost Giants ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just wanted some more Norse Mythology and the audiobook was available. Gaimen is a good narrator for his books.
Harold and the Purple Crayon ⭐⭐⭐
Cute picture book that the idea still works.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics ⭐⭐⭐ (PS rock n roll memoir)
I listened to the audiobook which was good because there are little snippets of each song before she talks about it. I don't know how this would read in book format. Anyway I wanted to listen to the music more than the awkward interview.
What Feasts at Night ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY related to night)
A little boring so I was disappointed.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! ⭐⭐⭐
Realized I hadn't read this Seuss book so I changed that.
The Fake Mate ⭐⭐
Irksome rom-com. Two intelligent doctors being dumb to make the plot happen. It also wrapped everything up quickly and unbelievably for me.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series makes me happy and want to play video games.
Oedipus Trilogy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Mediterranean)
Oedipus Rex I liked the least. Antigone was my favourite.
PS 26/50
ATY 26/52
Goodreads 85/150
QOTW:
I have to pick two: Homegoing and A Fate Inked in Blood.
A little bit of a late check in for me, I worked both jobs today while still bouncing back from a cold my son gave me. We had a really fun Easter despite getting sick right after. Finished:
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories
For a title that’s a complete sentence. I’m pretty sure I read this in high school before I was really familiar with Flannery O’Connor, but revisiting this was a fun reminder why I enjoy her writing so much. It’s always a huge culture shock lol. Have you guys seen that Ethan Hawke directed a movie about O’Connor starring Maya Hawke that’s coming out next month? I also saw that Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son is in the movie. I don’t often get that excited about movies but I’m very excited about this one.
What Feasts at Night For a book by a self published author. I don’t think I liked this nearly as much as the first. It just wasn’t as unsettling but I still enjoyed the creepy vibes, revisiting characters I enjoyed, and visiting Easton’s home country.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories
The Little Prince
Project Hail Mary
QOTW:
Hmm Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow probably was the book I most enjoyed reading last month.
Challenges:
Popsugar - 9/45; 1/5
Read Harder - 10/24
Classics - 2/12
European Tour - 4/10
12 Friends - 8/12
Yearly Goal - 57/150
Hey everyone, meant to post yesterday, but got busy with other things.So far things are okay. Easter was fun. My sister and her family stayed with us for a week so that was cool.
Other than that I'm not doing much.
*****
My Book News:
- Hard to believe we're nearing the end of the first week of April already! I've got my TBR for the month set. I like making them even if I don't always stick to them.
- Currently, my reading projects consist of scanning my books into the libib database. I've been using my book scanner so that's been fun. As of this post I've scanned 605 books and that's with only one room. I still have all of the books in my bedroom to scan.
- Came across a new-to-me series. It's called The Three-Body Problem . I don't read sci-fi, let alone hard sci-fi, but I saw an article about the Netflix adaptation which lead to the book so I got curious. Watched the first episode, but then I figure I'll read the book before I finish the rest of it. It seems like something I would be interested so I figured what the heck.
*****
Currently Reading:
Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs - This is a BOTM for a couple of groups I'm in. I've started chapter 2 and I am really loving this book.
The Three-Body Problem
*****
QOTW:
What's the best book you read this March?
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents - I cannot praise this book enough! I had tried reading it in the past, but always struggled with it given the themes. I saw the movie adaptation 'Origin' and it actually helped me understand the book so much better. Best book I've read not only in March, but all year too.
Mod
Wow! I had not heard! I love Ethan Hawke & Maya Hawke & PSH (although I didn't even know he had a son) so I'm interested!!
I think Maya Hawke looks more like her dad. My daughters think she looks more like her mom. What do you think?
Nadine in NY wrote: "I think Maya Hawke looks more like her dad. My daughters think she looks more like her mom. What do you think?..."I recently watch a film with her and her and Uma in and I didn't think they looked much alike at all.
Ashley Marie wrote: "The Berlin Stories - continuing my obsession with Cabaret by going back to the source material! My dad bought me the ebook last year and the first story, Mr Norris Changes Trains, is excellent so far..."I'm not a fan of Cabaret (I had to watch it for a college class and have often wondered if I should revisit it and see if my opinion might change), but I enjoyed both of those books! Mr. Norris was the better one, imo, but both were good.
Yay, it's Friday! I see there are some fellow baseball fans in the group. I was never really a sports fan, but when my husband was very sick for a few years watching baseball was a comfort for him. I used to just read while he watched, so it was perfect. But somehow now I am more invested in the games than he is. How does that happen?Finished:
The Mummy Case for published under a pen name. This was fun. I do find the completely unrealistically precocious child annoying though.
The Blind Assassin for book that was published 24 years ago. This was just OK.
