Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
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2017 Weekly checkins
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Week 29: 7/14 – 7/20
Mod
I had angst when I saw last year's "I finished" post and realized that last year I finished on July 19th! But last year was not 52 categories, so I'm not moving any slower. Phew!
books I finished:
The Burning World, a new sequel to Warm Bodies, which is a book that did NOT need a sequel. Reading the published sequel did not change my mind on that at all. It's a good enough book, but I was frustrated because the original story felt perfect, and now it feels bloated.
Born to Run a memoir from Bruce Springsteen - Juanita was right! This is a fantastic audiobook! I really loved listening to it (and I'm not even a Springsteen fan).
1984, a re-read for me. Last year I realized that sometimes there is value in re-reading! So I decided to re-read a few books each year. Last time I read this book, 1984 was still a future date! It was just as powerful this time around.
The Selection by Kiera Cass - a fun and fluffy YA book; I thought this was a Cinderella re-telling (and it sort of is), but it's more like a YA re-telling of The Bachelor TV show. I've never watched that show, but I did enjoy this book.
Life on Mars a book of poetry by the new USA poet laureate, Tracy K. Smith - I read quite a bit of poetry, and this one felt different, it had a lot of pop-culture references (which may be obvious from the title: she references David Bowie, sci-fi, and science) but it's not "pop-culture-y " if that makes sense.
books I DNFed
I had a terrible audiobook week after I finished Born to Run! I DNFed:
The Night Circus (Jim Dale is NOT for me, plus I hated the story; when I started to feel like screaming instead of listening, I knew I had to DNF.)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (I really wanted Flavia's sisters to tie her up in the attic again and make sure she couldn't get out. Ever. Also, I did not like Entwistle's reading)
I've Got Your Number (I'm not a chick lit fan, but I'd read that this is a fun audiobook. Unbelievably, it was Entwistle again. Nope, not for me! )
So, I currently have NO audiobook!!! I'm actually (gasp!) listening to music in my car now!! I have a Walter Mosley book read by Don Cheadle on hold ... Don Cheadle will not fail me!!!!
QOTW
Um? I was hoping someone else would pop in with one while I was typing!
Have we talked about this one already? Since it's relevant to my week: who are some of your favorite audiobook readers?
For me:
Robert Glenister (The Cuckoo's Calling)
Jeremy Irons (Lolita)
Will Patton (Jesus' Son)
It's just a coincidence, I think, that it's all men.
Last week I was close to finishing a book during check in but I didn't actually finish until Thursday night. It was The Siren. It was enjoyable - read for the mythical creature. I finished Velveteen for my nonhuman perspective (the MC is in purgatory). This was a mix of The Lovely Bones meets Odd Thomas. I can't really say that I enjoyed this book. I think the idea was great but the execution was just not done well. Too many side stories and the main plot line wasn't developed very well.
Currently reading/listening to You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Life-Changing Lessons from Heaven and this will be my subtitle book. I'm enjoying it so far but I want to read it kind of slow to pick up on all the little lessons and advice.
25/40 and 6/12
My question for everyone is: Have you ever participated in a read-a-thon? Some I've heard of is the read for 24 hours out of a 48 hour period, the booktube-a-thon, Dewey's 24 hour readathon, Bout of Books, 7in7 (read 7 things in 7 days). Some of them have challenges, some of them are relaxed, all of them promote reading.
I'm planning on participating in the booktube-a-thon next week where there are 7 tasks to complete and they have some different challenges set.
Answer to Nadine's question - I like when the author provides the audio to their own book!
Still slow going for me, but I'm forcing my way through. I managed to finish one book this week, at least, which puts me at 40/52 (34/40 and 6/12). But I'm ready to be finished with this challenge so that I can just read whatever I want, which considering that I am ahead of my goal I could probably do, but two things keep me from doing that:1) I need to finish this task. I want to finish this task. It's hard for me to deviate from that goal.
2) I keep thinking: what if [this book I want to read] is perfect for a category for next year? Haha.
Completed
44. A book that takes place over a character's life span:
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
A friend recommended this to me, which is always scary because what if I don't like it? (And I'm often pretty tepid on books other people want me to read). But Lamb was funny without--I thought--being irreverent. I didn't LOVE it, but it was amusing. It's a bit of a stretch for the category, but it did cover most of Jesus' life. And I'm not going to lose any sleep over slotting it in here.
In Progress
42. A bestseller from 2016: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I'm over halfway on this. Not sure what to think about it yet, but it seems scarily relevant for today.
40. A book you bought on a trip: California: A History by Kevin Starr
Still nothing to report on this. Trying to get through the library books before they're due, so no fault of this book, which is really good so far. I'll be picking it up again while I wait between library books.
Questions of the Week?
I have never participated in a read-a-thon but they've always sounded interesting.
Nadine, you hated Jim Dale? Gasp! My only experience with him is Harry Potter, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I can't speak for any of his other work.
As for others, I really enjoyed Robert Glenister's performance of The Cuckoo's Calling and Juliette Stevenson'sEmma.
I have never had a good experience where the author does the audiobook for their book, and this includes Neil Gaiman. (I'm sorry!)
Angie wrote: I have never had a good experience where the author does the audiobook for their book ..."I should have been more specific - I like when the author reads their own work in nonfiction - such as The Magnolia Story, Tyler Oakley, Mindy Kaling, Leah Remini, Amy Poehler...
:)
Good Morning!This week I finished 4 books (2 audio/2 ebook).
The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt for the "Book set in a hotel" prompt.
