Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

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2020 Weekly Checkins > Week 6: 1/31 – 2-6

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message 1: by Sara (last edited Feb 06, 2020 07:55AM) (new)

Sara Happy February everyone! This is a big birthday month for my family (3 birthdays) so I anticipate several family dinners. My daughter also has her first school dance. It will be a busy month!

Admin note: February’s group read of The Nightingale is underway here.

Quarter 2 group read results are in:

April (journalism) – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
May (flora/fauna) – The Tattooist of Auschwitz
June (trans/nonbinary) – The Map of Salt and Stars - Lynn has offered to lead discussion for June.

You can check out the breakdown of the votes here.

If you would like to volunteer to lead discussion for April or May please PM myself or Nadine.


On to the reading check-in!

Finished:

I finished one new (to me) book and two rereads.

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer. I loved this book! I picked it up for a February author spotlight in another book group I’m in. This is a regency novel. The title character, Sophy, is delightful. She has been left at her aunt’s home while her widower father travels to Brazil. Sophy is not quite what her cousins expect. She has had an unusual upbringing, living all over Europe, and has a knack for “arranging” things in the lives of her relations (aka she interferes a lot!). I used this for a book by an author who has written more than 20 books.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – a reread of a favorite book. There’s nothing more magical than Lucy’s entry into Narnia.

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You – another favorite reread for me. Lin-Manuel Miranda needs to write more books, or make a weekly podcast, or something. The world needs more people like him.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton. Such an important book. Considering the heavy topic (death penalty, racism in the criminal justice system, wrongly convicted and on death row for 30 years), this book is brimming with hope and love of life. I remember Hinton’s name in the news when he was exonerated (I was too young when he was convicted to be aware), but I didn’t really know the details. Such an amazing story and an amazing man! I highly, highly recommend it. I’m using it for a book with a four-star rating on Goodreads.

Currently reading:

The Painted Veil (book set in the 1920s)
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (won an award in 2019)

Prompts done: 13/50

Question of the week:
A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

I’m less likely to read it, especially at the time the controversy is churning. I tend to not read hyped books in the moment, and controversial books are just hyped books with a negative light. I’d rather wait to let things settle. If the book still sounds good a few months (or years) later I’ll probably give it a go.
I did recently read a book involved in controversy – The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – but I had already bought the audiobook when the debate really exploded.


message 2: by Nadine in NY (last edited Feb 06, 2020 04:35AM) (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9756 comments Mod
February is always a slog for me. It's cold and gray and ugh.

Happy birthday to your family!!! In my family, my two kids and their dad have birthdays all within a five week span in March through April, and after a while we've all had enough cake!! It used to be worse when we held big parties for the kids and came home with leftover cake from those too. Well, I say "worse" but ... cake is a good problem to have :-)


This week I finished four books, and three filled a Challenge prompt, so I am now 13/50.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong - I don’t even know why I put this audiobook on hold, but I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it. I checked off “book by a WOC” with this one.

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - I hated this book. The only reason I finished it was because I was reading it for a challenge category that is a bit difficult for me: Bildungsroman.

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien - I enjoyed this book a lot!! It’s a murder mystery with an amateur detective, a lot of reviews describe it as a cozy mystery, but I thought it was just a “regular” mystery (neither cozy nor hard-boiled). I’m so glad it’s the start of a series, I look forward to reading all the rest :-) Two years ago when it was first published, I noticed it on my library’s New Releases shelves and okay maybe what really caught my eye was the picture of dumplings, but as soon as the 2020 categories were released, I knew this would be the book I would read for “title caught your attention.”

Guts by Raina Telgemeier - I really loved Telgemeier’s first three books, but I found this one a bit disappointing. It will be great for middle school readers but it didn’t have all-ages appeal.

Among the books I’m currently reading is The Count of Monte Cristo. I’m slowly chipping away at one or two chapters a day. We have a book discussion post going for this one:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


QOTW
It depends on what the controversy is!! In the case of American Dirt, I have no plans to read that book, the controversy was informative for me and allowed me to realize that I want no part in that. But other controversies can appeal to me. For example, after The New Yorker wrote an expose about the author of The Woman in the Window, I knew I had to read that book to see if his book plots were as good as the lies this guy had been serving everyone (answer: no, they were not - that book was not worth my time).


message 3: by Katy (new)

Katy M | 968 comments I finished Understories as a book with an upside down image on the cover. It was just OK.

I read Last Man Standing as my book with the name of a TV show or movie, but unrelated to it. It was really, really good. I highly recommend.

And I have just begun Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation as my book about or involving social media.

QOTW: That's a good question. I've never thought about it, so I think the answer is probably neither, except for the fact that the controversy may bring the book to my attention. But, I don't think American Dirt would be something I would read one way or the other, so the controversy didn't affect that.


message 4: by Ashley Marie (last edited Feb 06, 2020 06:28AM) (new)

Ashley Marie  | 1028 comments Happy Thursday! We woke up to everything coated in freezing rain in Akron this morning.

Finished:
The Predator - 5 stars, and somehow I'd completely forgotten about that plot twist (which, in retrospect, I could've seen coming from a mile off if I'd paid attention earlier).
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood - 5 stars for the audiobook, which Trevor reads himself. Recommended by your favorite blog/vlog/podcast

13/50

I've put Gardens of the Moon and Now I Rise on hold - I've decided to read only books by Black authors in February for Black History Month. I'll get back to them in March.

Currently:
The Autobiography of Malcolm X - I started this a year or so ago and got distracted, so I'm determined to finish this time. Feels like a necessary read for everyone. A book with at least a 4-star rating on GR
On the Come Up - Angie Thomas's follow-up to The Hate U Give, about a new character Bri who wants to be a rapper. Loving Bahni Turpin's audio narration. A book by a WOC

QOTW: A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy? I agree with Nadine - it depends on what the controversy is about, exactly. I have no interest in American Dirt. I desperately wanted to read the new Hunger Games prequel until I found out it was about a young President Snow. No thank you. But I loved Justina Ireland's Dread Nation and can't wait for the sequel, and a lot of people online say they don't like her because she's a bully, and all I've seen is a woman standing up for herself. Same for LL McKinney's work - I haven't read anything of hers yet, but A Blade So Black is on my list for February.


message 5: by Christine (new)

Christine H | 496 comments Bonjour! It is gray and awful here and I need, like, 3 more sleep hours designated in each day, please, until the sun starts shining earlier!

This week I DNF Pride, because it seemed like the author concentrated way more on transposing each character role into her desired setting (which could have been a great setting for a retelling!) than she did on evoking Austen's wit, painting real characters, or writing at a level beyond, "I am X. My sisters are Y, Z, A, and B, and I will list all our characteristics for you."

Finished
Roadside Picnic - highly recommended if you like first-contact science fiction, gritty science fiction, or weird fiction. Has a lot in common with Annihilation, but with a totally different feel. (NB: it does have some gross sexism and racism in it, but I was able to view it as a product of its time & place. YMMV.)

Started
The Fifth Season - library hold surprise! Might try to use for the Seven Deadly Sins prompt

The Turn of the Key - I was desperately craving something a bit trashy last night, and this fits the bill - enjoying it so far, but not sure what prompt I can shoehorn it into!

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - for a Book with a Pun in the Title. Very interesting material, but maybe a little padded out to create a whole book. As with so many habit-change content, it's a little heavy handed with the diet culture, but what can you do? The actual tactics he discusses will work on any habit you want, including if you want to STOP dieting! :D

QOTW: I really don't pay a lot of attention. I don't read things because they're hyped, and it seems like a lot of the controversies are reactions to crazy hype. Now, if something is controversial because of something I'm interested in, that's different.

