Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I’m rather disappointed in that I have yet to obtain a copy of Malibu Rising. I should have one by mid-month, but I’m anxious to read it NOW!! LOL Teri is leading the discussion and I want to participate!

I’m over the virus I had, so that’s a good thing. It felt good to teach at the gym again tonight since I had to cancel last Wednesday’s class! And I had a new male student who is quite the hoot! He caught on very fast, too!

Admin Stuff:
I want to begin this Thursday’s Check-In with a shout-out to the talented and dedicated volunteers who led our Monthly Group Read Discussions in 2021! Know that you have our gratitude and appreciation for all your efforts! Please stand and acknowledge the sustained applause from the Popsugar members. 👍🤗🎈🎇🎆✨
Teri began and ended the year by leading in both January for Dear Edward and December for Malibu Rising!
Jessica picked up the leadership role in February for Binti!
Erica facilitated our March discussion of The Song of Achilles!
Brandy B gets the prize for leading three different months: April for The Midnight Library, May for Ayesha at Last, and August for Catherine House! (And what an eclectic trio!)
Terri guided us in June for Dear Martin!
Lindsey oversaw discussions in both July for The Guest List and November for Firekeeper's Daughter!
Theresa led September’s discussion for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!
Allie guided discussion in October for Anxious People!
I am so grateful to each of these Popsugar members for making our Monthly Group Reads so much more enjoyable and enriching!! But…if not for each of the Popsugar members who read the book and participated in these discussions, there would be NO Monthly Group Read at all! So kudos to everyone who participated!! And, boy, we selected such an amazing list of books as 2021 Monthly Group Reads! Here’s to another great year of books ahead in 2022! 🍻🍷🍸🍹🥂

******December's Monthly Group Read is Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid and that discussion is here. Teri is the most gracious volunteer who will facilitate this discussion. As always, there is also a thread for you to post any books you have finished reading to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2021 as well.

We have two (Not one, but two!) polls for you this week!

Here is the poll for the January 2022 group read. NOTE: This is the NOMINATION round, which is step one. We will select the top results from this round to create a new poll for a Final Vote to choose ONE book for the January 2022 group read. The final selection poll will be posted in next week’s Check-In. We’ll also have a nomination poll for the February 2022 group read at that time.

And…here is the poll to select a prompt for the November 2022 Monthly Group Read! We offer five prompts for your consideration!

Here is the full listing of 2022 Categories and Books for your perusal and consideration! Be thinking of books you would like to nominate and/or vote for!

Question of the week:
Which 2022 prompt are you most excited about?
I know. I know. I know. I should keep my focus on finishing the 2021 challenge, but…but…but…I just can’t resist planning for 2022 now that the prompts have been released! Though I try my best to limit the time spent on 2022 and get back to actual reading!! Plus I’ve got to obtain a copy of Malibu Rising for this month’s group read!!

I am most excited about prompt #10 An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner. I got stuck on that site recording titles for at least 20-30 minutes the first time I accessed the listing! So many great books that I really want to read! And so many that will work for multiple prompts! I want to read them all!! (Of course I am just as realistic about the quantity of books I can read as ever!)

How about you?

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 19/24
Reading Women: 15/28
Only finished one book this week!🙁 But I am almost done with three others, so I should have at least those for next week! 😊 And this weekend should be relatively calm with LOTS of reading time!

I do realize that I won’t be able to finish all 4 of these challenges by the end of December, but I will be able to finish up Popsugar and maybe Read Harder. As long as I finish the two big ones, I’m happy with that. I will continue reading into January to finish! And the next book I finish reading will be #130 for this year! Absolutely amazing! I realize I must work at fitting in Reading Women challenge books throughout the year better than I’ve done this year!

FINISHED:
There There by Tommy Orange ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was heartbreaking yet compelling. The Prologue alone was maddening. To read about the extreme abuse, torture, and annihilation of Native people by “whites” was sickening, depressing, and always makes me very sad and angry. I realize it was a different time, but how can one human terrorize another human and then celebrate in such macabre ways? *shaking my head* Orange interwove these people’s lives in extraordinary ways and I would LOVE a sequel to follow-up in the aftermath of the powwow.
POPSUGAR: #16, #18-Recognizing and eliminating the alienation of people based upon their skin color, ethnic heritage, etc., #19, #21-Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Native American, Race, #27, #30-California, #37, NEW #49!
ATY: #19-Trying to resurrect ceremonial events from the past to place them in the present and hopefully maintain them in the future, #22, #23-Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Native American, Race, #24, #27-Death, Temperance, Judgment, The World, #49, #52-Tragedy was the end result.
RHC: #5

CONTINUING:
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan is just as good as I expected it to be!
Almost finished with The Summer Wives: A Novel by Beatriz Williams and think I know the ending/mystery...
Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair is so informative!
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

PLANNED:
Gold by Chris Cleave
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.
In the future sometime, G.Willow Wilson's books I want to read:
The Bird King
Alif the Unseen

One of my favorite things about planning the PopSugar challenge is taking the new list to my best friend's house and talking to her about prompts and going through her extensive book collection. She doesn't participate in the challenge, and her go-to genre is (science fiction/fantasy) which could not be more different than mine. She gave me awesome suggestions and helped me re-think some books on my list. We had fun looking up books together while we chatted about life.

This week, I didn't read much. I finished two re-reads: Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 2 and My Sister's Grave. I got a pleasant surprise yesterday when my library's overdrive ordered a bunch of books that I recommended, so they immediately checked out to me, so I plan to read The Collective, Wish You Were Here, and A Blizzard of Polar Bears over the next week or so. I'm also currently reading 3 books, so I'm not sure what I'm going to put down and what I'm going to pick up, but I have a lot of options and a 3-day weekend.

QOTW:
This is a great question and after 5 minutes of looking at the list, I still don't have an answer. I'm going to have trouble deciding what to read first. I usually just go by easy access to the books. Most of the books that are on my list, I can get through Hoopla, but I can only get 6 books a month from there, so I have to be strategic about the order a bit, so that I always have something to read. I think this year might be a bit different though, because I still have a lot of non-challenge related books that need to be finished by March when my unlimited subscription runs out.

