Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 20: 5/13 - 5/20
I'm still working on Order in Chaos as my longest book. I'm on page 568 of 913, so I guess I'm getting there.QOtW: No. Short and simple.
Hey everyone. I missed my check-in last week, because of my hectic life. Little did I know that this week was going to be a whole lot worse. On Monday, my grandfather passed away, after a long illness. He was my last grandparent. My grandmother died in January and I don't think I had really processed that yet, so it has been a struggle this week. I went to work on Monday, knowing he wasn't going to last the day, but trying to get all my probation kids taken care of so I could be off the rest of the week, and as soon as I got to work, our new juvenile probation officer quit, without 2 weeks notice (who cares) and so now I am back to being the only juvenile officer in my whole county, since January 2020. To say that I am overwhelmed is an understatement, but I had a lot more time for books this week.I finished:
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life: Very well done. I finally got over the narrator and just let myself enjoy the stories.
The Cabin: I read this because one of my probation kids recommended it, and I absolutely hated it. It was one of the worst books I have read in the last 2 years.
Come and Get Me: I was pretty torn with this one, because I didn't find any developments in the book to be a surprise, but having said, the characters were great, and I think I would read the second book in the series.
Where She Went: I loved the first book, and I loved this one just as much. I couldn't put it down. It was beautifully written, with awesome characters. I needed a book to get lost in, and this was it for sure. Also, I use my kindle so much that sometimes I forget how special it is to hold a physical book in your hands and dive into it.
Currently reading:
Some Choose Darkness: I am struggling with this one. After reading the description, I really want to like this one, but so far it isn't working for me. I feel like the author is trying too hard. Trope city. Anyone else read this? Should I keep going?
Baby, It's Cold Outside: I wanted something light and fast and this was a good one for that. Again, just pure escapism.
QOTW:
I don't buy special editions, but I frequently buy books that I borrowed, if I loved them and feel like I need to read them again someday.
Mod
I am sorry for your loss. And wow your job must be hectic - didn't this person just start in that job last month?
The Cabin: I read this because one of my probation kids recommended it, and I absolutely hated it. It was one of the worst books I have read in the last 2 years.
LOL proof that recommendations are NOT always that great hahah! Did you tell the kid you hated the book?
Happy Thursday!I feel a solid sense of accomplishment this week, mainly because I took care of a bunch of little things yesterday and made outlines for what needs done today and tomorrow. Lists, I tell you what. They're the best. Husband's yard project is coming along nicely too! We had 8 tons of dirt (yes, 8 tons) delivered a few weeks ago to help give our hilly yard a bit gentler of a grade, and he planted grass seed and has been faithfully watering it for the past week. We have tiny grass shoots sprouting this morning! My D&D/tabletop group also started back up last night, so I have Wednesday evenings to look forward to again. And I'll be fully vaccinated this Saturday; looking forward to seeing my dad and stepmom on Saturday and hugging my grandma for the first time in over a year on Sunday.
I finished two books this week:
The English Patient - 4 stars. I was expecting total mind-numbing boredom and was instead met with beautifully lyrical prose. Looking forward to watching the film. Bestseller from the 1990s
Havah: The Story of Eve - 4 stars. Another beautiful read, this one's been on my shelf for over five years now. It would make an excellent companion to books like The Dovekeepers or The Red Tent!
PS 37/50
Currently reading:
A Master of Djinn
The Bone Shard Daughter
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
Upcoming:
The Ones We're Meant to Find
Night Sky with Exit Wounds
The Ghost Bride
Pachinko
QOTW: Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? And a related question: Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook?
I have done both! When I was on my HP kick, I had the original books as I'd bought them, then I gifted myself the handsome UK hardcover boxset (those covers were STUNNING), I've managed to collect the first four books in French, my husband bought me the first three illustrated editions, and finally added the more recent paperback box set with the castle spines. I've since downsized the collection, because I don't truly NEED that many copies of the same books. I also bought the UK editions of the Hunger Games trilogy, again because I was sucked in by the handsome black covers. I've since passed those along to friends and stuck with my original trilogy.
Over the past year or so (thanks, COVID?) I've put a bit of a hold on buying books and really only started to invest in hard copies if I deeply loved the audiobooks/library books and want to revisit them. This has meant some much-needed updates for my shelf, including the Poppy War trilogy, the Green Bone saga, Dread Nation, Timekeeper, and nonfiction including A People's History of the United States and Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (which I need another copy of, because I passed this along to my stepdad as a Christmas present).
Mary wrote: "Hey everyone. I missed my check-in last week, because of my hectic life. Little did I know that this week was going to be a whole lot worse. On Monday, my grandfather passed away, after a long illn..."Mary, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. May his memory be a blessing.
Hi All, I finished one book for the week. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. 5 stars. I have put off reading the book because at first I couldn’t get it from the library. Then I wasn’t ready for the trauma of the book. I finally decided I was ready to read it. I used it for a book you have seen on someone’s shelf,etc. I fudged this prompt a little. I have a terrible time seeing the titles of books on shelves on TV. I saw where Seth Myers had this book on his table so I went for it. QOTW: No
I had my first Covid vaccination today. I'm clearly not ready to return to the real world as my glasses fell off about five times. We are hoping to have dinner out tonight now we can go inside and not sit in the rain and wind! Though the place we're going to has a lovely outside area next to a mill stream, so I'd rather it was nice weather.Finished:
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon for Afrofuturism. This took me a while to get into, I get she starts out as a fifteen-year-old but surely even a teen mother wouldn't just leave her babies unattended in the wild so much? I was sure she was going to get them killed. Things improved when the kids were slightly older and she starts to see unusual changes in her body. There was one character whose pronouns changed from she to he when they did something bad, but then changes back later, for no reason. I don't know if Vern was just confused, but if it had been a cis author, it would have thrown up flags for me.