As a matter of fact, I'm reading Fifth Season in part because of the whole bonkers Sad Puppies / Chuck Tingle / Hugo Award story. So it depends on why it's controversial.

Also, if "One Million Moms" objects to something, it does make me want to check it out! (*Christine dances offstage, yelling, "Shakira! Shakira!"*)


message 6: by Ellie (last edited Feb 06, 2020 05:24AM) (new)

Ellie (patchworkbunny) | 1757 comments I'm really not with it today, managed to accidentally buy a first class train ticket this morning, and I didn't even notice so I just sat in standard class. Not that 1st is anything fancy. Also forgot to bring a book with me!

Lots of short books this week, I finished:

The Burning Land by George Alagiah for ATY (southern hemisphere). Interesting to read about the problems with land reform in South Africa, I wasn't that fussed by the characters.

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire for three word title. I loved returning to Jack's story, much better than the previous Wayward Children story.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone for a title that caught my attention. This one fit so many prompts, but I think the cover ones will be easier for me to fill. I don't think I got all the references, and I didn't mind the flowery language in the context of love letters, it works.

In Pain: A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids for a previous prompt (problem facing society). I can't believe I've used my freebie prompt so early in the year but I wanted to read something on the opioid crisis and I liked that this was from the point of view of someone who has been through it. It was excellent and really important reading for doctors and patients alike. My jaw dropped at several times.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells for a book featuring a robot/AI/cyborg. Scribd have been nagging me to have another free trial so I'm using it to listen to some Tor audiobooks (they don't tend to cap those). I loved ART, felt the ending was a bit rushed but overall enjoyed more Murderbot. Oh and I'm using it for Book Riot's SFF novella because I disagree with their definition.

I also read a short storyAs Good as New which was too short for me to use it for anything. I DNFed Blood Heir as I just wasn't getting into it, but I wanted to give it a chance which brings me onto the

QOTW:
I think controversy can put me off a book, however with Blood Heir I kinda felt the author had been badly treated. Having read some of the book, the situation she wrote is not dissimilar to the Grishaverse (world based on Russia, some people are enslaved because of who they are, there's prejudice against people who are from a different part of the empire). Anyway, I didn't like the book enough to continue, I'm getting quite fussy about YA fantasy, but I thought the reaction was a little extreme.

I won't read a book to find out what the controversy is about if it's not something I was going to read anyway. And I won't support authors who turn out to be horrible people.

PS: 9/50 | ATY: 7/52 | BR: 2/24 | GR: 19/100


message 7: by Jen (new)

Jen (jentrewren) Epic fail this week from me. I completed nothing. Life is in the bog again.

QOTW
Doesn't make much difference to me to be honest. If I was already interested in a book it may go higher up the TBR so I can understand for myself. If I wasn't interested I still won't be.


message 8: by Sara (new)

Sara | 123 comments I took it easy this week. I read a lot of books in January and I needed to take some time to do some other things. Plus, there was the super bowl and the insane Iowa caucus and the SOTU to watch and talk about, etc. I just finally got back to my normal amount of reading last night. Of course, that means that I did not finish any books this week. I am working on a few and I feel great about my progress for the year.

QOTW: It depends on the book. For example, I definitely want to read The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir and I already have it on hold at the library. But I'm not particularly interested in American Dirt.


message 9: by Heather (new)

Heather (heatherbowman) | 910 comments I read a few articles last week about “how to actually relax” on the weekend that struck a chord. The articles were reminders that weekends used solely for 1) chores and errands, and 2) isolating with TV and books are not actually refreshing weekends. I needed a reminder that only reading doesn’t bring me as much joy as reading between time spent on other hobbies and with friends. This is my second weekend where I'm going to practice putting down my book for awhile.

Finished
The Hollow by Agatha Christie (a book with the same title as a movie or TV show that is unrelated to it). I enjoyed the mystery a lot. I have to admit, I fell hard for one of the red herrings. I also want to give the usual reminder that Agatha Christie was racist and anti-Semitic and those views show up in this book.

Reading
Babylon's Ashes by James SA Corey (a book with a made up language)

QOTW
Generally, I'm less likely to read a book if there's controversy. I prefer drama in fiction, not real life. I hold grudges over book controversies for a long time too. But I'm someone who quietly avoids a book/author. I don't like to engage in the controversy myself.


message 10: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9756 comments Mod
Ellie wrote: "... I loved ART, felt the ending was a bit rushed but overall enjoyed more Murderbot. Oh and I'm using it for Book Riot's SFF novella because I disagree with their definition. ..."


This caught my eye, because surely a book about a sentient robot is SFF, and how could the first four MurderBot books be anything OTHER than novellas??? What is the BookRiot definition you disagree with? I googled and found an old BR article (I think it was a list of 100 novellas or something like that) defining a novella as between 50-200 pages, and AC fits that bill.


message 11: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9756 comments Mod
Christine wrote: "... lso, if "One Million Moms" objects to something, it does make me want to check it out! ..."


Hahaha I confess I often have the same reaction!!! Same with movies - years ago a friend and I were walking through Manhattan somewhere (probably near SoHo) and saw people protesting a movie, some modern retelling of Mary & Joseph. Hell yeah we bought tickets and watched that movie!! (It was good and very very weird and I don’t remember the title.)


message 12: by Tracy (last edited Feb 06, 2020 06:03AM) (new)

Tracy (tracyisreading) | 608 comments Check in time! Hello, everyone :-)

I finished one book this week for Pop Sugar #19: An Anthology. Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet. It was.... cute. Lots and Lots of LGBTQ+ short stories here if anyone is looking for that kind of thing. It was a light read, (YA) , my only disappointment was the second story which was more like a first chapter and left me hanging, so I was kind of annoyed by it. Also, now every time I write about it I think of Jen and her iZombies, lol.

Still in progress:
The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone- less than an hour left on audio, and using it for PS- Favorite category from a past challenge ( Mystery/thriller)
Envy- also for PS- related to the seven deadly sins. I just started this a few days ago, since its in my library stack and I need to get reading those before they run out. Haven't felt much like binge reading this week though.
A Game of Thrones- for ATY- a Fantasy. I could honestly sit down and wipe this out, but I've been saving it for bedtime since its on my kindle. During the day I'm working on that library stack.( and I have 3 more holds coming in). But I'm making steady progress at around 70% now, and I'm still loving it!
AND...Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort- not for the challenges. I've been reading this to my daughters at bedtime and we're just past the halfway mark. We have been really enjoying this and have had some fun discussion about where we would like to go if we had pillow forts with portals to other places, and more importantly, friendships and how they change as we grow, and how we can communicate better with our friends if we are having problems with them. And mean kids lol.

Coming in from the library:
Real Friends- to read with my girls. My older daughter got the sequel for Christmas.
Home- for a book about Afrofuturism
The Night Masquerade- a sci fi novella ( this is a cheat because its over the specified page count but oh. well. I'm on the same page as Ellie here)


message 13: by Anne (new)

Anne (annefullercoxnet) | 204 comments Happy Thursday! I am struggling to get going this morning, I just need a little more sleep. I think I am staying up too late reading.

I didn't check in last week, so in the past two weeks I've read:
Rabbit Cake- I really enjoyed this book, so for all the people that recommended it on here, thanks.
Whiskey When We're Dry- my western, and am I ever glad that prompt is finished. The book was good, I am just not a huge fan of the genre.
Murder on a Midsummer Night- my husband and I watched the Phryne Fisher mysteries on Netflix and I thought it would be fun to try one of the books. I really enjoyed it, but didn't need the description of all the food and clothes in such detail.
In the Hall with the Knife- this book is based off the board game clue and was decently clever. I won't be reading the next one in the series, however. The book just didn't "speak to me."
The Line Between- my medical thriller. I'm not 100% sure it counts because while there was a villain he was holding onto the possible cure, not spreading the pandemic proportion disease. I'm counting it anyway because, again, this is not my favorite genre and I just want to be done with my medical thriller.