I was meant to get my official notification of redundancy this morning, but turns out I might be needed a couple more months. Well from what I could tell over our terrible Teams connection this morning! At least we had a laugh about it, rather than it being a morose meeting. Will find out my actual final date next week.

I'm liking the 2022 list a bit more now I've had a chance to slot in some of my anticipated 2022 books. I don't try and stick to my plan, but it's good to know I won't be flailing around reading things I'm not excited for.

Finished:
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske for review. I loved the Edwardian magical civil service and the unlikely queer romance between Edwin and Robin. I learned this week that sweet in romance terms means no sex, but before this week I would have said they were quite a sweet couple, but there is some quite descriptive sex in this.

You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus. This is a very Karen M. McManus book, so if you like her books you'll like this, but if you don't, it's more of the same. I liked the whole bunking off school for a day, stumbling into a murder scene then trying to solve the mystery by the end of the day, even if it's a little far-fetched. I was a bit bamboozled why the mother's osteoarthritis drugs were so much money, but then I reminded myself it is in America and I totally don't understand how your healthcare costs so much!

QOTW:
Maybe social horror. I don't tend to seek out horror books but the ones I have stumbled upon have all been excellent, so I'm looking forward to purposefully picking one out for this prompt.

Happy Thursday!!  

It's been snowing for days now.  Just light snow, and it's not super cold, so the snow doesn't last more than a day.  But then it snows again.  It's snowing right now. Looks like maybe 4-6" overnight? And my daughter missed her bus so I have to go drive in it.

This Saturday a mouse ran right past me in my kitchen as I was getting milk out of the fridge for my morning coffee.  For such a little guy, he made a racket like a herd of elephants thundering past me, or maybe that was just the sound of my blood pounding in my ears.  Looks like the mouse was setting up house in my oven, and then it (apparently) ran up onto my kitchen table (I don't know how, and I never saw it there, but it was definitely up there, it left calling cards), hid there for a while, and finally made a desperate run to (possibly) the back of the couch, where it hid for a day and finally on Sunday night (yes I heard it again - it's kind of amazing how much noise mice make when they run) ran back down to the basement where it (presumably) came from.  I haven't heard a mouse since Sunday, so ... that's good.  But I know it didn't just move out.  I bought some mousetraps and I've been trying to steel myself to set them.  My excuse is that I'm trying to think of places to put them where my dogs won't get to them, but really, I just don't want to deal with dead mouse bodies.  But dead mice are better than mice running past me in my own kitchen.  

My stupid beloved dogs, who are big time rodent killers out in the backyard, with a double-digit kill count, just ignored all of it.  Like, what is this, guys?  We just allow mice IN the house now, without even twitching a tail???



I did finish two books this week, one of them for this Challenge, so I am now 48/50! 

We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida - I probably never would have read this book, except it was on the longlist for the Tournament of Books, so I downloaded the audiobook, and - to my surprise (because I don't usually like coming of age books) - I LOVED this book!   It was not selected for the final Tournament, but I'm still really glad I read it.  

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones - this weekend while I was cowering in fear from the mouse, I spent some time looking for pictures of books on shelves.  I found a picture of this book on a shelf.  Good enough for me. I checked off "book you've seen on someone's bookshelf."   Jones is one of my top five favorite authors, but this book was not his best.  It was also really disturbing.  I do not recommend.

And I DNFed one book, from my "must read in 2021" list: 
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery - this was sort of a carryover from a decision years ago to start reading the 1001 books (a decision I'm extremely lukewarm on now, and I will probably just drop); wow, very much not for me.


One of the books I'm reading right now will become my "random" book, and that will leave only my longest book, and I don't know I guess I can skim-read that monster just to get it done before 12/31.



QotW
I don't know!!   I think I'm pretty excited to read every single book for every category.  Unlike past  years, I'm not really dreading any particular books.  I'm so shell-shocked from struggling through my longest book this year, that I've made a point of choosing short and/or easy books for as many categories as possible.  I've got two or three categories slated for graphic novels, and I think I'll read those right away, because I always borrow a big pile of graphic novels from the library to read on Christmas Day, but I never get them all finished, so I know I'll still have some come Jan 1st.

I'm excited for the book I know nothing about, because I plan to walk into the library, close my eyes, and pick something, and that's FUN because what will I get??? only the Shadow knows ...

I'm kind of excited to read Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships (I even asked for it for Christmas!) so I guess I'm excited for the plane/train/ship category.

I pre-ordered The Only Good Indians and I STILL haven't read it, so I guess I'm excited for "social horror" so I can finally read that book.

I bought a copy of  The Stars at Noon (and you all have to understand that I just about NEVER buy books, but here I am with TWO books that I own) as soon as I heard they were making a movie, so I guess I'm excited to read that, but I'm also excited to read Deep Water, so I guess that means I'm excited for "book being made into a movie in 2022."

I wrote to one of my other top five favorite authors (Bryn Greenwood) and I was super excited when she wrote back to tell me which books she'd blurbed, so  I'm excited to read Little Threats for "book with a quote from your favorite author."

And, finally, I've got Eve on hold at my library, ready to read at the start of the year, so I'm excited for palindromic title.

I was excited to see the polls this morning :) It has been so long since I was part of a book club of any sort and I'm super excited to read and discuss books again!
We got snow here too (in CT) Nadine, though only a couple inches. It sure is pretty outside right now. My boyfriend loves snow so much that it might actually be contagious lol. Normally I only grumble about it.
QOTW: I think I'm most excited about "set on a plane, train, or cruise ship" because it led me to find The Woman on the Orient Express which looks great to me. Same with "book about the afterlife" because the graphic novel You Died: An Anthology of the Afterlife has me very intrigued, and I was also thrilled to discover (based on a recommendation in this group) Everyone Knows You Go Home for "book set during a holiday." All 3 books I probably wouldn't have discovered if not for the prompts, making those prompts my favorites!

