Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Weekly Checkins
>
Week 47: 11/14 - 11/21
Happy Thursday Everyone!I'm FINALLY back on track with my reading again! I've had a lot of personal things going on in the last 2 months; a breakup, a close friend in crisis, taking care of my niece & nephew often since my brother and his wife are in the process of separating, the death of a family friend, the start of a new relationship... -hello emotional rollercoaster!! It has just been so much- and all of that really sidetracked my reading from late Sept. to early Nov. but things are calming down now and should stay that way for the foreseeable future finally *Fingers Crossed*! I had a solid reading week and finished 3 books since my friday night update last week, all of which were 4 Star reads for me bringing me up to 27/53. I also spent some time starting to plan my 2020 challenge and am excited about that! :)
Finished This Week
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls for 28) A Book recommended by a celebrity you admire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This was recommended by Jennifer Lawrence. Although this is pretty different than my typical read, I really enjoyed it but shed a few tears for sure! It's crazy to think that someone's ideals can be so different and it really made me grateful for my own life.
Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella for 7) A Reread of a favourite book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Even though this was only a 4 Star read for me, I'm not a re-reader and I felt I remembered all my 5 Star reads far too well to want to reread them AND this was the book that really made me fall in love with reading again as a teenager so it was very nostalgic for me! I adore Kinsella's sense of humour and I especially love this book of hers! I'm definitely not sad that I chose this one for this prompt although ugh at the same time because even 15 years later I still remembered the plot...that's just me when I really like a story so this prompt in and of itself was frustrating for me. It was mildly interesting though, since my perspective on it has changed now that I'm now much older.
Catharsis (Awaken Online #1) by Travis Bagwell for 45) A LitRPG book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This is a great option for AI character for 2020 There's an AI character named Alfred who is central to the story of the entire series! I'll be using book #3 Evolution to tick that off next year! I'm not at all disappointed in my choice for this prompt as I feared I might be since I'm a gamer! I didn't care as much for the back story of the protagonist but luckily the book really didn't get into that very much and this book was largely about the action of what I'll call "the gaming story" which had some intrigue and some graphic content. It also made the reader consider some potential philosophical implications of AI in the future which was interesting for me! If I had to describe this book quickly I'd say: It's like if the Heroes of Might and Magic Games series were creatively altered to be a futuristic mmorpg with VR and very specialized AI! :)
Currently Reading
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas for 9) A Book you meant to read in 2018
Peony in Love by Lisa See for 36) A Ghost Story
QotW
I'm most excited about:
3. A Book with a great First Line
18. A Book with a made-up Language
20. A Book you picked because the Title caught your attention
28. A Book with a Robot, Cyborg or AI Character
QOTW: A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics. I'm going to do my best to go with Athens. I think I like this year's categories better than next's, but we'll see what happens once I get into actually reading.
What with decorating, the new Popsugar list coming out and general life stresses ruining my concentration, I've barely read anything. I did finish a couple of audiobooks.The Toll was a fantastic end to the trilogy. I nearly didn't read these as Scythe came out around the time I was a bit phased with YA dystopia but honestly it's not generic at all (and it starts as more of a utopia).
I also listened to Nigel: my family and other dogs which was a lovely book, especially narrated by Monty. Warning, he does talk about his dogs' deaths, as he points out, it's part of owning a dog.
QOTW:
Overall I like the list, not much that has limited options. I'm trying not to overplan so this can be my mood reading challenge (since I'm doing ATY in order).
I'm most looking forward to the gems I'll find for:
15. A book about or involving social media
22. A book about or by a woman in STEM
20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention
28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A4. A book set in the 1920s
Week 4749. Northanger Abbey -- A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
50. Watchment -- Reread a favorite book
I'm finished! Though my shelf was only showing 49 books read, so I had to dig back through my list and my shelves to figure out which one I hadn't tagged appropriately--I would have been crushed if I thought I was finished only to find out I hadn't copied the list correctly and was missing a prompt and still had a book to read! Happily I found it and fixed it.
QOTW: I haven't got books assigned to many of the prompts yet, but this year I'm listing ALL the books from my current TBR that qualify, instead of settling on one now, so that I have a bit more freedom. So I'm excited for these prompts, because I have anywhere from four to eight choices for each:
06 - A bildungsroman
15 - A book published in the month of your birthday
23 - A book with a bird on the cover
34 - A book you picked because the title caught your attention
I'm so glad the list has finally been released! I know we were all chopping at the bit to start our planning!I am trying really hard to pick books that I really and truly want to read for as many prompts as possible. I don't like feeling obligated to read something solely to fill a prompt (though sometimes that can result in a surprising like). And next year I am DETERMINED to get those difficult prompts done early!
Finished this week:
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. Carly is pregnant in 1970 with her recently deceased (Vietnam) husband's child. But there's a problem. The baby has a heart defect that cannot be fixed. Her brother-in-law, Hunter, has a wild idea for how to help: (view spoiler). I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the storyline. I had a few little issues with (view spoiler).
Currently reading:
I'm jumping around a lot, but I'm working on a few.
Secrets by Linda Govik. This is book two in a series that started with Legacy a few years ago. I may need to back up and read Legacy again to refresh my memory before diving into Secrets, but I do remember very much loving Legacy and the characters she created. These books are set in the early 19th century England, France, and Ireland. It looks like book 2 is going to venture more into Ireland than the first one, but we'll see how it goes. I will say, this is an emerging author (who I happen to be friends with) so you may not see a ton of reviews for her works, BUT her books are usually available on Kindle for $1.99 so it's not a big investment to take a chance on a new author (ok, end of my sales attempt ;) )
Jane Eyre - I'm rereading one of my all-time favorite classics with some friends. Jane just makes my heart happy.
The Sparrow - I am trying to read this one so I can finish my 2019 challenge. A book set in space is so not my thing. Most of the books that look slightly interesting I've either read already or they are YA (which I'm sometimes ok with, but these ones just are getting on my nerves).
QOTW:
A book on a subject you know nothing about - Like Nadine, I'm really looking forward to this. It's something I love to do, digging into a new subject, but I don't do often enough.
A book published in 2020 - Mostly because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games prequel) is coming out and I'm desperately hoping the new Outlander book (Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone ) will as well!