QOTW: Controversies are more likely to turn me off the books than make me want to read them. For example, I loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (which I read before Jojo Moyes book came out), but since the controversy I have no desire to read the Moyes book.

Happy Reading!


message 14: by Donna (new)

Donna (donna_egan) | 29 comments Good Morning! Very cold in northern Colorado today. I read 2 books this week. Since I needed a break from heavy and disturbing, both met this requirement. Both books were only ok.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - I seem to have trouble with the classics. I detested Mr Rochester and I didn’t feel he deserved Jane. The characters didn’t come together for me. This book will fit the Bildungsroman prompt.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal - my husband and I have dabbled a bit in home beer brewing, so I loved all the brewing description in the book. The characters in the book never really came to life for me. At times the characters were boring. From the reviews, I expected more. This book will fit the 7 deadly sins prompt.

I’m currently reading The Great Alone. So far can’t put this one down.

QTW - it depends on the subject of the book and the controversy. Sometimes, I’m drawn right in, other times I want nothing to do with it.


message 15: by Ellie (last edited Feb 06, 2020 05:57AM) (new)

Ellie (patchworkbunny) | 1757 comments Nadine wrote: "I googled and found an old BR article (I think it was a list of 100 novellas or something like that) defining a novella as between 50-200 pages, and AC fits that bill..."

On the Read Harder list is specifies it needs to be under 120 pages! I'm assuming the prompt is to make us read a Tor novella and none of the ones I have are that short. Maybe it was meant to be novelette. Things like this are why I don't take Read Harder too seriously.


message 16: by Mary (last edited Feb 06, 2020 01:30PM) (new)

Mary Hann | 279 comments I am 13/50.

So You Want to Be a Modern Homesteader?: All the Dirt on Living the Good Life: A book about a topic you know nothing about. I was really excited for this prompt. It was like a knowledge free-for-all and I dig that, but this wasn't quite what I hoped for. I was hoping for more like a diary, and what I got was a self-help blog.

Rainbirds: A book set in Japan. I enjoyed the first half of this one, but the whole time I kept thinking "I hope this book isn't going there..." And for reasons I won't explain because of spoilers, this book became a big fat NOPE for me. I wouldn't recommend it and I'm sorry I read it.

Currently reading:

Never Have I Ever: There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book so far, but I am getting nowhere with it. It is due back at the library tomorrow, and I'm trying to decide on next steps. Give up, try again later, push through this evening and finish, or return it late.

Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry: I love Mary Higgins Clark, so I hope the reviews I read are wrong and that it is like her other books. I'm just super distracted and having a hard time reading anything.

Question of the week:

Like other commenters, it really depends on the type of controversy and the topic of the book.


message 17: by Tracy (new)

Tracy (tracyisreading) | 608 comments I forgot to answer the QOTW:

I am most definitely adding the controversial books to my TBR out of curiosity, however, I rarely get around to reading them. I just want to see with my own eyes what the big deal is and if I agree or disagree with it. I was so intrigued by the discussion here recently about Eleanor and Park, because I absolutely loved that book and didn't remember thinking that there were any issues with it, so reading everyone's comments and the linked articles was pretty eye opening.


message 18: by Kenya (new)

Kenya Starflight | 992 comments Happy Thursday, y’all.

Is it just me or has this January been a trash fire? It feels like SO much happened in such a short time. Just hope this doesn't set the tone for the rest of the year...

Books read this week:

Myths of Origin -- for “favorite prompt from the 2019 challenge” (book based on mythology, legend, or folklore). Collection of Catherynne Valente's first four novellas (“The Labyrinth,” “Yume No Hon: The Book of Dreams,” “The Grass-Cutting Sword,” and “Under in the Mere”), and are adaptations of Greek, Japanese, and Arthurian myths. I love Valente’s writing, but in these early works she focuses far more on the style than on the substance of the story, which can get annoying after a bit. “The Grass-Cutting Sword” and “Under in the Mere” are the strongest of the four, in my opinion.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again -- not for the challenge (though could work for “book with a map”). Just figured it was time I read this fantasy classic. It was good, but not fantastic, though I appreciate it as a classic and as one of the defining works of the high fantasy genre.

Mooncakes -- graphic novel, not for the challenge. Cute tale about witches, werewolves, and a sweet non-binary love story, though I wish the artwork had been a little better.

Regular challenge -- 10/44 (split the last prompt into five)
Advanced challenge -- 1/10
Not for challenge -- 9

Currently Reading:

The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest -- for “anthology”
The Final Empire -- for “book with a map”
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet -- for “book that won an award in 2019”
A Natural History of Dragons -- not for the challenge

QOTW:

Usually I'm less likely to pick up a controversial book -- partly because they're often in genres I don't normally read, but also partly because I seem to rarely get around to reading new books when they're still new. I did end up reading Me Before You, but only because I wasn't aware that it had caused controversy before I picked it up. I also read Revealing Eden BECAUSE of the controversy because my train-wreck-obsessed brain wanted to see if it was as bad as all the reviews claimed it was. (Spoiler alert: it was. It definitely was. I even wrote a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of its awfulness in a now-abandoned blog...)


message 19: by Tania (new)

Tania | 678 comments Enjoy your birthday month! It's a big birthday month for my family (and a few friends), we have 8 birthdays to celebrate including my husband's. Today is my niece's birthday, so we're going out for dinner tonight.

I'm 9/50 for the challenge.
This week I finished:
Golden State by Cynthia Hamilton - used for A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title. I did not care for the author's writing style or the main character, the plot of this book showed promise but I really had to slog through it to finish. In fact I used this in another challenge for a character that frustrates you.

Hostage by Alex Wheeler - set in the Star Wars expanded universe between original trilogy stories, book 2 of the Star Wars Rebel Force series because I didn't have book 1 yet. I'll be reading 1 next, because I love this series.

Renegade by Alex Wheeler - book 3 of the Star Wars Rebel Force series, loved it, possibly even more than Hostage because this one featured Han Solo and Chewy more.

QOTW: Even when I'm looking forward to a book coming out, I rarely read anything new (or anything I've just bought) because my TBR is so obnoxious and I'm a mood reader to boot. Controversy doesn't make me more or less likely to read something, though. If I know I want to read a book, and there is controversy, I'll usually avoid knowing about the controversy until after I read the book if I can help it, and then go back and retroactively look at what all the fuss was about. I am surprisingly good at avoiding news/spoilers.


message 20: by Freda (new)

Freda | 8 comments Current Status: 6/50

Finished:
23. A book that won an award in 2019 - Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. This was a great storey with just the right blend of romance and politics. I love the characters and their banter. I will for sure be checking out the next book that this author comes out with.

I also finished The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and the short story Firewood by Sebastien de Castell. Didn't have them slotted in for challenges but happy to finish one series and get part of another one completed. Can't wait to pick up the next on in the Shadowblack series. I need to try to fit it into a challenge.


Currently Reading:
34. A book you meant to read in 2019 - Legendary by Stephanie Garber. This is the second series I am hoping to finish up this year. I am really focusing on completing the series I have on the go in 2020. I am 130 pages in and am enjoying it so far. This world is just so lush and I love the authors descriptions of the dresses and everything else. Can't wait to continue!

30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader - Henry VIII: The King and His Court by Alison Weir. Only 100 pages to go!! Determined to finish it by the weekend.

