Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2018 Weekly Checkins
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Week 48: 11/23 – 11/29
48/52Halfway through Circe for the monthly read/Published in 2018 book.
Then I just have three to go:
Involving Time Travel: A Wrinkle in Time
Weather Element in Title: The Mist
Two Authors: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
As slow a reader as I am, I think I can handle that. The end is in sight!
Mod
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I am determined to finish this classic before the year ends! I’m over halfway done!"
I am so impressed. I keep telling myself I should read that, and ... I keep not reading it. It's been a while since I've slogged through a long classic, but I think next up for me will be Agnes Grey, when I'm ready.
It's been stormy this week, I could barely walk down the road to work this morning as the wind off the sea was so strong. Hopefully the train lines aren't covered with trees when I need to get home...I finished The Mortal Word which was so much fun. I am so happy there have been 3 more books announced as this kinda felt like a series ending.
I listened to Empire of Booze which was an interesting look at the history of alcoholic drinks from the perspective of how Britain influenced them.
I am currently reading The Light Between Worlds, it's about a girl who came back from a Narnia-type land but it's not as good as Seanan McGuire's take on that idea.
I'm listening to Semiosis: A novel of first contact which is about alien plants and seems promising so far.
I've surpassed what I read last year both for pages and books read. I hadn't set my goal to read more this year but audiobooks have really helped matters.
QOTW:
My work holiday year runs Jan-Dec so I always get to use up my "spare" holiday at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to a blissful two and a half weeks off, eating, drinking and watching mediocre telly. I love having a real Christmas tree, they smell so good. We might go get ours this weekend as previous years our Nordmann Fir have lasted ages after we took the decorations down.
There is a street in our little town which was featured in the Cadbury's Christmas advert a few years ago, where they go all out on their lights. I think they are switching on on the 8th so I will make an effort to go down there for that.
I'm not religious, so it's more about hibernating for me. And sparkly things. And food!
Nadine wrote: "I am so impressed. I keep telling myself I should read that, and ... I keep not reading it. It's been a while since I've slogged through a long classic, but I think next up for me will be Agnes Grey, when I'm ready."I find audiobooks to be a big help in working through some classics. I am listening to Davina Porter's narration of Anna Karenina (she does the Outlander books and I adore her). I listened to Alex Jennings read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall earlier this month.
I plan to finish The Count of Monte Cristo next year and will likely buy the audiobook for that as well.
Oh, and I should add, it has taken me several years to finish Anna. I started it 2 or 3 years ago and have picked it up and put it down many times since then. I finally decided to push through and finish it!
I'm currently huddling under a blanket and feeling sorry for myself because 1) I'm loaded with the cold, and 2) I have carpet fitters in right now and they're very noisy and keep leaving the front door open so my house is freezing. They're nearly done though, and I have a distraction from my cold this afternoon in the shape of my toddler son's playgroup, so I should stop moaning and get to checking in.I read two books this week, both good'uns. The first was Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. I'd heard so much about this book, and that isn't always a good thing. But in this case it was a very good thing, because this is a very good book. Gail Honeyman can really nail a character, from a scruffy IT tech to a smarmy singer right the way through to a sassy black cat. And not just in the characters' voices but also in the tiny details of how they move, act and are seen through the eyes of Eleanor. And where do I start with Eleanor?! Such an awkward, frustrating and unlikeable character, who you can't fail to root for and grow to understand. This story unfolds with little quirks, and I couldn't put it down. It's tough and upsetting to read about loneliness and the impact of childhood trauma, but this book is warm and touching in its approach. The importance of human connection and kindness is the undercurrent of this story, like the electric blanket (which I'm sure Eleanor probably has) on a cold mattress. Loved it.
And last night I read We Should All Be Feminists. Any voice adding to the feminism conversation is going to get a high rating for me, but I knew I was in safe hands with the author of Purple Hibiscus. I have never seen the original TED talk from which this is taken (next stop after this review), but I can imagine it was a powerful presentation as this is a powerful read. It is hugely accessible and speaks to feminism as something for everybody. It isn't confined to academic tomes, and it isn't something that women (or men) who seek equality should be scared or ashamed of. Patriarchy has done a good PR turn to put out the messages that feminists are anti-men, supremacist or no longer needed because equality exists now (newsflash, all deeply untrue). Voices like Adiche's show the real, human quality of feminism, and the importance of everyone identifying as a feminist. I could have read another 300 pages of her on this topic, but this is a short read which serves as a great introduction to the truth of feminism.
What is something you look forward to during your holiday season?
For me it's all about the kids. Elf on the Shelf, visits to Santa, reading them Christmas books, going to the school play and fair...love it. I had my first son when I was still basically a child myself (just turned 18), so I've never had an "adult" Christmas! My husband and I host a party for our friends each year too, and that's a highlight as well. We wear Christmas jumpers, get drunk, and do a stupid Secret Santa lucky dip...so it's not very grown up either!
Mike wrote: "Two Authors: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyMike, I'll be interested to see what you think once you've read this! I loved it as have most of my reader friends, but they are almost all female. I want to know if the book appeals to men also?
Sara wrote: "Currently reading:Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I am determined to finish this classic before the year ends! I’m over halfway done!"
Good for you! I really didn't like it...the story got lost in the droning on about politics/farming/whatever.
Sarah wrote: "Good for you! I really didn't like it...the story got lost in the droning on about politics/farming/whatever..."I agree. He clearly had an agenda and while it's a little interesting to get a glimpse of the politics/social issues of the time far too much of the book is spent discussing that. Also, it feels like a really slow train-wreck is happening as everything and everyone is deteriorating. I'm glad I'm reading it, but it will definitely be a one-time read!
Not much reading happening in my life as I have had a friend visiting and we have been busy seeing the delights of NYC at Christmas! Too busy being tour guide to read while traveling around, and falling asleep as soon as head hit pillow.Did finish Unleashed by Donna Kaufmann, a Christmas novella that turned out to be second in a trilogy involving the Hamilton family and no real holiday anything. Pet sitter stranded in isolated mansion during an ice storm over Christmas when owner's nephew appears bent on searching out dark family secrets. Fluff with a steamy scene or two, leaving enough mystery to encourage reading whole trilogy.
Currently reading Olive Kitteridge - about halfway and LOVE it!
QOTW: I adore Christmas! It has always been a big deal in my family. What I look forward to most:
NYC lights, window displays, Rockefeller Center tree, and Christmas markets. NYC is at its best in December each year.
Christmas movies, cozy mysteries and romances
Exchanging Christmas stockings with family (all adults and it is more fun than when we were kids)
Christmas music ... my brother made recordings years ago of all our favorite Christmas LPs from growing up on the farm - Lennon Sisters and Gene Autry Christmas albums anyone?