John Dies at the End by David Wong for the "Book from a genre/subgenre you've never heard of" (Bizarro Fiction)
This brings me to 40/42 and 9(10?)/12 on the advanced. The question mark is for double dipping on a title, I'm trying not to do that.
Non-prompt:
The Natural by Bernard Malamud
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Both of my prompt books were difficult in that they we kind of all over the place. The Natural was a prompt for another challenge and I was expecting differences from the movie, but they TOTALLY massacred the book for the movie. The book is not a "feel good" book, at all. Rosemary and Rue I read because everyone seems to LOVE Seanan McGuire, and Goodreads keeps pushing it on my like a crack dealer. They were all correct! I really liked it and I've found ANOTHER series to devour.
ETA: QOTW - I like James Marsters and Davina Porter when they read books. Amazing.
Bonjour,I have nothing to report also. Still reading Winter of the World, a long book (almost 970 pages) that will fill no prompt. But it's a good one. And I have 2 others from the library that will fit no prompt also: Code Name Verity and Norse Mythology. It's vacation from the challenge for me.
QOTW: I can't really name any favorite reader. I don't listen to a lot of audiobooks and when I do, it's only in french.
Never participate in a read-a-thon too.
Hello from Cleveland, where I'm slowly melting. My car said it was 83* when I driving to work at 8:30. Thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon, so I'm hoping it cools down. If it doesn't, my cat is probably going to murder me.The first book I finished this week was The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild for a book set in the wilderness. A little bit took place in various Alaska towns, but the meat is in the wilderness, so I feel like it's close enough. It's a memoir of how the author and his photographer friend from Japan he met through guiding searched for the elusive "blue" bear together (a type of black bear that looks way more gray than blue.) The author had some beautiful nature passages, but I think a better tribute would've been a nice magazine article. There was a ton of padding about his early life and his boat (ugh, I kept hoping for that damn thing to sink or something) and random nature facts.
It also got on my nerves because, while he said some very feminist things, he made lots of misogynistic comments. Like, dudebro, maybe the woman at the bar you're talking to is smiling because she's friendly or happy or just feels like smiling, not because she knows how it commands the attention of men. Ick. It was also weird because he presented himself as a poor but hard-working Alaskan, but the dedication implied his parents were still providing substantial support to him as an adult. Nothing wrong with that, but it was sort disingenuous. He also wrote out a lot of his Japanese friend's English dialogue with its phonetic errors. His friend sounded like the type of guy that would laugh at this, but it was a little too racist for me to feel comfortable with it.
The second book I finished was Three Souls for a book from a non-human perspective. (The MC is a ghost.) She is looking back on her life in pre-WWII China trying to figure out how to make amends to ascend to the afterlife, and while the idea was awesome, the execution left something to be desired. I was hovering between 3* and 4* the whole time, but I went with 3* after the weird ending. I can't explain without spoiling, but let's say "process x" had already happened several times with certain defined rules and when it happened the final time, you're led to believe it followed those rules...until it was convenient to the plot it didn't, but you're only told this, and not shown when it happens. I don't care what rules your ghosts have to follow, but please keep it consistent!
Q(s)OTW: Relevant to the audiobook question, Emily Woo Zeller was horrible at men's voices, but I could get through it because she did the main character just fine. I love Edward Herrmann (I've listened to Unbroken and Boys in the Boat by him) and Gildart Jackson - everything he reads sounds so snarky and hilarious. I also enjoy memoirs narrated by the author, and I try to seek out audiobook versions when there's going to be a lot of foreign words, especially Asian languages, or a heavy phonetic patois that someone can bring to life for me.
I'm planning to do the 24in48 Readthon this weekend! Will anyone else be participating?
Week 29 - 34/40 & 10/12 (44/52)Didn't do as well this week, as last week, but still making progress.
Still reading The Tin Snail by Cameron McAllister with my son for prompt #28, a novel set during war time. We only get to read a chapter or two a night, so it is slow-going, but we're enjoying it.
Started and finished The Boy Who Carried Bricks: A True Story by Alton Carter. I was originally going to use this for prompt #11 on the advanced challenge, a book about a difficult topic, but I had quite a few possibilities on the list for that prompt that I still want to read. As I was reading it, I saw that there were some illustrations in the book. There weren't many, maybe five throughout, but I figured that could still work for prompt #30, a book with pictures. Now I can still read another book for the difficult topic & I have my book with pictures (I was struggling to find one that wasn't a coffee table-type book) out of the way.
I started and DNFed Two Birds in a Tree: Timeless Indian Wisdom for Business Leaders by Ram Nidumolu for prompt #20, a book with career advice. I think it's probably a good book for business leaders, but I'm completely the opposite of a business-minded person and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I guess I'll just wait until it's my turn for the audiobook of Bossypants by Tina Fey from my library on Overdrive & go with that.
Also, just started Protocol One by Nathan A. Goodman for prompt #9, an espionage thriller. It's good enough, I guess, but it's more a novella than a novel, so I feel like things are being rushed through with not a lot of plot development. I mean, things are happening, but there is no real detail to give us a sense of the story. It's okay, and I'll probably finish it tonight or tomorrow, but I can't say that I'm invested in it at all.
QOTW:
I have to agree with Angie - I love Jim Dale! Like her, I think I've only experienced him with the Harry Potter audiobooks, but I loved the books and he just made the audiobooks even better, in my opinion. I also thought Wil Wheaton reading Ready Player One was fantastic, and really enjoyed listening to Bahni Turpin reading The Underground Railroad. I would like to hear more audiobooks read by her.