8. A book with an upside-down image on the cover - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Havn't read much of this one yet as I need to finish some library holds but am looking forward to getting back to it after the readathon I am participating in next week.

Question of the week:
A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

I don't think this really affects if I read something or not. If a book is hyped a lot on booktube I am more likely to read it for sure, but controversy doesn't really affect my reading.


message 21: by Ashley (new)

Ashley | 159 comments Happy Thursday!

We got a few inches of snow dumped on us last night. It's February, so I don't mind but I wish they would clean the roads a little better.

Finished:

The Only Good Indians for a book that's published in 2020. I liked this but didn't love it. It's getting some really good reviews on here but it was only a three star book for me.

I didn't do a ton of reading this week, I only got one finished, so that puts me at 9/52.

Currently Reading:

I've got a lot of books in progress right now.

The Sisters Brothers for a Western. I'm listening to it on audio and really like the narrator. The book has been pretty good so far too. Really funny in parts, I'm enjoying it.

Beard with Me - Not for the challenge, just trying to finish up the Winston Brothers' series. This is the darkest of the series. Poor Scarlet, she really had a rough childhood. Also, I know we're supposed to love Ben but I find him to be too pushy with Scarlet. He's leaning a little too much into "nice guy" territory. I do love young Cletus.

Well Met for a book with a main character in their 20. I'm still really early in this book but it's pretty cute so far.

1Q84 for a book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics. I'm reading this book during my lunch hour at work and am like 21 pages into it. So, I can't tell you what I think of it yet since I still have over a thousand to go.

QOTW:

It depends on what the controversy is. I think the American Dirt controversy is legit and I honestly wasn't that impressed when I read the samples of it online. So, I'll be skipping it. I really just take it on a case by case basis.


message 22: by Aimee (last edited Feb 06, 2020 07:27AM) (new)

Aimee (pebbles320) Hi everyone! Hope you've all had a good week of reading.

My progress: 20/175 GR; 9/50 PS; 6/52 ATY

Popsugar challenge books completed this week:
Elantris - a book by an author who's written more than 20 books (advanced prompt)
I'm a big Sanderson fan so I'm definitely biased but I loved this book. The only thing that held it back from being a 5 star read was the supernatural brilliance of the two MCs, who were so perfect at everything they did that it started to grate on my nerves a bit. (Seriously, one of them manages to win round a sworn enemy with just one speech. More than a little bit unbelievable.)

QOTW: I'm definitely more likely to not read a controversial book. There are so many books in the world that I really want to read, and so little time to read them in, that I don't want to waste time reading something that I probably won't enjoy.


message 23: by Laura Z (new)

Laura Z | 391 comments Good morning from Santa Fe! We've all been battling cold/flu but are finally on the mend. Maybe now I'll be able to concentrate on the non-fiction books I've started...

Challenge Progress: 14/50

Completed:
The Need: A short book that took me a long time to read. Part I was fantastic! I'd been expecting a fairly straightforward thriller (maybe like Fierce Kingdom), but this quickly became something else. I was so intrigued! And then... I wasn't. Moll wasn't sympathetic, and Molly was a dishrag. ★★

Snow, Glass, Apples: Gorgeous (and grotesque) re-imagining of Snow White as a vampire... The lush Art Nouveau illustrations are worth savoring. (A book published the month of your birthday - August) ★★★★★

The Regulars: At first I really didn't like Evie, Krista, and Willow, and I liked them even less once they started taking the "Pretty." But the writing was witty and fast-paced, and despite the story's shortcomings, I still really wanted to know what was going to happen next, so on I read... and I'm glad I did. It's a fantasy, so don't expect to have everything explained, but enjoy it for what it is. A fun, easy read with a satisfying conclusion. (A book featuring a main character in their 20s) ★★★★

The Fifth Season: Dystopian fantasy with incredible world-building! I was immediately sucked in. Jemisin was able to both build characters and an entirely new reality at the same time. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. (A book by a woman of color) ★★★★

Currently Reading: Twenty-One Truths About Love (a book with 20 or twenty in the title), The Starless Sea, Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Bad Feminist (a book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics), and Here's Looking at Euclid: From Counting Ants to Games of Chance - An Awe-Inspiring Journey Through the World of Numbers (a book with a pun in the title)

QOTW: Controversial books? I guess it depends on the controversy. I don't like liars or plagiarists, so I certainly wouldn't seek out books/authors mired in that kind of controversy. Politically/socially controversial? Yeah, maybe. Like John Bolton's new book? If I can get it from the library, yes. But I won't buy it. I read The Last Temptation of Christ many, many years ago because of the uproar over the movie (which I've never seen). Wonderful book! I also read Fifty Shades of Grey because of its notoriety. I regret every minute I wasted on that trash.

So, that's clear as mud.


message 24: by Lauren (last edited Feb 06, 2020 10:03AM) (new)

Lauren Oertel | 764 comments Happy family birthday month, Sara! We're coming to the end of my family's "birthday season" as all of ours are between Dec. 31st and Feb. 15th. :)

This week I listened to The Good Lord Bird for the Super Rooster ToB. I'm a James McBride fan so I had high expectations for this one. It was good, but not exactly what I expected. I'm very interested in the topic/setting but I noticed my attention ebbed and flowed throughout the story. I had mixed feelings on how these iconic historical figures were portrayed. I think the author was trying to be light-hearted about it in making them a bit eccentric (especially John Brown). Overall I enjoyed it though. 4 stars

I also listened to I Almost Forgot About You which was an up and down reading experience for me. I really enjoyed some parts and was annoyed by and questioned others... 3 stars

I've been working in some weight loss books since I've been struggling with that a lot lately. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite was decent. The first half with all the science and studies was longer than it needed to be, and I wanted more on the "what to do about it" but they had some good suggestions. 3 stars

I stayed up late last night to finish The Nickel Boys, and wow, I did not see that big reveal coming! It wasn't quite a perfect book, but it was still well done and the topic was riveting. I'm looking forward to my book club discussion of this later this month. 4 stars

I'm currently listening to We Are Never Meeting In Real Life and reading The Testaments in print.

QOTW: Great question! As others have mentioned above, it depends on what the controversy is... I will not be reading American Dirt, and I have always refused to read Fifty Shades of Grey and Gone with the Wind. But I did read Eleanor & Park (before hearing about the controversy), and I also read Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time and A Million Little Pieces knowing that they were based on only partially accurate information.


message 25: by Drakeryn (new)

Drakeryn | 708 comments Earlier this week, my boss was like "Looks like we're done with snow this winter :D" - so, of course, we had a snowstorm last night. It started snowing yesterday before I left work and it's still snowing now.

Finished reading: (5/50)

As the Last I May Know - A short story with an interesting premise: What if the codes for WMDs were surgically implanted in a child's body, and the president could only access them by killing the child? It's a lot easier to press a button to kill faceless children overseas than to kill a child with your own two hands.

Currently reading:

Ninth House (won an award in 2019, main character in her 20s, vision enhancement (seeing ghosts), has a map, recommended by my favorite blogger (karen)) - I don't quite get the Darlington love (so far), but Alex Stern is great.

"They tried to kill me, Hellie," she rasped as she slid into the dark. That means I get to try to kill them.


QotW:
I like controversy and drama. Stuff like the American Dirt fracas is fascinating to me. BUT I don't think it actually affects my reading (besides possibly putting books on my radar). Looking at my books for the past couple years I don't see anything that I read specifically because of drama.


message 26: by Drakeryn (new)

Drakeryn | 708 comments Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "I desperately wanted to read the new Hunger Games prequel until I found out it was about a young President Snow. No thank you."

