Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2018 Weekly Checkins
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Week 44: 10/26 – 11/1
Bon matin,We are all still tired from trick-or-treating yesterday, but now we have more than enough candies.
I finished one book this week for the was suppose to read last year: A Night in the Lonesome October. Very fun, glad I read it and I may do it again next year.
QOTW: Once I got my book signed by Michel Folco. He was very nice.
Doing a quick check in this week as tomorrow is probably going to be offline.Since the y12 physics teacher quit last week and didn't do any of the marking before he did I now get Psychology, Chemistry, Physics and Scientific studies to get marked before they go to the exam board in just over a week. I originally trained for Biology but Bio teachers are a dime a dozen. Best bit of this week was getting an extra y9 class who were mine in semester 1 before the Chem teacher quit and I had to pick that up. They have been total angels and it has been lovely to have the light relief after all the seniors.
Only finished 1 very short book this week and only read that because I had seen it on here: Of Thee I Sing. I liked it but not as much as I had hoped. Perhaps I would have liked it more if I had been American? Still can't diminish my respect for Obama though.
Currently reading loads and hoping to get some time to finish one soon. Unlikely for the next couple of weeks but at least I can't get bored and I get to revise my Physics which I haven't taught for a few years.
QOTW:
Sadly I have never been near any of my favourite authors. One day I may be lucky enough, but I choose to live and work away from the major cities so I guess that is what it is. Wouldn't swap my bushie students for posh kids or city kids though even if it did give more chances for bookish activities.
Winter has finally arrived, after weeks of wondering why it's still so warm. We didn't do anything for Halloween other than watch 1922 on Netflix. It's Nonfiction November so I'm going to try and read a few more non-fic titles this month.I finished reading Tamed: Ten Species That Changed Our Worldwhich was full of interesting facts but I found it repeating itself a little near the end. I learned a lot more about GM crops too and I liked that she laid out the arguments on both sides.
I listened to East of Croydon: Blunderings through India and South East Asia. I want Sue Perkins to be my friend, I laughed, I cried, I laughed whilst crying. Just a warning, it's not just about her travels but also covers the period where her dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
I'm currently reading Empire of Sand for review. It's fantasy based on the Indian Mughal Empire.
I'm listening to Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: A Brief History of Capitalism, which is a great introduction with plenty of literary references. I think it's good to have a basic understanding of what people are talking about in the news, especially with what Britain has to face in the next few years.
QOTW:
I used to go to a lot of blogger events and a few SFF cons, but not specifically for signings or a specific author. Now I'm pretty much fed up of everything being concentrated around London (which is 2 hours and nearly £50 away on the train) so I will only go for something that has a lot of speakers I'm interested in. Cons like Nine Worlds are good because you hear authors (and other people) talk about things other than their current book and also have the opportunity to discover new ones.
I am glad I heard Terry Pratchett speak (at World Fantasy Con, I think) although it was also sad as you could see him struggling for words even then.
Happy November. This year is flying by!Finished
The Good Immigrant - This was a great book about ethnic minority groups (known as BAME) in the UK. Very insightful and personal and I would highly recommend the audiobook as it is narrated by the authors giving the essays a personal feel. I only wish the essays were a bit more varied as most of the contributors worked in media or journalism.
Currently reading
Slade House - Should finish this in the next few days just shy of Halloween
War and Peace - This one I won't be finishing any time soon but sill enjoying the ride
A Murder in Time - Listening to this on audiobook and I'm not getting into it. This may well be my first dnf of the year!
QOTW
No I've never been so a signing or reading. It's not something I would rule out in the future but also not something I've ever been particularly interested in.
It is cold and flu season at our house. Yuck! The good news is that we are getting through it early in the winter (I am obviously hoping for one round- a little optimistic).I read several books for my youth reading committee. I read:
Squint- which I enjoyed very much. A solid middle grade read about a young artist with failing eye sight. Worth the read.
Deep Water- an ocean survival story that in no way stands out from the many newer ocean survival stories that are coming out for this age group.
Saving Winslow- a simple and under developed story about a boy saving the life of a mini donkey. I would hand this to a second or third grader.
Bob- a cute little book about a girl trying to help a well dweller get home (when neither one of them know what the well dweller is). Again, I would hand this to a third grader.
Grenade- this one is for older grades- six and up- and it is well done. A great historical fiction by Alan Gratz. This might be my favorite of his. Label Warning: he uses historically accurate language.
Postponing The Heat Death Of The Universe- a one-act play my daughter is directing. It was subtle and well done.
Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley- the fourth in this series of cozy mysteries. I will probably continue the series.
A Cajun Christmas Killing- another cozy mystery that I really enjoyed. I am looking forward to the next one.
QOTW: I don't go to many author events. I did just see Ron Chernow. It was a good evening.
Happy Reading!
Book with twins:The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. YA, long-lost twins, maybe a murder. I loved the show that was based on these books but I really did not enjoy the book.
Novel based on a real person
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. Historical fiction. Young woman is interested in science and investigates the Jack the Ripper murders. It was okay. If the rest of the series ended up in my hands, I would read them but I wouldn’t seek them out.
I think that puts me at only one book left (cyberpunk).
Other books that don’t tick off prompts
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. A man holds onto to lost things, he passes away and leaves them with his assistant. The little stories that came with the lost things was the most interesting thing about the book. It was just very meh to me.
A List of Cages by Robin Roe. YA. A kid runs into his previous foster brother at school. It was very sad. One of my students just came up to me in the hall and shoved it into my hands and told me to read it. A lot of my students have loved it.
Waco: A Survivor’s Story David Thibodeau and Leon Witson. Another student gave me this to read because we were talking about cults one day (cults and conspiracy theories are my jam when I’m bored). I know this is from a survivor’s perspective but I really had an issue with the way he kept glossing over the fact that David Koresh was raping young teens. He was I know he is a statutory rapist and that’s bad, but…. And I just couldn’t with it.
QOTW:
I've never gone to a book event or signing. I had planned on taking my book club kids to an Angie Thomas talk last year but she cancelled due to illness (I think...it's been a minute). A few of my students years ago went to a John Greene thing and brought me back a pretty cool poster.