I have never participated in a read-a-thon. I'm interested in the concept, but it doesn't seem like I'm at a good place in my life for those right now. I work full-time and have a husband and son at home, so there isn't as much time to read as I would like. I think if I tried to do a read-a-thon right now, I would just get discouraged. I would love to do them when my son is older and either busy with activities or off at college, but while he's home now (he's just 9, so we have a while), I want to enjoy my time with him, because I know he'll be too busy for Mom before I know it!
Mod
Hello from Columbus! Nothing to report this week, sadly. I've been busy helping my mom go through my grandma's and get things organized for a wake this weekend. I have started a few things so hopefully I'll finish something this coming week. 33/40; 4/12 with 50 books read
QOTW: I really thought Wayne June had the perfect voice to be narrating H.P. Lovecraft stories. I also particularly enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling audiobook. I can't really think of any one particular performance I didn't enjoy. I really like it when it's a full cast production, especially the American Gods full cast audiobook.
Good Morning!I have been so productive this week with the challenge, I'm actually pretty darn proud of myself.
18/40 (close to having 20 read before the end of July, which was my goal at the start of the month)
Finished this week:
The Handmaid's Tale for a book you bought on a trip (and that trip was a trip to the bookstore). I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The writing is amazing but I just don't know how I feel about it. That may be the point. I am interested in watching the show now to see how it transferred on screen.
Soulless for a steampunk novel. I had read over half the book last month when I got it through overdrive but waited so long to read it that my "check out" ran out of time before I could finish the last 100 pages. I finally got it back earlier this week and finished it in a night. I really enjoyed it. It's a fun, quick read. If you haven't read something for the steampunk prompt yet, I highly recommend this.
Jane Austen Ruined My Life for a book with a red spine. This wasn't my first choice for this prompt but I needed something lighter after finishing The Handmaid's Tale and I had checked this out from the library a couple of weeks ago.
Currently Reading:
Final Girls for a book by an author who uses a pseudonym. It was mentioned on one of the BookRiot podcasts, when they were talking about this book, that the author uses a pseudonym which works out perfectly because I really wanted to read this and hoped it would fit into some category.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for a book you loved as a child. I'm actually listening to this on audiobook and really enjoying it. I also forgot how horrible Edmund it. He's the worst!
QOTW: I really like when comedians read their books. Trevor Noah's audiobook for Born a Crime was great. I loved Neil Gaiman reading Norse Mythology as well.
I've also never done a read-a-thon. I'm a pretty slow reader for the most part and I probably wouldn't get more than a book read (depending on the length).
Good morning everyone from Arequipa Peru!! So I didn't finish any book this week but I am working on a couple of them. I started reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and it is a very slow read for me. I noticed some of you had the same thing happen to you so I am not worried. It is a very pleasant read so far but definitely slow.
Since I couldn't go forward rapidly I started reading also The Iliad by Homer. I have never read more than one book at the same time so this is a first and I thought I'd do it with some book I know. I love Greek mythology so I am familiar with it. So far so good.
QOTW: I am not used to audiobooks, in fact, I plan to have my first one for this challenge. Lots of good recommendations.
Have a nice week!!
Hi all,Vancouver is very, very dry. I think we are hoping for rain today.
I'm at 30/40.
I took a break from the challenge and read We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It was scary! Normal story, and then suddenly, it's terrifying. You can definitely use this for the unreliable narrator prompt.
I absolutely needed something lighter! I am dipping my toe into the advanced challenge, for the item you got a used book sale. It's The Next Best Thing. I generally like Jennifer Weiner, and I've also read Swim...the short story that inspired this novel.
I have been taking a break from the library, mostly reading my own stuff, or books borrowed from friends. I also got a Chapters gift card for my birthday (FUN)!
QOTW: Yeah, I don't do many audiobooks. They are not my thing. For the challenge, I did and Agatha Christie read by various actors -- and I enjoyed it. I'm going to think about more audiobooks, I should be more open-minded about this :). And, don't think I've done a read-a-thon? Maybe a small one in elementary school?..... this could have been a fundraiser.
Hello all from hot and steamy NYC. I have been keeping cool after work at various cultural activities [tonight is 'Hello Dolly' with the divine Bette Midler] so have little time to read. But I did finish one challenge read:Station Eleven - read as my book recommended by an author I love (George RR Martin who not only considers it the best of those published in 2014 but also one of the best books he ever read). I have to agree with George - what a glorious book! Loved it - the writing, the narrative style, the elegiac quality, the humor, everything.
That brings me to 34/52 - 26/40 & 8/12.
QOTW: What's a read-a-thon? As for favorite audiobook readers, I read so few I can't say I have any favorites except Jim Dale, who I already rhapsodized over.
I haven't checked in for the past two weeks- been busy at camp and nagging the kids to at least attempt a "summer schedule" when all they seem to do is glue their eyes to the TV. Since last I checked in I finished:
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
Just a nice cheesy YA book about girl spies.
Food: A Love Story
Hilarious and I could relate to most of it (I do, occasionally, enjoy seafood)
The Woman in Cabin 10
So I actually loved this book! It was the perfect blend of scary and intense- it might have been a little over the top but I really liked it.
Child of God
This book was disgusting! It drove me nuts with the lack of punctuation marks and no redeeming qualities. Since I took this one camping the only thing it was good for after reading it was killing bugs- and I killed a lot of them. I read this book for a "best seller from a genre you don't normal read" or something like that (I think it was recommended from my husband because of the author but come to find out he never actually read it) but I don't even know if it fits but I have to put it somewhere because it would be the only reason I would read a book like this.