A book with only words on the cover - I think this is just fascinating since so many of us are drawn to beautiful and/or interesting cover art. I'm holding off on reading The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 until 2020 because it is perfect for this prompt.
Hello. I'm very excited for the new list as well, even though I'm still trying to close out this year's challenge.I finished 2 books this week, but neither was for the challenge so I'm still at 42/50.
Tony Wheeler's Dark Lands by Tony Wheeler - part history, part political summary, and part travel log, the co-founder of Lonely Planet shares his visits to lands with troubled pasts and presents. Though it could have been better organized, it's a wealth of information on these places.
I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie - a family with dark secrets comes together to solve a 20-year old mystery. It's a decent thriller, though there were still some things that didn't make sense at the end. It gets pretty dark, too.
QOTW: Overall I'm happy with the list, what I'm most looking forward to are:
- A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
- A book you picked because the title caught your attention
- A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
- A book by or about a journalist
I also love that the advanced prompts are themed for the year 2020.
It's been a while since I last checked in - probably 2 months! During that time I haven't been reading much, as I've been kind of swamped with life stuff. I'm starting to wonder if i'm going to finish the challenge. I don't have much to go (8 prompts) and I could do that in a week if I really tried but frankly I don't want to force myself if I'm not feeling it. Between this challenge and ATY I've completed 75 prompts so I don't really feel like I've failed so much. Probably won't do ATY next year though as I anticipate not as much reading with the new babe coming. So we'll see what happens! Very excited about next years challenge though. I'm not really dreading any particular prompts and think the majority sound very doable and could lead to a lot of books I like!
Oh I had a baby shower last weekend which was book themed and my lovely friends gifted us probably 20 or so books for the new little guy. It's funny to read them as a lover of long books as I'm constantly like...wait, this is only 6 pages long?
The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine This is actually one of the few books that I finished during my little two month long slump. I did this one on audiobook and was really surprised at how many things I was misinformed about or didn't realize I had questions about. I definitely learned a thing or two reading this.
QOTW:
4. A book about a book club - because I seem to really enjoy books which revolve around book shops or book clubs or just anything book related
10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vog, podcast, or online book club - I actually suggested a book recommended from a podcast as a prompt so definitely looking forward to this one.
12. A book that passes the Bechdel test - I think researching this one will be fun and seeing what passes and what does not
13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it - I'm looking forward to finding something to fit this prompt.
What a week! I'm so excited the list is out, and I've been having a blast planning. (And not getting much of anything else done.)Finished
Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot. This was so difficult to read. I still haven't processed my thoughts about it.
Reading
Timeless by Gail Carriger
QOTW
I'm really, really happy with the new list! There are prompts I love, prompts I like, prompts that make me think, and prompts I'm indifferent about. Nothing I dislike. It's a dream come true! I'm most excited about: a western, an anthology, a book with a made-up language, and the advanced prompts because I love the 20s theme.
Things are super busy at the office, as ever, but I got some good reading done this week. I finished the 2019 challenge the day before the new prompts were released, so that felt really wonderful.I finished two books this week:
The Night Tiger, which was the last book for the challenge, filling the book by an author from Africa/Asia/South America. Honestly, it was just okay. It was interesting reading a book set in Malaysia. I had a friend in college who was Malay, so I knew a little bit about their history, but the story was pretty so-so.
I also finished The Night Circus, which I had attempted once before, but hadn't gotten into it. This time, I really got into it and I really enjoyed reading it, although at the end, it felt kind of unfulfilling.
QOTW: I'm particularly excited about the advanced prompts that are all 2020 themed. I'm looking forward to closing my eyes in the library stacks and just picking a book. And, as much as I hate westerns, that prompt is going to finally force me to read my husband's favorite book, which I have been meaning to do for over ten years. In all fairness, he's never read any of my favorite books, but now I'll have some leverage.
I’m excited for the 2020 challenge!! I have read 30 books for 2019 and hopefully will fit 2 more in before the end, I started wanting to read books that I couldn’t work into the challenge and not being excited to read books fitting the challenge. No, I won’t finish and that’s ok. Currently readingIn the Woods by Tana French and Born in Death by JD Robb (one at home one at work) I know.. same genre both police procedurals but that’s my mood reading for you!
I’m most excited for the one where you close your eyes and randomly pick a book challenge because I have many books on my shelf I wanted to read in 2019 and could not fit into a prompt. I can line them up and pick one this year. My list seems to be heavy on Sci-fi or fantasy this year which is what I’m wanting right now, but some may get switched later as my mood changes.
Happy Thursday, y’all!So freaking excited for next year's challenge! I... am something of an overachiever and already have books assigned for every prompt. I like to go into this thing prepared, heh...
Also, remember the "book that you think should be turned into a movie" prompt? I chose Scythe, because YA dystopias seem to be prime fodder for film adaptations... and lo and behold, I picked up The Toll this week and the author states in the foreword that a film version of the books is in production. I guess I wasn't the only one who thought that, haha...
Books read this week:
I Hope You Get This Message -- an end-of-the-world novel that focuses more on the relationships of the main characters, and their struggles to resolve family and personal issues before the apocalypse hits, than on the end of the world itself. I really enjoyed this one, even if I felt (view spoiler).
Tetris: The Games People Play -- graphic novel about the creation of one of the most famous video games of all time, Tetris. The actual creation of the game was interesting… the ensuing legal battle over its rights, not so much. This is one of those books that might have been better off as an actual book than as a graphic novel, and the lackluster art doesn’t help.
Currently Reading:
The Starless Sea
Machineries of Joy
The Toll
QOTW:
A book by a trans or non-binary author -- Going to read The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion
A book that's set in a city that's hosted the Olympics -- fun prompt! I thought about going with something set in London but opted for The Three-Body Problem, since Bejiing did host an Olympics in recent years
A book with a robot -- if you couldn't all tell, I love robots. So going to be extra-geeky for this prompt and read Transformers: Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron (Transformers (why does Goodreads make its title so freaking awkward...)
Hello from Columbus! My child so kindly shared the virus he got from school, so I haven’t read much these last few days. It’s really only a sore throat and slight cough but it’s just annoying enough that I’m having a hard time focusing. Thankfully, I got a lot of reading done over the weekend. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler for the weird chapter prompt. Weird indeed. Essentially every other chapter is the beginning of a novel that gets interrupted, and the proceeding chapter is the reader trying to chase down the rest of the novel he just started. A unique style and I quite enjoyed it.