Decorating my own apartment and tree
Mod
This week I finished six books plus one short. It's been a very random week for me, several of the books I've read weren't even on my TBR.
Horizon by Scott Westerfeld - this is actually my first book from Westerfeld! This is one of those YA series written by multiple popular YA authors; Westerfeld wrote the first one, and seems to get credit for "creating" the story. This was NOT on my TBR, but I was looking for another audiobook read by Johnathan McClain, because I thought I liked his style in A Brief History of Seven Killings but I wasn't sure, since that's an ensemble audiobook. Turns out I DO like McClain's voice, AND I enjoy Westerfeld. This book is a lot of fun!! It would be perfect for a family car trip, but do NOT listen to it before a plane trip, because it opens with a plane crash, and YIKES.
I enjoyed "Horizon" so much (and it's really short) so I picked up the sequel: Deadzone written by Jennifer A. Nielsen (and either her style is just like Westerfeld's, or she imitated him perfectly, because I did not detect any difference). This was just as much fun, and also read by McClain. I'm now dedicated to listening to the entire series. (Right now only the first three books are available on Overdrive, I trust the fourth book will be made available soon.)
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline - this was part of my reading for Native American Heritage month, and it was excellent. This is a YA dystopian set in a future where white people have (for some reason) lost the ability to dream, and they hunt down Native Americans and extract their bone marrow as a cure. Yes, that sounds far-fetched, but don't worry, it's not prominent in the book. The story is about a small group of Natives who are on the run in the Canadian woods. The slower pace and depth of emotion in this book reminded me of YA books from my youth in the 70s.
Artificial Condition & Rogue Protocol, books 2 & 3 in the Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells - they are short (novella length) and excellent and laugh-out-loud funny. If you enjoy SFF and these sound at all interesting, I strongly encourage you to read them. I am now dedicated to reading EVERYTHING Wells writes. I'll start with her Raksura series next year.
Those Who Knew by Idra Novey - I hated this. I felt like I was trapped in a conversation where everyone was nudge-nudge and wink-wink all the time and never actually talking to me.
I also decided to make myself a sort of "literary advent calendar" of free short SFF stories to read in December. I have a list of shorts I want to read that is just getting longer, so I grabbed a bunch from that list, added two vaguely seasonal shorts, and made my list of 24 shorts-to-read-in-December. Yes, I'm looking forward to it! And yes I got really excited about it and read another free short right away:
Chapter Six by Stephen Graham Jones - I am now officially a huge fan of this guy, I just love the way he writes! This was a delightfully disgusting AND thought-provoking zombie story, all in 17 pages, it packed a punch. Bonus: he's also a Native American, so it fits in with my Native American Heritage reading :-)
If you like zombie stories, you owe it to yourself to read this! It's short! It's free! It's right here:
http://www.tor.com/2014/06/11/chapter...
QOTW
Well, I'm looking forward to my list of short stories to read ;-)
I also look forward to all the lights. We have a lot of cloud cover here, and a lot of precipitation, and it gets really gloomy at this time of year when the days grow dramatically shorter and I live like a vampire going to work and driving home in the dark, so the lights people put up really help. I am a complete slacker and do not put up lights myself (I SHOULD, I SHOULD! I should go to Home Depot and buy one of those light-up reindeer!). Syracuse has one of those drive-through light displays in Onondaga Lake Park and we go to that some years (and I do have a ticket for it already this year), but mostly I just like all the lights around the neighborhood.
Also, I have a tradition of reading a pile of graphic novels on Christmas Day when my kids are at their grandparents' house for dinner, and tbh, I do look forward to that: a whole afternoon of guilt-free, uninterrupted reading! My mother stayed with us last year, and I can't remember how I handled that, I think I just said: "I'm going to read now, mom!" I've already got several titles lined up to read.
QOTW: This is going to be a real downer. I usually look forward to going down to Florida to see my parents. I read a Christmas-themed book on the flight. I look forward to summery weather (wrong as that may be), and being away from home and work and worries for a week. But, this year, my parents got stuck up here because my dad has to have all these medical tests and he may have cancer, and it's one more reminder that my parents aren't going to live forever.
Sara wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Good for you! I really didn't like it...the story got lost in the droning on about politics/farming/whatever..."I agree. He clearly had an agenda and while it's a little interesting..."
Actually, I think everyone, including me, starts reading this with an idea about what the story is....and it actually is not that at all. For those who have read it, consider if it was titled Levin instead? I hazard to suggest Levin's story is the true heart of the book.
Katy wrote: "this year, my parents got stuck up here because my dad has to have all these medical tests and he may have cancer, and it's one more reminder that my parents aren't going to live forever. Katy, I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope this season brings you much joy in being with your parents, even if the circumstances are not the best. I hope and pray that your dad doesn't have cancer, or at least that it is treatable and he will be on the road to recovery soon. Hugs!
I forgot to add one more thing to my list of Christmas loves!Last year we started what I hope will be an annual visit to Busch Gardens Christmas Town in Williamsburg, VA. Between Thanksgiving and New Years the themepark is transformed with thousands of lights! There are shows, a few rides, food, shopping and it is absolutely magical.
There are some nice photos posted on this website to give you an idea of what it's like: https://www.tripsavvy.com/christmas-t...
Theresa wrote: "I hazard to suggest Levin's story is the true heart of the book."My friend who suggested I read this book several years ago said the same thing. I enjoy Levin and Kitty and their story very much!
Another crazy busy week here but should calm down a bit from tomorrow. I have a face full of stitches after the first set of dodgy moles and bccs were removed on Monday. Luckily the swelling and bruising has gone down a bit and I look less like Frankenstein's monster than at the start of the week. Good warning to the kids though to take care in the sun. Had to postpone getting my cracked tooth fixed as couldn't open my mouth. All marking, moderation and reports are now done for the year (as of today) so school is calmer. Tomorrow I get all the test results back from the doc for compulsory being an old fart screening. Pretty sure I'm fine but...… Tuesday I get the histo results on this weeks face chopping and they make a plan for the rest based on that.Only finished one book this week: All Good Things which I expected to be like Almost French and another witty look at living in another country. Wrong it was mostly about her struggle with IVF. While the writing was still good it was just not the book I expected it to be and the subject matter was not something I am interested in at all. It is biologically interesting but I have spent the last 30+ years making very sure I don't get knocked up so I just couldn't connect. It may give hope to those who are in the midst of that battle though so to each their own.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Currently reading: The Rains. My first Hurwitz attempt and it fits my current mood much better. Ophiocordyceps unilateralis the zombie ant fungus starts taking over the adults through the myelination of the frontal cortex. Some of the bio is over simplified but not exactly wrong so it does give the story a bit more oompf. Always quite liked zombie ants too.