Started:
Love in the Ruins
Weird- really weird....I am half way through. At this point I just wish the main character would stop saying/thinking "enclosed patio" over and over....if this is some kind of symbolism, please stop beating me over the head with it.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I don't know if I will reread the whole thing but I need a palate cleanser from that horrible Child of God and Harry Potter is my go to for that.
24/40 & 1/12
QoTW:
No read-a-thons for me- I don't believe I have really even heard of the concept but this is not the time in my life for one of those just yet.
I don't listen to enough audio books to judge. I did just get my MP3 player fixed and need to get back into running so hopefully I can listen to more of those. As much as I love Harry Potter, I can not put my finger on exactly what grates me about Jim Dale but I find him only tolerable. My favorite kids audio books are done for the Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus and the series read by Lana Quintal.
My husband's been sick all week - nothing serious, but he's been home creating more work for me and hence less reading time. Not My Father's Son - The Book Nerds Podcast hosts are crazy about Alan Cumming and highly recommended this. I enjoyed it and the family history was interesting but Cumming came across as a bit melodramatic to me. I slotted it into the 2015 challenge as based on a TV show but it would work for this year's challenges in the family member in title and difficult subjects prompts.
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories - I listened to these because I've run out of female comedians to listen to and Mindy Kaling's mentioned that she's good friends with BJ Novak. I enjoyed the stories and thought he was a great reader.
Rebuttal - This is one of the free summer audiobooks - it was entertaining enough and short, though some of the plot I found fairly unbelievable.
The Mothers - I read this for Book Riot's prompt of having all point of view characters be POC. I loved it. I found all of the characters interesting and I sympathized with Nadia. Really glad the challenge pushed me to read it sooner rather than later.
You're Never Weird on the Internet - I've owned this for ages and seeing her speak finally pushed me to prioritize it. I'm glad I did. I enjoy her quirky humour and it was interesting to hear about her developing The Guild, which I may seek out and actually watch. I used this as my book about an interesting woman.
I'm currently reading Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters and it's not particularly inspiring me to pick it up. It's fairly interesting but I've let it expire without finishing twice now. I only have a quarter left to push through, so hopefully it'll be done before the weekend. I think the problem is that it isn't what I was expecting it to be.
QOTW: I only recently started listening to audiobooks and even more recently started paying attention to who the narrator is. I've enjoyed listening to comedians read their own memoirs a lot. I liked Wil Wheaton as a reader. I also loved Edward Herrmann (especially since I'd just binge-watched Gilmore Girls). I also liked Kate Reading, though I've only listened to her once.
As for Readathons - I missed my time for them. I used to have the time to binge read and now I definitely don't. I could maybe participate if I mostly used audiobooks and threw myself into some major cleaning, perhaps, but otherwise my reading feels more snatched from the day, rather than luxuriated in for hours at a time.
Good morning, all! I've been away from home this week and haven't done as much reading as usual. It's only partly the travel that's to blame -- the other part is that I'm not enjoying the book I'm reading. I'm almost done now, so I'll list it this week so I don't have to deal with it again next week. :)
An Unnecessary Woman - It's actually very well written and filled with literary allusions (good if you like that!), but I'm getting awfully sick of this woman. I originally had planned to read it for the book about books prompt, but I've already filled that. It works for a prompt in another challenge, though.
QOTW: Looks like we now have two questions!
Audiobooks - I rarely listen to them because the narrators start to bother me. I listened to Xe Sands read The Transcriptionist and thought she was very good. I've been dreading the audiobook prompt, but it just occurred to me to look for another book she's narrated! Yay, so glad this came up!
Readathons - I have twice participated in a read-a-book-in-a-day event, if that counts.
Megan wrote: "Last week I was closing to finishing a book during check in but I didn't actually finish until Thursday night. It was The Siren. It was enjoyable - read for the mythical creature. ..."
Megan - I recommend taking a Challenge Vacation for 2 or 3 weeks then come back to it. You can catch up on all those non-challenge books that are teasing you from your TBR pile, then you come back refreshed and ready to knock off those last dozen books. In fact, you will probably shake up your selections for the prompts because while on Challenge Vacation you stumbled across some new intriguing options or you figured out something to read for a prompt giving you fits.
Ooh which gives me two ideas for QOTW:
1. Did you rethink some of your choices for challenge prompts after a Challenge Vacation? I sure did. My book about a person with a disability ended up being 1222 where detective is a paraplegic. Originally was thinking about The Memory Keeper's Daughter.
2. What prompt category or categories are giving you fits? Mine are book with career advice (function of advanced level in profession and my advanced age) and book that is two different time periods (my choice for this Hunger’s Brides: A Novel of the Baroque may end up by default as my book more than 800 pages because it is 1500 pages and a huge hardcover that I can only read at home, not good to read while commuting which is how I get most of my reading done.)
Good morning everybody! I only finished two books this week (and both of them are very short) but I did make a good amount of progress on Les Mis. The end is near! ish.
Weslandia: I remember loving this book as a kid. I was already like 9 or 10 when it came out, but I think a teacher read it to the class or something, and it really caught my imagination. This challenge prompted me to find it in the library and give it a reread. I was surprised at how small it seemed now compared to back then. Still excellent, just much shorter than I remembered.