The Whale Rider for book riot. A short, but sweet and powerful book about an indigenous girl and her family in New Zealand. There’s some folklore, some magical realism... overall I liked the story.
A Midsummer Night's Dream for Marisha Pessl’s challenge. Of all the Shakespeare I’ve read, this was most definitely the easiest for me to follow in terms of plot and language.
Madame Bovary for back to the classics. Poor sweet, sad, stupid Emma Bovary. I’d have really enjoyed this classic tragedy but I resented the fate of their daughter. Overall though this classic was pretty easy to get through.
Little Men another for back to the classics. Much like Little Women, it’s sequel is so charming it’s practically criminal. I love a good heartwarming, moral, happy book.
So I’m at 165 books this year. 37/40; 8/10 for popsugar. 19/24 for book riot. 10/12 for back to the classics. 26/37 for Marisha Pessl’s challenge.
Qotw: there isn’t one prompt that sticks out to me but I forced myself to pick from books that were already on my
TBR shelf. I feel like I add books I want to read and then rarely pick books from that list. So I’m excited to put a sizable dent in my TBR shelf.
I am glad that I was done with the 2019 challenge before the 2020 list came out. I have spent a lot of time planning.Finished:
Girl in Disguise
The Right Swipe
Currently reading:
The Chestnut Man
The Family Upstairs
QOTW:
I am most excited about medical thriller, STEM, robot, cyborg, AI (science nerd), and Western. I also really love the advanced prompts related to 2020.
Sara wrote: "I'm so glad the list has finally been released! I know we were all chopping at the bit to start our planning!I am trying really hard to pick books that I really and truly want to read for as many..."
OOH Hunger Games prequel.....how exciting. I must have been off with the fairies not to know that!
Good Morning! I'm pretty excited for the 2020 Challenge and I got a friend doing the challenge next year too, so we're going to chat about it tonight. It will be her first year doing it.
As of Sunday, I official finished the 2019 challenge!! I've done the challenge before but haven't actually completed it, so I'm pretty excited.
Finished:
The Song of Achilles for a retelling of a classic. I loved everything about this book. Even with I was frustrated with Achilles and Patroclus , I still loved this book. Of course, the end broke my heart. They were just two sweet boys that wanted to be left alone on an island to live out their lives!!!
It Takes Two to Tumble - not for the challenge, it was mentioned on a podcast I listen to so I decided to check out the ebook from my library. I loved it. A Queer Victorian romance with a surly Navy captain and a kindhearted vicar and three rambunctious children and a dog?! I'm sold!
The Starless Sea for a LitRPG book. I don't know other people's feelings about this book but I didn't love it. I ended up giving it three stars because there are parts that I really enjoyed (i.e. Zachary and Dorian's parts) and didn't really love the structure of the book/how the side stories/fables weren't interwoven with the main story...they were just kind of there. The writing is beautifully done but this book just wasn't for me.
Currently Reading:
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators - I'm listening to the audio of it and am really enjoying it. There was just so much that happened behind the scenes when Farrow was investigating this story that I didn't know about. So interesting.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown - This book is just okay. I do not like Chloe Brown, I'm hoping that the more I get into the book that she'll grow on me but as of now...nah, I don't like her.
QOTW:
I'm excited for a few different prompts:
A book you picked because the title caught your attention - I'm going to read We Ride Upon Sticks, I just got an arc of it and am excited to dig in.
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character - I'm actually going to read the first Murderbot book that I've been hearing so much about.
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader - Which means that I can read Hope Never Dies. It totally fits the prompt...a fiction book about a world leader as told through a mystery thriller buddy book. I can't wait.
Wow, it has been an overwhelming week for readers! With the Popsugar and Tournament of Books lists both coming out on Monday, it's been a lot... I've filled in about half of the prompts with books on my shelf at home and virtual TBR, along with ToB picks that I have longer library holds on (so I won't be starting them until the new year). Last year my first draft of my list was about 75% different from my final list when it was over, so I almost wonder if I should bother filling in the other prompts right now. I guess that's part of the fun, even if it's likely to change later. This week I listened to God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State which I enjoyed, but I found some of the content random; not sure how he decided what to include and what to leave out. I found the Texas Lege stuff entertaining because I'm familiar with the process and all the people he was talking about, but I think non-lege-savvy readers would find that part boring. Oh well; still glad I read it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I also listened to the very short The Atlas of Reds and Blues. I appreciate what the author did and the important topics it covered, but the narrator of the audio version had a tone that wasn't quite serious enough for the subject matter. 4 stars
I finally got a hold of The Great Believers from the library and it was very good! I think this topic and that part of history has not been explored enough in books, so I'm glad I read it. 4.5 stars
I read my hard copy of Red at the Bone and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the various perspectives and how everything was tied together. Great stuff. 5 stars
I listened to The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea based on a recommendation from a friend. I appreciated some of the ideas and was frustrated by other parts of it. Overall still fairly useful I guess though, and at least I can talk about it with him now. 3 stars
I just finished Patron Saints of Nothing last night. I met the author at the book festival and I think he covered an important topic with this story. I forgot it was YA though, and sometimes I'm just not thrilled about books that have nice, happy, and somewhat unrealistic endings. The rest was great though. 4 stars
I'm currently digging in to the ToB long list books in hopes of finishing all short list books by March. I just started Patsy on audio and I have a hard copy of Sabrina & Corina: Stories.
QOTW: There are a few prompts I'm dreading but overall I'm very happy with the list. I like the 20s-themed ones and these are my other favorites:
-Trans/nonbinary author
-City that hosted the Olympics
-First touched with eyes closed
-Book on the cover
-Title caught your attention
-WoC (tons of great options)
Hello excited readers,Another crazy week down under BUT as of about 10 minutes ago I have finished marking and reports for the year. Have 2 lots of results to upload to the exam board tomorrow morning before I go for a larger biopsy in the afternoon (last week's results were not nice). Then Sunday I go to Adelaide to mark Psychology for the NT and SA until flying back Wednesday night. Thursday I'm having a sick day since I haven't used any this year and will be zonked after the late night flight.