Sweet Bean Paste
Currently reading:
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
The Berlin Stories I was going to read just Goodbye to Berlin that Cabaret is based on. But then Ashley Marie has me rethinking and wanting to read Mr. Norris Changes Trains.
Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years I cannot wait to be done with this. As someone else said earlier, poetry collections are just not for me.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts on audio.
Also, I think Erica has convinced me to read Xingu for starts with X. Apparently, I am very suggestible today.
QOTW:
The best book I finished in March was David Copperfield (it actually took like 4 months to read), with an honorable mention to Monstrilio.
Milena wrote: Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years I cannot wait to be done with this. As someone else said earlier, poetry collections are just not for me.That's too bad. Yeah, sometimes poetry isn't for everyone. At least you tried though right?
I might pull out my copy of this because it is poetry month and I just love poetry in general. This is is one of my favorite Joy Harjo books.
Also thinking of reading Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry which is another great anthology of Indigenous poems.
Ron wrote: "Milena wrote: Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years I cannot wait to be done with this. As someone else said earlier, poetry collections are just not for me.That's too b..."
I feel so bad for not liking it more. I thought reading a poem a day would help, but it doesn't seem like it has. I am just not the right audience for poetry.
Milena wrote: I feel so bad for not liking it more. I thought reading a poem a day would help, but it doesn't seem like it has. I am just not the right audience for poetry.That's okay. You should at least feel some pride in that you attempted it. I know people struggle with poetry so it couldn't have been easy. The important thing is you tried something different so that matters.
Did any of our downstate (NYC area) friends feel the earthquake this morning? Nothing up here in central NY.
Poetry's not really my thing either, but recently I read Above Ground by Clint Smith. He's the author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America. Some of the poetry is about being Black in America, now and in the past, but most of it is about his family and the joys of being a father. His poetry is conversational, not convoluted or overly complicated.
Jennifer W wrote: "Did any of our downstate (NYC area) friends feel the earthquake this morning? Nothing up here in central NY."I felt it on Long Island. Very scary. All OK though.
Afternoon, all.I got two more promopts ticked off this week.
I read Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day for 28. MC who's 42 years old, as it kindly mentions her age in the first chapter. Started well, but somewhere around two-thirds through, she did something so annoyingly stupid that it was a struggle to finish the book. Still, it was a prompt I had no idea what I was use, so that was good. 2*
And today I've finished Hearing God in Poetry: Fifty Poems for Lent and Easter, collected by Richard Harries, who also wrote mini-biographies of the poets included. Probably not a bit surprise, but I've used that one for 48. A collection of at least 24 poems My original plan was to read the Amanda Gorman collection, but this came up as a recommendation for Lent and Easter, so I went for this instead.
PS Basic: 11/45
PS Advanced: 3/5
PS Total: 14/50
My ATY didn't get much further, and is now on 29/52.
QotW. What's the best book you read this March?
My best book by far in March was La Vie: A Year In Rural France, which was my first 5* since the end of January. With so much doom and gloom going on in the world, sometimes you just need to read something gentle, and this book - part nature book, part memoir, and part just about French life in the country - really hit the spot.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Marie wrote: "It's been a quiet week for me. Completed
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..."
The author does delve into strategy for a lot of the games, including Tic-Tac-Toe and Monopoly. It can get a little heavy on the math (but the heaviest parts are boxed off separately so you can skip them if you want).
As far as winning Tic-Tac-Toe, yes, I do know how to win. But, as he says in the book, if your opponent also knows how it will almost always end in a tie.
Monopoly properties that you're more likely to land on (which he discusses in the book) are worth more. They're generally cheaper, which means you can buy them and have future money to build them up, therefore costing the other players more over time.
It was a really interesting read!
Mod
I watched the first episode, too!! It was good, but I was a little disappointed that they set it in London instead of China. The focus on the countdown confused me because that's not how the book starts (at least not in my memory), and I didn't think they made it clear enough right away that Rosalind Chao's character was the same Ye Wenjie seen in flashbacks. I knew because I'd read the book - otherwise I might not have paid any attention to Chao (except that I'd recognize her from Star Trek of course)
Casting Benedict Wong as Detective Shi was brilliant casting, however.
The book is DENSE and I'm not sure how they are going to fit all that into just 8 episodes. Maybe season 1 won't cover the entire first book.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Ron wrote: "- Came across a new-to-me series. It's called The Three-Body Problem . I don't read sci-fi, let alone hard sci-fi, but I saw an article about the Netflix adaptation which lead to the bo..."I'm still working my way through the series (currently halfway through ep 7), and it's been interesting seeing what they chose to adapt and how (though it's been a few years since I read the books, so I've likely forgotten a lot of things, too). I got a major "Aha!" moment when I realized what they were doing with a character in ep 3 or 4 (but that's all I'll say about that).