The House on Mango Street : I read this thinking it would satisfy the prompt for a book about an immigrant or refugee, but the main characters aren't either. Oh well. I might stick it in for a book about a difficult topic.
QOTW: I don't care for audiobooks, and the one I read for the challenge did not change that. I would not recommend books narrated by Ari Fliakos.
2QOTW: I've never participated in a readathon. I probably could, with a little pre-planning, but I doubt I'll bother. I probably spend too much time reading as it is :)
Afternoon, all! Had a little bit of a slow week, think I'm kind of in a lull after finishing the challenge, haha.
Shadow Magic - I love Patricia Wrede, was excited that my library got this in. It was good, but it was an early book and I could kind of tell that. Even though this was her re-worked version, it wasn't as engaging as some of the others I've read by her.
Currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking which I should finish today. I think this book is proving that I just can't really do non-fiction, even when I like the subject. It's really interesting, and well written. But as I sit down to read I find myself picking up my phone and checking facebook, or poking at a facebook game instead of reading. Without plots, I have trouble staying focused, even if the subject is interesting.
Sara, since you mentioned liking personality stuff, it's a book you might find interesting. It goes down into both the biology and personality of the differences between extroverts and introverts and why introverts are important even in cultures that push the extroverted models of personality. I consider myself an intovert who has extroverted moments/ambivert who is on the introvert side of it, so I am finding it kind of validating.
I have 2 more digital library books out, and 3 holds available at my regular library so I really need to pick my reading up, haha. As is I had to turn my wifi off because Quiet expired yesterday evening.
QOTW:
I don't really like audiobooks, it's too hard to focus on them and I tend to miss important parts of the plot. Of the few I have listened to, I never made note of the readers. None of them were of the sort that made me change my opinion of audiobooks, where I felt the need to really be aware of who read them.
I've never participated in a readathon. I don't think it really appeals to me. If I'm on a lazy beach vacation I might spend a good portion of the day reading, but I feel like if I was participating in something where I HAD to spend a huge chunk of the day reading I'd get restless. Even on days I read a lot, I get up a lot to go get snacks, go for a walk, do some drawing, etc.
Sheri wrote: "Currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking which I should finish today...Sara, since you mentioned liking personality stuff, it's a book you might find interesting. It goes down into both the biology and personality of the differences between extroverts and introverts and why introverts are important even in cultures that push the extroverted models of personality. I consider myself an intovert who has extroverted moments/ambivert who is on the introvert side of it, so I am finding it kind of validating...."Yes! I've read it too :) Though I'm like you when reading nonfiction sometimes (easily distracted into doing other things) I did find her insights very interesting. I'm a pretty strong introvert myself. I enjoy my social time, but then I just want to crawl into a hole with my book and a cup of tea and just be in the quiet. I sure wish the corporate world knew what to do with us introverts :)
Hello, all, from the humid, blisteringly hot swamp that is currently Lawrence, Kansas! Finished
Nothing! A few library holds I'm excited about just came in, though, so maybe one of them will get me re-invested.
In Progress
- Heat Wave - I'm giving this one a try even though I DNF'd the first book in the series (see below). So far, I'm enjoying it! Using it for Around the Year's prompt of "a book published outside one of the 4 major publishers."
- Blood of Tyrants - I JUST started this, but I'm hoping it will be the book that breaks my reading slump! I'm so excited to read the last two books in this series :) I think I'm going to use it for Popsugar's "book involving a mythical creature."
DNF
-Whiteout - Maybe it's just me, but (view spoiler) Tough to come back from that little plot revelation, you know?
-You're the Only One I Can Tell This to: Women, Friendship, and the Power of Conversation - This was interesting in a lot of ways, but it made a lot of assertions that it provided no evidence to support.
I also moved The Mothers back to the TBR list - it's far too good to waste on a time when practically all reading is feeling like a slog.
QOTW: I listen to lots of audiobooks, and I make a point not to pick things that are really plot-heavy so that it's not an issue if I miss a little bit here and there. I've also participated in a couple of readathons and enjoyed them a lot.
Hello everyone! It's a beautiful day in sunny Nova Scotia! This week I finished Killers of the Flower Moon which was good but heartbreaking. I also made great progress on station 11 and received another book from the library. I'm at 28/50. I also made progress with my son and did a book involving travel (sort of lol I may have to switch that one) Cat's Night Out, a best seller from 2016 Waiting is so Hard by Mo Willems and a book of letters Dear Mrs LaRue. We're at 25/50.
QOTW
I hate audiobooks so I can't answer that question.
I have never participated in a readathon.
Sara wrote: "Yes! I've read it too :) Though I'm like you when reading nonfiction sometimes (easily distracted into doing other things) I did find her insights very interesting. I'm a pretty strong introvert myself. I enjoy my social time, but then I just want to crawl into a hole with my book and a cup of tea and just be in the quiet. I sure wish the corporate world knew what to do with us introverts :) I do web design as part of a small design firm. We dissolved our office something like...7 years ago? So I work from home. I get people being like "how do you stand it?" while i'm more like "...how do you stand being in an office all day? I hated it and there were only 4 people in my actual office, and two of them were there less than half the time". Since there were other people in other offices who'd stop by to have us witness papers or sign for packages, people selling stuff, etc. Part of the reason I'm kinda stalled in my career is because I can't stand the thought of having to go back into an office environment. I just keep working here until I can figure out a way to make art/writing pay some bills.