It's the opposite for me. I wasn't originally interested in the Hunger Games prequel, but when I found out it was Snow's story, it became a must-read. Snow was my favorite character in the trilogy (I like villains haha).


message 27: by Amy (new)

Amy | 29 comments Happy First week of February! I'm going to have to align my prompts with the books chosen for each month! All three were on my list but for other prompts!

Finished:
The One By John Marrs Prompt: 13. book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated. 4 stars Good read, the book revolves around 5 different story lines. I kept waiting for them to merge together but they never did.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde Pun in title? DNF. This book didn't hold my attention, only 30% through and two other books came available from the library. Saw 2 people were waiting for the book so returned to move on to other books.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James by or about a journalist. 4 stars I really enjoyed this book. It was a small bit paranormal and a lot of figuing out a couple mysteries. I was lost a few times with the different timelines, one in the 1950's, one in the 90's and then current day. A journalist is covering a story about a girls boarding school that is going to be reopened. Her sister had died while going there in the 90's, and there was another timeline from the 50's regarding 4 other girls. All see the ghost of Mary Hand.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell 3 stars, was a little slow paced for me but good story.

Currently Reading:
The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson No Prompt 2nd book in Truly Devious trilogy.

How Long 'til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin Anthology

This month I want to try to read these also:
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

QQTW: I tend not to pay attention to controversy surrounding books I want to read. When friends and family read books that I want to read I don't let them discuss it with me until I read it. I don't want their opinions to sway my experience. After I'll discuss the book and find it interesting the different opinions, or views others have of the same book. I rarely read Goodread reviews until after I read the book for the same purpose, I want to know if people felt the same as the book after.


message 28: by Chandie (new)

Chandie (chandies) | 300 comments I’m going to start with a book I really enjoyed because 2 of the other 3 books, I did not like at all.

Book with a book on the cover

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman. Contemporary women’s literature. I found it to be delightful and was a nice way to end my reading week.

book with just text on the cover

Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss. This is a book told in a series of emails. And I did not enjoy it at all. I don’t know why any of these people are friends with each other. And they were all pretty much universally awful. The one semi-redeeming character joined the rest in awfulness in the last couple of pages.


books that don’t tick off prompts

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. This is the book my book club kids are reading this month and I quite enjoyed it. I was telling the two who had finished it that I would totally watch a Netflix series and they informed me that it will be.

Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins. I love Higgins but this book was not enjoyable at all. All of the characters were unlikeable except for maybe the teenage girl and the grandfather. The main character was a therapist but didn’t seem to realize that all of the characters really needed some serious therapy including the guy who becomes her love interest and his kid.



QOTW:
RE: controversy. Has the story been co-opted while publishers ignore #ownvoices and the rollout has had some really racist WTF moments. Then, I would probably avoid it.
Has the author doxed reviewers? Then, I would probably avoid it.
I guess it really depends on the controversy.


message 29: by Sheri (new)

Sheri | 917 comments Hi everyone!

Starting to get a little bit of daylight after work, can't wait until it's a usable amount! I just have zero energy or inclination to do anything active when it's dark.

This week I finished:

The Silent Patient - bleh, i was not a fan. It's weird, usually when I don't like a book it takes me forever to finish. But I tore through it while being annoyed all the while. I'm counting it as a three word title since I already have a medical thriller. I really was annoyed at the narrator. I kinda guessed the twist halfway through but dismissed it because it'd be dumb and make no sense. Whelp.

The Last Ever After - This series frustrates me so much, i'll have to think about if i want to continue or not. On one hand, it's got a great premise, and a lot of the overall ideas are fun. On the other, so many of those get jumbled and not executed well and characters constantly regress into old behavior. Also it was nearly 700 pages and I don't think nearly enough was accomplished to warrant that page count. I was only about halfway through going "seriously, why isn't this resolved yet?" Not counting for a prompt, i only really read it right now because i'd recommended it to the library several year ago and they just now bought it and it auto-checked out.

Her Silhouette, Drawn in Water - wanted a nice fast read that'd actually fill a prompt. This has an upside down image on the cover. It's a novella, would work for the SFF novella for read harder if anyone needs one. I liked it a lot, although I kinda wished there was a series for it. It felt like one of those side novellas that series sometime have, where there's a big overarching plot but the author wants to zero into a smaller moment with a single character. It was a great story, but I was also really interested in the over-arching plot and would totally read a series based on it.

currently reading:

Tell the Wolves I'm Home - not sure what i'll use this for, possibly bildungsroman. I'm really liking it so far. I really relate to June.

Educated - i just read this last September, but it's my book club's pick for next week. I got the audiobook so I'm using it as background noise while i work to refresh my memory enough to talk about it.

The Count of Monte Cristo - only about 3 chapters in so a long way to go. I'll try to make more of an effort to get some chapters knocked out, now that i'm not drowning in library check outs.

QOTW:

It depends on the controversy. I won't be reading American Dirt, i think she's getting enough money and publicity already, I don't need to add to it. I'd rather dig up an own voices account of the same subject.

However if there's a bunch of controversy over something like an author of a marginalized group getting recognition and a bunch of angry white conservatives trying to get it banned or lose awards or whatever, I'll be much more likely to pick it up. That applies to movies too. I had ZERO interest in the new Mad Max a few years ago, until I heard that MRAs were angry about it, then suddenly I was all for it. And I ended up loving it, haha.


message 30: by Brandon (new)

Brandon Harbeke | 700 comments Tania, the Rebel Force series is very good. I don't remember much about it anymore, but they had Luke compete in a podrace at one point.

DNF: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

I was hoping to use this for the book about a woman in STEM, but after a chapter and some flipping through the rest of the book, I could tell that this story was not going to work for me.

Currently reading:

Destiny's Embrace by Beverly Jenkins (for Western prompt)

The library only had the large print edition in stock, and I am finding it weird to have basically no margins on the page. The book itself is decent up to page 90, and it feels much more like a romance novel than a Western. Reading the author's note at the end, I discovered that I am not the only person who really enjoyed Whoopi Goldberg as Queen Calafia in the retired DCA attraction Golden Dreams.

QotW: Controversy generally makes me want to read a book less, but it depends on the details. If the controversy is because a book misrepresents a group of people or because the author is acting like garbage, then I definitely don't want to support them.


message 31: by Ellie (new)

Ellie (patchworkbunny) | 1757 comments Drakeryn wrote: "It's the opposite for me. I wasn't originally interested in the Hunger Games prequel, but when I found out it was Snow's story, it became a must-read. Snow was my favorite character in the trilogy (I like villains haha)..."

I was going to read it either way but I'm more interested in Snow's backstory than just another tribute. We know those tributes don't change the system in the past, so it'd be a bit repetitive. It's going to be a different perspective and I'm all for that.


message 32: by Maggie (new)

Maggie | 6 comments I finally got out of my reading slump and now I can't seem to stop reading. I finally downloaded Overdrive on my phone and I've been using that a lot to read and I've started trying to listen to books on my commute to work (usually 30-45 minutes in the morning and evening).

Finished this week:
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens I started/finished Where the Crawdads Sing. It was hard for me to get into at first, but then I couldn't put it down. I was worried it was overhyped but I ended up enjoying it.

When You See Me (Detective D.D. Warren, #11; Gardner Universe, #20) by Lisa Gardner I love Lisa Gardner books and this book did not disappoint, I highly recommend if you've read her other books, especially the ones that focus on her character, Flora.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon This book was a quick read and I really enjoyed it.