QOTW: No idea what I am doing for Christmas this year yet. The last 14 have been with my furbaby/furbabies so whatever happens it will be a bit sad not to watch the furbabies open their presents and very odd.
Sara wrote: "Mike wrote: "Two Authors: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyMike, I'll be interested to see what you think once you've read this! I loved it as have most of my reader friends, but ..."
OK, but it will likely be towards the end of December when I get to it. Please remind me in case I forget.
The time has been slipping away the past couple of weeks. I haven't read much, but I don't really know what I've done with my reading time. I suspect this will continue to happen in December as it is a busy month. I read three books this week. I read:A Fatal Grace- the second of the Chief Inspector Gamache series. I enjoyed the first two so I have the third on hold at the library.
My Name is Mary Sutter- a book about a woman determined to become a surgeon at the beginning of the American Civil War. I stumbled upon this while I was browsing a bookshop. I enjoyed the book, but I'm really interesting in the Civil War.
Love Double Dutch!- a middle grade novel which I really disliked. The protagonist is so disrespectful to everyone it was actually distracting. I don't recommend this book.
QOTW:
If it is about Christmas, I look forward to it. This is my favorite holiday and I love the lights, the decorations, the school concerts, the children's books, the shopping, and on and on and on.
Sara wrote: "I plan to finish The Count of Monte Cristo next year and will likely buy the audiobook for that as well."I'm listening to The Count of Monte Cristo audiobook now. I highly recommend the Naxos edition. Bill Homewood reads the book, and he's a fantastic narrator. I'm just about halfway through.
Goodness, I haven't been on in a while. And my reading fell behind as well. I have managed to finish a few books but will definitely fall short of finishing the challenge.COMPLETED PROMPTS:
A book that's published in 2018 - The River Widow This was one of my free Amazon Prime picks so since I didn't have anything yet for this prompt I used it here. Definitely won't be a favorite book.
A book set in a country that fascinates you: The Heir and the Spare I read this just for fun and found that I hadn't read anything for this prompt. Well, the UK and especially the royal family definitely fascinate me, so this book was perfect for this prompt! (FYI - would also work for next year's book set on a college or university campus since it takes place in Oxford,)
A childhood classic you've never read: Where the Red Fern GrowsThis was the second one I read for this prompt because I read with my 12-year old and am trying to introduce him to some classics. Oh! This book had me ugly crying by the end.
A microhistory: Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything Being a healthcare professional, I found this book to be humorously fascinating and am very grateful for all the advancements we have had in medicine!
ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE:
The Year of Magical Thinking - I have been reading this for months and just can't get into it.
Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington - Am loving this book. Historical fiction set in colonial times - I couldn't ask for a better book!
Love Is a Mix Tape - for my local author read. Another one I have been working on for months and just can't seem to get into.
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House - Not going to happen.
QOTW: I love all of the music - carols, songs on the radio, and a Messiah sing-along if I can get to one! I wrapping presents! And even thought I KNOW it's not just about the presents, I LOVE finding that perfect gift for someone and watching their eyes light up when they open it.
This week I finished the boys in the boat. Great book! Thank you to the multiple folks in the group who've recommended it :)I also read Anna Karenina this year, I loved Kitty and Levin, and enjoyed the whole book so much I'm considering tackling War and Peace this year. I definitely need a good audiobook to make it through the long choice though!
QOTW: I also love the lights! I'm a colored lights fan for my own house, but love driving around the neighborhood and seeing what everyone else has up! I also walk to the bus stop, and love the Christmas lights make the walk more warm when it's dark out way to and from work.
Nadine wrote: "I am a complete slacker and do not put up lights myself (I SHOULD, I SHOULD! I should go to Home Depot and buy one of those light-up reindeer!). "Wait until after Christmas. Get them half off. Honestly, I have so many Christmas decorations because I love Christmas decorations but a good 90 percent of them were bought after Christmas each year.
Finished the challenge, but these are the books I’ve read the last couple of weeks and typing this up made me realize that it was a very meh couple of weeks for reading.The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir. It’s about a teenager who is a member of a reality show family (Duggaresque vibes) and who is pregnant and has to deal with the fallout from that. Really enjoyed it. Would recommend.
With Malice by Eileen Cook. Teenager gets in a car accident while in Italy. The accident kills her best friend. Her father quickly flies her home to recover and avoid any jail time because she is suspected to have caused the accident.
This book was okay. I would watch the heck out of a Netflix series about it though.
The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine. YA romance and it was very meh. I didn’t really like either of the main characters but I didn’t really dislike them either. I skimmed the last 50 pages or so.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. It was okay. I didn’t love
Sourdough either so maybe this author is just now for me.
QOTW:
I love Christmas decorations and I’m a teacher so we get 2 weeks off. So I’m looking forward to some good Netflix and reading time.
I didn´t finish anything for the challenge.I am currently listening to The Boy in the Suitcase (in Danish) for Nordic Noir. This is really funny since a few here have talked about it. It is very place specific, and I am trying to picture how it would be to read it without knowing the places it is set. Enjoying it.
Reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, but it´s on pause for some days, because I am busy with a couple of review books.
Also reading Det forbandede totem (The Cursed Totem) for my 9-year old. It is a long time since he wanted me to read for him, so I thought it was an era finished all too soon. I am so happy it isn´t! His older brothers are 15 and 18, and they don´t want me to read aloud.
QOTW:
Here (Denmark) we have a tradition of lighting candles and decorations made with spruce. I love the smell of spruce and stearin (I tried to look up the meaning of those two, but I am not sure I have it right).
I usually bake cookies with my sons - we have a whole range of cookies we only eat around christmas.
And I don´t know if this is a thing in other places, but there is a tradition of "Calendars": TV and chapter books with one chapter/episode a day from the 1st - 24th (we celebrate christmas on the evening of the 24th). I love to watch/read these with my kids.
All the extra activities at their schools etc. I don´t love so much - I think they are hyggelige, but they can be a bit much. My husband suffers from anxiety, so it´s only me participating in them, and he also feels more pressured around christmas, so that takes a bit off the hygge.
But I like the family gatherings and doing christmasy things with my sons, nephews and nieces.
The group discussion for The Immortalists is still open, so if you have any final thoughts about the book, join us in the thread to gush, rant, speculate, or whatever else is on your mind!Finished
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole. I didn't really care for this book. There are a lot of elements I didn't like, but mostly I didn't find it realistic these two characters would strike up a correspondence so I wasn't invested in their relationship.
In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnett. This was the first celebrity memoir I've liked. (Actually, it's the first one I haven't wanted to set on fire.) Carol writes about her favorite skits, how much she liked her cast and crew, and the jokes they shared behind the scenes. It was a very funny and entertaining read. I wouldn't expect anything less of Carol Burnett, though.