Heartstopper: Volume Four by Alice Oseman for ATY (NATO phonetic alphabet). This spent more time on Charlie's eating disorder, so it was a much more serious feeling instalment, but it's still adorable.
The Circling Sky: On Nature and Belonging in an English Forest by Neil Ansell for a subject I'm passionate about - the New Forest and access to countryside for all. I'm not a huge fan of the trend of adding in your personal tragedy into nature books these days, but this was minimal in this case, and it is mostly about his walks in the forest, taking in the nature and being sad about the loss of certain species. Plus rants on how the rich are hogging all the land in Britain. It was nice listening about the local area and I feel I should try harder at identifying species when out walking. I might be seeing something rare and not knowing!
Currently reading Blackheart Knights for review and listening to Carpe Jugulum.
PS: 24/50 | ATY: 24/52 | RH: 7/24 | GR: 53/100
QOTW:
Yes, though I am running out of space so they need to be books I love a lot or very nice editions that I can't resist. If I've received a free review copy of a book that ends up an all time favourite, I will go and buy a copy to support the author. I also have a small collection of John Wyndham editions, mostly old paperbacks, but I did get the clothbound Day of the Triffids and I hope they do more of his.
Didn't check in last week, can't remember why, so this'll be 2 weeks' worth.I know what you mean, Nadine, about the bird anxiety - the owl/wildlife livestream that I watch features 6 infant kestrel chicks right now and I am about ready to hike down to Yorkshire and camp out under their nest as a guard. Jackdaws and barn owls have tried to raid the nest on several occasions, but Mama Kestrel is fabulous and has fought them all off.
(If anyone's interested: link to the stream.)
Over the last couple weeks I have finished... manymany books. 😬 Well, 8, but some of them were heckin' chonkers. I think the dog really did give me the reading mojo back! Woot woot.
The Unbroken - Slightly underwhelming unfortunately. I'm not really sure why. I guess I didn't connect fully to the main characters. They spent so much time talking about their motivations and how much they cared about certain things ("my throne" and "my soldiers" respectively, and also each other, since there is a romance), but I never truly felt it. It wasn't a bad book, but I don't think I'll continue with the series. When things are back to normal after the pandemic I'll find a secondhand bookshop to donate it to, hopefully it will end up in the hands of someone who loves it.
Estranged - Enjoyed it, pacing was a little bit uneven sometimes but perhaps that's to do with it being a middle-grade story. Liked the artwork and the interpretation of Fairyland, or "the World Below" as the comic calls it. Going to pick up the next one whenever I can find it pretty cheap. (Sorry, but graphic novels are expensive, I can't afford to pay full price for them!)
Greek Myths: Meet the Heroes and Heroines, Monsters and Gods of Ancient Greece - I read this because it's written by a Booktuber I like, and she had a livestream last week, so I wanted to pick it up during that. There's a lot of children's nonfiction about Greek myth out there but I feel this is a very worthy addition to the genre, and beautifully illustrated to boot. Planning to buy copies for relatives' kids in the future.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - I can see why this is a classic. It's just... lovely. Already looking forward to rereading.
Wolf Hall - Speaking of rereads, I read this for the second time! First read was just as the UK lockdown started... and now it's a year and 2 months later... and it ain't over yet. Fun times.
This reread went very fast, just a few days whereas the first time took about two weeks. Left wondering if I "read it wrong" this time, to get through it so quick, or if the first time just took so long because of the general stress of the early pandemic. ... Suppose I'll just have to read it a third time next year and see how that stacks up.
Another Brooklyn - Jacqueline Woodson's brilliant but I finished this one too fast to appreciate it properly. :( Also pretty sleep-deprived at the time so, yeah, altogether the reading experience did not do justice to the book.
The Mothers - Not quiiite as good as Vanishing Half but still great. Would be an interesting group / bookclub read, lots of material for further thought and discussion.
Bring Up the Bodies - Interestingly, I finished this on 19th May, which is the anniversary of Anne Boleyn's beheading. Another one I'm looking forward to rereading.
I don't know - I feel like there's something not quite right these days. Like I'm not getting enough out of reading things the first time. Maybe I just haven't been sleeping right or something and my brain is fuzzy. That's probably it.
Currently reading The House in the Cerulean Sea. It fluffy and cute. The Antichrist is adorable. There's a baby wyvern, and a werePomeranian. I mean, what more could you want.
QOTW: Generally I won't buy a new special edition of something I already own, unless the copy I have is in poor condition and needing replaced anyway. Sometimes I'll shell out for illustrated editions of my absolute favourites, like the big Earthsea bind-up from a few years back, or Assassin's Apprentice.
I will 100% buy a physical copy of something I've read and adored in ebook though. And in that case, why not get the fancy-schmancy one, since I already know I love it so I won't run the risk of paying over the odds for a book I end up not liking.
Cendaquenta wrote: "Didn't check in last week, can't remember why, so this'll be 2 weeks' worth.I know what you mean, Nadine, about the bird anxiety - the owl/wildlife livestream that I watch features 6 infant kestr..."
Mrs Kes has been fabulous!
On the subject of birds, I was a bit traumatised to witness a magpie killing a blackbird right outside my window the other week. The blackbird's friends were trying to fight it off and the injured blackbird lay there flailing. I am happy the magpie came back to finish it off as the poor bird was clearly done for but still alive. I did not know magpies would go after something that size.When I made the effort of making the front garden inviting to birds, this was not what I was aiming for!
Mary, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather and all the work stress--it sounds like a very trying time!I didn't check in last week because my mom was visiting and I don't really get online when she's here. It's been very rainy here in North Texas, so my plants are THRILLED. I'm less thrilled because we also had to return to the office this week. It's amazing how much more exhausting it is. And when I have downtime, there's not much else to do (if I read, it'll look like I'm not working, even though I'm not working during those times anyway).