Last weekend I distracted myself by going to watch 7s Saturday and Sunday. Worked well but had to play catch-up on work this week.
Read some really highbrow stuff this week but nothing for the challenge:
Night Of The Moonjellies which I first saw on here. A really sweet little book which I'm glad I read.
While You Were Pooping very silly but fun. Also first heard of here.
Normal People which was for my FTF book club. I have to stop reading what they suggest because though I love the people I hate their book choices almost all the time. Did not like many of the characters at all and it managed to hit a whole bunch of things too close to home for what has been going on in my life this year. I'm sure it's a much more comfortable read if you have had a lovely sheltered life but the author just doesn't give any of the issues the respect they are due. Left me really angry.
QOTW
Only had a quick glance so far but now the marking is done I shall have a better look before I go away......good excuse to raid airport bookshops.
FinishedThe Little Stranger - I love Sarah Waters, and though this wasn't my favorite of her books, I still really enjoyed it! The strength of this gothic story was definitely the atmosphere it created: that creeping oppressive sense of old tragedy lingering and new tragedy just around the bend. The descriptions of the house were great, and I liked seeing the slow disintegration of the house and the family inside. I have a lot of thoughts about the narrator as well, but that might get into spoiler territory! I did miss the LGBT content I've been used to from this author. She writes it so well! Read for the ghost story prompt. 4 stars.
Night Film - What a strange and interesting read this book was! I really enjoy stories like this: lots of mystery and intrigue, questions about whether something supernatural is happening or not, characters getting pulled deeper and deeper into a strange underworld they may not escape from. It also did a lot of fun things with format, including elements like web pages and newspaper clippings. My main critique of the book is that the use of italics here is ABSOLUTELY INSANE. Italics are used multiple times in every page, for words that in no way need them. It eventually got to the point where I was either going to have to stop reading the book or try to just accept them, because I was getting mad at every page. I pushed through, and it was worth it to get to the end, but still, a major issue. Read for the read a book during the season it is set in prompt. 4 stars.
Dead Sea - Well. I straight up hated this book. It had an interesting premise, and the other book I read that matched this title was surprisingly good, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, mediocre writing, flat characters, a slow, plodding pace, and MANY horrible discriminatory slurs turned this into an awful experience. I get that the guy saying the awful hateful things was the villain. I still don't want to have to read that kind of stuff over and over. I really had to force myself through it. Exactly zero redeeming qualities. Do not read this. Read for the two books that share the same title prompt. 1 star.
Total Complete: 45/50
Up Next
Watership Down - reread of a favorite book
Shadow & Claw - book recommended by a celebrity you admire
QOTW
I am so excited for the new list of prompts!! One of my favorite parts of the challenge is searching for books that fit. It gets me combing through my TBR list, and I always find things I forgot I put on there.
I'm excited for:
The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book on a subject you know nothing about
A book that won an award in 2019
A book that's published in 2020
I'm also excited that I was able to fit the entire Dark Tower series into the prompt list, because one of my goals next year is to finally reread it start to finish!
It has been a great week for reading! I finished this year's Reading Challenge early in the week, and now I'm really enjoying everyone's ideas for how they might approach their reading next year. I currently do not have a complete list for 2020, just a few titles I'm interested in reading, but that's not out of the ordinary for me. I'm pretty spontaneous in what I choose to read.
Finished:
A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin - I read this book for the "a book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom" prompt. This was my final book for the 2019 Reading Challenge.
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores, by Jen Campbell - I read this book after seeing it here on Goodreads, and just couldn't make myself wait until January. I loved it! I've written a review of the book, which can be found on my blog.
https://theunapologeticbookworm.com/2...
Still Just Kidding: A Collection of Art, Comics, and Musings, by Cassandra Calin - The comics in this book are very funny and well-drawn.
Currently Reading:
A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin
Death of a Gigolo, by Laura Levine
QOTW:
There are several prompts that I am looking forward to next year, including: "a book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character," "a book you picked because the title caught your attention," "a book by an author who has written more than 20 books," and "a book on a subject you know nothing about."
Mod
I really want to read Night Film and thanks to your comments I’ll be moving that to audiobook format! Then I won’t have to see all the italics :-)
The movers are coming on Monday! As of next week I'll no longer be a Missouri resident... for the first time in 40 years! With all the packing and cleaning, my reading has almost ground to a halt, but luckily I've only got one more prompt to fulfill for the 2019 challenge. I'll start that one right after the Thanksgiving holiday. Take a breath, Laura. It'll be okay.Challenge Progress: 49/50
Completed:
The Nickel Boys: The Nickel Boys is devastating, stark, and bleak... and it needs to be read. Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida (The Dozier School for Boys) that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of young boys, Colson Whitehead delivers a powerful and compelling narrative. ★★★★★
The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel: Light and enjoyable. I liked that both West and Mary grew as individuals and that while steamy this novel wasn't just about sex. There were, however, a few things that really irritated me. One being the convoluted and unrealistic confession of motives by the villains in the final chapters. Another was West's ability to turn anything into innuendo. And then there was this sentence: "Both as a man, a sailor, and a husband." Really? Both? ★★★
Currently Reading: Nothing... No, actually I'm listening to The Great Alone on my daily walks.
QOTW: I'm excited for:
A book with gold, silver, or bronze in the title (I've planned books for all three.)
A book with only words on the cover
A book on a subject you know nothing about
I haven't checked in since May, and didn't make much progress on the challenge over the summer, but decided this fall I'd pick it back up and see how close to finished I can get.Over the summer, I read A Dog's Journey and after I cried (shouldn't have read that book while pregnant and overly emotional!), I found a prompt it fits from the 2017 challenge - book from a nonhuman perspective.
Today I finished The Light in the Forest for "book I meant to read in 2018" and it was OK but not great. The ending stunk in my opinion, but it was interesting to read about the white boy adopted by Indians and how he struggled to choose which society to live in as a teenager in the 1700s.
I lost my original spreadsheet where I was keeping track of books read for the challenge and have tried to recreate it with old check-in posts I can find and books I marked as read on Goodreads, so I think I'm at 23/40. I'll have to pick up the pace to complete the challenge and that won't be easy with a 10-week old baby, but I'd like to think I can finish at least 30 books by the end of the year.