Roomies by Christina Lauren. I had to read this book when I read the summary. A green card marriage and a secret crush? I'm in! I really liked the book. I would have given it 5 stars except for some throwaway lines that really bothered me. Like when the main character is "finding herself" as a writer and somehow this has to include taking up jogging and losing weight. Insert massive eye-roll.
Reading
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
Other than that, I've only just started One Day in December by Josie Silver. Last night, I picked up Wanderlove by Kristen Hubbard, read one page, and decided I was too tired to read. More on those next week.
QOTW
I think my favorite thing about Christmas is going home for a long vacation. I only get to see my friends and family twice a year. Most of my loved ones are retired or have off around the holiday season (teachers and librarians) so we have a lot of time together, much more than when I come home at other times of the year.
Katy, all my best wishes and mojo to you and your dad. I'm coming up on the 4-year anniversary of my lumpectomy, and as far as the docs can tell, I'm fine! A friend of mine got diagnosed around the same time, and she's fine and just had a baby! Hopefully it's not even cancer, but even if it is, every year they get better and better at tolerable, effective treatments. Hugs to you all.Nadine, I love the story advent calendar idea - might have to cobble something similar together to help me break out of my current slump.
Speaking of, I finished re-reading Persuasion, which was lovely of course, but otherwise I can't get traction on anything. And I'm super disappointed that Just One Damned Thing After Another turned out to be grating instead of enchanting. I DNF after slogging through 27% of it.
QOTW
I love the family stuff, but the most fun thing to share is this crazy rich couple who have turned their home into a free light show for anyone to drive through and see. This year they even bought the property across the street and installed some last-minute pillars to decorate - presumably next year there will be structures to decorate there too! Christmas Lights on Holt Road
Katy wrote: "QOTW: This is going to be a real downer. I usually look forward to going down to Florida to see my parents. I read a Christmas-themed book on the flight. I look forward to summery weather (wrong as..."Katy, I'm so sorry! Hope that all goes well with your dad's tests. Even though you won't be in sunny Florida, enjoy the time that you do have with them now! Maybe you can find a fun Christmas read that is set in Florida!
It's hard to believe the year's almost over already! Time flies... and I'm NOT ready for Christmas! Hopefully I can get into the mood here and not be a Grinch...Books I read/finished this week:
Things Go Wrong For Me -- absolutely hilarious comic memoir, though definitely not for all tastes -- there's a LOT of swearing and the last several chapters discuss the author's vasectomy... and he does not shy away from details.
The Blue Hawk -- a fantasy with some amazing worldbuilding, but the story tends to wander a bit. Still decent, not fantastic.
Running Wide Open -- a YA coming-of-age novel about a boy who goes to live with his stock-car-racer uncle. Great book!
DNF:
Eventide -- ever read a book where the description on the back cover/dust jacket doesn't match the contents? This was a case of that...
Santa vs. Krampus -- this looked like a hilarious holiday read, but the writing was juvenile enough that I just wasn't enjoying it. Looks like I re-read A Christmas Carol or pick up A Season of Gifts for my holiday read...
Currently Reading:
The Invisible Library
The Black Tides of Heaven
QOTW:
One of my favorite holiday traditions is putting up our Christmas tree. It has a HUGE assortment of ornaments, from store-bought to homemade, and there are precious memories behind a lot of these ornaments. And given that I'm a huge nerd, you'll find a smattering of dragon, Star Wars, and Transformers ornaments hanging amidst the snowmen, Santas, snowflakes, and Nativity scenes. XD
Morning all! My guest have finally gone home and I am loving all the alone time that I'm getting. Not that I didn't love having them but 15 days with my MIL and her partner (7 of those with my own parents joining us) and I am officially tapped out on the socializing. All of our guests are very active and enjoy being on the go so I've been snuggling up with a book in the evenings and just enjoying doing nothing.
This week I finished The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and I found it thoroughly entertaining. I was a little worried about 100 pages in that it was only going to focus on the sexual encounters of the main character Monty and to be honest although I found him cheeky and fun to read about I also realized what a selfish and immature person he was. I was thrilled when I realized that the situation had changed and the plotline was going to be a learning experience for him. I'm going to snag the sequel (his sister's story) when I next pop to the library.
I listened to an audiobook during work The Monogram Murders which is a new Poirot mystery by a new author and although it was easy to listen to and was moderately interesting enough to keep me going through the whole thing there were a lot of things I did not like about it. First off, I hated that the largest text on the cover is 'Agatha Christie'. As a designer this seemed pretty misleading and purely for sales purposes to catch potential readers attention. The story just didn't read feel authentic enough to me. The main detective is a terrible detective who really is bad at his job. The eventual solution to the murders seemed unlikely to me from a psychological standpoint. Overall I'd suggest giving this one a miss if you are a Christie fan and have this on your TBR.
And lastly, on the recommendation of my parents, I finished The Woman in the Window which is a debut novel for the author. This was a psychological thriller where an agoraphobic child psychologist thinks she has witnessed a murder but can't trust her own mind due to booze and medication. I think this author really has potential and a beautiful writing style but the plot itself was incredibly predictable. I figured out pretty much all of the twists and even had a pretty big one guessed by the second or third chapter. It was still an good read and I liked it but anyone who reads mysteries or thrillers should be able to pick out what's coming next from miles away.
Currently reading/listening to: Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?. I'm 60% in and loving it. I didn't realize how interested in Philosophy I am. Thank you, Lauren for suggesting it for the March monthly read next year.
QOTW:
I really love the holidays. I'm pretty isolated where I live and I love any excuse to mix up our home decor. Now that I no longer work retail, I'm totally one of the early decorators. By that I just mean that if we aren't having guests for Thanksgiving or travelling then the week of Thanksgiving I pull out the Christmas decor.
Christine wrote: "I love the family stuff, but the most fun thing to share is this crazy rich couple who have turned their home into a free light show for anyone to drive through and see. This year they even bought the property across the street and installed some last-minute pillars to decorate - presumably next year there will be structures to decorate there too! Christmas Lights on Holt Road."That's incredible! I'd hate to pay their electric bill, but I sure am glad people like that decorate so the rest of us can enjoy!
I am now at 46/50. I used a Christmas classic to get another prompt in this week.Read:
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells - I've seen the movies but never read the book; used for another challenge. It was good, once I got into it.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - used for the time travel prompt, I'm not sure I ever read the book before but obviously have seen many versions of it in film. The book is better at showing Scrooge's inner turmoil, but I confess every time I read his name the voice I heard was Scrooge McDuck.
Lonely Planet Pocket Florence by Lonely Planet - finished up reading this travel guide that I started earlier this year, it was fun to revisit some of the sights we saw on our trip.