Finished:
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World - A book you got for free (it was a freebie through Audible). This was really interesting for only being two hours long! I'm going to start doing caffeine "dry weeks" like some people do with alcohol. Caffeine is one of those things that's both good and bad for you.
Currently Reading:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë - A book published anonymously. Anne is definitely my favorite Bronte. I am so in love with this book! I'd hoped to finish it this week, but that whole "can't read at work" thing is getting in the way.
Up Next:
Elatsoe
QOTW:
I feel so called out. I absolutely do this. I currently own FOUR editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass. I know it's ridiculous, but they all have different illustrators and I can't figure out which one to get rid of! I even have one that was illustrated by Salvador Dali--too cool!
I have also tried to get rid of books that I know I'll reread but don't care about having a physical copy of, then I download the ebook.
Still, this is how one ends up with 600+ books. It makes moving a nightmare, but I get so attached! BUT, if I buy a fancy copy of a book I love, I get rid of whatever less fancy version I had.
Mary wrote: "Hey everyone. I missed my check-in last week, because of my hectic life. Little did I know that this week was going to be a whole lot worse. On Monday, my grandfather passed away, after a long illn..."Oh no... I'm so sorry for your loss. :( Sending good thoughts your way.
Happy Thursday, y’all.Trying to get gardens in this week. Between that and doing more shifting of books at the library, I've ended up fairly sore in the mornings. How I long for a day to just stay indoors and read... or go lay on the lawn and read, heh...
Books read this week:
Bob -- for “book written by an author sharing your zodiac sign.” There was a lot of cuteness in this one, but I was hoping for a bit more substance than I got. Also, for taking place in Australia, there was very little atmosphere to it -- it could have taken place anywhere in the world, since there was almost nothing to indicate its setting.
Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe -- for “book set in multiple countries.” Not Bryson’s best and a bit outdated now (it was written before Yugoslavia split), but still a funny and fascinating tour of a good portion of Europe.
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within -- for “favorite prompt from the 2018 challenge (book set on a different planet).” I’m so sad that this series is over! And this book was just as good as the others, and I really enjoyed the fact that it focused on a non-human cast and explored the alien cultures in greater detail.
Fugitive Telemetry -- not for the challenge. Still loving Murderbot and all their snarkiness, though I do hope to see an advancement made in the overarching plot of this series at some point…
Fat Vampire -- not for the challenge. A comedic vampire novel, this was a gory but fun romp, albeit with a bit of a rushed ending.
Challenge stats:
Regular challenge books -- 40/45
Advanced challenge books -- 10/10
Not for the challenge -- 35
Currently Reading:
Spoiler Alert -- for “book about body positivity”
The Magic Misfits -- for “book with a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover”
The Line Between -- not for the challenge
A Gryphon's Journey -- not for the challenge
QOTW:
I don't really buy special editions of books, but I will sometimes spring for a physical copy of a book if I really, really loved it after reading it in e-book format. Depends on the book.
Hi all, Finally getting the sunny summery weather that I love! Been outside, starting a garden, going for runs, using our yard couch. Loving it!
I feel like I've never typed this before, but I finished nothing this week. I'm still reading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, which isn't even that long, under 400 pages. I really love it, but it's been difficult to get through. On one hand there's a lot of sections that are emotionally difficult, going into how the US treated Indigenous peoples. The author's own grandfather got taken into one of the boarding schools where he was punished for speaking his native language, and had to pledge an oath upon graduation to give up his culture. Then there's the descriptions of the devastation people have visited upon the land. But tied in all that were beautiful passages about how to reconnect to nature and the land and accept the gifts it gives and how to give back in return. So I'd definitely recommend, it's just not a fast breezy read. I found it would inspire me to think really hard about my own relationship to the land and nature and then my lunch break would be over and I only read a paragraph. I have about 50 pages left, hopefully can finish today. Doesn't work for popsugar, but using it for Reading Women memoir by an Indigenous author, ATY prompt that didn't get selected for book about the natural world, book nerds related to earth.
I've also been reading Reserved for the Cat just to take a brain break now and then, but also didn't finish it.
QOTW:
Yes, I got the super shiny foil embossed edition of Neuromancer even though I own it in regular trade paperback. It was so pretty! I almost go the Left Hand of Darkness too, but then was worried I'd just go into a rabbit hole of collecting the whole run of fancy classic sci fi covers.
I regularly buy print copies of books I borrowed from the library, usually it's to support indie bookstores. If I'm browsing one and see a book I loved from the library, I'll grab it. Picked up NK Jemison's Broken Earth trilogy from a semi-local Black-owned bookstore I found last year (online) for example. They do have to be books I loved though, not just any book.
Had my first jab yesterday, so now I have an aching arm! I do appear to have escaped any other side effects this time, though, so I suppose I can't complain! ;)Only finished one book this week, but it was quite a long one...
Finished:
The Shell Seekers for A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child). For most of this I thought this was going to be a 4-star book, and was one of those instances where I cursed Goodreads for not providing half stars (as I was thinking I would have liked to give it 4.5 stars). Then I got the end and decided the hell with it, it was a 5-star! I'll definitely have to track down some of this authors other books.
Started:
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously for A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality. I started finding Julie kind of annoying right from the start, so that desn't bode well. I think this is going to be one of those ones where I like the film better!
QOTW:
The only time I've done this is when I bought the lovely hardback illustrated versions of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again and The Lord of the Rings, when I already owned (and still do) the paperbacks.
OMG YOU'RE SO LUCKY! I love birds and being able to watch a cardinal nest from my window sounds like a dream!!Warm weather coming in! Summer is upon us!
Finished 18/50
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders for "locked room mystery". I really don't like mysteries, and this was pretty much just a straight whodunnit. I liked the Japan setting though! Gave it to my husband to read since he likes mysteries.