Hi all! I have a Halloween hangover - nothing to do with booze, just in that sad zone when the fun is over but the decorations still need to be taken down, and I haven't successfully changed gears to Thanksgiving and Christmas excitement. I'm also in a reading lull - I started watching scary movies and TV shows to celebrate spoopy season, and I'm having a lot of fun with that.
Oh. And The Good Place. If you don't already know all about it, go watch it immediately - don't read anything about it, just let it wash over you and enjoy seeing how they manage to get a lot of mileage out of the premise. And - Ted Danson and Kristen Bell!
Finished:
And Then There Were None - it was great to read a classic that has had so much influence. I was stumped, but it played fair. Well-engineered!
Reading:
House of Leaves - I'm kind of stalled on this. The faux-academic writing is a drag, and the contrasting voice of Johnny is fading into the same patois. Whether that's deliberate or not, I'm just not having fun with it.
A Night in the Lonesome October - I'm behind, but will probably finish in the next few days.
Persuasion - I just wanted something nice to fall asleep to, so I went back to this Old Reliable. Juliet Stevenson is such a great reader too!
QOTW:
Alton Brown was fun! I was super sad that we missed Nick Bruel when he was in Raleigh - Bad Kitty is the best!
Yay, November! That means the new list must be nearly here, and Christmas is a step closer.I finished one book this week, which meant that I've completed the regular challenge! I'm currently sitting at 51/52 (42/42, 9/10).
I kept my read for prompt #29 set at Halloween until this week, and it was Something Wicked This Way Comes. This is a good-vs-evil coming of age story, where two young boys who want to be older fall in to the clutches of a sinister travelling carnival that promises to make that wish come true...but at what cost? This book is poetically written, which at times I thought felt overworked but in general struck the right note. Bradbury knows how to craft a scene and build it up with layers of language, either beautiful or creepy as required. The characters are compelling - the Dust Witch terrified me, and I was glad for the humble presence of Will's father to fight the boys' corner - and the pace is just right. I loved the story, it was the perfect read for this time of year.
Have you ever attended a book signing or author event for a favorite author? Do you have specific authors that you will absolutely go to see if they come anywhere near where you live?
I've never been that interested in a book signing. I did consider going to the The Guilty Feminist: From our noble goals to our worst hypocrisies signing, as I listen to the podcast and really want the book, but it was sold out and I wasn't too gutted. I used to work in Waterstones and even then didn't go to any signings! I remember when Louise Welsh came in to do a signing, and I had just read and loved The Cutting Room, but I found her quite standoffish to me as a staff member so I think that put me off meeting people I admire. I've been to some author events at the Aye Write! festival, and really enjoyed hearing them read or speak, so that's cool. But a signing meet-&-greet sort of thing isn't my bag.
I'll be leading the group discussion of The Immortalists this month. I'm really looking forward to talking about the book. It was one of my favorite reads this year.Finished
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. I didn't love it. It jumped around between too many characters. But Joanne Froggatt did a wonderful narration on the audiobook.
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. I'd never read the book. I enjoyed some of the stories, but I prefer the Disney movie.
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. This was completely outside of my comfort zone. It was much better than I expected! The technical detail was too much for me to follow, though.
Reading
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I'm listening to one chapter a day, two on weekends. At this rate, I'll finish sometime in mid-January!
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Does anyone else think something was lost in translation? Do people really "peruse" each other? And that's just one example of some very strange turns of phrase I've come across.
DNF
I had a lot of DNFs this week. Yikes.
The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. I made it to page 105, but I couldn't go on because I was so bored.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. I usually love this author's books, but I didn't click with this one. I stopped reading when the cocaine appeared. I generally don't like reading about recreational drug use, but using it to make the narrator unreliable was also sloppy.
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh. The main character is a hot mess. She's 40-years-old, but pines like she's 14. And over a man she knew for a week. Nope.
QOTW
No, I've never been to a signing or reading.
Ellie wrote: "I listened to East of Croydon: Blunderings through India and South East Asia. I want Sue Perkins to be my friend, I laughed, I cried, I laughed whilst crying. Just a warning, it's not just about her travels but also covers the period where her dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer..."I love her. I have Spectacles on my TBR. I heard her on a Podcast talking about her travels, and also about her dad. She has also been diagnosed with a brain tumour, I think it is benign but they can't operate on it, and it was so sad to hear her talking of how she came to terms with that and her father's death.
Chrandra wrote: "Book with twins:The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. YA, long-lost twins, maybe a murder. I loved the show that was based on these books but I really did not enjoy the book.
Novel based on a real p..."
I forgot about that show. I loved Season 1 but Season 2 just went completely off the rails. I'm not surprised it was cancelled.
Heather wrote: "...A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Does anyone else think something was lost in translation? Do people really "peruse" each other? And that's just one example of some very strange turns of phrase I've come across...."
It might have been. I read Backman´s books in Danish (except for "My grandmother..." that I read in Swedish because I couldn´t wait). Danish is not very far from Swedish, and I never thought of the language or phrases being strange. I heard someone here saying something similar about the language in "Beartown" and I didn´t notice that either.
I don´t really know in what situations you would normally use "peruse" in English, but I can tell you if the wording is odd in the original, if you tell me where in the book it´s used, or if you have similar examples.
Hello everyone! It's been ages since I've had a real check-in, but I'm excited to get back on track.Finished
I'm currently at 46/50 for this challenge. Most recently, I finished Tituba of Salem Village for the "children's classic you've never read" prompt, and it was very good. A very different style than how children's books are written today - much less action and much more internal reflection, but I really thought it worked.
In Progress
I'm currently reading three books: The Gene: An Intimate History (working my way through this one slowly, but it will fill the "microhistory" prompt once I'm finished); The Indian Lawyer (as part of my goal to complete this challenge using books by non-white authors, I'm swapping this in as Native American noir instead of a Nordic noir - it's excellent so far); and listening to the audiobook of The Gates (seasonally appropriate and great fun).
DNF
I've quit SO many books recently, but no true DNFs in the past week. I did move an ARC of My Sister, the Serial Killer back to my TBR, though - just wanted to read other things more, so I decided to give it a fresh start later on.