Currently reading:

The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers, #1) by Carly Phillips So far its a fast read, I'm using it for the "book with a title of a tv show that's not related"

I Am Malala The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai I'm listening to this on Overdrive. I wasn't sure how I would like listening to a book instead of reading it, but I think especially for this type of book, it's easier to listen than to read. So far I'm really enjoying it.

Question of the week:
A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

*I usually read books that are considered controversial or hyped up a few months/years after the fact. I like to form my own opinions and find out that I usually end up disappointed if I read them while they are popular.


daniela (daniela_nieblina) | 23 comments A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

I think its a very broad question, since controversy can arise from many different things. American Dirt is a really easy example of controversy. Very few people are more willing to read it when the negative aspects of it are so clear.
But Blood Heir? Both the author and the upset public had valid points! This one isn't a definite "no", and because the issue was quickly picked up by the author and she placed the book on hiatus until she could resolve the issue, it makes people much more willing to read the book and judge for themselves.

So in conclusion: It really just depends on what type of controversy there is.

Finished
None

Currently Reading

Rich People Problems - Because this was loaned to me a few days after the Shinning was loaned, I was forced by the library to put it on hold because they just deleted the thing like savages! SAVAGES!
Alamak!

Magic for Liars – I had such high hopes. A murder mystery in a magical school? The cool artwork? An ethereal being cut in half? Pretty great set up! Sadly I'm bored most of the time, and the MC is basically Petunia.

Gods of Jade and Shadow - No progress on physical reading.


message 34: by Doni (new)

Doni | 711 comments Finished:

The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle

I read this after enjoying The Boy With the Butterfly Mind. I liked how imperfect the characters were, but how friendships were formed despite this.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ I was expecting this to be a division between the roles of Jesus, the person, and Christ, the God. Instead, it was about two twin brothers. It was all right, but I prefer Pullman's more original work over his retellings.

Started: Report to Greco for title with three words in it. Kazantzakis does an amazing job of extracting themes from his life and turning biographic material into something that reads more like a novel. It's inspiring and overwhelming all at the same time.

QotW: I have never had interest in reading books that are hyped up. I don't know why. It seems like it would be a good way to have more in common to talk about, but somehow, it feels like since these books are already prevalent in human consciousness, there is no need for me to read them. Ditto to the others that say controversial is just another form of hype. The last book I can remember reading that was hyped was Go Set a Watchman and really, I think I would have been better off not reading it.


message 35: by Sarah (new)

Sarah (sezziy) | 901 comments Laura wrote: "Good morning from Santa Fe! We've all been battling cold/flu but are finally on the mend. Maybe now I'll be able to concentrate on the non-fiction books I've started...

Challenge Progress: 14/50

..."


Haha! Your punny book title really made me laugh. I might read it just for the title


message 36: by Christy (new)

Christy | 358 comments Greetings, online book friends! Reading went well for me this week. I'm making a concerted effort for Black History Month this year, and really enjoying myself. There's so much to choose from!

Read this week:
Foxglove Summer (main character in their 20s): As always, I enjoyed my PC Peter Grant fix. I'm going to take a break now so I don't run out of books in the series too fast.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest ("Twenty" in the title): this one was ok, but I don't think the main character was fleshed out enough to make me care.

Currently reading quite a few books! I'll have to concentrate to get them all done:
Breath, Eyes, Memory (3-word title; Haiti): It was already good, and it's just getting better as it goes along.
The Yellow House (won an award in 2019): So far it's well written, but it doesn't have the emotional immediacy I was hoping for. I think it will get that once we're in the author's lifetime.
Broad and Alien is the World (title caught my attention; Peru): This is a lovely, quiet, calm book; it reminds me of Death Comes for the Archbishop so far. I think something horrible is about to happen, though, so that calm might be short-lived.
The Proposal (involving social media): Reading Jasmine Guillory is like drinking champagne--I stay up too late and I'm tired the next day, but WORTH IT.

QOTW: Based on how few of the controversies I understood from everyone else's response, I guess I don't follow most of them! If I am aware of a controversy, though, it may affect my reading. If I think it reveals sloppy art or sloppy thinking on the part of the author, I'll probably decide my time is better spent on something else. There are so many other books out there to read! However, if the problem is not with the quality of the work, I tend to ignore the controversy as not relevant to me. I just checked Dread Nation out of the library, so I should probably go check out that particular kerfuffle to see which type of controversy it is.


message 37: by Drakeryn (new)

Drakeryn | 708 comments Doni wrote: "The last book I can remember reading that was hyped was Go Set a Watchman and really, I think I would have been better off not reading it."

Go Set a Watchman is a good example of me not reading a book because of anti-hype. I didn't care about the controversy per se, but I heard it was bad and didn't want to tarnish the characters in my mind.

But I read a lot of hyped stuff in general. Vengeful and Wilder Girls were two of my favorite books last year. The Cruel Prince was not quite worth the mountains of hype but I liked it and plan to read the sequel soon.


message 38: by Alex (new)

Alex of Yoe (alexandraofyoe) | 260 comments We've only 1 birthday this month, but it's a big one. My father-in-law has the misfortune of being born on Valentine's Day! My husband and I started dating in high school and can you believe that his dad refused to let him take me (his first girlfriend) on a Valentine's Day date because it was his birthday??? A lot of good it did: we got married anyway. XD But I've never forgotten his birthday since!

Also, I love the Chronicles of Narnia. There is no fantasy world I'd rather be in. Every time I read a book from the series, it's like coming home, Christmas, and summer vacation all in one.

Finished 5/50

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for "book about a book club". Wow, I had literally no idea about the German occupation of the Channel Islands. I learned so much from this book! And it was really cute in places and wholesome. I ended up watching the movie too. That was also good (though different from book...obviously the book is better). It's inspired me to learn more about WWII, especially as it affected Europe.

Currently Reading

The Solzhenitsyn Reader: New and Essential Writings, 1947-2005 for "first book touched on a shelf with eyes closed". Ironically, this is also set around/after WWII, just the Russian/Stalin/Soviet part. It's a sampler of Solzhenitsyn's writings, but it's got a great historical introduction by the editor, and I have learned SO MUCH. I had no idea that Solzhenitsyn's novels are considered one of the main causes of the Soviet collapse! Talk about books saving the world, his literally did! His stories are such an inspiration, especially to me because I love writing. I'm not even halfway through this book. It's huge. Will probably still be working on it next week.

The Wilderness Journal: 365 Days with the Philokalia for "book who's title caught my attention". Still going.

QotW

I live under a very blessed rock, so I tend to miss out on all but the largest controversies (by choice. Keeps me from falling into too negative of a headspace). So I've missed whatever books are making waves lately. As for the question, it really depends on the controversy and how accessible the book is. I dove into The God Delusion when that started making waves (all religious arguments aside, it's poorly written and barely edited. It's just one long, rambling, middle-aged-man rant. I was more distracted by its literary failures than anything else. I don't even agree with the book's premise, but I could've written it better than Dawkins did). I got my hands on The Shack years after it was making waves (and that one I actually liked. It's not as bad -nor as good- as people claim). Also read Mein Kampf which was eye-opening (and disturbing in just how many of his arguments still get used in political spheres today). I've read plenty of banned books (but obviously loooong after they made waves) and if you consider Harry Potter controversial, I definitely got my hands on that as fast as I possibly could (huge fan). Honestly, there are few books I won't read. As long as it's not overly graphic or triggering (second-hand trauma is real), I'll probably read it if you give it to me, but I'm not going to go out of my way to get it (unless the topic directly affects me...which hardly happens).


message 39: by Sarah (new)

Sarah (sezziy) | 901 comments Hi everyone. I had a pretty nasty fall down the stairs on Monday so I'm pretty battered and bruised at the moment. Luckily nothing's broken (other than the banister!)