The Divine Romance for "free book from TBR". Ok, so a few weeks ago someone at church randomly came up to me, handed me this book, and said "I want to know what you think of it". Which is a fabulous way to make friends, imho! More people need to do this to me. Anyway, this book is AWFUL, DON'T read it. I was worried when I posted my scathing review and returned the book to its owner. Lo and behold, he hated it too! "I wanted the expert opinion on it though!". THANKS FOR PSYCHING ME OUT. I thought I just totally bashed his favourite book or something. Turns out, he just wanted validation that it sucks. XD It does suck. Worst book I've read so far this year.
Currently Reading
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present for "book by an Indigenous author". Almost finished. This is the book that should be taught in schools. Goodness, it makes me so sad and angry for the evils my country (USA) has done and that it doesn't want to acknowledge even happened. It's a travesty.
QotW
I really hate the original cover art of The Wheel of Time series, so when TOR released new covers, I gave my dad my old set and bought the new one. The old art makes it look like an 80s romance novel, the people are out of proportion, and Rand looks like he's 40 instead of 18. I couldn't even figure out what half the scenes were supposed to be! It's like the artist only read the Cliff notes or something. New covers are a MILLION times better. I've been debating getting a special edition of Harry Potter since I only have paperback of book one, and book four is missing its cover.
As for buying a print set, I literally just did this last year. Borrowed the first two books in the Stormlight archives from the library, became a fan, and bought the entire series. Same with Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape. I borrowed this from someone, but it was so good, I went ahead and bought it. Same with Tsubasa and xxxholic, now that I think about it. If it's really, really good, it's worth a place on the shelf!
Mod
Oh no it's terrible to see the struggle!! This winter a hawk took down a starling in my backyard, and I was glad I did not see the struggle. It took a LONG time eating that bird, but once the thing is dead it's not so awful. I felt so bad for all the other birds to have to see that! They didn't seem to care at all though so clearly birds do not see these things the way we do. (And I see starlings as pest birds, they are non-natives and they are EVERYwhere, so I didn't mind TOO much to know one was taken.)
Another week of no prompts again so just from favorite to least favoriteImposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang. My BOTM choice. I really enjoyed it although it is getting seriously mixed reviews on the facebook page. More character study than spy thriller.
Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Barshardoust. YA fantasy based on Persian myths. It's a good read. I'd read more from her.
The Hunting Wives by Mary Cobb. I got this as an add on this month (it was a pick from BOTM last month) because everyone on the facebook groups were talking about it and I hated it. I hated the characters. I hated the predatory behavior that was glossed over. Blergh.
QOTW:
I really don't. But I do get really irritated when the good covers come out in special editions. Give us the pretty covers to begin with.
Mod
oh noooooo I don't think I could ever do that!! I have to have my coffee every morning, I only have two mugs, but I could not stop and have none, it would be headache city, and why go through that? Even when I was pregnant, I only cut back to one cup each morning. One of the small joys in my life is that first fantastic sip every morning.
Mod
..."
I was so excited when I spotted the nest!! And they are so sneaky! They hated it when I watch them. The male is especially sneaky - he chirrups when he shows up, so I see him, but by the time I've gotten to the window to take a photo, he leaves. He does NOT want his photo taken hahaha!
Shannon wrote: "I feel so called out. I absolutely do this. I currently own FOUR editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass. I know it's ridiculous, but they all have different illustrators and I can't figure out which one to get rid of! I even have one that was illustrated by Salvador Dali--too cool! ..."Wow, an edition of Alice and Wonderland illustrated by Salvado Dali sounds AMAZING!
33/50Finished: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix used this one for book with family tree in it. This was my least favorite Harry Potter so far (reading them for the first time with my family.) It made me uncomfortable how monochromatically angry Harry was all the way through it.
How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up Read this as an antidote to Twyla Tharp's insistence that you find only one thing and do it. It was only moderately good, but some of the exercises were worth doing.
Started: The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life been waiting for awhile to read this one. It's interesting, but I disagree with a lot of her positions.
Qotw: I don't buy special editions. The last book I bought that I had previously borrowed from the library was a book on homeschooling that I won from the summer reading challenge several years ago.
Gotta go to my first yoga dance class!
I read Moving Target, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the visual dictionaries for The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I don't have much to say about them, so I did not put links in the post. Check them out if you love the original and sequel trilogies of Star Wars.Currently reading:
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition by Jason Fry
Spock's World by Diane Duane
Question of the week:
I pretty much buy only ebooks now, and I cannot remember buying the special edition of a book when I already had the older one. It would have to have some kind of added content for me to consider it. I'm going to be looking at the spine most of the time, so a pretty cover isn't going to be enough.
Happy Thursday! I finally made time to read this week and I am happy I did. Finished:
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd (A book in a format you don't normally read - Large Print Book). I finally finished this one. I read more than 100 pages in a weekend, which was a lot for me since I hadn't read anything in over a week.
Continuing:
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. Almost done with this one - will probably finish tonight. A lot of reviews say it is similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine but only slightly. I like them both.
On Deck:
I haven't decided what I want to start next, now that I am back in a reading groove I don't want to derail myself again.
QOTW:
YES! But only books that I absolutely love and would read again. There is a new edition of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue coming out later this year and I would absolutely buy it (even though I already own the hardcover book).
Also, I listened to Circe on audiobook (highly recommend) and immediately bought the hardcover edition because I loved it so much. I usually get books on Kindle if I am not excited about them or don't see myself wanting to own the physical book, but I am sure at some point I will end up buying the physical book of an e-book.
I am guilty of passing around books that I loved (because I want others to read them as well) and then losing track of where they are and buying them again.
I got a few more read this week. For the prompt A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library I read Fix the World edited by J. Scott Coatsworth. I had a free author's copy being one of the authors in the anthology. It's solarpunk/hopepunk and I do think it's a good anthology
For the prompt A genre hybrid I read Tripleye ~ Book 1 by John Hegenberger It's a Private Investigator/ Space Opera hybrid but I don't recommend it. The story wasn't bad but then there is casual racism and one chapter that is nothing but trans bashing . The trans character seems to exist merely to call her names.