Theresa wrote: "Hello all from hot and steamy NYC. I have been keeping cool after work at various cultural activities [tonight is 'Hello Dolly' with the divine Bette Midler] so have little time to read. But I did ..."Hello Dolly with Bette Midler sounds amazing!!! Hope you enjoy it
Sarah wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Hello all from hot and steamy NYC. I have been keeping cool after work at various cultural activities [tonight is 'Hello Dolly' with the divine Bette Midler] so have little time to ..."I will admit that it is my second time seeing HD - it was truly one of the most exciting amazing theater experiences of my life (and I have been attending theater productions regularly since 1973) when I saw it in May. Everything Bette Midler has learned and done as an entertainer and actress during her long career is on that stage, has led to this role at this time. Whole cast is amazing, the production is gorgeous, and if there is one quibble - David Hyde Pierce is fine but he's not Walter Matthau who owns the role of Horace IMHO. There were 2 spontaneous standing ovations during the Hello Dolly production number - never have I experienced the like.
All that to say, if you want to see it, buy tix now for early 2018 and plan a trip around it. You will not regret it.
Hi everyone. It's been raining all day here, which is a little bit of a relief from the super hot weather we've been having.This week I finished The Lies of Locke Lamora. I loved loved loved loved loved this book. It has literally been sat on my shelves unread for about three years. I am so glad this challenge pushed me to finally read it. I was originally going to use it for the genre you've never heard of prompt (grimdark) but I decided to move it to the career advice prompt (lots of training to be a master thief) and then I can use the sequel for the genre prompt. I am eagerly awaiting it coming through from the library.
I DNF Chosen. I was hoping that Cleo would be older sounding and less silly after everything she went through in the first book but she's still really, really annoying. I find it hard to believe that she would grow up to be the great Cleopatra.
I am currently reading The Sword in the Stone. Because the last two books I've read (Locke and Vicious) have been really fast paced, quite violent and action packed, this has been a definite change of pace.
QOTW: I have only ever listened to one audiobook (which I hated) and that was for this challenge so I don't have a favourite reader.
I have never heard of readathons before but I am quite intrigued. Anyone have any recommendations of a good one to try out?
Rebecca wrote: "Hello from Cleveland, where I'm slowly melting. My car said it was 83* when I driving to work at 8:30. Thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon, so I'm hoping it cools down. If it doesn't, my..."You just made my day! I had no idea Ed Hermann read audio books! I fell in love with him by watching Gilmore Girls. Definitely listening to everything he's read now...
Sarah wrote: "readathons before but I am quite intrigued. Anyone have any recommendations of a good one to try out? "I personally have participated in reading for the booktubeathon last year and I'm planning on it this year too. They have a dedicated youtube channel about it. There's challenges that go along with helping what to pick to read. Hint - its best to pick short quick books!
I also like the 7in7 readathon because its super relaxed. Just read 7 things - can be anything! Graphic novels, short books, poetry books - anything! Their twitter says its back August 14 - 20th.
Here's a webpage dedicated to readathons. You can see that there's so many to pick from! And the point is not to stress yourself out. Just to promote reading and to try to push yourself a little more and to connect with people trying to accomplish the same thing!
http://www.littlebookowl.com/p/read-t...
More details on what a readathon is:
https://www.bustle.com/p/9-readathons...
Hello everyone! Worked kicked my butt this week. We are working on our 2018 budget, and it took an obscene amount of my time—including many hours over the weekend. And I had yet another early flight (when am I going to stop booking those??), but this time my business travels took me to the area of Minnesota where my family used to vacation every summer. I haven’t been there in close to 30 years! Every once in a while, something good comes out of spending so many nights away from home. I didn’t cross off any PopSugar prompts this week, so I’m still at 32/40, 8/12 or 40/52. But I did squeeze in a little reading while traveling.
I read:
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. A short, enjoyable classic.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I picked this up after the hype for the Netflix show. I thought this was fantastic. It brings attention to a lot of the issues high schoolers and females face without sounding like a PSA. I was in similar situations (or knew people in similar situations) as the MC way back in high school. Teenagers can be pretty awful.
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. I love his essays. I listened to this on audiobook, which is the best way to experience his books, in my opinion. His deadpan voice adds another layer of humor.
Fly Away by Kristin Hannah. This is a sequel to Firefly Lane, which I read a couple of weeks ago. Not as good as the first book, Firefly Lane, but still worth reading. The last third of the book made the story.
I am currently reading:
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott.
Raging Heat by Richard Castle.
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.
QOTW: I've been listening to a lot more audiobooks this year. Unless I am on a road trip, I generally listen to non-fiction. Non-fiction books and essay collections are easier to listen to a few minutes at a time, whereas if I listen to fiction in small bursts I tend to lose the story. And I definitely prefer the non-fiction to be read by the author. I think I like Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood 10x more listening to Trevor Noah himself narrate the book than if I tried to read a physical copy.
Hello from Ohio! Once again, no Popsugar books finished this week. This last set of prompts is really tough and I although I have books picked out for most of them, I'm doing another challenge that I just keep reading for instead.
However, I did finish The Martian this week and it was FANTASTIC. I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I made my boyfriend watch the movie with me that same night. Also fantastic. I know I am probably the last person to read this, but if you haven't - highly recommend.
QOTW: I've only listened to a few audiobooks, so I do not have favorite narrators that I've heard. Although I did listen to the audiobook of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates which he reads himself and it was so amazing. I agree with what other people have said - nonfiction where the author reads is awesome!
I have never participated in a readathon - although I love following along on youtube!