QOTW: The movies, the music, and the lights are all highlights of the season for me. I don't think it takes away from the reason for the season to enjoy all the beauty it brings as well.
I've been down with a flu since the day after Thanksgiving, but at least it gives me an excuse to stay inside and enjoy the view of white, fluffy snow without having to go out in it. I should have gotten more reading done considering how long I've been sick and resting, but it's been more of a Netflix kind of resting. (I'm ONE episode away from finishing Star Trek TNG, and then I have to decide if I'm going to watch through Deep Space Nine and re-watch Voyager, or find something else entirely.)Finished Reading:
Eragon I understand the complaints about the 'poor writing style', but I enjoyed this book. It's still better written than some of the crap that's out there, and when I read it, I feel like the author loved all the same books I did as a child.
The Mutual Admiration Society I already mentioned this on the threads for a couple of specific prompts for next year. I discovered reading this book that I like books about precocious 11 year old girls doing detective work. (And despite the allusion, do NOT go into this expecting Flavia De Luce--Tessie is much more hardboiled, and a bit more annoying.)
On Two Feet and Wings I almost gave up on this book during the first couple of chapters, but I'm glad I stuck with it. (Partly because I didn't have any books shelved as being set in Iran yet, and I low-key am trying to read books from everywhere in the world.) I would have LOVED this book as a kid--all the fun parts of running away and seeing if you can make it on your own, without the actual running away or upsetting your parents.
Currently Reading:
Spellslinger My husband started this YA fantasy series recently and he correctly guessed that it's the sort of book I would really enjoy.
Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet Giving this one another try after DNFing the audio version a while back. It's working for me much better to actually read it.
My audio book The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery is on hiatus because I didn't finish it before my library borrow expired, and someone else had it on hold, and there are a couple other books I'm 'currently reading' but haven't made progress on because I'm mostly reading light stuff while I'm not feeling well.
DNF:
Lifel1k3 Maybe it's just because I'm not feeling well, but this book didn't seem at all interesting when I started it, so I just sent it back to the library. What is is about the 3 laws of robotics that makes any book boring?
QOTW:
So many things!
One of the highlights is Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God concert, which I highly recommend for anyone who is interested in the Christian aspects of Christmas. This year we're also going to see TSO for the first time, which I'm told is a great show.
I love the decorations--both the ones we put up inside and seeing everyone else's lights. (We would put up outside lights but the wiring in our house isn't entirely... stable, so it probably wouldn't handle the strain. I'm trying to figure out if there are any solar powered lights that wouldn't look tacky.) There's a fun light 'festival' nearby, but the displays don't change much from year to year, so most years we just drive down one of the streets in the fancy neighborhoods if we want to see good lights.
And all four of the family celebrations and gift exchanges that we do are a lot of fun! (One with my husband's grandmother and aunt/uncle/cousin, one with just my husband's parents/siblings/nieces/nephews, one with my sister and her family, and one at home so we can have our own traditions.) My husband and I both really love the process of finding the right gift for each person, so yes, I do love the part where we actually give the gifts and get to see people's reactions.
Plus of course the baking, Christmas dinner(s), candlight service at church, Christmas movies and music...
Johanne wrote: "I didn´t finish anything for the challenge.I am currently listening to The Boy in the Suitcase (in Danish) for Nordic Noir. This is really funny since a few here have talked abou..."
I had to google stearin, and I think it is accuarate to what you're trying to say, but I've never actually heard anyone use the word before. Everyone I know would probably just say 'candle wax' or possibly just 'wax' (whether the candle is actually made of wax or not).
Hi everyone! This is a 2-week check-in for me. I was with my entire family all last week and…I am still recovering. 😊 Every time we all get together we have a great time, but 25 people (including 8 kids under the age of 10) and a handful of dogs are a lot. I didn’t get much reading done last week with the craziness except via audiobooks on the drive, but I was ready to immerse myself in a book when I got back home. I hope all of the other U.S. folks had a nice Thanksgiving week also!I am now at 50/52 for Popsugar and 48/52 for Around the Year. I'll get the last few prompts read in December.
Books I finished:
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith for the female author using a male pseudonym prompt (11). I really liked this, although I kept getting confused with who the various characters were until about halfway through.
I Remember You: A Ghost Story by Yrsa Sigudardottir. This was a creepy ghost story in translation. It is told in 2 POV, with alternating chapters. I enjoyed it.
Something Old, Something New by Beverly Jenkins. Just okay. An easy enough audio while packing and driving, but a little too saccharine sweet for me.
This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash. I really liked this. It kept me awake and entertained on my drive last week. It is about a father who "kidnaps" his 2 daughters living in foster care after their mother's death.
She Rides Shotgun by Jordin Harper. I really enjoyed this debut novel. It is about a father who "kidnaps" his daughter as soon as he gets out of prison (I'm sensing a theme here??) But he does it for a good reason: the leader of a white supremacy gang has ordered the murder of his daughter and her mother. The story is gritty and dark, but I felt like I was there while reading it.
Noir by Christopher Moore. Typical Moore satire. Entertaining but not a must read.
Becoming by Michelle Obama. I absolutely loved this. Regardless of political affiliation, I would recommend this book. She is brutally honest, and it was really interesting to hear her point of view on campaigning and why she chose the platforms she did while first lady.
I am currently reading:
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
QOTW: In December I love seeing all the kids get super excited about Christmas. I have a cousin who lives nearby with small children, so I will spend a couple of afternoons at his house this month watching their eyes get wide when talking about Santa and the presents under their tree. And my niece & nephew are still Santa believers (although I think this unfortunately might be the last year), so I enjoy Facetiming with them to get Elf updates and changes to their Christmas lists. I also love all of the lights and will even drive out of my way someplace so I can detour through a neighborhood to see them. There is one neighborhood here in Dallas that really goes all out with decorations & lights and also has horse-drawn carriages through the streets during December, so that is a favorite area to drive through (as long as I don't get stuck behind a carriage).
This year, however, I am especially excited for Christmas because I am going to Cancun with one of my best friends for several days. She lives in Portland and needs a break from the rain, and I just love the beach and need a break from life in general, so yay us!
Katy wrote: "QOTW: This is going to be a real downer. I usually look forward to going down to Florida to see my parents. I read a Christmas-themed book on the flight. I look forward to summery weather (wrong as..."This year my father turned the same age as his mother was when she died, so even though my parents aren't have specific health problems, I can relate to some of those feelings. <3
Praying for good results from the tests, and a good Christmas season for your family!
We had a nasty blizzard over the weekend and my school ended up with two snow days to start this week so I got a lot of reading done for once.I finished 4 books - 3 of which count for the challenge - and that puts me at 33/40. The end is in sight!
Books I Finished:
Forge - next book in a series you started. Really good young adult book about the Revolutionary War, written from the point of view of a slave who escaped and then was captured again.