QOTW I don't really do this often. I did buy one of the Harry Potter illustrated books but not the others (mostly because of Rowling) I have done this more with comic books actually.
Mod
You should setup a webcam!! :)
"Admin stuff
If anyone would like to lead any of these future group reads, let me or Lynn know:
July: The Guest List
August: Catherine House
September: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue"
Yes! Yes! Yes! Please message one of us if you're the least bit interested! It really is fun!
"Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu- this was fabulous!! I laughed out loud! I'm definitely going to read his other book now (How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe)"
Huh. I didn't realize this was the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction winner!
"My Year Abroad by Chang-rae Lee - this was long and meandering and felt like it took me a year to read, and I was loving it until I got to the end and realized that nothing would be wrapped up."
You made me laugh! I'm sorry it seemed so long!
"Coral Road: Poems by Garrett Hongo - these seem like lovely poems but I was not able to untangle them well enough to really connect. (So, yes, this is yet another book of poetry that didn't work for me in 2021.)"
I don't know...I might be tempted to give up on poetry this year, Nadine! LOL
"Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by the poet Cathy Park Hong - these essays on racism combined with memoir were powerful."
That definitely looks worthwhile!
"Question of the Week
I think this one is from Theresa:" (Yes, it was! 😊)
"Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? And a related question: Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook?"
I do not buy special editions of books for myself. I have on just a few occasions bought myself books that I had borrowed from the library and read, when I really really loved the book. (Recent examples: Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy box set"
I should probably try the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series! I did love Strange the Dreamer and need to read the second in that series as well!
Mod
Oh no no no I'm not giving up!! I have this whole series of new-to-me poets lined up to borrow from the library, and I still plan to read them, but I did just get really frustrated and downloaded a book by Kay Ryan to read soon (Say Uncle). She's pretty reliable. Maybe it won't be a FIVE star read, but I'll definitely enjoy it, and it will break my streak!
Mod
John’s recovery is proceeding very well. That is the good news. The “not-so-good” news is that I hit a tire tread in my lane of the interstate on Tuesday night and it has caused damage that is making very weird noises and vibration in my car. So…it is now at the mechanic’s…yet again. I am crossing my fingers that it is not too bad. My middle son has done autobody work his whole life and he came and examined it briefly and pulled some of the loose plastic pieces off my front bumper. (That was rather shocking to watch! LOL) He made sure I would tell the mechanic to only repair the mechanical workings of the car and he’ll take care of the body work. I thought that was kind of him.
Question of the Week
I think this one is from Theresa:
Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? And a related question: Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook?
The only time I would purchase a special edition of a book I already own is if it was available very cheaply. Ditto for one I have read and do not already own.
I typically don’t do ebooks or audiobooks and I rarely use the library any more.
I am very boring! I do not even care if I have a matched set of books when I own the whole series! That doesn’t mean I won’t purchase a hardcopy (my preference) if I run across it priced very cheaply and currently own a paperback edition but want the hardcopy to add to the series…
I just rarely spend much more than $3-$4 on a book, period. Typically any exception is for a book club or group read.
Popsugar: 36/50
ATY: 46/52
RHC: 8/24
Reading Women: 9/28
FINISHED:
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin.was quite enjoyable! I have never read Pride and Prejudice, so I have no comparisons between these two books, but this was a well-done romance IMO. I particularly appreciated the varied representations
of Muslims. Whatever your belief system, there are always variations!
POPSUGAR: #18-prejudice/discimination, love, marriage, #21-Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Religion, Romance, Retelling, Young Adult, #24, #27, #30-Toronto, Canada, #34-Prejudice/discrimination in the workplace, #37, #38-Ayesha is a poet, #43
ATY: #1-In the beginning everyone made assumptions about everyone else, #6, #8-Toronto, Canada, #17, #20-The future looks brighter for almost everyone, #23-Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Religion, Romance, Retelling, Young Adult, #24, #27-Death, Strength, Temperance, Judgement, The World, #29, #39, #47-India, #49
I read Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers because it fit prompts for several short-term challenges in which I am participating, is a short novel, as well as being a new-to-me mystery author I have been wanting to read. Once I became accustomed to the slang and snarky wit of Lord Peter Wimsey (I couldn’t get the word "whimsy" out of my head every time I read his name!) this was very enjoyable to me! I definitely plan to continue with the series, particularly #9 The Nine Tailors which, according to Wikipedia is considered her “finest literary achievement”! She has much fun with character names!
POPSUGAR: #7-Financially independent, crime-solving as hobby, #21-Classic, Fiction, Mystery, #40-From 2019 POPSUGAR Challenge-prompt #8 A book about a hobby, solving crimes is Lord Peter Wimsey’s hobby, #44, #47-Mysteries
ATY: #1-The beginning of a mystery series, #7-A book related to the Year of the Ox-the hours of 1-3 in the morning, #8-England, #18-A classic mystery from the past, #23-Classic, Fiction, Mystery, #27-Justice, Death, #31, #34, #38-MURDER: Double and attempted a third, #42, #51
RHC: #13
CONTINUING:
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn for my favorite used bookstore’s book club meeting on Sunday. And…I am so excited because with good weather we can meet outside AND I can attend in person since my husband doesn’t need to go wherever I go any more! YAY!! Not sure what to expect from this book.
I am reading a full original text version of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. No, not the same book as last week, but this was the original text rather than a simplified adaptation. What a difference! I had rather forgotten poor Mary’s survival of the cholera epidemic in India. Of course, it has been over 50 years ago that I first read this, so I believe I am due some grace for forgetting parts of it! LOL 😊 Just as enjoyable to me. I’d better put this one down to complete the book club book listed above though since the meeting is this Sunday! 😊
The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman is on my list for this weekend. (Yes, again!! LOL) I have actually started reading it, so hope to finish this coming weekend. I decided to concentrate on Sharks in the Time of Saviors last weekend since it is longer and I wasn’t sure how quickly it might read…
Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Excellent writing! It really flows and I’m anxious to finally finish it!