Mod
Completed
Around the World in Eighty Games: From Tarot to Tic-Tac-Toe, Catan to Chutes and Ladders, a Mathematician Unlocks the S..."
That all sounds really interesting!! I definitely want to read this book now
Mod
After I posted that I did some googling, and it looks like season 1 really will cover the full first book, with plans for season 2 to be the second book and seasons 3 & 4 to be the third book. IF Netflix does not cancel it of course. They have a really bad track record. From what I remember ,the third book in particular will be expensive to film with all the special effects needed, so I won't be shocked if Netflix drops the ball. Again. Because they exist to hurt me.
Two week check in, since I missed last week due to long weekend travels.Finished
XOXO For my X book. Reading this, all I could think was "I am not the demographic for this - too old". I still read a fair amount of YA so I don't know why this book particularly struck me as being too juvenile for my reading tastes, but it did. However, despite that I enjoyed it enough that I plan to continue on and read ASAP for my K-Pop book.
Call Us What We Carry: Poems For the poetry collection prompt. All my thoughts (well, some of them) are in the discussion thread.
Some Desperate Glory Not for a prompt. Picked this up on a whim and fell right into it. Despite a pretty unlikeable MC (hey, she's been raised in a fascist society and brainwashed by it's beliefs) I wanted her to make better choices and end up in a good place.
The Contortionist's Handbook Not for a prompt, but trying to clear off some of the most-dated stuff from my TBR. Interesting, how this guy managed to create so many identities for himself, and just switch from one to the next. Would love to know if an update version is possible, or if the much more digital age we live in would curtail his methods.
Deadly Class, Volume 6: This is Not the End Not for a prompt. On every volume of this since about #3, I start to think as I'm reading that maybe I'm done with the series, and then something happens right at the end that hooks me back in. And now, halfway through, I figure I'm committed.
Starter Villain Not for a prompt. Another on-a-whim pickup (it's that front shelf in the library, I can't walk past it without checking out what's on display!), but less successful than Some Desperate Glory for me. Perfectly amusing as I was reading it, but nothing substantial to it that will stick in my mind.
The Lost Girls of Paris No PS prompt, but used for ATY's historical fiction. I couldn't with this book. Not only does it use the insta-love trope, but based on that the MC made truly horrific and idiotic decisions that I just couldn't accept. (view spoiler)
Currently Reading
Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone
The Blue Sword
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
QotW
I read three fantastic books in March - Some Desperate Glory, discussed above, Land of Milk and Honey and Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World. Sadly, none of them were for PS prompts - two were random library picks, and the third was for book club. Doppelganger is the one I'd recommend most. I really enjoyed it when I read it, and then keep thinking about it. And then last weekend, my book club did our discussion on it, and after that, I went out and bought a copy so I'd have one to keep and return to.
Makes me question my challenge reading a bit. I do enjoy doing it but if the books I'd pick on my own are more enjoyable for me, is it serving a purpose?
Happy Friday!I came home from Disney yesterday and then had to deal with my mysterious stomach cramps so I was in hell for 8 hours, go through the shit ton of photos I took from the hotel, clean up water from Zira knocking over the water bowl. twice.
And now I'm sitting here with a fever and a tissue stuck up my nose. Google tells me it's 'sinusitis' in English. Coughing my lungs out, too, so that's been fun. Can't get the nasal spray into one of my nostrils as it is 100% blocked so yay?
The trip was amazing, though. We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel, which is newly refurbished. Last time I stayed there was in October 2008. Next time is approximately never. It's so expensive; we only did one night now to experience it and the restaurants. Which, were amazing. The second night we at La Table de Lumière and WOW. Food not only looked stunning and fancy, it was delicious, too! So now I'll forever be sad to not be able to go back there, haha!
Tried to work on my puzzle today and gave up after 80 minutes. My entire face and body were hurting and I've reached the tough parts so it wasn't fun. Another day tomorrow!
Watched
Only 6 episodes left of Shameless!
Played
I finished Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy!
Read
Started a 310k fic, so been working away at that!
QOTW
I mean that long ass fic I read was great, haha!
Hi all,I am so tired...rough night last night. Nobody but the dog got a good night's sleep.
Finished:
The Skull: what a great creepy little picture book. 5 stars
Strange Practice: what if all varieties of supernatural people were real and needed routine medical care? enter Dr. Helsing. fun urban fantasy / thriller. 4 stars.
Requiem for a Mezzo: still enjoying this series of 1920s murder mysteries. 3 stars
QOTW
My favorite of March was a reread, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Agatha Christie's tough to beat.