QOTW
I don't usually seek out signings, but this year I got the chance to meet Sherry Thomas, author of the Lady Sherlock series and my personal all-time favorite romance, Ravishing the Heiress. She was so kind and so surprised to see that book! We actually chatted about it for a few minutes. I also visited The Ripped Bodice bookstore recently while in L.A., and I bought a copy of Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny from the author, Rebekah Weatherspoon - she happened to be working that night, so I got a personalized autograph AND a new author to enjoy! (The book was very good.)
It's a beautiful warm day in New York. Enjoying it while it lasts. We did not have a single trick or treater yesterday. I guess I should make more of an effort to make the house look welcoming.Finished:
My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I did not like it as much as I hoped I would.
The Book Thief on audio, which I loved. This was for book made into a movie I've already seen. Tough category for me, I have no desire to read a book once I've seen the movie. It's been a few years, but everything in the book was familiar, so I think the movie adaptation was pretty faithful.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love Cute book, but what's with the YA trope of the mother being dead? This is the third YA book I've read this year with a dead mother (I'll Give You the Sun and To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
Currently Reading:
It for a book published the year I graduated high school.
Children of Blood and Bone for ATY.
Persuasion for Book Riot Read Harder.
Sunburn on audio
QOTW:
I have never been to a book signing or reading. R.J. Palacio had an event at my hospital last year, but I wasn't able to make it.
Hi everyone! How is it November already??? This week’s weather was why the saying “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes” exists. It was gorgeous, rainy, hot enough to need the a/c, and cold enough to need the heater all within the space of a week. It does allow me to procrastinate on laundry, though, since I’m wearing a variety of clothes… 😊I remain at 48/52, but I will have at least 1 more prompt checked off by next Thursday. I am at 45/52 for Around the Year. My goal is still to finish both by the end of November.
Books I finished:
If She Only Knew by Lisa Jackson. I could tell this was written early in her career. The mystery was okay, but the writing wasn't that great. Her recent books are so much better.
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough. This was entertaining but had a silly ending.
They're Playing Our Song by Carole Bayer Sager. I was surprised at how many songs she's written that I've loved over the years.
Murder in an English Village by Jessica Ellicott. An okay cozy mystery that takes place in 1920's England.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager. This was great!! I liked it better than Final Girls and recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller. It also works for dual timeline, for anyone doing next year's Around the Year challenge.
I am currently reading:
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Misery by Stephen King for a book that is also a stage play or musical (13).
QOTW: I've only gone to a couple of author events, but I've enjoyed each of them so I really should check the bookstore calendars more often. I met Jen Lancaster a few years ago, and in person she is just like her early writing. It was a fun night. When Lilac Girls was released I met Martha Hall Kelly. It was a small event with just around 25 people, so we all got to ask a lot of questions. I learned a lot! Jesmyn Ward is in Dallas tonight at the art museum, but I can't make it. That is something I would have scheduled around had I known about the appearance earlier.
Happy November! Alas I have had a cold all week so I've been feeling pretty blah. Read 3 books this week, none for the challenge, which still leaves me 49/50.Finished
Before I Fall- I really enjoyed this... until the ending! *sigh*
The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life That Follows- listened to this as an audiobook. Really powerful read on what it's like to live with PTSD.
Nightmares!- This was okay and had a great message for kids about facing your fears.
Currently reading:
Hatchet
The Storybook of Legends
Neuromancer
The Arabian Nights
QOTW
I went to a Maggie Stiefvater signing last year and enjoyed it a ton. I dunno if I have any specific author I'd die to see, but if authors I like come in my area I'll go see them.
Mod
LOL just like in all the Disney movies!! I think it's an effort to give the characters more independence and "gravitas" than an average teen. Maybe.
Johanne wrote: "Heather wrote: "...A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Does anyone else think something was lost in translation? Do people really "peruse" each other? And that's just one example of some very stra..."The only times I hear "peruse" used in English is when it comes reading or shopping. I've never heard it used with people.
Good morning! I'm focusing my attention on the challenge because even though I've read more than 100 books this year I still need to read about one challenge book a week to finish on time. I did get the ones I wasn't thrilled about out of the way and have some short ones on the tbr, so I think I can do this!Finished:
What If It's Us, a lovely, lovely YA romance (as expected from Becky Albertalli)
The White Darkness, an ARC I had which is just a really long New Yorker article David Grann wrote that is now being published as a book. It was a fantastically human story about a man obsessed with Antarctica and his multiple exhibitions there.
Good Night, Mr. Holmes, a re-read for me (I read this entire series in high school). I've been in a groove with "lady detectives in the 1800s" fiction and it made me want to revisit the Irene Adler books.... The fact that the first one has a time of day in the title made it a no brainer to pick it up!
Currently reading:
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI for my true crime pick (I told you, I am not messing around with getting this challenge done). It's so, so great and interesting!
QOTW: Carl Hiaasen came to a book festival near me a couple of years ago and I came to see him do a reading and Q&A because I have loved him for years. That's the only one I can think of...
Milena wrote: "I Believe in a Thing Called Love Cute book, but what's with the YA trope of the mother being dead? This is the third YA book I've read this year with a dead mother (I'll Give You the Sun and To All the Boys I've Loved Before..."There is a terrible epidemic sweeping through YA books, striking down mothers in their prime. It's been going on some time. Sometimes the dads get it too.
(I think it's so that the pesky parents don't interfere with the plot by telling their kids not to be idiots).
Hello everyone! I'm already done with the challenge but I'm going to keep updating just for fun. So I finished:Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery- audio
American War by Omar El Akkad
The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket- audio with kid
QOTW:
Where I live rarely has any well-known authors set foot anywhere near here, except perhaps Craig Johnson, but I don't read Longmire so I have never attended one of his.
The most EXCITING thing happened though! Neil Gaiman came to do a talk 2 hours away from me a couple years ago so we drove there and listened to him read some stuff that hadn't been published yet (or at all), and just talk. Unfortunately he didn't do a signing, but it was still really amazing because he was my husband's favorite author, he's one of mine, and Sandman was the first graphic novel I ever picked up.