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
PLANNED:
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #26 A book written by Isabel Allende.
Paradise by Toni Morrison to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #25 A book written by Toni Morrison.
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Excellent so far! I love Reynolds' humor!
Learning Race, Learning Place: Shaping Racial Identities and Ideas in African American Childhoods by Erin N. Winkler
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday! This past weekend I was planting a container out on the front step, and I looked up and saw a mama cardinal hunkered down in a nest in my stupid barberry bush. When she realized w..."@Nadine - love the bird story but I want to know the story behind your "stupid barberry bush". Are there smart ones and you just got a bad draw?
I did not realize bushes had levels of intelligence.
Alex wrote: "I really hate the original cover art of The Wheel of Time series, so when TOR released new covers, I gave my dad my old set and bought the new one. The old art makes it look like an 80s romance novel, the people are out of proportion, and Rand looks like he's 40 instead of 18. I couldn't even figure out what half the scenes were supposed to be!"Oh my goodness you are SO RIGHT about the old Wheel of Time covers! Who, I ask you, looked at those covers and was like yes, this looks correct, and in no way weird and offputting, and people's heads are indeed that size?
Hello! The digital fan festival last weekend on Japanese time was incredible, but I went to bed at 2 am Saturday morning and 7 am Sunday morning. This week, I need to get my plants in the ground, but it's been raining in the evenings and I'll be busy all this weekend again for a different convention. Hoping the rain stops for a half hour this evening so I can plant.I returned a whole stack of books to the library, but wasn't motivated to read the ones I had, so I've been rereading a favorite series this week. Nothing read for the challenge.
Finished This Week:
Murder of Crows / Vision in Silver / Marked in Flesh / Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop - books 2-5 of The Others series. This completes the main Lakeside arc. I joked to my husband that I would have to put sticky notes in the front of the books that say "this is the one with the jewels" and "this is the one with the raid" and "this is the one with the market" so I know which book is which. I usually read all five in one go, so coming back on the next reread, I never remember which books have the raid or the market or the jewels (or a lot of things).
The next two books in the series are "The World of the Others," making them spinoffs with new casts in new locations. I enjoy the first one, so I'll likely read it again, but I thought the second spinoff had needless and excessive death. Unsure if I'll reread it too.
PS: 27/50 RH: 6/24 RW: 10/28 ATY: 32/52 GR: 63/100
Currently Reading:
Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journey by Michael Collins. Started this yesterday after finishing The Others books. It's way funnier than I expected. Still fairly early, but I'm really enjoying it.
Encyclopaedia Eorzea - The World of FINAL FANTASY XIV - Volume II still reading it. still super tiny print. I completely called who an elf in the trailer for 6.0 was because I'd read the first lore book, so I need to finish reading this. And then probably reread book 1.
QOTW: Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook?
I buy my own copies of library books all the time. It's way more cost effective than buying all the books I want to read, I've discovered. In fact, other than preorders of series I already know I love, all I've bought recently in physical copies is books I've already read from the library.
As for special editions, I buy them when they're for series I already loved, or want to show the publishers that I support this author. I picked up the first October Daye book, Rosemary and Rue, when they re-released it in hardcover with a new short story. I did the same with Magic Bites, the first Kate Daniels book, when they released a special edition with extra details about the world. Basically, if it's a favorite author or series, I'll pick up their special editions if it's financially viable for me.
I also had my sister buy me the complete HP series when she was visiting Canada years ago. I already had my American hardcovers, but the Canadian editions were paperbacks and had really cool covers. My Canadian Harry Potter books are why I'm so particular about what edition of something I've read here on Goodreads. I used to get so frustrated with GR trying to tell it I read the American hardcover in 2002, but in 2011 I read the Canadian paperback.
Hello everyone! I'm two days away from being fully vaccinated, and work is less insane at the moment, so it's all good for me. What with all the work things, I only finished one book this week, but I'm hoping to make it up this weekend.Finished:
One by One: I enjoyed this a lot, although I figured out the answer a bit earlier than ideal. Oh well, still fun.
Currently reading:
Siege and Storm: suffering a bit from the curse of the second book, but still worthwhile
Slow Train to Switzerland: One Tour, Two Trips, 150 Years - and a World of Change Apart: not very deep, but charming
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism: I'm listening to the audiobook, and I find Amber Ruffin's delivery a tad irritating, but nevertheless I'm liking it
Curtsies & Conspiracies
QOTW: Nope!
Hello hello! This week I randomly decided to sit down at the sewing machine I never use and get back into altering/making things. I made a blouse from scratch, which I have never done before! It is honestly kind of sloppy, but I'm still very proud of it, haha. I usually do alterations by hand because I find the machine vaguely intimidating, but man does it make the process go so much faster while still letting me listen to audiobooks.Finished:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo - this was so very good and I really wish it would be required reading in schools, not just for the important discussions about race and privilege, but for the lessons in how to look at situations objectively instead of defensively and give thought to the life experiences of others. I read this for "book with a black and white cover" prompt.
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen - I liked this! The first section is a bit slow, and even acknowledging the lead is sheltered and 19 there are opinions and thought processes of hers that made me want to shake her, and I have NO IDEA after 450 pages where and when this book is set, the plot was interesting and I do want to read the rest of the series. But if we could stop harping on women's worth being tied to their beauty, that would be great, thanks. I read this for a book starting with the letter Q.
Anxious People by Fredrick Backman - oh, what a lovely experience reading this was. I've never heard of Backman before, but this writing style was just *chef's kiss* and while not my usual genre, I loved pretty much everything about this book. I read this for the locked room mystery prompt.