This week I finished Double Down with was fluffy and unrealistic, and just what I needed after the serious books of last week. Unfortunately my library doesn't have the next book in the series so I might never find out how it ends

Currently reading: Gods of Jade and Shadow and really enjoying the adventure so far.

Technically also reading Brightfall but I haven't picked it up in about a fortnight

QOTW: I'm way out of the loop on this. I don't follow book blogs/twitter etc so I usually have zero idea if a book is controversial or not unless one of you guys brings it up.


message 40: by Sarah (new)

Sarah (sezziy) | 901 comments Drakeryn wrote: "Doni wrote: "The last book I can remember reading that was hyped was Go Set a Watchman and really, I think I would have been better off not reading it."

Go Set a Watchman is a good example of me n..."


Good decision. I wish I'd stayed away from that one!


message 41: by Viktoria (new)

Viktoria Valkova | 33 comments This was an eventful week for me, I started yoga, had an interview and subsequently got a job (yay!) – but still I found some time to read great books.

Finished:

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams – for “Book on a subject you know nothing about” – 4 stars, the book was amazing. The subject matter is perfectly explained, the ideas are supported with a lot of research and it still didn’t read like a textbook or a self-help book, which was my initial worry. It really changed my view on sleep and I recommend it with both hands.

Everything I Never Told You – for “Bildungsroman” – 3 stars, I’m not sure if it fits the prompt, but it was on the Listopia. The story itself is good, thought-provoking, but I think the execution could have been better. It started a bit slow and then nothing really happened. Maybe it’s just not my type of book.

Equal Rites – for “Book with a pun in the title” - 5 stars! The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, I don’t need to say anything else.

Three Apples Fell from the Sky – for ATY “A little known book” – 5 stars, this book is so good! The English edition isn’t out yet (it comes out next month), I read it in another language. The book tells the story of an Armenian village, taking turns it concentrates on different villagers going through the same devastating events. It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s meaningful - just a perfect mix. I recommend this one too, even more than the first one. FYI I cried reading it in Starbucks yesterday, so be warned haha

That makes 13/50 for PS.

Currently Reading:

The Nightingale – little over halfway done, I haven’t made my mind up yet.
Who Moved My Cheese?

QOTW:
I tend to wait a bit when it comes to overhyped books. Especially when (offline) anyone and everyone around me is raving about a book, how it’s like nothing else they have read and so on – that can make me not read it at all. About controversies – I like to learn what’s exactly problematic about the book and then decide for myself. But I haven't read or even heard of many of the books mentioned, so I guess I too live under a rock hahaha


message 42: by Hannah (new)

Hannah | 68 comments I finished 5 books this week, 3 for PS and 2 for ATY. I'm also reading too many books to count at the moment so I'm getting in a bit of a mess trying to finish books before their due date. I've got 5 more books on hold that are due in this week, so my plan for this weekend and the early part of next week is to finish as many of the books that I am currently reading as I can, before starting on my other books in the order that they are due back!

Finished

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - ATY 11, a book originally published in a year that is a prime number. This was a really well crafted story, with a strong female character. Whilst some of the plot twists were obvious, I didn’t feel that it detracted from the book. I was fully engrossed in Evelyn’s story from the start, and I cared about her flawed and unapologetic character until the end.

Under the Udala Trees - PS 36, A book with a pink cover. This is a very powerful and a times heart-breaking story about Ijeoma. a woman who is in love with another women and lives in a country (Nigeria) where there are strict laws against homosexuality, with same-sex relationships illegal and punishable with up to 14 years in prison.. When Ijeoma’s love is discovered, she is pressured into marrying and having children. Therest of the book then follows the story of Ijeoma’s unhappy marriage, and her complex relationship with her religion and her family.

The Woman in the White Kimono - PS 5 (Advanced), a book set in Japan. This was a sad tale based on the true stories of women who were sent away to a "maternity home" to have their children, and not bring shame on themselves and their families.

Salt to the Sea - PS 3 (Advanced), a book with a character with a vision impairment. This book weaves together the individual stories of a groups of refugees escaping from the advancing Russian soldiers to a ship that they hope will take them safely to Germany. The book was based on a true story of which I was previously unaware, the sinking of the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff in the Baltic Sea in early 1945 when carrying over 9,000 refugees, including children. This was a beautifully written YA historical fiction book, and I can understand why it has received such hype.

Tidelands - ATY 44, a book related to witches. 1648 was a dangerous time to live in England, especially if you were a woman, and especially if you were a descendant of a wise woman, skilled with herbs yourself, ambitious for your children and abandoned by your husband. This was the situation Alinor found herself in.
I felt the first part was very detailed, and slow moving at times, although the pace did pick up about half-way through. The final half was full of action. I will read the next book as I’m interested to read what happens to Alinor next, but I did feel cheated by the ending of this book as the story just seemed to come to an end in a way that I did not expect from such a strong character as Alinor. This is the first book in a new series, and it was quite clear that the ending was used to set up the story for the next in this series.

QOTW

I don't think I would be either more or less likely to read a book because of any controversy. If I want to read the book, I may try to read it sooner so I can make up my own mind, but I am unlikely to want to read a book just because of the controversy.


message 43: by L Y N N (last edited Feb 06, 2020 12:06PM) (new)

L Y N N (book_music_lvr) | 4912 comments Mod
Nadine wrote: "Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - I hated this book.

...after The New Yorker wrote an expose about the author of The Woman in the Window, I knew I had to read that book to see if his book plots were as good as the lies this guy had been serving everyone (answer: no, they were not - that book was not worth my time)."


I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy Call Me By Your Name! I thought it was a beautiful rendition of teenage angst and first love.

And...way before I heard anything about the controversy with AJ Finn, I met him at a book-author event and thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him as well as reading his book. I feel that he must perform well in his job or they would fire him. But...mental instability can affect many different people in many different ways...so perhaps I give him a "buy" on that count as well. He certainly can be charming in person. :)

Anyway, I love seeing your comments about these two books! I can always appreciate another reader's very different reactions from my own. That's what reading is all about, IMHO! :) YAY!


message 44: by Dani (new)

Dani Weyand | 393 comments Hello from a dreary Columbus. I haven’t been able to log in all day, how incredibly annoying. I usually sign in via Facebook but today it just wouldn’t let me hit the little fb button at all. Weird.

Cemetery Road for a book with a title that caught my attention. The main road I grew up off of was also called Cemetery Road (once not the same one because I grew up in suburban Ohio and this was more rural Mississippi). I had no idea what this was when I got it, but it fell nicely into that “journalist uncovers corruption and now his life is in danger” category. Not my usual read but I always enjoy these kinds of thrillers.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill for a book with a book on the cover. A very light, cute awkward bookish girl finds romance book, but with a bit more substance than that. This would make a cute movie for sure.

Strange Practice for a medical thriller. I think I remember seeing someone say this was a stretch for the prompt and I can see why, but nothing else looked interesting. Greta Helsing is a doctor, to monsters, and it is a thriller so it works but the medical stuff wasn’t really at the center of the story I don’t think. Either way, I’m counting it and it was a quick, engaging book.

Meg and Jo for a book that came out in my birth month. This is, obviously, a modern retelling of Little Women. This one started off incredibly irritating. Writing is good, story is cute but wow the author really emphasized those character flaws. Not an amazing read but it ended up being decent.

So this brings me to 23 books this year. 19/40; 0/10 for popsugar and 2/24 for book riot.