Towards Zero - for the stage play/musical prompt. I enjoyed this mystery and am wondering how I've never read Agatha Christie before now! She'll be on my "To Read" list more often in the future.
The Handmaid's Tale - for the feminist prompt. This was really interesting. I've read a lot of dystopian fiction recently but this was a new style. I read it on my phone's Kindle app and couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Twisted Up - just for fun. I started The Handmaid's Tale and decided I was in the mood for a happier book after reading a murder mystery before Handmaid. I found this on my Kindle app for free and buzzed through it quickly. I enjoy romances and this one being set in the Midwest with tornadoes playing a role made it very relatable for me.
Currently Reading:
In Cold Blood for the true crime prompt. It's good so far but I haven't gotten too deep in it yet. Plan to try and finish it by the end of the weekend so I can get on with some others on my list.
Still left in the challenge:
Nordic Noir - I downloaded Sohlberg and the Missing Schoolboy: an Inspector Sohlberg mystery on my Kindle app because our school library doesn't have many that fit this genre.
Published in 2018 - Downloaded The Secret Life of Mrs. London because it looked interesting. I teach some Jack London stories in my special ed English classes so figured reading about his wife would be entertaining.
Set on another planet - Looking at The Martian if our library has it, or I'll try another one that our librarian recommends. I've picked her brain a lot for prompts this year.
Childhood classic - Planning on Stuart Little since I have copies of it in my classroom.
Book with Twins - I have a list of several that I'll check the school library for later today.
Goodreads Choice Award winner - I also have a list for this prompt and know for sure that the library has Insurgent so I can for sure check this one off without having to search much more.
QOTW: I enjoy the break from school (love my students but sometimes it's nice to get away), seeing my family members from all over the Midwest, and competing at a New Year's rodeo near my house. That rodeo has been a good financial venture for several years since my main horse likes that arena, so we'll try it again this year.
I finished my challenge a month ago and have slowed down on reading since. I've been trying to catch up on my shows (and look for characters who are reading books for next year's prompt!). I'll answer the QOTW though.QOTW:
Christmas Eve at my house is the most important tradition. We go to the evening candlelight service at my church and sing O Holy Night (among others, but we HAVE to sing that one). Then we go home and make a smorgasbord of junk food: lil smokies, sausage, cheese, and crackers, chips and dip, cookies. This serves as dinner. We munch while we open presents. I look forward to that and then taking extra days off of work to just allow myself to be lazy and watch my kid enjoy his presents.
Hello everybody!!!I have determined that although I will reach my yearly book goal of 52 (which is more than double my highest goal in years prior so yay there) I probably will not complete this challenge or ATY. Trying to combine the challenges was much harder than I had anticipated and although I intend to burn through a few more I don't foresee me making it.
40/52
Finished Reading:
23. Time Travel
Love me some Doctor Who. This book didn't fit any marks for ATY though. I have another book called the 12 Doctors of Christmas that I want to read but fits neither challenge so I may put it on my list for next year. I have not decided if I will be doing PopSugar or ATY for my challenge (the one I don't pick I will be reading picture books for)
Currently Reading
Doesn't fit this challenge but fills in one for ATY
Listening to this for 50. Microhistory. I love it so far.
33.Childhood Classic I've never read and also for my book club
Question of the Week:
What is something you look forward to during your holiday season?
I am whole different person between October and January. I adore Halloween and Christmas. Thanksgiving is rough since my husband and I always work opposite shifts on the day of.
I live in Vegas so no snow really but it does get chilly which is lovely encouragement for hot ciders and soups which make me so happy.
I love gift giving! I love buying things for the people I love and I love presents as well if I'm honest!
I love Christmas movies!!! Every Christmas eve after my daughter goes to bed I have a cocktail or glass of wine, wrap presents and watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
I never had a big family growing up or much along the lines of traditions so into adulthood I have come up with some of my own (and tested some that have failed). The Christmas pickle tradition stemming from Germany didn't work in my household bc we only have one child and no cousins or anything here. We always each pick out a new ornament for our tree every year (we are going tonight to get them, yay!).
Skyping family! Daughter waking up early all excited because it's finally Christmas. People being kinder to one another. Cranberry bliss bars. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas on the radio, Sparkling lights. Blow up Santa sleighs. Decorating! Basically all the things!!!
Wow I finished nothing. Mostly reading for my literary destinations challenge (the only one I have left to finish) and my picks for Idaho and Maryland aren't setting me on fire.QOTW
Looking forward to being back home with friends and family since I only get there a few times a year. Also I like all the holiday lights and for me I look forward to the Solstice and the turning of the wheel of the year (as I'm more on the Druidic path). I'm looking forward to having time to write. I do a lot of writing challenges for the holidays.
Hey there!I currently have a cat on my right arm and hand and laptop so typing is really difficult and time consuming. She's also not happy with me moving so much around her tail, she keeps sweeping it against my arm/hand haha!
Books finished
SHE LEFT. Now I have my right arm and hand again! It feels weird xD.
I had my own little readathon over the weekend, to make progress on this challenge, including reading library books that weren't for the challenge so I'd be 'rid' of them, so it was quite productive, but then my app didn't have the first book of the next Warrior Cats series and it all went downhill from there, but more on that later.
Cesar superoor - A cute little not-really-a-picturebook about a bunny who isn't happy with his massively long ears. Really enjoyed it, and found a drawing that is a perfect mood for me. This was a non challenge read.
Pinocula by Obert Skye - This is the third book from this series, and I just love it. This might have been my favorite so far. The creatures are just amazing! Unfortunately the fourth book hasn't yet been translated into Dutch (they're very behind), and therefore the library doesn't have it. So I'll have to find another way to get my hands on Katfish! This was also a non challenge book.
Gegijzeld door een psychopaat (Taken hostage by a psychopath) for the True Crime prompt. I wasn't feeling my original pick so took a look at the true stories at the library. It has really opened my eyes as to how certain things in our system work, and that disgust and anger me (how can someone who escapes multiple times from prisons and institutions be deemed ready to be released against the advice of the institution he was at, without any resocialization??? Guess who fell back into old habits of breaking in, raping, and now even murdering), but the writing was very messy. I was glad it was a short read.
When Fraser Met Billy: An Autistic Boy, a Rescue Cat, and the Transformative Power of Animal Connections by Louise Booth - I LOVED THIS. I was so emotional throughout the entire book and honestly I want to give Billy (and Fraser too if he'd let me) all the hugs and cuddles. It just reinforced what I believe pets can do, and it makes me love mine even more. Would definitely recommend! This was a non challenge read, but would work for several prompts.