With the Fire on High by by Elizabeth Acevedo - this was cute! It was a nice little read. I read it for the set in a restaurant prompt, though it would also work for the book with three generations one.
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L. Gomez - oof. So. The pace of this was mostly too meander-y and slow for me, since it is technically a collection of short stories about a central character rather than a novel with a centralized storyline it's working toward. But I gave it four stars anyway, because it is a book about historical sapphic vampires of color written in the early 90s by an author of color, and that's amazing and makes up for the pace sometimes dragging. Also, made me smile to see the dystopian society she expected us to have fallen into by 2020 and the ways it differed from our actual dystopian society. I read this for the "book by an Indigenous author" prompt, but it's absolutely also an Afrofuturism book that is set in multiple countries that's about fresh starts.
Currently Reading:
Children of Blood and Bone
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain
99 Percent Mine
The Priory of the Orange Tree (this is the longest book on my TBR list and the library did not have an audiobook version so I'm feeling very pressured about getting through it before my loan expires aaaaah)
QotW:
I don't usually buy special editions of things I already own, unless it's really special, something I love, and I can give the original copy to someone else. I do however read a lot of online comics and will happily by special edition print versions of the ones that are my favorites so I can hold them, and usually they have additional content to entice people into buying them which is a nice bonus. I DO have an absolutely gorgeous elaborate pop-up book of Alice in Wonderland that I got in Spain, even though it is in Spanish and Alice in Wonderland is not my favorite book of all time, because the book was too pretty to not snatch up for my dragon book hoard, haha.
Melissa wrote: "Hello! The digital fan festival last weekend on Japanese time was incredible, but I went to bed at 2 am Saturday morning and 7 am Sunday morning. This week, I need to get my plants in the ground, b..."Ohhh this reminds me, I need to continue with the Others books! I finished the main Lakeside arc a year or so ago and haven't gotten around to picking up Lake Silence yet. Glad you enjoyed the reread, Melissa!
Hi! Long time no see. I've been fighting a reading slump and just haven't been reading very much recently. We recently bought a house (yay!) which has been an enormous drain on our time. In a good way, but it has made it even harder to summon up the energy to pick up a new book. I think I may just need to stick to some shorter stuff for a while. I did finish A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail on audiobook this week. I thought it was funny, but anticlimactic. My current work audiobook is The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History which is good, but I've got it on 1.8x speed because the narrator is so slow.
QOTW: Space limitations have kept me from allowing myself duplicates of books, but now that we have what feels like endless storage space I'll probably let myself get beautiful special editions of my favorites. I absolutely love a well-designed beautiful book and they're so hard to resist. I am one late night away from impulse buying that The Octunnumi Fosbit Files Prologue that I keep seeing on instagram.
Haha, I have a bird story. There's a bush outside of my bedroom window. We had a cardinal nest in it at one point, which of course I thought was cool. Mrs. Cardinal would get up bright and early every morning and bash herself against my bedroom window! I swore she was going to break her own neck (that does happen sometimes), but every morning, sometimes all day long. Thump, whack, crash! Well the cardinals abandoned the bush, so I'm thinking I won't get woken up. Ha! This year, Mrs. Robin has taken up the smashing! They don't even have a nest in the bush, just like attacking the window!! I've tried hanging big bird silhouettes to scare them away, but no luck. I love the birds, but I'm almost ready to cut down the bush!
Mod
LOL I've never liked barberries!
To be accurate, whoever planted this barberry was stupid. It's right next to the front door and it wants to be the size of the house. There are dwarf barberries, and if this were a dwarf it would be okay I guess, but it is not. It's about ten feet across and could easily be three times that size, or even more. It has long thorny branches that reach for the house, the window, and - worst of all - the door, so it grabs you and pricks you when you go in or out. I have to prune it every spring or walking in the front door becomes hazardous. I pruned it pretty hard this spring, so it's okay right now (which is good, because it's not like I can go out there and cut it back now, with the birds in residence!) There is no clothing I know of that can really protect you from barberry thorns while pruning.
It is not native to the US, and it can be invasive (although mine has not been, not that I've noticed).
Bright side: the red color is nice, and it must have some sort of food value for birds because they love to sit in it and rub their beaks on the branches and peck at it, and I guess they eat the berries because they disappear. And it's tough, and healthy, and is one of the only plants left from whoever the idiot landscaper was who landscaped this house. And it's easy enough to prune (aside from getting all scratched up - I do it in February when I can still wear thick long sleeves, and that's the best time to prune anyway).
When I told my mother about the cardinal nest, she laughed and said "just to spite me! I'd have that pest long gone!" - I guess she hates the barberry even more than I do.
Mod
Ahhhhh!!! They are protecting their nest when they see invaders! But the "invaders" are their own reflection!! Your windows must be clean and shiny :-)
Today, libraries opened again in the Netherlands (*flags, bells, hurray*)!! Since December there was only a pick-up service. 17/40
Finished
Home by Marilynne Robinson⭐⭐
Prompt: #8, a book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction
As always, I’m not that fond of books that has won a literary prize. This one was dull and written in that specific language orthodox christians use. Well, I can check another challenge!
Currently reading
John Adams
The House at the Edge of Night
QOTW
I have bought books I first borrowed from the library. Most non-fiction books I loved and liked to have at home for re-reading or looking up things later.
Mary wrote: "Hey everyone. I missed my check-in last week, because of my hectic life. Little did I know that this week was going to be a whole lot worse. On Monday, my grandfather passed away, after a long illn..."I’m so sorry for your loss.
Alex wrote: "Anxious People by Fredrick Backman - oh, what a lovely experience reading this was. I've never heard of Backman before, but this writing style was just *chef's kiss* and while not my usual genre, I loved pretty much everything about this book. I read this for the locked room mystery prompt."I loved this book too. I'm not that fond of mysteries, but this one was great. You definitely should try Beartown.