This week I read:
Beheld Absolutely loved this, and was so immediately drawn in that I read it in a single day. I rarely find the time to do that anymore between work, school, and 4 kids, so that's a resounding recommendation from me.
The Guest List This one was a quick, entertaining read, a bit different from a normal murder mystery in the way it is set up, and the vibe at the end was different as well.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue listened to this one and HIGHLY recommend it :)

Currently reading:
Shadow and Bone I think I'll fly through this trilogy on audio, super entertaining

About to start:
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie fingers crossed I love it :)

Happy Thursday, y’all.

Still trying to adjust to my new living situation. It's a change for the better, yes, but still a change. Hopefully things get settled here soon.

Also found out this week that my favorite musician of all time (Weird Al Yankovic) is going on tour next year, and he's stopping in a town just an hour away! Tickets go on sale tomorrow, so will be stalking the website...

Books read this week:

A Fine and Private Place -- Peter S. Beagle is one of my favorite authors, and while I didn’t enjoy this book as much as The Last Unicorn or Tamsin, it’s still a lovely work.

How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days -- surprisingly fun YA novel about a New Yorker teen who gets a magic cell phone and proceeds to wreak havoc with it. It’s nice to get an urban fantasy that tries to be original instead of falling back on the usual “vampires and werewolves” tropes.

Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales -- darker and deconstructive take on some classic fairy tales. Like any collection, some stories are better than others, but on the whole I enjoyed it and found some really great retelling.

DNF:

Oryx and Crake -- it was just boring me and I was not liking the main character, so I went to read a few of the reviews to see if it was just me. Nope, wasn’t just me… and learning that the book contains (view spoiler)[graphic descriptions of child p*rn (hide spoiler)] made me drop it for good.

Currently Reading:

Skeleton Crew
What Mad Universe
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away
Wolf by Wolf

QOTW:

Man, there are a LOT of prompts I'm excited for this year! How can I pick just one? I'm even excited for the BookTok prompt because I finally found a book I actually want to read for that prompt, hehe...

I finished The Fleet Street Murders

I'm about 2/3 of the way through My Sergei: A Love Story

I had a rough weekend and didn't get much reading done. Thursday on my way out of work, I missed the last step and fell out the door onto the sidewalk. Didn't break anything or do anything major, but boy was I sore the next day. When (guys shut your eyes) I started my period. I'm menopausing so this was my first real full-blown I've got cramps period in a while. Saturday I got my booster shot, and Sunday I was hoping someone would break in and shoot me and put me out of my misery. I'm sure we'll need another booster in 6 months and I'll have a hard time talking myself into it. Now ends the TMI section of my post.

QOTW: I think maybe the Annisfeld-Wolf Book award winner. I've never heard of that award, but it looks like some mighty interesting books on the list.

I have no idea how long it's been since I've done a check-in but I finally finished the challenge yesterday. This is the latest it's taken me.

dark academia

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. This was all over booktok for a minute and honestly, it's highly overrated. Highly over-rated

Muslim-American author

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi. Middle grade fantasy Jumanji-esque. Really enjoyable. If I were still teaching middle school reading, I'd probably do this book with them as I think they'd be engaged.

oxymoron

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa. Contemporary romance. Woman is left at the altar but then starts up with her ex's brother and I just couldn't get past that.

90s bestseller

Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton. I think everyone knows what this is about. I enjoyed it but I think I like the movie better.

book my bff would like

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price. YA retelling of Pride and Prejudice, they aged Lizzie down which was a no for me but she's "working" for her father who is lawyer and investigating a murder which was a yes for me. The author has a retelling of Sense and Sensibility coming out and I'll probably read it. Also, the cover is amazing.

no prompts from favorite to least favorite

The Ex Hex Erin Sterling. Contemporary romance with witches. I really enjoyed it. It's a slightly spicy Hallmark movie.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. Historical fiction. 1960s family/crime drama. Not my favorite of Whitehead's but I enjoyed it.

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi. YA (?). Post high school, trying to find his way and starts dating a pop/tv star. This was a nice read. It's marked romance by a lot of users but (view spoiler)[there's not a happily ever after, so…. (hide spoiler)]

Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker. MC is a reaper. Japanese mythology woven through it. Morally gray main character which I really enjoy. Insta-love which I hate. It didn't quite land with me but I enjoyed it enough to want to read the second.

Everything We Didn't Say by Nicole Baart. Thriller about a woman returning to her hometown because someone is doing a podcast about a murder her brother was a person of interest in. Enjoyable.

Zoe Rosenthal is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin. YA. I really did not like this book. A lot of reviewers had a problem with the use of pronouns any time someone was introduced which did not bother me. However, the MC meeting someone who was awkward and being like (big sigh) he must be autistic was a no for me. Also, some reviewers noted some antisemitism and honestly, I skimmed a lot so, I missed it but it would not shock me if it were there. That aside, the main character was kind of a jerk and wholly unlikeable (view spoiler)[she lied to her boyfriend for months, he broke up with her and she was mad about that and that he told his friends that day that they were broken up (hide spoiler)]

< a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... Will Never Leave You by S.M. Thayer. I think this was a prime first reads book sometime last year. I forgot my book and started reading this on my phone and kept reading because I couldn't believe how bad it was. A man knocks up his mistress. All of the characters are pretty unlikable and not compelling at all. I feel like the writer has never been around a newborn infant. There were a lot of just I can't believe they did that moments (view spoiler)[the baby is stolen from the hospital and the mistress accuses the wife who was given a tag to take the baby because some nurse decided the wife was the mom of the mistress but never asked and when she is accused the cops apparently never look at camera footage (hide spoiler)]. And nothing happens for the first 2/3 of the book really and then everything happens…like EVERYTHING. At least I didn't pay money for the book.

QOTW
I honestly haven't really looked at them other than a quick glance through them.

Kenya wrote: "... Currently Reading:

Skeleton Crew
What Mad Universe
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away
Wolf by Wolf..."



Wolf by Wolf is on my list of possible duologies to read next year! I'm curious to hear how you like it.