I thought I was having a good reading week but it turns out I didn't make any progress on the challenge. Oh well, I suppose it's good that my schoolwork and family come first. I finished The Year of Billy Miller which was an okay children's chapter book. It was rather disjointed but a good book for a first or second grader. I'm almost done with Cosmic, a funny middle grade book about a kid who gets mistaken for an adult and ends up in space. And I'm still trudging through Villette, praying that my audiobook on hold comes through soon! I think I'll be picking up Jurassic Park next, for my book turned into a movie I've already seen. QOTW:
I've never been to an author signing and the only author readings I've been to our local authors at the university and usually for class credit. I would love to go to an event with J.K. Rowling though. Other authors I would jump at the chance to hear speak or get a book signed are: John Green, Clive Cussler, Diana Gabaldon, and Philippa Gregory. Unfortunately, nobody really comes through Oklahoma.
That makes sense. I really only started reading YA this year, so it's not something I noticed before. It makes Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe stand out even more for the wonderful relationships both boys have with both their parents.
Mod
I finished ONE book this week, but it was a good one: Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister. Especially recommended for any USA women who have been exceptionally angry this year. She includes a good historical overview of suffrage, civil rights, and the new wave pushing for more intersectionality.
QOTW
Yes! I took my kids to see Kate DiCamillo speak. She had a short, amusing speech prepared, read the first chapter of her new book (ironically, I don't really love the book - Raymie Nightingale - when I finally read it) and took questions from the audience. We all got a free copy of Because of Winn-Dixie! Plus all her other books were for sale. Bonus: it was held in the lovely Art Deco auditorium in the Syracuse National Grid building. I really enjoyed it and I would love to go to another. The library organizes some author readings each year (like this one) but they aren't usually authors I've read. I missed Colson Whitehead :-( for reasons I no longer remember.
Ellie wrote: "...There is a terrible epidemic sweeping through YA books, striking down mothers in their prime. It's been going on some time. Sometimes the dads get it too...."So funny!
... and the parents not stricken by the epidemic are horrible people.
Hello all! Got back from a vacation in Chicago a few days ago -- went there to hang out with friends and attend a Transformers convention. Yes, I'm one of THOSE nerds... no, I don't care. XD Had an absolute blast!I did buy a book while I was out and about in Chicago and its suburbs -- N.P by Banana Yoshimoto. I read the author's novel Kitchen for the 2015 challenge and loved it, so I'll give some of her other work a shot.
Books I finished this week:
The Dinosaur Lords -- not the best book I've ever read, but still entertaining. Come on, how can you NOT have fun reading a novel about medieval knights riding dinosaurs into battle?
I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Leaving High Tech for Greener Pastures -- thought this one would be funnier than it was. At least it was short.
Around the World in Eighty Days -- finally got around to reading this book. Part travelogue and part globe-trotting adventure, it's a little slow in parts but loads better than the Jackie Chan movie.
DNF:
To Your Scattered Bodies Go -- brilliant premise... dismal story and boring characters.
Currently Reading:
The Enchanted -- I LOVED The Child Finder by the same author, so hopefully this novel is just as good
Insanity
QOTW:
I was lucky enough to get to attend a showing of The Last Unicorn that included a Q & A session with the author, Peter S. Beagle, and an autograph session afterwards. He was a very sweet man and not only signed my copy of the novel, but my DVD of the movie. Only later did I learn that he'd been bilked out of a lot of the money made by the book/movie tour... why do people take advantage of authors like this?
Johanne wrote: "... and the parents not stricken by the epidemic are horrible people."If you haven't, read Small Spaces by Katherine Arden. It's middle grade, and yes (view spoiler)
Hello, all!This week I finished Der Schwarm by Frank Schätzing, an almost 1000 pages door stopper in just 5 days and am now afraid to drink water... for the advanced #09 promt, problem facing society today.
For my A-Z scify/fantasy challenge I finishe Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke.
I'm still falling asleep over my microhistory choice, Die Entdeckung des Chaos: Eine Reise durch die Chaos-Theorie by John P. Briggs, but I'm determined to finish it by the end of the year.
That only leaves the 'tied to my ancestry' promt and then I'm DONE! I'm so very satisfied with myself right now! :-)
QotW:
I went to a reading by Simon Beckett when 'Totenfang' came out, but didn't wait for it to be signed.
My public library holds regular readings every month for free or 3 € max, there are a couple of literature festivals each year and book prize awards of the town as well and usually I go to readings of local authors for very little admission, but again don't care much for the signing.
There's one reading I wanted to go to by Joseph O'Connor at a local book shop, but I never made it and am not sure if the author even showed up, as the date was September 11th, 2001 and I had other things on my mind that night.
Jen wrote: "Doing a quick check in this week as tomorrow is probably going to be offline.Since the y12 physics teacher quit last week and didn't do any of the marking before he did I now get Psychology, Chemi..."
Jen - I am totally bemused by the ongoing saga of teachers quiting and reshuffling going on at your school. It seems just a tad excessive and how can this be good for tbe kids, at all? Let alone a guaranteed script for losing more teachers thus compounding the negativity.
It's November 1st, I still haven't decided if I'm trying to write for NaNoWriMo, I suddenly decided to try to read as many of the Goodreads choice awards nominees from my TBR (so about 4 from YA fantasy) as I can before the voting period ends, I have a buddy read starting today, and I'm still tired from my crazy traveling recently. On the plus side, I love fall and winter and pumpkin spice, so it's my happy time of year anyway. I haven't actually finished reading any books this week. (This might be the first week this year that's happened? I think there was one check in where I only finished a book on check in day though.)
Currently Reading:
Beasts and Queens: A Fairy Tale Retold Books 1-4 A set of 4 novellas. The first one was interesting but weird, the second one was only slightly interesting, I actually liked the third one, and I'm now in the middle of the fourth one, which I'd read in a different collection.
Eragon The place we stayed on our vacation had several books I'd been meaning to read, so I picked the one I owned a copy of, in case I didn't finish it on vacation. (This turned out to be a good call...) I'm only about a decade late reading this book, but I'm enjoying it so far.
Pirate Alley Picked this up for an audio book to listen to on the road after we finished the Harry Potter book we had with us. It was okay, but we'll probably save it for our next road trip, and I may temporarily move it to my DNF shelf until that happens.