The Darkest Hour by Erin Hunter - The final book in the first Warrior Cats series, on audiobook. What an ending! What a ride! I am so glad I finally started this series, and that it helped me get into audiobooks! So many emotions. The first book of the second series came in today at the library for me, so I'll pick it up when I get to work tomorrow! Unfortunately it'll be Dutch, but Storytel is a dick and only has books 5 & 6 of the second series. Another non challenge read.
Currently Reading
Zomerlicht, en dan komt de nacht (Summerlight, and then comes the night) - This is a proper literary book, so I'm struggling with it. It's short stories of about 30-40 pages, all set in the same town, with overlapping people of course, but the writing is overly figurative. He can describe a feeling, and then give 5 other figurative ways to describe it. Sentences are also insane. They are massively long with a sh*tton of commas, and I have to add periods in there myself to make it readable. The worst was when you have a whole descriptive bit, that ends with someone saying something. "..." isn't used in this book, so the limited dialogue is very difficult to follow. I've read one story each night, and the one I read last night (the third) was my favorite so far. I loved that one! It read easily compared to the first two, and I liked the story itself a lot; it was a bit of a ghost story. I do wish characters would be more fleshed out, though. Hopefully the remaining stories will be on par with the third one! This book is for the time of day in the title, as once again, I wasn't feeling my original pick.
But then..
Lavender Morning. Audiobook. For the same prompt as my physical book, which was probably a mistake, but I needed something to listen to now that I've gotten used to it while doing jigsaw puzzles on my laptop.
This is terrible. Absolutely terrible. Bad writing, bad dialogue, awful characters, a ridiculous love triangle, and what initially hooked me into reading the book is actually the subplot and just messy. Sigh. It's 12,5 hours, and I sped it up to 1,25 early on. It's now on 1,5 and I still have 2,5 hours to go. I am determined to finish it today but man just the thought of having to turn it back on makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Would definitely not recommend. Stay far far away.
Hopefully my upcoming books will be better. I got my book for the celebrity book club prompt last Tuesday during work, so I'm excited for that. I'm confident I'll finish the challenge, even if I have to read some shorter books to do so. Audiobooks should help! What a revelation. My current listen might be terrible, but I can listen to it and follow, which is good as I was scared adult books would be too much. Step by step we improve!
I saw some talk about Anna Karenina, and I planned to read it this year for the Back to the Classics Challenge, but that challenge turned out to be a fail, so hopefully I'll get to try again next year. I've now got Anna planned for ATY's before 1850 prompt (I think) so fingers crossed I'll get to it! I have no clue what to expect, but I did read War & Peace a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Political stuff and such seems to be a thing for Tolstoy, but if you enjoy that there is always the full War & Peace version with loads more of it haha!
QOTW
December also brings Sinterklaas here, though we no longer celebrate it. It brings candy and snacks however that we don't get throughout the rest of the year so I always get excited about that haha! Long live pepernoten! As for Christmas, I love it. I love the food we eat, including the brunches/breakfasts, the spending time with family, the tree and the lights and other cute decorations (though nothing as huge as in America), and the presents. Of course I love getting presents, but I love the buying and giving even more!
Well, the weather here in Oklahoma cannot make up its mind. I miss the weather in Florida though. I missed last week's check-in because I was off celebrating Thanksgiving at Disney World! It was crazy, hectic, and wonderful and something that's been on my bucket list. But it meant there wasn't much time for reading as I have a 5 year old and a 1 one year old to wrangle. Before the trip, I managed to finish Amy & Roger's Epic Detour for a book recommended by someone else doing the challenge. I have to admit, I was disappointed by this. I liked the premise and it was cute but the character's were so one dimensional that I didn't believe in their love story one bit. I found them rather tedious. And the situations with the minor characters seemed incredibly far-fetched. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this one.
For school, I read The Most Magnificent Thing which is an adorable children's book about perseverance when working on a project. I definitely recommend this easy read.
QOTW: Well, I'm going to be a bit of a downer too. I'll preface this by saying I love Christmas and everything about it. It's my favorite holiday and I start celebrating at the start of November. But this year will be hard as I'm at the beginning of a divorce and everything is filled with questions. It was going to be an amicable split but let's just say that certain things have come to light since I got back from vacation and it no longer is, so I have no idea what Christmas is going to be like. I'll have to figure out how to strike a balance between making everyone else happy, especially my girls, without making myself completely miserable. I'm sure in future years it will get easier, but this first holiday is going to be rough. I'll have to go look at some lights with my kids to lift this mood.
Good morning from a cold but not “I want to never leave the house” cold Columbus! I’m super excited for advent season to start, I have so many fun Christmas events and church stuff happening over the next month. This is most definitely one of my favorite times of the year! Fahrenheit 451 not for the challenge, but I decided to retry this after DNFing it years ago. The audiobook version was a lot easier for me to pay attention to, and I actually ended up quite enjoying this. I still think Bradbury is a touch rambly and pretentious but hey, so am I lol.
The Book of Essie not for the challenge, working my way through my BOTM books that I got and never read. Essie was born and raised on camera, her family starring in a reality tv show like the Duggar’s. Her dad is a pastor at a mega church and her mom is most definitely milking it for all it’s worth and the book revolves around 16 year old Essie’s pregnancy. The book was engaging and once I started I didn’t want to put it down, but it was very VERY transparent in the fact that it was a direct dig at the Duggar family. And thus, it’s very predictable. Another character’s background was borrowed from the Oregon wildlife refuge takeover as well. So, again, fun but you’re probably not going to be surprised if you followed either of those topics.
The X-Files: Cold Cases not for the challenge: this was one of those free audible originals offered. I picked it because my son’s dad is very into that show and audible allows you to send books. I decided to give it a listen, it’s narrated by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Or well, performed by, there’s no narration. It was interesting but it does that think I hate about radio programs, where they say things no person would ever actually say but you have to when it’s audio of conversations only. Also, I never actually got into the show so I didn’t really get a lot of the references. But from what I’ve been told if you’re familiar with the show you’ll probably like the follow up this audiobook gives.
Twain’s Feast another audible original. This one is narrated by Nick Offerman. It’s an exploration of Twain’s history and impact told between meals based off of Twain’s favorite foods. It was very interesting, great if you like Mark Twain or history.
Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets more audible originals (can you tell I’m trying to get through things I already have?) The title here is pretty self-explanatory. Stephen Fry narrates a series of Victorian era secrets, from sex to crime to all sorts of scandals. If you love Stephen Fry, this is a must. I’ll listen to anything he narrates. But this was also fun on its own! I love history and this had a lot of fun tidbits I’d never heard of before.
Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times for the book riot challenge, essay anthology prompt. Let me just say how unhappy I was with this prompt. So few books seem to fit this description and it’s not easily searchable. So finding something I wanted to read was hard. And the things I did want to read I couldn’t get my hands on, so I settled on this. It’s a collection of essays about post 2016 election. Some of the essays were really great, in and out of context of American politics. Other essays were almost unbearable. I abhor anything I feel like is telling me what I *need* to do and some of the contributors were walking very close to that line. But overall, this was fine. I feel like I would appreciated this more two years ago though.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America not for the challenge, it was just a book I had on hold that finally popped up in my overdrive book shelf. I thought this was solely about H.H. Holmes but it’s actually kind of two books in one. Half of the book covers the history behind the Chicago World Fair and the other half is about Holme’s crimes. I do love me some history so the parts about the fair were really cool, I would love to experience something like that sometime. I’m pretty familiar with Holmes through my true crime podcast obsession, but it’s still shocking and especially hard reading about what he did to the children.
So I’m at 39/40; 9/10 (stillll 😑 my last two books are physical and I just haven’t had the time/energy to stop and read) and 20/24 for book riot with 185 books read this year.
QOTW: All of it! Family gatherings, going to see the lights at the zoo, cheesy Christmas movies, toy drives at church. This year a few of us at church get to have lunch with our bishop.
Christine wrote: "this crazy rich couple who have turned their home into a free light show for anyone to drive through and see...."They look a bit more tasteful that our crazy lights street. I managed to find a video from last year's switch on:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-engl...
"International prominence" indeed, haha.
Dani wrote: "I still think Bradbury is a touch rambly and pretentious but hey, so am I lol. "As much as I love Bradbury... I have to agree with you. Lol. I love the man's writing dearly, but boy can he ramble at times...
Katy, good luck with your dad.It's been winter here since two weeks now. I can't complain because I love snow.
I finished my challenge! Now I will try to finish The Way of Kings and its 1261 pages (french version).
Last week I read:
Good Bones for the feminist prompt. 10 or so short stories. Some were good, but some were not good at all.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for the book mentionned in another book. I liked it, but very different from the book.
Drama for no prompt, my son took it from the Library. I found it cute and well written.
QOTW: I look for some time off with my kids. Doing nothing in pajamas all day. Eating left-over turkey, watching Ciné-cadeaux which is old cartoons all days (Astérix, Tintin etc...)
Cornerofmadness wrote: "Wow I finished nothing. Mostly reading for my literary destinations challenge (the only one I have left to finish) and my picks for Idaho and Maryland aren't setting me on fire.."What is the literary destinations challenge? I haven't heard of that one before.
Johanne wrote: "And I don´t know if this is a thing in other places, but there is a tradition of "Calendars": TV and chapter books with one chapter/episode a day from the 1st - 24th (we celebrate christmas on the evening of the 24th). I love to watch/read these with my kids.."I forgot I was going to respond to this part of your post earlier. I think some people do this sort of thing with their Christmas Hallmark movies, but it's not a big thing in that way.
I have noticed that advent calendars are becoming a much bigger thing around here lately though. I want to get Aldi's cheese advent calendar this year (where you open the little window corresponding to the date every day and get a new kind of cheese to try), and I've also seen them with legos, socks, chocolate.. just about everything you can imagine.
I've noticed though that a lot of them are 12 day calendars, and to me, the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas and go through Epiphany. This does sound like a lovely time to open a calendar with little gifts to ease out of the Christmas holidays, but in no way does it make sense to call it 'advent' at that point...
Sara wrote: "I plan to finish The Count of Monte Cristo next year and will likely buy the audiobook for that as well."I finished that two years ago (?) via audiobook. Bill Homewood narrated the version I listened to, and i really enjoyed the audiobook!
Happy Thursday! I can't belive December is in two days - where has this year gone!! I finished 3 books this week, 2 of which were for the challenge.First was Vicious by VE Schwab which was my book about a villain or anti-hero. This was really enjoyable, although I wish it had dug a little deeper into being a dark novel. I stayed up til 3 am so I could finish it before my library loan expired!
Then I finished Educated by Tara Westover for my new book club. I liked this, but man so much was hard to read when she starts getting into the more abusive parts of her family. It reminded me of The Glass Castle because I ended that book so furious at the parents for enabling abuse towards their children.
Finally, I finished The Mistake by Elle Kennedy for my book about or involving a sport, since it's a romance series about college hockey players. This was fun, but kind of forgettable and with no depth. I think I'll keep reading the series!
Currently, I'm reading Becoming, which I have less than 4 hours left in the audiobook! I'm at 38/40 for the regular challenge and 7/10 for the advanced, so i think I'm gonna try and knock out 2 or 3 more challenge books this week!
QOTW: I love the decorations my mom puts up. She'll buy new stuff every year,but she perfectly balances a homey look with beautiful decorations, and it's so calming to sit on the couch with the tree sparkling. Plus she's an incredible gift wrapper, so everything looks very picturesque!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Crow Girl (other topics)When We Collided (other topics)
The Crow Girl (other topics)
Blue Lily, Lily Blue (other topics)
Nyctophobia (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (other topics)Jeet Thayil (other topics)
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (other topics)
Michael Crichton (other topics)
J.D. Vance (other topics)
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**Admin Notes:
Polls are still open for the first quarter of group reads. The polls close automatically on Sunday night at midnight EST so don’t wait if you want your vote to count! Also, don’t forget that comments left on the poll do not count as votes. You must click on one of the beige buttons with the book titles. Find the polls here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...
December group read of Circe is in progress here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
We will be looking for discussion leaders for the first three months of next year as soon as the polls close so keep that in mind once the winners are announced!
On to the check-in!
Finished:
Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne – This was my first book by Thayne. It’s part of a series, but it seems like one of those series where each book focuses on a different character so it doesn’t hurt to jump in. This was a sweet, seasonal read and perfect for kicking off the Christmas season this past weekend.
Heart Full of Stars by Linda Govik – romance set at a crumbling castle turned hotel in Scotland. Darcy needs to escape scandal in California and takes a job as a yoga instructor at Castle Kinnamuir. She ends up helping the owner, Aidan, formulate a plan to keep the hotel from closing its doors. It was a quick read - nothing groundbreaking but enjoyable. This was written by a friend of mine. I prefer her first book, Legacy, and am looking forward to the sequel she is working on.
Currently reading:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I am determined to finish this classic before the year ends! I’m over halfway done!
Question of the Week:
What is something you look forward to during your holiday season?
My holiday season is upon us – the Christmas season. Though I am a woman of faith, the part I most look forward to is all the lights! My house is a battleground of white lights (me) and colored lights (my teen). I don’t go crazy with decorating, but I love to drive through town and see the way others choose to decorate. My absolute favorite thing to do is sit in my living room on a weekend morning with the twinkly lights on, maybe some soft music playing, with a blanket on my lap and a book in my hand!