Katy wrote: "I finished The Fleet Street Murders

I'm about 2/3 of the way through My Sergei: A Love Story

I had a rough weekend and didn't get much reading done. Thursday on my wa..."



My daughter is convinced that she is clumsier when she has her period. She's looked it up and says it's a listed symptom. Never happened to me, but I wonder if it's affecting you and that's why you fell?

Chandie wrote: "... The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa. Contemporary romance. Woman is left at the altar but then starts up with her ex's brother and I just couldn't get past that. ..."



yeah I really wanted to love that book but it just didn't work for me. I think I just don't like Mia Sosa's writing, because I didn't like the other book I read from her, either.



Glad to see you liked The Ex Hex!! That's one of my possible reads for "witches" next year.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Katy wrote: "I finished The Fleet Street Murders

IMy daughter is convinced that she is clumsier when she has her period. She's looked it up and says it's a listed symptom. Never happened to me, but I wonder if it's affecting you and that's why you fell?.."

Actually, it's because I don't have to wear a mask in my office, but I have to wear one to walk out of the building. Because I just put it on, it ended up fogging my glasses and I didn't see the last step.

Finally getting to check in at my normal time!

I am truly slacking on the decorations for the holidays but I need to decorate a little because I am hosting (a small, very vaccinated) Christmas dinner for my family. My Italian grandmother's tradition was lasagna for dinner on Christmas so ever since I started hosting that is what I have been serving.

I still have 2 books to read to finish the challenge so I am pushing myself to finish before the end of the year. I still have 3 books for ATY so we will see if I finish that one.

Finished:

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour (book published in 2021). This one was...interesting. The audiobook was fantastic I just didn't love the story I guess. It was good, not great. Definitely puts race and power into perspective

Currently Reading:

I've switched up some books this week, so now I am currently reading These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant (a book set mostly outdoors). I started this one yesterday and I am hooked - this will be a fast read for me.

QOTW:
I think I am most excited about A book with a recipe in it because I get to read Homicide and Halo-Halo which is also a sequel to one of my favorite reads of 2021.

Hello! I didn't check in last week because things were busy at work and home. There was a work project that needed extensive revisions but also extensive conversations about those revisions with all the people who are more important than me (my direct manager, her direct manager and then his direct manager, plus all of the peers at the second level). That caused no end of stress, but at the same time, someone else retired and I took over one of her projects which had a lot of end of month/beginning of month tasks that prompted questions I couldn't answer. But couldn't ask Big Boss because she told me the other project was more important! So frustrating.

And then Endwalker came out on Friday. This is the video game expansion release my husband and our group of friends have been anticipating since May. We played for probably 18 hours Friday, 12 Saturday (he let me sleep in), 16 on Sunday, and didn't finish the main story of the expansion. Monday and Tuesday we couldn't log into the game, having had to return to work like normal people, and only got in yesterday because we both were home to monitor the login queues, which can be 3+ hours but also disconnect you randomly. If you don't catch the disconnect in time, back to the end of the queue, and start your 3+ hours over. Probably not getting in tonight, but hopeful for Friday to finish.

Needless to say, I've done very little reading in the past month, and only got the chance to see the 2022 list just now.

Finished This Week:
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire. Audiobook that I listened to during slow periods at work and while cooking. I'd read the ebook version when it came out, but hadn't reread since. Read by the author, so that was pretty cool. Not for prompt.

PS: 46/50 RH: 19/24 RW: 22/28 ATY: 51/52 GR: 178/150

Currently Reading:
At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Gordon W. Prange. I have made it to August/September 1941, and am only a quarter of the way through the book. I know it's the definitive book about Pearl Harbor, and that Pearl Harbor has been a favorite topic of mine for 30 years, but it has tiny print and lots of chapters. It also gives physical and personality characteristics each time it introduces a person, but there are hundreds of people on both sides of the Pacific and they blur, honestly. I know a lot of names from my other reading, but the point of this book is that the author interviewed everyone he could find on the Japanese side, so a lot of people being introduced are new to me. And when you can't read it straight through, you forget who was the Japanese chief of staff of the First Combined Fleet, and don't recognize that's who's talking to Genda right there. Using for longest book, and I'm gonna finish it. How much else gets read is a real concern right now.

QotW: Which 2022 prompt are you most excited about?
#27 A Hugo Award winner. Having tried to read the Hugo nominees of 2021, this should be the easiest for me. I already have all the 2021 nominees, so it's extremely likely that for at least two book categories, I didn't read what ultimately won. And if I did, then there's previous years winners to check out.

I don't think I am going to get any more challenges completed. Next year, I have got to prioritize Reading Women books, since they are the hardest to find.
QOTW: I haven't even looked at the new prompts! I feel like a horse chomping at the bit, and I haven't even finished this race. I think I'm just excited about so much reading.

PS: 36/50
RH: 13/24
RW: 4/28
GR: 427/365
HP: 62/62
ATY: 29/52

Currently Reading:
Out of Character
Brown Girl Dreaming
Everything Inside
Tender is the Flesh
The Cousins
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Getaway
James Potter and the Hall of Elders’ Crossing
All the Young Dudes

Finished:
Orange Is The New Black
The Kiss Quotient
Strangers Think My Girlfriend is My Nurse
Asylum
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor
Cold War Correspondent
The Great Alone

Katelyn wrote: "I've switched up some books this week, so now I am currently reading These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant (a book set mostly outdoors). I started this one yesterday and I am hooked - this will be a fast read for me."

OOOO! This is on my TBR, but my library hasn't gotten a copy of it yet. Hopefully soon!

Finished:

Star Trek: Oblivion's Gate by David Mack (4/5 stars, a book published in 2021)

This trilogy essentially both wraps up and destroys the Star Trek litverse continuity that had been going on since the early 2000's. Because of that, reading it was a bittersweet experience. There is much to love in the pages and plenty of nobility and sacrifice on display.

Currently reading:

Death's End by Liu Cixin

The Art of the Impossible by Keith R.A. DeCandido (reread, recommended for anyone who loves Star Trek)

Question of the Week:

The most books I have picked out for any prompt are for books about a band or musical group.

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, y’all.