Princess of Thorns I started this for my current audio book, and I'm enjoying it, but kind of wish I were reading it in print instead, because I think I'd enjoy it even more that way.
I also have a few more books that I'm technically currently reading but haven't picked up in a few weeks, and will be starting The Goose Girl for a buddy read with a friend sometime today.
QOTW:
I've never done an author signing/event, or had any particular interest in them, which is probably a good thing, since I've never lived in a big enough city to be a regular stop on the tours. The small city I currently live in probably has a few authors some through, and I suppose I might attend if I happened to notice an event for an author I really like.
Happy November! I hope everyone had a fun Halloween (or a pleasant Wednesday if you don't celebrate Halloween). I love seeing all the creative costumes as I take my kids trick or treating. The best I saw last night was a boy dressed as a vending machine.Finished
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup This book was WILD. It's the story of the rise and fall of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes written by the journalist that exposed their fraud. It is fascinating and maddening. I highly recommend.
Beloved I tried to read this book probably 15-20 years ago and I just couldn't do it. It was too hard. But last year I read Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and really liked it, so I decided to attempt Beloved again, and I did it! It was still hard, and I had to work for it, but it is a really beautiful and haunting book. Toni Morrison is a master.
Currently Reading
Unsheltered So excited to read Kingsolver's new book! I love her writing and how she quietly weaves a story.
Victoria: The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire I like to do nonfiction books on audio, and this one has been great so far. I love novels from the Victorian era, but I know very little about the woman herself, and this book has been compelling and super interesting.
QOTW
The only authors I've gone to see were Nick Offerman and Jen Hatmaker, and both events were fantastic. I'd also like to go see Khaled Hosseini or Jenny Lawson.
Hello from a dreary, wet Columbus. Halloween was kind of a bust this year. It rained all day so not many trick or treaters were out. My 4 year old got one street in before he was bored with it all. Several houses got broken into, including mine while I was home alone. Everyone was fine, and the only thing stolen from anyone’s house was pill bottles. But still. What a freaking day. A Walk in the Woods this was for the book riot nature prompt. I really enjoyed A Short History of Nearly Everything when I read it earlier this year, so I was excited to read another Bryson book. This didn’t disappoint. Bryson writes about experiences hiking the Appalachian trail with his friend. The way he writes is so amusing, and he also goes into some light history about the trail and the places he visits. I thought this would be a fun audiobook to listen to as I walked through our metro park until I got to the part where he wrote about the murders that happen on the trail. That really made me pick up my pace so I could get back in my car.
A Bollywood Affair a pretty typical chick-lit book but more Indian culture centered. This was for book riots romance about people of color prompt. It’s about Mili, a girl from a small Indian village who has never met her husband because they were married when she was 4. She wants to build a life that’d make him proud, and help provide for her grandma, and then she ends up meeting her technical brother-in-law and antics ensue. It was an okay book, I don’t really enjoy books with graphic sexual detail but otherwise it was fine.
The Big Sky for book riots western prompt. It’s about a teen, Boone who runs away from home and the life he builds for himself in the largely unsettled west. Westerns are not my cup of tea so I found this pretty boring. But not boring enough that it was painful to get through.
So I’m still at 39/40; 8/10 and 10/24 for book riot with 158 books read this year.
Afternoon!It's nice, the month starting on a Thursday. Can get the check-in done and start November fresh.
Been quite a nice week, had She Reads Comics at Forbidden Planet and of course Halloween - the trick-or-treaters absolutely cleared us out of sweets, we had 50-ish bags made up and it wasn't enough! The last kid came too late, but got sent off with a substantial handful of Lego collectable cards and a plastic axe for their troubles. (Said axe having been used to chase the previous lot off after they demanded Kinder Eggs instead of apples.)
Unfortunately I've now come down with some sort of cold and am feeling all sinus-y. 🤧 Oh well, at least I can snuggle up on the couch and get some good reading time in.
Now, books! Nothing for the challenge this check-in period but that should change in the coming week.
Finished:
What Maisie Knew - I started out being really interested in this just due to the subject matter, because divorce, custody battles, feuding parents, etc., aren't things you often see in Victorian lit. But after the first few chapters, I was crawling through it. It felt so long and it's not even 200 pages. Ultimately I was just glad when it was finally over. Didn't much enjoy it, rated it 2 stars.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon - This on the other hand was an easy 5-star. Truly magic and very emotional. Heavy themes of finding and losing family, and what the various characters can be driven to do in order to protect their loved ones, even (in fact, especially) the most good and gentle members of the cast.
Wives and Daughters - Another 5-star! Yay! Spent the whole month reading this, a couple of chapters a day, and had a wonderful time. Very rewarding experience. I absolutely adore Elizabeth Gaskell and need to grab copies of her other novels pretty soon. It's tragic that she passed away before finishing this one - the planned ending is so adorably romantic, too.
Melmoth - This was a suitably dark and spooky Halloween read, quite enjoyed it. I wasn't actually frightened, though - ghost stories don't tend to scare me, because I sympathize too much with the ghost! (Unless they're actively malicious and hurting people.) Sarah Perry writes beautifully, I really must seek out her first novel. Maybe I'll reread The Essex Serpent, too - next year, perhaps.
Currently reading:
Educated - Only just over 100 pages in but amazing so far.
QOTW: I'm lucky enough to be able to travel relatively easily to both the largest bookshop in Scotland and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, so I go to a fair amount of signings/events. The most exciting one that comes to mind atm is getting to meet Becky Chambers at a launch event for Record of a Spaceborn Few. That was so wonderful. She even hugged me! 😁
Oh, and Robin Hobb - attended an event of hers a few years ago, but was so starstruck and awkward that I pretty much just got my signed book and ran away.
My absolute dream would be to meet Seanan McGuire. I hope I can make it to Worldcon Dublin next year as I believe she's planning to go!
Hello everyone! It's been a really rough week. I live around the corner from Tree of Life Synagogue. I'm safe as is my family and friends, but our community is so shaken. But it's heartening to see people come together. Our library did a curation of books about grief & tragedy that they shared online, so even the power of books and reading is coming through during this tragic time.I finished my Goodreads challenge of 100 books this week! I'm really proud, because this is my third year I've read at least 100 books.