QOTW: I'm looking forward to a banned book during banned books week, a book about a world leader, and a western because I think those will be fun prompts. I'm a high school special ed teacher (formerly an English teacher) so I like reading books that have been banned, and I think the other two prompts will be interesting and a bit out of my comfort zone.
I finished the challenge on Sunday just in time for the new challenge to be posted.Imaginary creature:
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell. It was okay. I enjoyed the first one a lot more. The who 4 different viewpoints did not work for me in this one.
College campus:
Obedience by Will Lavendar. Thriller that was pretty good up until the way too many twists in the ending.
Idiom:
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It wasn’t my favorite but it was super short (more short story short but I’m counting it)
Cli-fi:
There’s No Place Like Home by Edan Lepucki. Another one that is more short story than anything. It was rec’d and I really enjoyed it and I was having trouble with this prompt because I had read practically everything that was being rec’d.
Set in an religious place (I can’t remember the exact wording):
Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie. I bent the prompt a bit to fit this. I enjoy the PBS show more than the book. But to be fair, the show does have hot, ginger vicar.
Challenge in the title
Challenge by Amy Daws. Contemporary romance that I did not enjoy. Both characters are super immature. Insta-love which is blurgh and he kisses her right away even though she was trying to keep her space and be professional and the whole thing was ick.
Nostalgic
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot. I love these books. Read them when they first came out in my early 20s when I was living halfway across the country. Still find them delightful. I’m rereading another of hers now too.
QOTW:
Close your eyes prompt
And any prompt to do with a cover (upside down, only words)
2020 will be my first year doing the challenge so I don't have a progress report but have my 2020 list done. I am really excited to get started!QOTW: I LOVE the 2020 theme of the advanced prompts, which is one reason I decided to participate this year!
From the regular prompts, I'm most excited for:
*Recommended by... podcast
*Same title as a movie or TV show but unrelated
*Western
*Subject you know nothing about
Good morning! I am so happy we have the final list, but my work productivity has dropped to nearly zero especially with having a sick kiddo at home. I finished one book this week, not for the challenge. I read Serious Moonlight which was a cute YA romance. I liked the characters and the main character was dealing with a health issue I'd never read about before so I learned a lot.I'm still at 48/50 but I think I'll finish the challenge by next check-in.
QOTW: It's really hard to pick my favorite prompts this year. I really like the 20s theme in the advanced prompts and that there are some Olympic inspired prompts as well.
Sara wrote: "...A book published in 2020 - Mostly because The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games prequel) is coming out and I'm desperately hoping the new Outlander book (Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone ) will as well!..."Thanks for the reminder, I had completely forgotten about the Hunger Games prequel. Now I need to make sure I can fit it in for next year.
Happy Thursday once again!!! I was dying for the new list to come out. I'm super excited about next year. I've had a slow reading week. I haven't really had much interest and I'm currently reading several books to tick off these last prompts.I managed to finish The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 3: Hotel Oblivion I love this series!! Even though they're all dysfunctional they manage to come together when it's needed and they end up saving the world. That's all that matters in the end.
I'm currently working on Becoming
Sing, Unburied, Sing and What Love Is: And What It Could Be
QOTW:
I think I'm really excited about the women in STEM, a book that won and award in 2019 and a book that's publish in 2020.
The toughest time of the popsugar year: I have a bunch of shiny new books earmarked for 2020 prompts, but I can't read any of them yet. I should probably focus on finishing my 2019 challenge instead...Currently reading:
The Rogue Crew (posthumously published, set in an abbey, a nostalgic read) - Not the strongest Redwall book, unfortunately. It's supposed to be about the Wearat's pirate crew attacking Redwall Abbey, but I'm at 40% and they haven't even gotten there yet. (They finally decided they wanted to attack the Abbey, which took them long enough, but now they don't know where it is.)
QotW: My favorite of this year's prompts:
- Western
- Robot/cyborg/AI character
- Bechdel test (okay, this one's kind of a freebie, but I'm curious to track how many of my books pass the test, and compare it with the reverse: is there a conversation between two boys about something other than a girl?)
So this week has been rough. My mom's been sick and so I've been dealing with that and getting all her apointments rescheduled and then I fell out of bed (well, I um... jumped into bed and missed) and jacked up my shoulder pretty well so I've had a strange week. Here is hoping for less strange next week. 1) The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea (Book riot/Own Voices/Mexico) this book was beautifully written and pretty painful as my mom's been in poor health this year and the timing of it was particularly OUCH but it is a gorgeous book.
2) Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes It was cute but I got into it because of really funny story that is told in the first third of the book that was the absolute highlight of the novel. But it totally was cute.
3) Under The Moon: A Catwoman Tale by Lauren Myracle illustrated by Isaac Goodhart which will fill the astrology prompt here (or at ATY, I cana't remember which one I did last week) that I read mostly to make the most informed choice in the graphic novel section of the Goodreads choice awards... It was compelling and well drawn but I kept thinking, "or, you know , you could get some therapy and be less dark and broody" which pretty much sums up my reaction to all Batman properties.
QOTW
I am not a huge planner. I usually plan a few weeks out so I can put things on hold at the library but I I don't really plan in earnest until the last third when I feel like the prompt I have left are unlikely to just pop up during the course of my normal hodgepodge reading whims.
So none are really calling my name but only two am I like, "I mean I'm sure I'll find something but...
But I am pretty thrilled that the vision impairment/enhancement (for 2020) made the list because it was my only suggestion. :)
Hi everyone! I've had pretty bad carpal tunnel this week so this'll be short. Read:What Happened (audio)
Undone by the Earl
Signal to Noise
Shades of Magic Vol. 1: The Steel Prince
Shades of Magic Vol. 2: Night of Knives
Sandry's Book
Miss Lonelyhearts (audio, which was terrible. I would really recommend print for this one.)
Currently reading:
Evvie Drake Starts Over
A Silver Wolf Christmas
Words of Radiance (audio)
QOTW: I haven't looked at the challenge too much yet. I want to finish out the year with a ton of mood reading rather than starting to plan and going "Oh I can't read this book yet because it'll fit this prompt and efficiency etc. etc." I want to plan less for the challenge next year so I'm happily ignoring it for now. But I am not excited for the Western prompt--my 2018 challenge had that prompt and it took me foreeeeverrrrrr.