Still trying to adjust to my new living situation. It's a change for the better, yes, but still a change. Hopefully things get settled here soon."

I hope you settle in quickly - moving is HARD. I approve Weird Al Live as therapy!

-- Finished --

This Is How You Lose the Time War - I grabbed this from the communal DNF list, and I definitely sympathize with anyone who decided this wasn't for them! It's pretty out there and experimental. I liked, not loved it, but I will revisit it again later.

-- DNF --

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - this seemed so cozy and fun, but I found it so lacking in any edge that I couldn't stay interested. The humor didn't hit for me at all, which left me nothing to motivate me to read on. Oh well!

-- Currently reading --

After the Funeral - luckily the group listopia led me to this as my replacement "Book with a Family Tree" book, and of course I'm enjoying it already. Though I need to print the family tree for reference - it's indecipherable on my Paperwhite, and it really is a necessary prop to following who's who!

After that, I have two more prompts, and I'll probably angle for comics. I think I can do it!

QOTW: published in 2022 wins, because I just found out about The Kaiju Preservation Society.

My boss and her partner made all of us in the office what they call "Christmas crack" - it's basically chocolate, caramel, and graham crackers. I've managed to make my tin last since Tuesday, but I think I'll probably finish it off today. All the sugar hurts my stomach but it's just so hard to stop eating!

Texas is in it's usual fall weather roulette. It was in the 50s the last two days and is supposed to be in the 80s today. I think I've said this every week, but I hate fall lol.

Finished:
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket - A book published in 2021. Loved it. It's a different kind of book from his others under the Snicket name, but the voice is definitely his. There's a lot of philosophizing and very little action, but he makes it clear from the beginning that the book is supposed to be that way.

Currently Reading:
Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking--Learn What It Takes to be More Agile, Mindful, and Connected in Today's World by Kristen Lee - A book by a blogger, vlogger, etc. She's written some articles online, so I'm counting it. I'm reading it for work as part of our yearly goals, so I'm kind of rushing, but so far the information is good!

How to Listen to and Understand Great Music

So I'm making last-minute changes. I've moved the longest book I already completed this year (Eldest) to the longest book spot. That way I don't have to try to cram the rest of this class in. I'm really enjoying it and I don't want to feel rushed with it. This just means I'll need another book that mostly takes place outdoors. I have no doubt I own a short book or two that will fit.

So I have 4 of the main prompts left and 5 of the advanced. I'm using graphic novels for two of the advanced prompts which means there is an actual chance I may finish, but it'll be by the skin of my teeth (a creepy saying if ever there was one!).

QOTW:
I'm still not sure I'll even do the challenge next year. I have books I've been putting off for so long because they never seem to fit prompts, and I'd like to actually read some of them. Reading more than 50 books in a year just isn't very realistic for me, so I have to choose. If I do the challenge next year, I may do like some of you and just read what I want, then see if it fits any of the prompts.

As far as favorite prompts go, I don't really have one. There are quite a few that are really cool and I'll probably try to fill regardless - mobility aid, ace spectrum, gender identity. And I like the afterlife, witches, season, and holiday prompts because I love matching my reading up with the weather outside/time of year.

1/50

Finished:: Ways to Make Sunshine for prompt Starts with the same letter your previous read ended with.

Improving Comprehension with Questioning the Author: A Fresh and Expanded View of a Powerful Approach This is a method of checking comprehension AS you read instead of waiting until after reading to discuss it. I tried to implement it this week, and it is much harder than I anticipated to move away from the right/wrong, specific question model. I'd like to keep this book as a reference, but alas, it is an ILL.

The Posthuman Child: Educational Transformation Through Philosophy with Picturebooks I agreed with the overall position of the author, but there was nothing that really stuck and having to grey-out and refer to herself as iii seemed hokey and obnoxious to me.

Ethics in Light of Childhood I really enjoyed this one at first, but didn't get much out of it by the end.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You This was my favorite of the three versions. I was impressed by how he came up with historical gems I was unaware of.

Wow, I have started to feel like I don't get as much out of reading as I *should*, but maybe that's just because I'm reading so much! I had no idea I had until I started listing books I've finished this week. Maybe a break is warranted.

Started:
Stuntboy, in the Meantime This is another one by Jason Reynolds and the voice is wonderful.

The Art of Running Away using for prompt of twin cities since it takes place in London. Now I just have to figure out a book for London's sister cities!!

Qotw: You can tell which prompt I'm most excited by because I ALREADY FILLED IT!!! :) I love read a book that begins with the last name of your previous read because it's so fluid. No getting stuck with that one!

Hi all,

I've been fighting with my Christmas cards this week, and losing so far. Sigh. I always make my own, and it's starting to be a struggle to come up with fun new ideas! I'll make a last valiant effort this weekend, and if I can't get them done might be time to just try to buy some.

This week I finished:

Over the Woodward Wall - I liked this, a fun sort of alice in wonderland/wizard of oz vibe. Counting for Book Nerds pen name book (Seanan McGuire's newest). I wasn't planning on finishing Book Nerds because it's 100 prompts and i'm burnt out on challenges....but then I realized this week's reading took me to 90 and that's just too close not to finish, haha. Even though I totally gave up on Read Harder and Reading Women at about half way and that probably means 10 each for those. I guess it's perspective 10% left vs 50% left. Also I found books I was planning on reading soon that work for a few more so...yeah i guess i'm going to do it!

White Smoke - Book nerd book with a color in the title. this was honestly disappointing for me. I loved the cover art, and it sounded so good from the description for me. It'd totally work for social horror for next year's challenge. But something just...didn't come together for me. It seemed like it couldn't really make up it's mind on what it was going for, the beginning DRAGGED forever, and then it just abruptly ended with no resolution. As far as I know it's not meant to be a series, so it's not even a cliffhanger. It felt sort of like the author just kind of gave up and published it without really ever finishing or getting sorted what the book was really about.