This week I completed 3 books, 1 of which counted towards the challenge. First was Pride by Ibi Zoboi. This is a modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice, and I absolutely loved it! Zoboi really nailed adapting this classic tale, and I highly recommend it!
Next was The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin which count as my book that involves a bookstore or library, since the main character owns a bookstore. It was a really lovely story about life and fatherhood and falling in love. It also has so many literary references and really celebrates the power of books and stories in our lives.
Finally I finished Sadie by Courtney Summers. It's been really hyped because it's told in two parts: a girl's story about tracking down her sisters killer, and a podcast that's following the disappearance of this girl. I really enjoyed it, although I had a couple issues with the podcast aspects, mostly because I listen to so many podcasts. But it was a great audiobook experience and I stayed up late to finish it! I'm really looking forward to seeing how podcasts incorporate themselves more into literature.
QOTW: I've been to a couple events! Pittsburgh's library system and Arts & Lectures group invite so many authors, I'm really fortunate. Scott Westerfeld was my first, which was so exciting because I loved the Uglies trilogy. I've seen Stephen Colbert, Roxane Gay, John Green, Margaret Atwood, Nicola Yoon and in 3 weeks I'll be attending a talk with Tayari Jones. These events are so great, if you have the chance to go to any, I can't recommend it enough!
Happy Thursday Everyone!Still sitting at 50/52 for the PS challenge but I have decided to start a prompt book today - yay!
Finished
You by Caroline Kepnes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as a non-challenge read. I've also watched a couple episodes of the Lifetime show & enjoying it so far.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ also as a non challenge read (although I'm going to be using book 2 - A Gathering of Shadows as my ATY book with a clue weapon on the cover (daggers). A friend of mine leant me this book back in the spring and told me it was great and now I'm kicking myself for not reading it earlier! I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to book 2 (&3)! *It's a good thing he wasn't in a hurry to get his book back*
Currently Reading
Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman - (ATY's Narrative Nonfiction) yes I'm still working on this - only being able to read it on my computer screen slows my progress a ton BUT I'm going to resolve to finish it this week finally!
Going to start today: The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson today for 41/A1) A Bestseller from the year you graduated High School (2009). I read book 1 for Nordic Noir a few weeks ago and I'm feeling ready to continue the series!
QOTW
I have never gone to a book signing/event and that's unlikely to change as:
1. I almost never keep my paper copy books. I almost never re-read books so once I'm finished with any paper copy books I have I usually pass them onto friends & family that read or donate them to the local used book store for credit $ towards more used books. There are just too many great options out there that I have yet to read!
2. I live in a very rural area. The closest any book signing events are likely to be would be Toronto, ON which is about 2.5-3 hours away depending on traffic. That seems like a bit of a pain to get a book signed that I'm not planning to keep and because that's a bit far I likely wouldn't even know if one was happening.
It's possible I might go in the future IF one of my all time favourite authors were to be close and they have a book/series I'm planning on keeping I guess.
If you want a signed Neil Gaiman SarahKay check out his books at airport bookshops. He stealth signs them. He signed a few in Albuquerque the other week.
Mod
How awful. Stay safe.
Hi All! We had a very rainy Halloween and no trick-or-treaters came to our door. We actually had extreme weather warnings and a tornado watch at one point so hopefully all the kiddos went to really early Halloween events that go on around the city. I felt rather bad for them, the prime trick-or-treating time was just miserable.
I read 2 books this week and I loved both of them. I finally got a hold of Lethal White from my library last week and finished it over a few days. I was really pleased with this one. I usually figure out the endings (or at least consider them as a possibility at some point during the book) and I never even got close with this one. I loved how complex it all was. I am thoroughly hooked on this series and I hope we get many more.
I also picked up Educated: A Memoir despite the fact that I tend to dislike memoirs and wow! This one totally lives up to all the hype. I found Tara's story so interesting! I'm blown away by the fact that she is so well educated and writes SO well despite basically not having much schooling until she was 15 or so. She is a year younger than I am and I can't help but compare how much she's achieved in so little time with very little resources. I've already finished the challenge but I would actually consider this one for the Mental Health prompt considering how she has to cope with her own mental health while dealing with her family.
QOTW: I've never actually gone to any book signing/events before. I currently live about 45 minutes away from the closest city who could really pull popular authors. I think the only author I would really make an effort to go see would be JK Rowling but that's because she writes my two favorite series. I imagine those would be quite packed though so that would certainly be a deterrent. I think it would be interesting to go to book signing/readings of non-fiction books. I imagine that it's pretty common to hear anecdotes/stories that didn't make it into the books themselves which could be interesting.
Ali wrote: "Hello everyone! It's been a really rough week. I live around the corner from Tree of Life Synagogue. I'm safe as is my family and friends, but our community is so shaken. But it's heartening to see..."Oh, gosh - how awful! I live not too far from Sante Fe High School, which had the school shooting earlier this year so I'm unfortunately familiar to how it feels to have your community shaken up by such a horrible thing. That's such a good idea your library had. I hope some people find a little solace/help in the books offered.
I’m slowly working my way through my last few prompts. I finished:Five Quarters of the Orange for my book with my favorite color in the title. I liked, but didn’t love it.
I’m reading Tender Is the Night for my book with the time of day in the title. I re read The Great Gatsby for the allegory, and thought I would try to re-read this one as I read it in college and remember nothing about it. So far, liking this one too.
After I finish that one I will be at 50/52.
QOTW: I live in a bookish place so there are lots of opportunities to see authors. My favorites have been Marilynne Robinson and Barbara Ehrenreich. Would love to see Ann Patchett and Barbara Kingsolver.
Christine wrote: "Hi all! I have a Halloween hangover - nothing to do with booze, just in that sad zone when the fun is over but the decorations still need to be taken down, and I haven't successfully changed gears ..."I love The Good Place too! Such an original, clever show!
Hi everyone. This will be my final check in until December now Nanowrimo is here. This week I finished When Marnie Was There. This was very cute without being schmaltzy, very much like the film (although the book is set in Norfolk, not Japan). I really liked it, and the rough, dreamy illustrations were perfect for this book
QOTW: I've never met any authors but Carol Ann Duffy spoke at my graduation
I didn't finish any books this week. I have 9 books checked out from the library and am picking up 5 more tonight. Only 2 of them are nearly finished, so I need to get busy.GoodReads Challenge: 82/90 books
PS Challenge: Finished
QOTW: I've been to a few author readings, but they have all been local authors. I have really enjoyed going as authors fascinate me. We don't get a lot of the well-known authors here, and I seem to not hear about them until afterwards when we do.