Theresa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Hello all from hot and steamy NYC. I have been keeping cool after work at various cultural activities [tonight is 'Hello Dolly' with the divine Bette Midler] so have l..."I would absolutely love to see Bette Midler live. I've been a fan pretty much my whole life, but I'm in the UK so I don't think I'll be seeing her anytime soon. My heart says yes but my bank balance says no :D
Megan wrote: "Sarah wrote: "readathons before but I am quite intrigued. Anyone have any recommendations of a good one to try out? "I personally have participated in reading for the booktubeathon last year and ..."
Thanks Megan. That's really helpful. There's a challenge coming up this weekend but it might be a bit ambitious considering I'll be at work for most of it!
This week I read Lucky Penny. I used it in the advanced challenge for “a book with an eccentric character.”I’ve been reading some books that don’t fit a prompt. I’m reading Midnight Crossroad, Day Shift, and Night Shift, because I saw the new TV series advertised, and I really enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse books (and show).
Questions of the Week:
1. I am not an audiobook fan….so, I really can’t answer that one. I will say that I used an Ellen DeGeneres book for this challenge, and I did enjoy her reading of it.
2. I haven’t ever done a read-a-thon.
3. I did rethink some of my prompts. If I haven’t read the books, I will switch titles around, but after I’ve read the book and assigned it to a prompt, I don’t move it around.
4. A “book that you’ve read before that never fails to make you smile” is giving me fits. I really don’t know if a book has made me smile. That sounds awful, but I usually don’t read books that make me smile, nor do I usually reread books.
Good evening! It's been a long day and I didn't realize how much I enjoyed my routine of settling at my desk with a cup of coffee around 9:45 on Thursday mornings and writing my check-in!Finished:
The Hate U Give which I am recommending to everyone forever, it is absolutely as good as everyone is saying.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before which was a breezy little YA that I listened to as I drove over the weekend (lots of driving). Very cute and made me hearken back to my middle school days when I was the target demographic for these kind of books.
Currently reading:
Holding: A Novel by Graham Norton. I'm absolutely delighted by it. I got an ARC (comes out Aug. 1) because I am a fan of him as a television personality and just had to know how he is as a fiction author. The answer (so far) is great.
QOTW: I am really not picky with my audiobook narrators and have never quit a book because of that. I do have a preference for listening to memoirs as opposed to reading them if they are read by the author.
You've all now made me google readathons and yeah, I will definitely probably do one of those soon! Looks fun!
Mod
I had a hard time with that too - I LOVE to read, but I don't actually SMILE while reading, so I just didn't know what to do ! Then I remembered laughing so hard while reading one of my favorite Christmas picture books to my kids. So ... I read a picture book for that category. I wouldn't normally use a picture book for this challenge (unless I was doing the "with kids" version, of course!!), but ... that book legitimately makes me smile, every time I read it, and even every time I think about it. (The book is How Murray Saved Christmas, if anyone is now curious)
Mod
Ditto. I read that a few weeks ago, wasn't expecting much but everyone kept raving about it. I was amazed. It really is that good! It's so rare and wonderful when a book lives up to its hype :-)
I used a book that I just love for the smile prompt. I figure it's less about they physical cel smile and more about feeling happy when you read it. (The Night Circus, which is apparently not as well loved as I thought, Haha. It's one of my favorite books.)
Mod
LOL!!! you and I need to never take book recommendations from each other!! ;-)
I absolutely love the night circus!!! I want a movie but I fear it will never be half as beautiful as my imagination 😍 and I did the same for that prompt, just a book that makes me happy
Nadine wrote: "Lynette wrote: "4. A “book that you’ve read before that never fails to make you smile” is giving me fits. I really don’t know if a book has made me smile. That sounds awful, but I usually don’t rea..."Oh, I like that idea! I teach, and the kids would beg me to read The Book with No Pictures. I never made it all the way through without laughing. They loved it! Thanks! :)
Hello - I did a fair share of reading this week - at least I started several books, but not much was finished, most are in-progress.Finished this week: Trouble by Michael Gilbert - written in the 1980's the story in this book focuses on IRA attacks in London and efforts to thwart them, as well as exploring racial tensions that complicated matters. Parole Officer Anthony Leone is assigned to some of the minors who are thought to have connections to the situation, and he finds himself pulled into an investigation that pulls together the police, military, and other British agencies. It was pretty good, there's a lot of action while still providing a backstory. It's an intense plot with a lot of twists and turns.
Started/in-progress:
The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies - reading for another challenge (non-fiction book about technology)
The Royals by Kitty Kelley - I saw this on my last visit to my local used book shop and couldn't pass it up, reading for another challenge (it actually fits 3 challenges that I'm working on, so bonus)
QOTW - I haven't participated in a read-a-thon. I also haven't really gotten into audiobooks yet (it's on my to-do list) so I don't have a favorite reader at this point.
I finished 4 this week, the last one just a few hours ago.The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, 2nd book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. I listened to the audiobook. It was ok - I like the character a lot, but the actual mystery was weak.
All the Birds in the Sky was wonderful! I used it as a book set less than 100 miles from me - most of it is in SF, where I live. My street was even mentioned. I highly recommend this book if you like books about magicians.
Outlander I took on vacation with me, and I guess it was a good choice for that because of its length. I don't really get what the hype is for, though. It was only ok for me (3 stars). I won't be reading the rest of the series.
And I half-read, half listened to Magpie Murders, which was a really great mystery inside a mystery. Highly recommended, get it from your library before the waitlist gets too long! It would be perfect for prompt #7, a story within a story.