Currently reading:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - Books & brew book club pick. I went into this kind of grimly, one of the other women in the group reads ahead and gave it a very scathing one star review. On one hand, it's not as bad as I feared. I totally see her problems with the book, but it has enough readability and interesting parts I'm getting through it. On the other hand, there is a LOT of assault on this poor main character. (view spoiler)[ I'm not even 60% through, so far she's been forced into a marriage against her will, her husband tried to smother her with a pillow so he wouldn't have to look at her while raping her as she kicked and screamed, he then beat her to the point of blacking out and she had a broken arm. Then she gets assaulted on her routs, several people have threatened her with violence both physical and sexually, and she was given over a doctor who had nurses forcibly strip her and sedate her with a forced suppository before she woke up aching with bits of skin and hair missing everywhere and needlemarks everywhere. (hide spoiler)] Honestly all the violence is making a bit difficult for me to get through.

Winter - audio reread still, forgot how long this one was.

Midnight Blue-Light Special - my physical "oops kindle is charging" start, probably won't get seriously into it until after i finish the other.

QOTW:

I'm taking next year off from all challenges, I need a mental break. I just want to read what I feel like reading without worrying about whether it fits a prompt. I've been doing them for so many years in a row they're starting to feel like a barrier to reading, instead of encouraging. "oh i cant' read that, doesn't fit" also i'm finding that its encouraging me to slug my way through books I don't really enjoy because I don't want to find another option for difficult prompts.

However, I still looked at the list so the ones I think are most interesting are:

The ace prompt - I think I can think of ONE good ace protagonist in all my reading, and that's kind fo sad. I might read some of them on the list, just for the sake of more rep.

Witches- i love fantasy, I'd probably use it as an opportunity to find a new-to-me witch book.

Sherlock Holmes is an ace protagonist.
Change my mind

*sits back with coffee*

Happy Thursday!! My husband is gone for a retreat until Sunday night so it's just me and the 3 year old until then. Yikes! I'm glad he gets a trip away (he needs it!), but it'll be a little crazy here until then. We had our first SNOW yesterday...which melted instantly, but it's the thought that counts, right?? I'm READY for winter!!

Finished 50/50

I'M DONE!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! And I even have my next year's list finalized!! How about that??

The Apostolic Fathers for "book on TBR with ugliest cover". Every Christian should read the Fathers. Period. This is our history and it's SURPRISING how few Westerners know about it! (though the cover could really use some help, lol)

Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail for "book on TBR that reminds you of a favourite person, place, or thing". A very dear friend recommended this to me YEARS ago. Yikes! Finally got to read it, and, as an ex-evangelical, I totally related to a lot of it. It was very respectful and validating.

QotW

I'm looking forward to "book about a nonpatriarchal society" because it means I can finally start my reread of Wheel of Time, which I've been DYING to do! The Amazon show that just dropped is doing a stellar job! Some changes from the books, but all in the spirit of telling Robert Jordan's story well on a totally different medium. I'm super happy with it so far. If you like a good fantasy show, go watch it!

I’ll start with a shout-out to everyone, great idea Lynn! Thanks to everyone who makes this group such a wonderful space to read books and share bookish (and other) things.

Our visit to a German Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) was a total and complete disaster. There was an outdoor mask obligation. Well, all I can tell is that there were lots of lights. Didn’t see anything, my glasses totally fogged. So we stopped every 20 meters for a bite so I could take my mask of. My boyfriend and I were holding hands like teenagers *smile*. I just couldn’t find a way to wear my mask without fogged glasses.

Finished
Het internet is stuk by Marleen Stikker ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interesting read on why the internet is broken. And how we can fix it. There’s an interesting part in it on what local governments can do. And there should be more humanities professors involved in ict. I totally agree on that: ethics first!

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante ⭐⭐⭐
Liked this one better than part 1. On to part 3 someday!

Currently reading
Marking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard

QOTW
I have no favorite yet. I’ve filled in about 20 prompts from my TBR, so looking forward to those. But... my favorite prompt is the one that will surprise me: a book that I wouldn't have read without the challenge and that blows me off my feet.

I ended up abandoning my buddy read of Emma with my daughter. I thought that I had explaining to her that this book needed to be finished by NYE. (Since I'm reading 52 books next year, I don't have time for carry overs.) Either, I didn't explain it well enough or she wasn't listening. It got to the point that she was too far behind. She wasn't enjoying it and it was frustrating me. This isn't what bonding with someone over a book should be. Maybe we'll read it in 2023 when we can take all year on it for all I care. It was the right decision, but abandoning a book bothers me.

Currently reading:

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - I did not progress on this due to busyness

The Flame - My Advent calendar book. About 40% done.

A Slow Fire Burning - 60% done. Waiting to get another copy - will probably happen in 2022


QOTW:

I like the sister city prompt, because it isn't something I've seen before. I like prompts that are clever and quirky. A book with a misleading title, a book with an onomatopoeia in its title, or a book with the name of a board game in the title.

Hello!

I haven't checked in ...well in probably 6+ months. Life kind of got away from me and I mostly stopped filling in prompts for the challenge and struggled finding new books that didn't seem like a chore to read. I mainly went through and comfort binged 5 or so of the Louise Penny Inspector Gamache books. The good news is I'm now all caught up with the series. I started reading them in 2018 and it's taken me 4 years to make it to book 17. I'm very pleased to see you all are still here checking in and am looking forward to catching up and hopefully making this a weekly routine for myself again!

This week I finished 2 books.

I finally finished reading Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans and in general I quite enjoyed it. It was nice to be introduced/reminded of parenting techniques from cultures which might not be as mainstream to traditional western culture. There were parts that I wasn't sure I'd necessarily agree with for my household, like using scary stories as a way to warn children away from something dangerous or to get a child to behave the way you want. She does mention though how she could see that not being a tactic that all families would be comfortable with. Overall, however, this book did make me give my toddler quite a bit more freedom and make me not hover over him quite so much which I think is benefitting us both.

I also finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue for a book club I'm doing with a mom group I'm a part of. To be honest, this book has several things that I usually don't enjoy - it bounces back and forth from the future to the past, it covers basically someone's entire lifespan, the secondary character doesn't appear for a substantial part of time and it took forever to get to the climax of the book which seemed to conclude very quickly...and yet I really enjoyed it.