Mod
Ooohhh...I'm getting ready to read The Whale Rider so I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Happy Thursday!! I don't believe I checked in last week. I ended up going to NYC to surprise my best friend as her boyfriend proposed. Their families also came up and we pulled off the surprise so well. It was truly a wonderful moment, and I'm filled with happiness!! Despite the busy weekend, I managed to get some audiobook listening in during my train in and out of the city.I still haven't knocked out the final two books I need for the challenge, I've just been trying to keep up with my library ebook loans!
First I finished How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones, which was PHENOMENAL. It's my book club's pick for November & a friend and I went to his stop in Philadelphia on his book tour last week. It was wonderful getting some insights from him on the book and his writing process. I can't stop thinking about this book and highly recommend you pick it up!!
Then I finished When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare, which was a reread for me. I adore this audiobook and I was jonesing for a reread since this story is just a fun little romcom.
Next I finished A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn, the second Veronica Speedwell book. I don't find these mysteries particularly complicated or intricately plotted but I just love Raybourn's writing and characterization. Veronica is such a fun heroine and I can't wait to continue with the story.
Finally, I finished A Rogue by Night by Kelly Bowen. This was definitely my favorite book in this series. Bowen is a new favorite HR writer for me. I really loved how this series delved in the aftermaths war and how one deals with the remaining trauma. Plus I always love a historical lady aspiring to be a doctor!!
QOTW: I've been so preoccupied that I haven't started planning for 2020 yet, but off the bat loving the prompts that are by trans/nonbinary author and WOC. Love when PopSugar pushes for diversity! Plus I'm a big podcast listener so book recommended by blog, podcast, online book club etc will be fun trying to fill!
I absolutely love the prompts for next year! As someone else mentioned, there aren't any that I'm really frustrated by. The only ones I think I'll struggle with, since I'm trying to only choose from my gigantic TBR list, are "a book with a robot, etc." and "a Western." But even for those, I managed to find something!Overall, it hasn't been a great week. I'm struggling with some life stuff. But I managed to get a book read!
Completed:
Saving Red by Sonya Sones: Yes, I did just read a different book by her last week! At this point, I think there's only one of hers I haven't read (but I plan to). I used this for my "book with an author whose first and last names start with the same letter."
Currently Reading:
East by Edith Pattou: This will be my re-read of a favorite book. This worked out perfectly because the sequel, West, came out this year and I finally got my copy! This is also just what I needed-- the comfort of an old favorite to help me through this time.
Up Next:
Make Your Home Among Strangers: I've had this on my "currently reading" list for a couple of weeks, but the truth is, I haven't actually started it. I have it from the library, but I think I'm going to start the audiobook for my drive home and back for Thanksgiving.
My Lady Jane: Just picked this up from the library yesterday! I'm excited--it sounds like such fun! It'll be my "book with two female authors."
Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure: This will be my choose your own adventure. I doubt I'll go through all the scenarios--this was a lot longer than I expected it to be! I'd hoped I could use it to quickly knock another prompt off...
QOTW:
A book on a subject you know nothing about
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title (I may actually do the three-book thing with this because I actually have titles for each metal in my TBR!)
Read a banned book during Banned Book Week (banned books are a weird obsession of mine, so I'm always excited to bring attention to them!)
Hello all! I've finished my challenges so now I'm FREEEEEEEE to read whatever I want! (I don't know why that's so exhilarating; I love the reading challenges, which is why I do them... the human psyche is mysterious.)This week I finished:
Fruit of the Drunken Tree (countries: set in Colombia): this book didn't start out all that strong, but I'm glad I stuck with it because the second half was much better. I'm generally not a huge fan of the "child's perspective on world events" genre, but the differences between Chula and Petrona's voices made a lot of points about privilege and the conflict. Overall, I'd recommend it.
Children of Blood and Bone: this is another one that got stronger as it went along; I liked how intractable a lot of the biases were, even when people were trying to tell themselves not to be angry, afraid, etc. Prejudice cuts deep, and this book really makes you feel it. Highly recommend.
Currently reading:
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (Audible)
Rivers of London--haven't started it yet, but I'd like to read something light now. :-)
QOTW: I haven't had time to sit down with the 2020 list yet, but I'm excited to read through it and think about options! Based on skimming: I have been meaning to read something by Charlie Jane Anders for a while, so hopefully the trans/nonbinary author prompt will be good motivation. I also recently added a bunch of nonfiction to my TBR, so the subject I know nothing about prompt should be one of my first.
Happy Thursday. I'm glad to have next year's list, but I absolutely can't plan, because if I find a boo that would be perfect for a challenge, I'd probably end up reading it before next year even starts.Books I Finished:
The Winter Long - This is the book in the series that makes you go back and re-evaluate everything that has happened before, which is awesome, even if not much actually happens. 
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - I used this for a book with a fruit or vegetable in the title, which allowed me to finish off the 2018 list. I had forgotten just how much I loved this book.
Into the Drowning Deep - I loved this, except for the ending - it was a little too abrupt. If more books come, it might be redeemed, but for now, I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more.
The Queen of Nothing - I didn't discover Holly Black until this year, but I still didn't like how long I had to wait for this book. It was worth the wait, but now it's over. Books I Made Progress On:
Wicked AppetiteQOTW
I'm looking forward to the book from on online book club. I'm going to use one of the many books I will inevitably find from this group. This group was responsible for some of my favourite reads this past year, so I can't wait to see what next year brings.
I'm trying to write this on my rickety old iPad, and it's a bit torturous. So I think I'm at 49/55 (39/45, 10/10), but I can't check. We're away at a lodge on the island of Mull for a few nights to escape real life. Unfortunately my youngest seems to have brought a lurgie with him, but I'd still rather be here dealing with a poorly kid than at home dealing with a poorly kid!I read two books this week, both for PS. The first was for prompt #31 book about a family, and it was The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I can't believe it has taken me so long to read this book. Its beautiful cover caught my eye about 20 years ago, I stole it from my mum's bookshelves about five years ago, and it still took me until now to read it. Talk about delayed gratification...but gratification it certainly was. This book is so beautiful, I don't even know how to put my feelings into words. There is pain, the deep scars of caste and family damage, the loss of innocence and the shattering of lives. And yet Roy casts a spell over the reader - you can see the foreshadowing, you know the hurt that is coming, but you're drawn to the flame like one of Pappachi's moths. She is truly gifted in crafting a story, winding it around you so slowly and gently that you realise only too late that you're trapped in it. Time shifts, phrases come back to haunt you, and the true poison of the story is drip fed in the guise of sweet, clear morning dew. Childhood exposes the nonsensical prejudices of the adult world, and is completely shattered in return. But still, it is beautiful. I can't explain it. This book broke my heart, but I love it all the same.