Hi all! Beautiful week here in NY. I want to try to do some container gardening this year, and all of you talking about it really makes me want to get my hands dirty! I did get started on some books this week. Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy, which I will probably use for a book with under 1000 ratings. So far it's interesting, but there's a lot of abbreviations which I wish the author had made a master list for reference.
I read the first chapter of Dear Martin and I can tell it'll suck me in.
I've been listening to Burn Baby Burn, not sure which prompt I might use for that.
And I got some reading done on The Magic Mountain. My goal is to finish it by the first weekend in June. I like it OK, but I'm ready to be done with it. My next classic needs to be shorter!
QOTW: I haven't ever bought a book for a nicer cover. Most of my reading is physical library books, so if I really love a book I borrowed, I will buy (or request as a gift) those books. I've also bought audiobooks if I've really loved a book in that format.
Mod
Lynn you are having such car trouble this year!!!!
I thought of you last week when my daughter was out driving my car and sent me a picture of a COMPLETELY flat tire on my car. She drove on it too (not realizing) and it had abraded and there were holes in it.
These tires weren't that old. I had them put on at the dealer, and ever since, I'd been getting nuisance tire pressure warnings. I'll never have tires mounted at a dealer again! Clearly they did not get a good bead on the tire and it was leaking slowly at the rim. I should have been more vigilant about checking the pressure and adding air, but instead I got used to ignoring the nuisance warning, and that was a big mistake on my part. (Of course every time I brought it to the dealer, they said they could find nothing wrong.)
So I had new tires ordered into a tire shop, and took the afternoon off when they came in, and got there (with a book!) ready to wait, and ... they had gotten the wrong size in!! Ugh!
Happy ending: they got the right size in the next day, and I got my new tires mounted and yay!
Of course the tire pressure warning hasn't shut off yet - the tire shop said it should clear on it's own - maybe I need to take it into the dealer just to clear it.
Mary wrote: "Hey everyone. I missed my check-in last week, because of my hectic life. Little did I know that this week was going to be a whole lot worse. On Monday, my grandfather passed away, after a long illn..."So, so sorry. May you and your family find peace and treasured memories.
And work stress on top of it! Ugh! Take care of yourself!!
I haven't read much in the last 2 months but did finish 2 books this week - The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives and Linguistics For Dummies. I highly recommend The Displaced! It's an excellent collection by authors from around the world on their refugee experiences. At the rate I'm going, I probably won't finish the challenge but I'm ok with that.Currently Reading: The Thursday Murder Club
QOTW:
- Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? No, but I have thought about buying a special (and pricey) edition of Dune. It wasn't available at B&N so I decided to not order it, but I may in the future.
- Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook? I have bought 2 of my favorite books that I borrowed from the library. I hope to reread them, despite not being a re-reader.
Mod
This explains why mama cardinal kept leaning into the nest and fussing with something this morning instead of just sitting like she was yesterday. I guess she'd been nesting for a week before I spotted her - sneaky birds!!
The nest is up too high for me to see inside so I don't know how many babies. In a few days they should be big enough for me to see.
Nadine wrote: "Of course the tire pressure warning hasn't shut off yet - the tire shop said it should clear on it's own - maybe I need to take it into the dealer just to clear it."Bring it back to the tire shop and say the warning hasn't gone away. My husband was told by our tire shop that those are frequencies that have to be calibrated, and there's usually interference in the shop because of how many other cars are being worked on at the same time. When we do a tire swap, we're always told by the shop to come back if the warning doesn't go away after a certain number of miles. I have a feeling if you bring it to the dealer, they'll charge you, while you can tell the tire shop that their job was incomplete.
It is finally warming up here in the Midwest, YAY! Since my hubby opened the pool on the first really nice day of the year, I think this weekend is going to be dedicated to cleaning up and setting up the patio. My kids should love me for this lol, considering all the cleanup that needs to be done 😁Finished:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Reading:
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
QOTW:
Confession: I am a book collector. Yes I have bought special editions of books I like, and yes I will buy a book I borrowed or read as an e-book, if I liked it enough.
Lynn wrote: "Wow. May is 2/3 over already! Yikes! Time does fly…whether you’re “having fun” or not. 😉 And I just realized this week that on Monday, May 31 I'll have a day to READ!! Since it is a paid holiday I have never read Pride and Prejudice, so I have no comparisons between these two books,
"
Whaaa... you haven't read P&P? Have you seen a movie or TV version?
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Vanishing Half (other topics)Kisses and Croissants (other topics)
Mansfield Park (other topics)
Exile Music (other topics)
The Great Alone (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Hillary Jordan (other topics)Kevin Wilson (other topics)
Gabriel García Márquez (other topics)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (other topics)
Rupi Kaur (other topics)
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Admin stuff
May group read is on-going! Head over to Monthly Reads folder to talk about Ayesha at Last.
If anyone would like to lead any of these future group reads, let me or Lynn know:
July: The Guest List
August: Catherine House
September: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
This week I finished 5 books, none for this Challenge, so I remain 28/50:
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu- this was fabulous!! I laughed out loud! I'm definitely going to read his other book now (How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe)
Song of the Exile by Kiana Davenport- absolutely 100% NOT for me.
My Year Abroad by Chang-rae Lee - this was long and meandering and felt like it took me a year to read, and I was loving it until I got to the end and realized that nothing would be wrapped up.
Coral Road: Poems by Garrett Hongo - these seem like lovely poems but I was not able to untangle them well enough to really connect. (So, yes, this is yet another book of poetry that didn't work for me in 2021.)
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by the poet Cathy Park Hong - these essays on racism combined with memoir were powerful.
Question of the Week
I think this one is from Theresa:
Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? And a related question: Do you ever buy print copies to keep of books you borrowed, listened to, or read in ebook?
I do not buy special editions of books for myself. I have on just a few occasions bought myself books that I had borrowed from the library and read, when I really really loved the book. (Recent examples: Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy box set