Question of the week:
Which 2022 prompt are you most excited about?
I think given how little I've read this year I'm most excited about the prompts I think will be easy to fill like A book published in 2022 (because I know I'm going to get excited by a new release at some point) or a book you could read in one sitting or a book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past PopSugar reading challenge.

For my favorite non-easy (to me) prompts, I think a book with a character on the ace spectrum is something I'm looking forward to. I'm also looking forward to finding a book with a protagonist that uses a mobility aid. Both of these prompts have characters that I don't typically see too often so I think researching them should add a lot of books to my to-be-read list.

Lynn wrote: "I’m rather disappointed in that I have yet to obtain a copy of Malibu Rising. I should have one by mid-month, but I’m anxious to read it NOW!! LOL Teri is leading the discussion and..."

I'm glad you enjoyed There There! Tommy Orange is working on the sequel right now - so excited. :)

Time to check in between work meetings today - yay!

This week I finished:

An American Sunrise Loved this! I listened to it while reading the print version at the same time and it was a great experience. 5 stars

Dream Girl This was... mixed. It held my attention and I liked the ending, but there was surprisingly little suspense. It was slower and not as creepy/gripping as I expected. 3 stars

The Shimmering State There was nothing wrong with this but it couldn't hold my attention for more than a few minutes at a time (on audio). I can't figure out why. I liked the parts I was able to connect with. 3 stars

Wayward This was... fine. Some good stuff, a bit all over the place. 3 stars

Chouette What a gem! I know the author and was blown away by her skill here! I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who is comfortable with things that stretch reality a bit. :) I'm hosting a conversation with the author this Saturday if anyone wants to join us! 5 stars

I'm currently trying to get through Doctor Zhivago for a book club discussion. I really struggle with most "classic" texts and this is no different. I'm really trying to follow it. I also started The Trees in print for the Tournament of Books.

QOTW: I'm excited about a few of the prompts. I don't know if it's technically my favorite, but I'm happy about the "one sitting" prompt because I love short books. I have plenty of those on my shelves that I could use a nudge to get to soon.

Happy check-in! I finished the 2021 challenge this past week! 😀 One down one to go.

Thanks to those who lead the BOTMs, I participated in a couple and lead March's. I'm excited for the polls and I'll probably volunteer for a month when results are in. I really liked the prompts you picked and why for the book discussions Lynn.

Finished Reading:

Shine your Icy Crown ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The library finally bought this and I realized why it took so long. It is way shorter then her other works. I stilled enjoyed it like her other works.

Shifting Shadows ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 on the TBR for a long time)
This finished the challenge for me! I've read every Mercy Thompson book in the series but not this collection with short stories from the world until now. There was a backstory for a character I like that I really loved.

The Graveyard Book ⭐⭐⭐ (2017 holiday not Christmas)
A short book around not Christmas to finish 2017, it's also a highly popular SFF book/author so it should be okay. I nearly dnfed this at the start but it would accomplish a prompt so I pushed myself to finish it. It definitely got better but the slow story telling journey is not my favourite thing.

Lore Olympus: Volume One ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a graphic novel of a popular webtoon series. It's a great take on the Persephone and Hades myth while touching on other Greek myths. Olympus is all modernized (tech) while the human realm is not.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This picture book is so cute and has been looking at me for a while. It was good until a surprise character (you have to be a fan to recognize him) showed up and it nailed the end so 5 stars.

PS 2021 50/50
PS 2017 50/52
Goodreads 262/250

Currently Reading:

Malibu Rising BOTM so far so good
Beartown 2017 bestseller from 2016
Covet

QOTW:
Well I always love the 2022 publication and a previous favourite prompt. The Hugo Award will be fun and I think I'll finally read Fahrenheit 451. I also like the Anisfield-Wolf book because it will actually push me out of my comfort zone of SFF. I think I'll read On Beauty for it.

Sheri wrote: "Hi all,

I've been fighting with my Christmas cards this week, and losing so far. Sigh. I always make my own, and it's starting to be a struggle to come up with fun new ideas! I'll make a last val..."

Please stick with the check-ins book recommendations are always helpful.

Shannon wrote: "My boss and her partner made all of us in the office what they call "Christmas crack" - it's basically chocolate, caramel, and graham crackers. I've managed to make my tin last since Tuesday, but I..."

The Christmas Crack we make is a bag of Ritz crackers, a can of condensed milk, and a bag of Skor bits. It's way too easy to make and it's gooey and sweet.

Erica, i plan to :) I've been posting recommendations over in the discord too.

Also Christine, I can totally see your point, from what I've read. I guess i mean more I've only come across one protagonist that's explicitly ace rather than just feeling ace based on context clues. The one I can think of is Nancy from Every Heart a Doorway

Sheri wrote: "Erica, i plan to :) I've been posting recommendations over in the discord too.

Also Christine, I can totally see your point, from what I've read. I guess i mean more I've only come across one pro..."

Oh absolutely - I was just being silly. Your point is valid - I think the only explicitly ace characters I've read were in the short story The Cybernetic Tea Shop.

Christine- I'll have to check that out!

It's not been a great day.

Finished:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea which I have liked since I was young. The boring parts where he lists all the fish and such were my favorite part. I still enjoyed it.

Currently Reading:
The Mysterious Island which I should finish today. I haven't read this before but know some stuff which, 18 hours later, I am STILL waiting for. The dry bits where they explain everything in this book are not my favorite. I should finish today.

On Deck:
Back to Daughter of the Deep, and if all of the references to the above books are just in the early chapter where I stopped, and I re/read the above books for nothing... well won't that be just dandy.

QOTW:
I dunno. By this time I usually have several possible books listed for many prompts, this year I don't. They seem to be either something I already read all the time so why bother pre-selecting, or so limited I haven't found anything I like yet. I guess my favorites are parallel reality, because I love me some quantum fiction, and plane, train or ship because I like all of those things.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Katy wrote: "I finished The Fleet Street Murders

I'm about 2/3 of the way through My Sergei: A Love Story

I had a rough weekend and didn't get much reading done. Thur...