The second book I read was for prompt #16 book with a question in the title, How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti. So...I think this book was a bit too hip for me. And by "hip" I mean white, privileged, looking for problems where there are none in an attempt to seem more artistic and intellectual. I don't know, this isn't a bad book. It just felt a bit soulless - I could neither sympathise nor relate with the main character/author (is it a memoir, is it a novel, ooh so enigmatic...actually, I don't care). That isn't always a deal breaker though, I can get into a book if I hate the central character too. But I just felt nothing. And there wasn't a compelling enough journey or plot to counteract that 'meh' feeling as I read. That's not to say there weren't some interesting moments or insights in this book, but not enough to save this one for me.
QOTW - After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
Um...I haven't actually looked at it yet. I know, I know. But we had to wait so long for the PS list that I've started pulling together long lists for all the AYT prompts and won't let myself look at PS until I'm done!
Between holidays in retail, movie season being in full swing, (saw Jojo Rabbit and Parasite this week) the list and still trying to read a book I've been waiting a year for, I didn't finish much.Finished:
Shine!
Currently Reading:
The Starless Sea - I now own too many copies of this, and I haven't even had time to finish it yet
The Clockwork Dynasty - Native author for November
Young Men in Spats - Bedtime Wodehouse
QOTW:
I'm sooo tired but let me take a look...
trans or nonbinary author, map, vlog, Bechdel, STEM, award winner, unknown subject, robot, WOC, banned book
But ask again tomorrow and it might be different.
This week I finished:To Kill a Mockingbird: This is that book that I would always lie and pretend to have read, but never actually had. I tried it earlier in the year for one of 2019’s prompts, and I couldn’t do it, so I got the audiobook…and WOW! Sissy Spacek is a fantastic narrator, and of course, the book is wonderful. I ended up using it to fill 2015’s Pulitzer Prize winning book.
Sweet Revenge: This was an okay cozy mystery. Very short, which I appreciate.
the Voice in the Mountains: The Abduction and Survival of Peggy Ann Bradnick: This was clearly written by someone who is not an author, but someone who has a story to tell anyways. This book is set in my home county, so I needed it for a prompt from 2015. I’m glad a read it. 50 years later, people in my hometown still talk about this kidnapping and Peggy Ann regularly gives speeches locally.
Currently Reading:
Not Her Daughter: I have been reading this book for so long that it’s ridiculous, but I’m past the half way point now and am committed to finishing it in the next week.
The Wife: I’m audiobooking this one and it is definitely keeping my attention.
Question of the Week
After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
My favorite prompt was “a book on a subject you know nothing about.” I had so much fun trying to come up with something.
Other prompts that I really appreciated are ones that could fit 100s of books on my TBR list, like
-a book with a 3 word title
-a book with a title that caught your attention
-a book you meant to read in 2019
I've had a health setback and wasn't even aware that the new list had come out for a couple of days. Maybe next week I'll be able to start planning.I finished four books this week. I'm getting close to finishing challenges but get so distracted.
The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute by Zac Bissonnette - 4 stars; PS #8 book about a hobby
I have never been an avid collector of Beanie babies, but I do own a dozen or more because they are so cute (and I love bears and unicorns). Someone on here had talked about this book and it sounded intriguing. It is a rather fascinating story about a bizarre owner/developer and how crazy people can become over something that they think will make them rich. I really enjoyed the book.
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman - 5 stars; PS #10 book with Challenge in title (if I decide to do all three)
I enjoy the Monthly Challenges and participate when I can, so I went into this book completely unaware of what it was. I thought it might be an adventure story of some sort (space or naval). I was blown away when I realized what it was about, and I read it in one day. This is an amazing look into mental illness and what that looks like to the one that is ill. It was disturbing and upsetting and beautiful. I won't forget this one.
Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot - 3 stars; ATY #20 book featuring indigenous people
Another book that I read because others had recommended it and I wanted to read something for Native American Heritage Month (although it turns out she's originally Canadian). I knew nothing about it, and was a bit startled to be reading about mental illness yet again. This book did not touch me the same way as Challenger Deep, and my rating reflects that. It might have been four stars if I had read it at a different time.
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie - 4 stars; not for challenges
After all of the above heavy topics, it was a relief to get in my monthly Christie read. Nothing like a murder mystery for some light reading. :)
GoodReads: 82/80
PopSugar: 41/45, 8/10
ATY: 50/52
QOTW:
I haven't yet dived into the new prompts and started planning my list. But I'm excited about the "20" categories because that seems fun.
I managed to read my final two for this years prompts so I feel accomplished.For the prompt A book with an author from Asia, Africa, or South America I read Ai no Kusabi Vol. 2: Destiny Rieko Yoshihara but I wouldn't recommend it (even if it is a yaoi seminal work)
and somehow this prompt ended up last a debut novel for which I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir which I enjoyed a lot
QOTW Wow, honestly none of these are that exciting to me to the point I'm wondering if I'm going to do it in 2020
The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed & A book you picked because the title caught your attention since these won't send me on a library scavenger hunt and actually get me through my own TBR pile
Hello!!! Can't believe this year is almost ended! I have 8 prompts left! I might finish if finals don't bury me. Wish me luck.34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced
Finished
#47. Same Title
(Read this a few weeks ago but just added it for the same title)
#48. Same Title
Both A Sloth's Guide by different authors...close enough
#49. Common Idiom
Well The Handmaid's Tale introduced it but again.. close enough(not a stickler at this point)
Currently Reading
QotW:
After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
I have been preoccupied with getting some books read and school but I looked over it a bit.