No, you aren't hallucinating from heatstroke. It really is me posting on time! I finished one book this week: Pippi Longstocking. It would work for title that's a character's name or book with an eccentric character, but I plan to slot it in as book I loved as a child. This was an interesting re-read. I'm *so* not like Pippi -- I'm an INTJ ffs -- but I still credit her as being my first literary role model. And she's still awesome. Even if I want to fix all of her spelling. The translation seemed really clunky in some spots, so I'm thinking of trying to read this in the original Swedish.
QotW1: As I have stated elsewhere, I am a sucker for James Marsters. And the gal who narrated Matilda -- was it Kate Winslet? -- did a phenomenal job. I've also enjoyed Neil Gaiman's narration of his own stuff.
QotW2: I'm doing the High Summer Readathon, hosted by Seasons of Reading (http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/), right now, and I've enjoyed several different readathons there. I'm off to a bit of a slow start and haven't finished anything for it yet, but I have five book club meetings next week, so I had better pick up the pace! (I am reading Afterparty for the F'ed Up Book Club, Passing Strange for Swords & Lasers, The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction for Stranger Than Fiction, and The Nightingale for High Tea Book Club. Just realized I already read the other pick, Uprooted, yay!) I have also done Bout of Books a few times. I really like the laid-back readathons that I can mold to fit my reading needs.
Chinook wrote: "My husband's been sick all week - nothing serious, but he's been home creating more work for me and hence less reading time. ...
You're Never Weird on the Internet - I've owned this for ages and seeing her speak finally pushed me to prioritize it. I'm glad I did. I enjoy her quirky humour and it was interesting to hear about her developing The Guild, which I may seek out and actually watch. I used this as my book about an interesting woman..."
I hope your husband gets well soon! And yes, watch The Guild! I so loved what Felicia said about not pairing off two particular characters in the end. I hate it when characters are coupled up just because.
Theresa wrote: Ooh which gives me two ideas for QOTW:1. Did you rethink some of your choices for challenge prompts after a Challenge Vacation? ...
2. What prompt category or categories are giving you fits?..."
1. It doesn't qualify as a Challenge Vacation, really, but at one point Carrie Vaughn's Martians Abroad just insisted that I read it, challenges be damned. I think I managed to slot it into a challenge somewhere, though. I'm always changing my challenge categories around, except for my Habitica challenge and my challenge to rescue abandoned books. Some of my IRL book clubs don't pick until a month or two ahead, so I frequently have to scramble to make them fit challenges.
2. A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile. I'm not much on re-reading in general, and I hate prompts with components like "never fails to make you smile." I'll probably re-read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and hope the prompt has not made me so grumpy that I fail to smile. A book that takes place over a character's life span. I have to rely on recommendations for this, or just hope I hit on something that works. I'll probably re-read Wuthering Heights for a different challenge, and that might work. It's been so long since I read it that I don't remember.
Sheri wrote: "...Currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking which I should finish today..."Eep! I'm supposed to be reading that one for yet another book club meeting this week. GenreLand -- July -- Mind & Body Fitness. Forgot about that one. Six book clubs in one week. If I disappear, it means my husband has had me committed. Ah, well, at least I've started that one, and it also counts for book recommended by an author I love (Felicia Day). Now, where did I put it?
Sarah wrote: "Hi everyone. It's been raining all day here, which is a little bit of a relief from the super hot weather we've been having.This week I finished The Lies of Locke Lamora. I loved loved loved loved loved this book...."
I know, right? Amazing book! I keep putting off the next book, though, because I'm scared it won't be as good.
Hello from Brisbane I didn't make any progress on my final two books but I read Borders of Infinity which is a story within a story.
QOTW- I focus more on the story rather than the narrator but I do like ones that actually put an effort in and it doesn't sound like a monologue.
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Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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A nomination thread is now open for September’s group read – a book of letters. If you would like to nominate a book you can go here to do so: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'm not entirely sure if I ever officially announced the winner of the August vote for a book set in the wilderness. It was The Snow Child. I read the book last year and enjoyed it. I do find it funny that we chose a book set in winter to be read in August (at least it's odd for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). I don't plan to reread it this year, but I may peek in on the discussion :)
I’m working on a few books this week but no completions.
The Long Way Home (Inspector Gamache #10) by Louise Penny
Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything by Anne Bogel (more on this below)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – I decided to indulge in a little re-reading for my audio choice
Still at 27/40 & 8/12
So I am a big fan of the psychology of personality, how people think and feel differently, using knowledge of your own personality "settings" to better navigate life (and knowing those of the people you love so you can understand then better). I am also a big fan of Anne Bogel who blogs at http://modernmrsdarcy.com/ and hosts the What Should I Read Next podcast. Anne has written a fantastic book that releases on September 19 called Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything. I was fortunate enough to be selected for the launch team. I promise I will try not to overload you all with prompts to read this book, BUT if you are at all interested in personality I highly recommend the book. If you pre-order the book you can receive several bonuses including a free audiobook once the book releases and free access to her Reading Personalities class. You can find more information about the book here: https://www.readingpeoplebook.com/
For the record (for those of you MBTI nerds) I am an INFJ on the Myers Brigg spectrum. If you'd like to find out your type you can take a great, accurate quiz here: https://www.16personalities.com/free-...
Question of the week:
I'm going to open this up to you guys this week for the first person to suggest a QOTW (aka I brain-dumped a lot of information above and am just at a loss for anything else to contribute today!)