Raquel wrote: "It's November 1st, I still haven't decided if I'm trying to write for NaNoWriMo, I suddenly decided to try to read as many of the Goodreads choice awards nominees from my TBR (so about 4 from YA fa..."I have been struggling with this too! I've never done NaNoWriMo before and have done zero planning, but I had a story idea the other day and thought maybe the universe is trying to tell me to just do it? I don't know. Rather than make a decision, I made enchiladas.
I haven't read anything this week--got caught up in a podcast and have also been busy every evening this week. My office is having its bi-annual Drink on the Company Dime evening (ahem, I mean "teambuilding event") tomorrow after work so I don't think I'll be in any shape to start then, either. The rest of my weekend plans include pot pies, football, and not leaving my pajamas. Hopefully I can start on one of my remaining prompts. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not going to finish, so at this point I'm just trying to get to 35. I did start Uncle Silas this week but I'm not sure yet if it will fit a prompt.
Well, it's warm here again in NYC. My office is stifling because of course, they have already switched from A/C to heat. Plus this week has been so busy, craziness abounds. I was planning to post earlier today but did not have the opportunity, particularly while I try calming down a board of directors who are being bullied by a group of homeowners. Seriously. Which of course reminds me of the terrible events in Pittsburgh. My heart breaks for all. I have friends living there, and friends here who have close connections to the Tree of Life Synagogue. One of the founding beliefs of our country is being attacked - that of the freedom to worship, and our government basically turns its back. I'm going to be voting for change on Tuesday, that's for sure. (those who know me know that was already happening, but doesn't hurt to keep saying it for all to hear).
Halloween is something I love in abstract, but not in actual practice. I don't get home sufficiently early from work to participate in the trick or treating in my building, I'm a lawyer so dressing up in costume at work is just not going to happen, and by the time I head home, it's not so safe on the streets --- too many use the night for mischief. I'm always relieved when I get home! So sad.
Now for books. For challenges, I finished Pop Sugar at the end of August, blew past my GR annual challenge a couple of weeks ago (now at 154/150 books read in 2018), and I only have one book left to read to have completed ATY. I've also just about caught up on all the library ebook loans I have - one left! Don't worry, I'll keep posting my reading!
Finished - a slow reading week for me, in part because it was so busy and in part due to working on a cross stitch project. I'm finally at the point in the project that I can see the end so I'm really motivated to stitch.
Such a Long Journey - Bombay, India, 1971, war with Bangladesh is imminent. We meet Gustad Noble, a bank clerk, and his family and neighbors in an apartment complex, all middle class but slowly, inexorably slipping into poverty due to the economic condition of India. Gustad's eldest son has defied the family's plans for his future, his daughter has a mysterious illness, his best friend at the bank, is dying of cancer, and Gustad gets a letter from his best friend from childhood asking for a favor that further endangers the delicate balance of his life. Reading this is indeed a journey, an emotional one, with a very strong sense of place and time. There is humor, tenderness, mystery, tragedy, protest, and a particularly negative view of Indira Gandhi and her government. The chapter describing the Zoroastrian funeral at Bombay's Tower of Silence was mindblowing! First novel by this author, and first time reading him for me. I will read more, but this only got 3 stars from me. I liked it but I had to push myself to read it; it just was not engaging me steadily.
Dead Now Of Course - Snuck this in as another finish yesterday, but only because it took only about an hour to read it. This is a light memoir of Phyllida Law's early days as an actress which coincide with her romance and marriage to Eric Thompson, tofether they are the parents of Emma Thompson and Sophie Thompson! An absolute delight, filled with funny anecdotes about being on the British stage just after the war. Also filled with charming illustrations by the author, memorabilia and old photos (my favorite old photo features a theater cat). Highly recommend - a 5 star read. I was able to slot this into the 2015 Pop Sugar prompt for a memoir - last year I started filling 2015 prompts with books that did not fit any challenge I am doing then, and I continued that practice this year. Figure eventually I'll finish 2015 Pop Sugar.
Currently reading - need to settle on something. I have a buddy read in another group starting today - Circe. Awaiting my attention is Zadie Smith's Swing Time which I've designated to be my ATY book with a cover that's only words (my last prompt there). I also have a bunch of Christmas cozies and romances wanting attention...I'll settle on something on the way home.
QOTW: Have I ever! I do want to say that I'm surprised at how many of you think you have to own already or buy the book and have authors sign at a signing. In my experience, which is pretty extensive, 3/4's of the attendees are only there to hear the reading or discussion or whatever, and don't have books being signed. On rare occasions, it will just be a signing - those are usually timed signing events during some kind of book fair or festival where the authors are participating in various panels etc. as well.
I live in NYC, which may be the USA's author event mecca. Since at least the late 1980s, attending author events of all kinds has made up a big part of my cultural life. You can easily find some author event every single week -- multiple times actually - here. Not just bookstores have them but cultural institutions, libraries, museums, community groups, universities and other schools all have author events from readings and signings to panel discussions. Some charge a fee, most are free. I also have as clients and friends authors, booksellers and others in the publishing industry, which means I sometimes feel obligated to show up, LOL! Some highpoints:
Barbara Kingsolver - just in the last 10 days! On publication day for Unsheltered one of our local cultural institutions had an event that included an interview with Barbara, Actress Joanna Gleason performing a reading from her new book, audience Q & A, and a signing after.
Sue Grafton - first time was when D is for Deadbeat was published, at the sorely missed tiny Murder Ink bookstore. She was not famous yet - and I was one of 3 or 4 who showed up. Got to spend quality time chatting with her as she signed a mountain of books for the store. Learned so much backstory!