I am so tickled by the 20's theme in the advanced section and the Olympics theme throughout with the 2 locations and the medals. So clever!
Also excited for
Picking with eyes closed
The movie challenge being unrelated is fun
Honestly I think the only one I'm not excited for is the deadly sins one.
Happy Thursday everyone! I'm so close to finishing. Only 5 books left.Finished
They Called Us Enemy - 31. A book about a family
People Like Us - 11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
The Lorax - 41. A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book
Bit of a stretch on this one, but I think it counts lol
One Good Story, That One - ATY 20 A book featuring indigenous people
Progress
PS - 47/52 | ATY - 47/52 | BR - 20/24
Currently Reading
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Redwall
Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States
Sing, Unburied, Sing
QOTW
I like quite of few of the prompts, so I'm excited for the 2020 challenge.
Trans/nonbinary author, anthology, banned books, ROBOTS!
Jessica wrote: "Honestly I think the only one I'm not excited for is the deadly sins one..."If you think about the words and not the fact they're sins, it's a quite open prompt. For example, any Pride and Prejudice retelling works or for gluttony, a book about food.
Hi allWhat a week! Got so swept up in the new challenge coming out, that I am horribly behind on review deadlines... Going to fix that shortly.
I haven´t checked in in a couple of weeks and have read a bunch of books (mainly children´s books for review and such), but only one that fits a challenge:
The last in a highly enjoyable trilogy that takes place in another galaxy and involves space travel. It´s a new series and it´s not translated, but if you read Danish and enjoy space travel and YA this is for you :)
Currently reading
for litRPG, it´s a fun read.Challenge status
PS 44/50 ATY 47/52
QOTW
I really like it overall. I think it´s cool with all the 2020 prompts in the advanced prompts. I am glad they didn´t put any celebrities there, and I don´t think there are any this year I am dreading. I don´t know what I am most excited about; right now I am just anxious to finish this year´s challenge and to get on with a fresh one! Next year I am determined to get the hard prompts done first so I am not stuck with them in the end of the year. I have marked the prompts green, yellow and red for the level of attention I need to give them. The reds are the ones I am sure won´t be filled randomly (like western and medical thriller), yellow means I will keep an eye on them and green is like, yeah no worries (published in 2020 for example). So I am planning to start the year strong with reading reds.
Happy Friday Everyone! I was on vacation last week so didn't get to post so I have two weeks I'll be posting today. I'm also super excited because I completed the challenge last night! Yay! Finished:
Looking for Alaska - I really wanted to love this book, but it was just okay for me. 3 stars
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - I thought this book had a slow start, but ended up really loving it. 5 stars
The Death of Mrs. Westaway - this was my favorite book of Ruth Ware's that I've read so far. 4 stars
Hindsight: And All the Things I Can’t See in Front of Me - this was the last book I needed to read to complete the challenge. I used this for prompt #3 - a book written by a musician. This was a nice look into what makes Justin Timberlake who he is. It had a lot of photos and was kind of like a coffee table book, but I'm a big JT fan so I enjoyed it. 4 stars
Challenge Progress:
50/50 - finished woo hoo!
Currently Reading:
Next Year in Havana - I hope I'll finish this today. I've been reading it for a really long time.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz - I started listening to this yesterday. So far it's really good.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - I'll be starting this tonight
QOTW - After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
I'm excited for the new challenge and have already begun planning my books. I'm sure they'll change throughout the year like this year's did though.
I think the most fun prompt is the first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed. The other prompt I like is a book with the same title as a movie or TV show, but unrelated to it. I'm scared of the western prompt. That is just not my genre and I can't find anything I want to read for it, however, LitRPG and cli-fi scared me for this year, and those turned out to be two books I really liked so maybe it will open my eyes up to something I wouldn't have normally read.
Mod
That's a great idea!! I always make sure to tackle the tough ones first too - this is a good way to make sure I don't miss any.
Nadine wrote: "Johanne wrote: "I have marked the prompts green, yellow and red for the level of attention I need to give them. ..."That's a great idea!! I always make sure to tackle the tough ones first too - ..."
Thanks. I needed something really simple. I am also going analogue with a printout instead of a spreadsheet. We´ll see how it goes.
Nadine wrote: "Johanne wrote: "I have marked the prompts green, yellow and red for the level of attention I need to give them. ..."That's a great idea!! I always make sure to tackle the tough ones first too - ..."
I should do this as well! I did make a little yellow mark next to the ones I want to work on early in the year (so I don't get stuck at the end like I am now!)
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Lynching: The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan (other topics)Born to Run (other topics)
Challenger Deep (other topics)
The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin (other topics)
The Eyre Affair (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter Robinson (other topics)Jan Stocklassa (other topics)
John Carreyrou (other topics)
Megan Abbott (other topics)
Jasper Fforde (other topics)
More...
Admin stuff: just like last year, we’ll take a bit of time to digest and hash out the new prompts, then we’ll agree on a list of twelve to use for the monthly group reads (by basically throwing around ideas), and set up a poll for our first quarter 2020 reads a week or two after that.
To get started, here is the list of ideas for monthly categories: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This year we are trying a new thing: Listopias for each prompt. Links can be found in the posts for each prompt, and here: Listopia Links All in One Place
This week I finished a few books, some that I’d been slowly plugging away at for a while. I haven't spent as much time reading as I usually do - I basically stopped reading after the list came out, it’s kept me so busy!
The Secret Place by Tana French - this was good, but since I’ve loved everything else by her, I expected it to be amazing, so I was disappointed. It felt a lot longer than it needed to be.
#Notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women ed by Lisa Charleyboy - I’d recommend this to junior high kids. I was hoping for an anthology of poetry from young indigenous women. It wasn’t what i was looking for.
The Long Call by Ann Cleeves - this mystery novel draaaaagged. It seems like Cleeves was trying so hard to “do a new thing” that she lost control of her mystery novel. I was surprised by who had done it, anyway.
Question of the Week
After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
There are several stand-outs for me. I’m excited about the robot prompt, but that’s mostly because I’m excited to read Network Effect.
The idea of learning something new is energizing, so I’m excited about reading about a subject I know nothing about.
But of all of them, I’m MOST excited by the thought of closing my eyes and picking a book! The thrill of the unknown!! Can’t wait to see what I get!!!