My daughter is convinced that she is clumsier when she has her period. She's looked it up and says it's a listed symptom. Never happened to me, but I wonder if it's affecting you and that's why you fell?"
I was always clumsy during mine...

Christine wrote: "Sherlock Holmes is an ace protagonist.
Change my mind

*sits back with coffee*"

*joins Christine on the couch and clinks mugs*

Anyone thinking about not doing challenges next year because you want more time to read other stuff:

Please let me suggest using picture books, graphic novels, art books, etc. to fill some of the prompts. I do it. One afternoon with Libby and you can knock out a bunch of "required" reading and you still have lots of time to read your other stuff. Bonus: Picture books!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!  

It's been snowing for days now.  Just light snow, and it's not super cold, so the snow doesn't last more than a day.  But then it snows again.  It's snowing right now. Looks lik..."
NADINE!!! Just the book for you! The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
And...cutlery on the cover! LOL

Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!  

It's been snowing for days now.  Just light snow, and it's not super cold, so the snow doesn't last more than a day.  But then it snows again.  It's snowing..."




omg a rodent-infested farmhouse?? noooooooooooooooooooooo

Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!  

It's been snowing for days now.  Just light snow, and it's not super cold, so the snow doesn't last more than a day.  But then it snows again. ...

omg a rodent-infested farmhouse?? noooooooooooooooooooooo"
But that should make you feel ever so much better about your one little itty bitty noisy furry rodent!

Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!  

It's been snowing for days now.  Just light snow, and it's not super cold, so the snow doesn't last more than a day.  But ..."



Nope. It makes my skin crawl! Just the thought - UGH.

Greetings from Mohonk Mountain House! www.mohonk.com for those unfamiliar with this resort in the middle of a nature preserve near New Paltz, NY. I am here with a friend for the week - today being our last full day. There has been much reading in front of wood burning fires, too much great food, and gorgeous scenery. We've also had fun at their bingo and trivia nights. But mostly this is a place to relax and enjoy cozy nooks and glorious outdoors.

I am still at 48/50 for PS.

Finished: Alas, only one book - a Christmas romance that was just what I needed after finishing Sworn to Silence last week: Sleigh Bells Ring.

Currently reading:
A Suitable Boy - about 20% in and loving it. This is my longest in pages book for PS
Grand Hotel - no progress - my DNF for PS.

QOTW: I have gone through the 2022 list, looked up what I didn't know and promptly put it aside. I do not plan my reading at all so really have not a favorite. Well, okay, to be honest, since a book set at a holiday allows me to read Christmas and a book set during Victorian era allows me to read a favorite author's historical romance, I'll say those are the ones I am most looking forward to --- favorite genres, after all!

Hi all! Still sick over here. Negative for covid, just a bad cold or flu or something. Slowly feeling better, but no energy for much of anything. Also, been spending time making suggestions for next year's list rather than reading my last couple of books for this year!

So I haven't finished anything, haven't really read anything.

QOTW: I'm actually most excited about a man-made disaster. I love a disaster story. Despite everything we've all been through the past few years, I still do. I am also looking forward to the award winners, sapphic book, board game, 2 POVs, gender identity, others. :)

I see the Choice Awards have been announced. I'm good with one category and not good withHOW IS IT FOURTH?!? Ugh.

Interesting about Stephen King. Is this a first?

Yeah I was used to mice at the farm and it didn't stress me. Then we got them in the house in the city and I freaked. I was in socks and stepped on one... I don't know who was more scared me or the mouse. They're not fun to deal with but less fun to live with.

Happy Thursday. Goodreads choice where announced and not a single book I voted for won this year. *sigh* A couple of my second place choices won, but most were 4th place or lower. But my TBR has definitely grown so whatever. 🤷‍♀️

Stats
Finished for the year. I even managed to reach my Goodreads goal of 250 books (I'm now at 254 and I'm still reading) I have read a bunch of shorter books this year, but still..

Books I finished:

The Mortal Instruments: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 3 & The Mortal Instruments: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐ - The artwork is nice, the story is whatever but it's been fun to revisit this series. And it's made me realize I need to finish reading the regular series. But that will be for next year.

Etched in Bone, Lake Silence & Wild Country ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I finished my reread of this series, and now I'm in a little bit of a book hole while I figure out what to read next.

The Love Hypothesis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This should have won! It was so funny and fun and almost perfect. (The only problem - it ended 😉😋)

Books I made progress on:

A Number of Things: Stories of Canada Told Through Fifty Objects

Don't You Forget About Me

QOTW

I think the misleading title is the prompt I'm most looking forward to because it just sounds fun. I'm also looking forward to published in 2022, about witches, found family, ace character, BIPoC romance, holiday, both award prompts and the BookTok book.

Erica wrote: "Yeah I was used to mice at the farm and it didn't stress me. Then we got them in the house in the city and I freaked. I was in socks and stepped on one... I don't know who was more scared me or the..."


omg I've been having nightmares about the mice and this for sure is going to work its way into my nightmares now.

My daughter freaked me out this morning - "I heard them in the oven this morning" - whaaaaaaaat? And it was plausible, since they've gotten in there before, AND the leftover latkes were in the oven. I opened that oven with GREAT trepidation. And ... nothing. No mice. PHEW! And now the latkes are up on the stove where I can keep and eye on them :-)

poshpenny wrote: "I see the Choice Awards have been announced. I'm good with one category and not good withHOW IS IT FOURTH?!? Ugh.

Interesting about Stephen King. Is this a first?"


I'm not sure what you're referring to. What's fourth? What's up with King? do you mean that he didn't win? was he in the running?

poshpenny wrote: "Anyone thinking about not doing challenges next year because you want more time to read other stuff:

Please let me suggest using picture books, graphic novels, art books, etc. to fill some of the ..."

Seconded! I'm dropping a few of my regular challenges for 2022 as well, but keeping Popsugar and another group's bingo-card challenge because I don't feel much pressure from either of them and am happy to slot things into various categories as I go.