George R.R. Martin - First time was for A Feast for Crows I think (might have been A Storm of Swords) held at one of the smaller Barnes & Noble stores in NYC with no real event space. They were totally unprepared for the hundreds of people that showed up for his reading and signing. Waited hours to get my books signed and at that point, he was still signing however many books you brought, and personalizing each signature so I have 4 of his books personalized. All first edition hardcovers too. Now he's such a huge draw, they practically have to rent Madison Square Gardens - I exaggerate only slightly. When he comes to town, strategy comes into play and he only signs the current publications, in limited quantities and no more personalized. However, he is always fascinating and there has always been a great Q & A session.
Alan Furst - love his readings and signings. always shares his writing and research process for each book. Fascinating.
Cara Black - she writes the marvelous Aimee LeDuc series of detective mysteries set in Paris. I'm actually her Official Stand-In Stalker ... She was in NYC just a couple months ago, and Mysterious Book Shop had wine, cheese and fruit served, tres French.
Nigella Lawson - I've lost track of how many signings and talks with Nigella I've attended, including one where Mario Batali interviewed her! Sometimes there is even food served... but her events are becoming so large that food isn't as likely anymore.
Wynton Marsalis - jazz trumpeter, wrote a YA book and held a talk and signing at Barnes & Noble. I did buy the book and got his autograph, as a Christmas gift for my eldest brother who is a huge fan of his. Wynton was an absolute delight.
Bob Newhart - I had to sneak away from work in the middle of the day to go to his reading and signing, my copy of his book clutched in my hand. It was so worth it.
Arturo Pérez-Reverte - he writes wonderful intellectual mysteries as well as a series featuring a 17th Century Spanish night. I've been to signings for many of his books, including The Club Dumas and The Flanders Panel, and always enjoy them. His English is excellent, however, he travels around the USA with a simultaneous translator as a back-up so there is no chance of missing anything or not understanding.
My biggest regret was not going to one of the JK Rowling events where she signed her books. There was really only one true opportunity here in NYC before her series totally took off and events became limited, costly or restricted to parents with children (which I totally understand as she was writing to engage children after all).
Most of the author events are very lightly attended because let's face it, most do not have followings like George RR Martin or Stephen King. But that only means a lot more opportunity to have a personal interaction, learn something, and maybe in the process decide to buy the book and get it autographed, even if only as a gift.
Literally just finished Margaret Robertson's An Enchantment of Ravens and loved it! Perilous Guard meets Twilight, a light fun romance about the fair folk. Just fun.
Hello November! I am participating in my ninth NaNoWriMo. I don't have much of a clue what I'm writing though.I finished two books this week, though none for the challenge. First was Zenith, just the next book on my massive pile of unread ebooks. I also read Planetary Science: Explore New Frontiers. This last is for research on my novel in progress.
I'm currently reading Gone with the Wind for a book with a weather element in the title. I had hoped to finish it before November, but it is just too huge! I'm loving it though. It's a great book.
QotW:
I haven't been to many author events, and none were for big name authors. I've attended a small, low-budget writers conference which featured a variety of authors from around my home state. This event always features an Author's Night, where each of the author's participating in the conference have an opportunity to read something from their work.
There are several authors that if I knew about an event they were featured in, and if it was held close enough to where I am that I could get away to it, I'd try to go. I live only an hour away from Powell's Book Store and I know they hold events there. My local library also sometimes hosts author events too.
Good afternoon from a slightly overcast and very windy but still very hot Outback. Got my first Christmas party tomorrow night. Sort of looking forwards to it. I'm not ready. And we only got told it was on yesterday. Mix up at Hubby's work since his secretary was away and nobody else gave him the memo. YayyyWent and had my yearly Breastscreen Mammogram yesterday. I always say a little bit of discomfort for a lot of peace of mind. One old lady was regaling us with her adventures having to use a bucket for a toilet earlier that day. We were nearly rolling on the floor laughing. So funny. Anyhoo....
I've had a slow reading week this week even though I have been reading every day I haven't actually finished much. I bought Stephen Kings new novella Elevation as well as Jessica Townsends Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow. I started reading Elevation in the Chinese restaurant while I ate lunch and was killing time before the Tit Squashing. I also bought 6 second hand books for $25 which I was rather happy with.
Read
Elevation by Stephen King hardback Really enjoyed it. Rather heartwarming actually.
Click-Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman Read this funny little Gaiman short story. Well it wasn't funny as such....it was really rather creepy lol
Currently reading
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (paperback) Been reading this on and off all week and really enjoying it. Just haven't had the opportunity (or the will) to sit and finish it. Maybe will get it knocked over tonight or tomorrow.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence Started this a couple of weeks ago and it's sitting beside me waiting for me to be in the mood for it again. It's a good book but I'm just not in the right frame of mind for some reason.
There's still Coraline, Beartown, The Immortalists, Leviathan Wakes, Bear and the Nightingale and Cinder sitting on my currently reading list as well. One day I'll finish them.
QOTW
Nah I don't get to go to any author things. Best I've ever had was last month when I got a signed book by Mark Lawrence (Grey Sister) in the mail. Made me happy anyway :)
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Admin note: The November group read of The Immortalists will be starting soon. Heather has volunteered as discussion leader.
**Cheri has volunteered to lead our last group read of 2018 - Circe. Thank you to ALL that have volunteered this year!**
Two months left in this year’s challenge! Congratulations to all those who have finished already! For those still working no worries. I’m right there with you :)
Finished:
Animal Farm by George Orwell. I read this for my allegory. Somehow I’ve never read it before now!
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – read this for my book club this month. It was ok. I plan to reread one day and I expect I will like it more after a second read through.
Currently reading:
The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol by Kevin Purdy. Using for my Halloween book
Snape: A Definitive Reading by Lorrie Kim. This is my anti-hero book
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. It's been on my list for years. I had planned to use it for the stage play prompt. I already filled it, but I may switch this one in just because :)
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. My micro-history
Question of the week:
Have you ever attended a book signing or author event for a favorite author? Do you have specific authors that you will absolutely go to see if they come anywhere near where you live?
I had the great privilege to see Diana Gabaldon several years ago. I am hopeful that I can see her again when her next book is released.
I wanted to see Anne Bogel on her book tour this fall, but it just didn't happen. I hope to have another opportunity in the future!
I think there are other authors I would love to hear speak, but JK Rowling is the only one that comes to mind at the moment.