QOTW: I tend to be very contrary in the way that if you tell me not to do something, I’m gonna do it. Especially when it comes to moral grandstanding. And I mean that from both ends of the spectrum, I strongly dislike people trying to tell me what to think.


message 45: by Samantha (last edited Feb 06, 2020 12:56PM) (new)

Samantha (bookstasamm) | 182 comments I was a big slacker this week and did not finish a single book. I'll be spending the day in the hospital tomorrow while my boyfriend has a procedure done so I'm going to bring a few books with me, and I have a three-day weekend though so plan to get some reading done.

Currently Reading:
Dear Edward
Regretting You
Foul Is Fair

QOTW - A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

I am less likely to read a book attached to controversy. I had wanted to read The Giver of Stars and American Dirt, but decided against reading either of them because of the controversy related to them.


message 46: by Kendra (new)

Kendra | 507 comments I spent the first part of last week not really being in the mood to read - then I picked up a old favourite to reread and I realized it was more the books I was reading - there's nothing wrong with them, I'm just not in the mood for them and so I'm going back and forth on whether or not I'll just send them back to the library and then try again later.

Books I Finished:

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy, #3) by Deborah Harkness The Book of Life - I love these books. I'm sad it's over. ;p

Deadly Class, Volume 3 The Snake Pit by Rick Remender Deadly Class, Volume 3: The Snake Pit - I'm getting through this series as soon as my library holds come in. It's darker (if that's possible) than the TV show, but the story has me hooked.

Books I Made Progress On:

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters Would Like to Meet

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng Under the Pendulum Sun

QOTW

I don't really pay attention to book controversies, so they don't really affect my reading one way or the other. If I have heard of them, it depends on the reason - anything negative tends to turn me off, but if it's social or religious conservatives angry, I usually just ignore the controversy.


message 47: by Shannon (new)

Shannon | 552 comments Happy Thursday!

We had a ton of buildup this last Tuesday because it looked like we were finally going to get snow and ice, which means an ice day!! And then it ended up pouring rain with the temp hovering around 34 degrees (F) all day, so we all had to come to work. The area all around got ice and snow, but not us. :(

Finished:
Nothing--Things got really busy and I threw off my own schedule, so I haven't read as much.

Currently Reading:
The Prodigal Tongue: Dispatches from the Future of English: A book about or involving social media

The Pink Fairy Book: A book with a pink cover

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley: A book with an author with flora or fauna in their name

QOTW:
I absolutely go out of my way to read controversial books, depending on the controversy. Book censorship is one thing I can angrily talk about forever, so I've read many books on the most banned books list just because they're on there. They haven't all been good (I really, really hated The Chocolate War) but I like knowing what people are so angry about. As others have said, it depends on who's upset.

I read Make Your Home Among Strangers last year solely because of the book burning at Georgia Southern. I have absolutely no interest in reading American Dirt. The difference is all in where the anger is coming from--if an oppressed group is upset about it, then I don't want to support it.

If people are mad and trying to police a book because they're offended by something and think everyone else should be too (like the magic in Harry Potter), I'll happily go out of my way to read the book and support the author. Reading is usually an escape for me, but I also like when it makes me think about something in a new way--even if I don't agree with the underlying beliefs, I want to understand where someone else is coming from.

Now, if it's controversial because of triggering content (like Thirteen Reasons Why), that's a different story. I won't boycott it, but if I know I personally won't be able to handle it, then I won't force myself, if that makes sense.


message 48: by Lilith (last edited Feb 06, 2020 01:46PM) (new)

Lilith (lilithp) | 1086 comments Finally, a little bit of snow -- which has but washed away by this afternoon's rain. I'm an outlier. I love winter!

I finished : Uzbekistan by Marylee Knowlton
No idea why I can't link the book. Mercury is retrograde!
Loved this book, and satisfied curiosity I didn't know I had. And so that's where Samarkand is! Now I kind of want to visit..

There are maps in this book, too. It has a pink spine if not a pink cover ;)

Question of the week:
A timely question after several recently released books have generated some controversy: (from Jennifer W) Are you more (or less) likely to read a book if it stirs up controversy?

Really depends on what the controversy is. If the author wrote about some controversial topic, but is a meticulous journalist in my experience, I'm on it. Ronan Farrow, Bob Woodward, bring it on. If the author plagiarized, or committed abuse, I'll not touch it. Otherwise, controversy is just hype which bores me, and I'll wait a while.


message 49: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9756 comments Mod
Oh Lilith you must live near me (NY?) because that’s exactly our weather today! A surprise snowfall overnight, followed by sort of melted snow precipitating right now


message 50: by Sarah (new)

Sarah B | 101 comments It's a nice days here if you don't mind the cold too much. It's a blue sky, which is really nice as the last week seems to be mostly that greyish white sky. My heat finally got fixed, which is great!

I've read 7 books this week, two for the challenge. They were all library books except for one.

20/50

The Collected Fiction, Vol. 1 The Boats of the "Glen Carrig" and Other Nautical Adventures by William Hope Hodgson The Collected Fiction, Vol. 1: The Boats of the "Glen Carrig" and Other Nautical Adventures I've finally finished this book! It's a collection of sea stories written back in the early 1900s and the first story really dragged in the middle so I had a hard time getting past it. Unfortunately the one that dragged was also the longest one in the book. The rest of them were better and I read them pretty quick. Still I had to use the grace period the library offers. I read this for my Around the World challenge (Sargasso Sea). Besides I like sea stories too.

Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy, #2) by Shannon Mayer Fangs and Fennel This is the second book in the Venom trilogy and it was great fun to read. It's fantasy about a woman who can turn into a giant snake and she has to fight a Greek hero from mythology..and her boyfriend is a vampire..

Hisses and Honey (The Venom Trilogy, #3) by Shannon Mayer Hisses and Honey The last book in the trilogy. More great fun! These books move fast with lots of action and stuff going on. And now Alena faces her greatest challenge ever.

Defending Elysium by Brandon Sanderson Defending Elysium I read this free ebook online. It's a short sci-fi story. I found it interesting. The main character is blind too and that's a big part of the plot. It's about the perfect society the aliens have and should humans be allowed to join...but are the aliens telling us the entire truth?

The Wind Off the Small Isles and The Lost One by Mary Stewart The Wind Off the Small Isles and The Lost One this is another book I read for fun just because it sounded interesting. It has 2 stories in it, both starring the same woman. In the first one she gets trapped in a cave on a volcanic island and in the second she faces a criminal. Both have lots of adventure and action. Really Loved these!

North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud North American Lake Monsters I read this for the Upside-down Cover Image. I had hoped all of the 9 stories in here we're about various sea / lake monsters but alas they were not! I was disappointed! Some of the stories didn't make sense to me. Out of the books I read this week, I liked this one the least!

Island by Aldous Huxley Island I read this for a Bird on the Cover. And I truly found this book to be really fascinating! It has so many ideas in here about so many subjects, like society, bullying, enlightenment, family structure, education, etc. This is the second book I've read by this author. And I want to read it her ones too. I'm glad there was this prompt otherwise I might have missed this great book!

Currently Reading

Wish Club A Novel by Kim Strickland Wish Club: A Novel I just started this book but I'm enjoying it so far..

I have some other library books here I need to read before they are due too. Some I can renew. I only read 2 books for the challenge this week so this upcoming week I hope to read more challenge books.

I also stopped by the library today before my meetings and I picked up more books for my Around the World challenge and also a few for Black History Month. My book club book also came in the mail today.

As for the weekly question: truthfully most of the time I don't even know there IS controversy about a book. I pretty much read what I want to read. And that means looking in the stacks and shelves of the library. I've read a few "popular" books and some I thought were not so great. Some were great. It depends on the book and what it's about. But I'm not going to read a book just because of some controversy. I really don't care about that stuff. And like I said, I'm oblevious to it.


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