Nadine in NY wrote: "I watched the first episode, too!! It was good, but I was a little disappointed that they set it in London instead of China. ..."I think they released a Chinese version last year- I've seen it on Viki, but haven't watched it since I haven't read the books yet. So if you all finish the Netflix one and want more, there's 30 episodes still to watch!
I realized both the books I'm reading feel very heavy, so since it's my bday weekend, I've decided to pick up some pure fluff- so now I'm reading Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny!
Just a quick check-in for me this week. I finished four books since the last check-in, one of which worked for an open prompt. I'm now at 7/45 and 2/5 for this challenge, and 21/100 for my Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen;
* Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen;
* Oddball by Sarah Andersen; and,
* Much Ado about Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin, which I used for "a second-chance romance." I'm not sure if it's a perfect fit for that category, but I figured it was close enough.
Currently Reading:
* The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim, which I hope to finish over the weekend;
* Careless Love by Peter Robinson, which is a NetGalley backlist book;
* Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and narrated by Helen Laser, which I should finish tonight. It's one of my book clubs' picks for April. I'm really enjoying the audiobook version; and,
* Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González, which I checked out on a whim as a Libby Lucky Day pick.
QotW:
What's the best book you read this March? My favorite read from March was Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, which was a book club pick. We all loved it and had an excellent discussion. Highly recommend!
Happy Friday!I’ve been so busy the last couple of days that this is the first time I’ve had to check in.
We’ve had snow and hail the last two days. The low is in the 20s and the high only 41 or so. By the end of this coming week it will be in the 70s and then drop back into the 50s. Got to love the fluctuating temperatures and weather!
I got to see my niece and nephew twice this week. We got to babysit them for a couple of hours while my sister and bro in law went his dad's retirement party. They are so freaking adorable 😊!
Goodreads challenge 243/400
QOTW
I didn’t have a favorite this month. I’ve enjoyed many books but no five stars.
Happy Friday. I've been struggling to focus on reading the last few weeks, and this week, I finally just gave in and started reading what I actually felt like, instead of what I needed to read for challenges/ library holds (I did want to read those books eventually, just I was in the mood for a different book). And suddenly I can focus again. Stats:
PS: 18/50
ATY: 27/52
ATY Rejects: 7/25
ATY Rewind: 12/25
DBC: 21/36
GR Choice: 10/30
TBR: 6/10
Books I Finished:
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI ⭐⭐⭐
ATY: 13. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists. (I used a wildcard to replace the 5 books list with this prompt)
I thought this was even better than The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, but given the subject matter, I did need to take many breaks while reading.
Sebastian ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've been wanting to reread this ever since I read The Lady in Glass and Other Stories, so I finally stopped fighting the urge and just read it.
The Battle of the Labyrinth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATY: 33. A book involving travel.
I'm really enjoying this series.
Wandering Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐(I rate on emotional response, and given the subject matter, I can't give it a 5.)
ATY Rewind: 15. A book by an author you've only read once before.
So I've already got a contender for best book of the month. This was another book I was putting off for other books that fit harder prompts. And I didn't realize that this is basically a sequel to There There. It was heartbreaking in a way, but so so good.
In Progress:
The Prisoner’s Throne
Belladonna
QotW
Well, I had a lot of good books in March, and no duds, but nothing really stood out. But I went with The Innkeeper Chronicles which is the graphic novel version of Clean Sweep, well the first half. Book 2 is out this fall.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Cat Who Saved Books (other topics)In the Lives of Puppets (other topics)
I Want to Be Spaghetti! (other topics)
Whose Body? (other topics)
The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Eric Ozawa (other topics)Rachel Joyce (other topics)
Travis Baldree (other topics)
Nita Prose (other topics)
Liu Cixin (other topics)
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Lynn is busy helping her friend and asked me to get this week's post started.
We've had lots of rain this week (and now it's snowing) so my dog walks have been curtailed. I haven't walked them since Monday! They understand though - they know the weather is crappy and they don't' want to be out there any more than I do.
Admin stuff
April's group read has started and discussion is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
The final poll to choose the June book will run one more week, vote here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
This was not a great reading week for me. I finished two books, and I didn't particularly like either one, and neither one filled any challenge categories. At least I'm done with them now and can move on to (hopefully) better things.
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Díaz - this is the second collection I've read from Diaz, and I just don't get the hype. This won a Pulitzer, which is usually a sign that I'll enjoy it, but not this time.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride - omg this was so long and I really really did not like it.
Popsugar 60% 30 /50
Must Reads 60% 6 /10
AtY 52% 27 /52
Question of the Week
What's the best book you read this March?
I didn't read very many books last month so I don't' have many to pick from! I think I'd pick Frenchman's Creek. It was filled with such a beautiful sense of place, so many descriptions of the landscape and shorebirds and ocean, plus a passionate yet doomed love story!