Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2022 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 21: 5/19 - 5/26
Nadine in NY wrote: "Good morning / Good evening / Happy Thursday!! Lynn is having Internet problems this morning - as she put it: life stops without the internet these days.
Admin stuff -
Let's see, we still hav..."
I thought Front Desk was adorable. I loved The Gift of Rain, so it's good to know that you loved The Garden of Evening Mists. Even if I am also surprised that you loved it.
Holy Smokes! I'm the 2nd to post?! That's a first!Sorry Lynn you are having internet access problems. Life truly does stop when there is no internet!
Finished:
Foes, Friends and Lovers - this would fit Found Family or Victorian prompt really well (I already had filled those) - includes great fascinating detail on Victorian small rural businesses from agriculture to art to craft, all set in a cooperative type setting which creates a found family.
Clark and Division - set in Manzaner and Chicago - more historical novel with a murder mystery than crime fiction - won Edgar award this year - 5 star read.
Currently reading:
The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777
Ulysses
QOTW: I'm doing great with PS - 35/50 done and none that are left will actually be a challenge to fill, as I have plenty of options in my TBR to fit them.
As for other challenges - over in Play Book Tag Group I have finished my part in the History Walk Challenge, and I am so far up to date in the others. My various private challenges are up to date as well. And though I'm behind in 3 buddy reads, one should be finished this weeked - only 130 pages to go in The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777, A Clash of Kings reading time has been spread out further, and I hope to make a big dent in Ulysses this weekend.
I'm up to date in my Feminerdy Book Club. I am behind in the reading I'd planned of the Edgar nominees, but that was always loosely timed.
Internet problems are hard. Our city had a derecho (a fast moving wind storm.) We got lucky that our power was out for 12 hours on Saturday. Some people are without power for going on 6 days.Despite a power black out on Saturday, it was a productive reading weekend. I finished two books. One was a kids book that I started and read in two days (would have been one day, but black out.) The other is a Christian book that I started reading with my daughter for Lent and only finished now.
I'm making good progress on my too long Japanese book. And I started another "Wrinkle in Time" sequel. I never intended to read these books. I had given my younger daughter "A Wrinkle in Time" for a birthday and she found it confusing. So, I read it with her. She had no interest in subsequent books and now I'm hooked on the series.
Finished:
Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur
ATY prompt: A book with a Jewish character or author
Popsugar prompt: A book you can read in one sitting
No Lifeguard on Duty
ATY prompt: A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages (192)
Popsugar prompt: can't find one
ATY - 22/52
PS- 18/35
Series - 8/13
Clearing my TBR list: 17/40
Currently reading:
Death by Water - About 80% done
Many Waters - About 30% done
QOTW: I'm doing well. My goals is to read 52 books. It's week 21 and I've read 22. (Plus I'm working on another 2.) If all goes according to plan, I'll only have two books for December which is always the busiest month of the year.
Hi All, I finished four books for the week.1. The Best American Travel Writing 2021. Not for this challenge
2. Any Way the Wind Blows. Not for this challenge
3. Migrations. #32 a book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or amazon page
4. Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir. #10 an Anisfield-Wolf Book award winner.
QOTW : It looks like I have completed 63% of the regular prompts & 85% of the advanced prompts. I feel good about this.
Good afternoon, everyone! It has been a rather unproductive week. My original plan for the week was to finish some of the household projects that I started earlier in the year. Unfortunately, my back had other plans, and I’ve spent most of the week on the couch with an ice pack and various books. I’ve enjoyed the reading time, but I really could’ve done without the back pain.
In other news, I’m currently one week into my book buying ban, and things are going well so far. I managed to read several titles from my TBR checklist this week, and I ended up enjoying all of them.
Goodreads: 267/200
TBR checklist: 226/1140
Finished Reading:
~The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions
~A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18
~Fairy Tail, Vol. 01
~It Happened One Summer
~The Marriage Game
~The Dating Plan
Currently Reading:
~The Art of Film Magic: 20 Years of Weta
~The Singles Table
QOTW:
I’m not really participating in any reading challenges this year apart from Goodreads (which I’ve already finished), but I am continuing to focus on my goal of completing as many books from my physical TBR as possible. I’ve currently completed 19% of my list, and I’m feeling pretty good about my progress. I’d like to try and make it to 30% by the end of the year, but we’ll see how it goes.
I’ve also had a chance to participate in a couple of readathons this year, and I’m really looking forward to the SciFi Summer readathon next month.
Hi everyone. It is super humid right now, I just wish it would rain to clear it up. Time feels to be going super slow now I only have two weeks left of my two month work notice.This week I finished The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon. It started off really interesting but I found my mind drifting before I got to the end. I preferred the historical bits to the modern day stuff.
Currently reading: Skyward. The main character is sort of irritating and immature but I hope that she grows up a bit in the book.
Also reading Terciel and Elinor but I hate hardbacks so I'm not picking it up very often
QOTW: I'm not actively joining in the challenge this year. My only goal was to try to read one non-fiction book a month which I'm managing so far.
I saw several books that appeal to me (and some I've already read and enjoyed) on the nomination poll for September 😍 QOTW
Good timing for a question about my reading challenge progress, because as of today I'm finally on track for the PS challenge with my 20 books 🎉 As for my personal GR challenge, 52 books, I will be on track if I finish another book before the end of the week (which I probably will).
What really helped me getting back on track (I was three books behind a few weeks ago) are these weekly check-ins, where I make a planning of one book per week for the upcoming weeks. Usually I finish the book ahead on time and can start the next one.
However, this challenge is not that good for tackling my TBR. Most of the time I select books from my TBR for the prompts, but then I see lots of other good books in the listopia and I add those as well. And most of the time I end up reading those books instead of the books I originally selected... 🙈 Fortunately, the public library has lots of books so it isn't that hard on my wallet. But I think it will be time to put my old rule back in place to have a maximum of 10 TBR books on my shelves and 10 on my kindle once I get back to that point. Maybe I'll try to read two books from my shelves before buying a new one until I get to that point.
Popsugar: 20/50
Recently Finished
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid ~ ⭐⭐⭐½ ~ #25. A book about a secret ~ I get the hype about this book. It was a quick and enjoyable read. It also touched some important social subjects. However, the execution could definitely have been better.
Revolutie met recht by Roger H.J. Cox ~ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ #42. A book that features two languages ~ Finally finished this one. I think this was the longest time it ever took me to finish a book these past years... 😅 It was interesting and good, but it was a legal book about the climate crisis and related litigation written in 2011 and in the meantime a lot has changed (e.g. the two major climate litigation cases in the Netherlands - Urgenda and Milieudefensie/ Royal Dutch Shell). It was brilliant how the lawyer that wrote the book back then could predict the application of the law in these cases, hence the rating. It was just difficult for me to get through certain paragraphs because a lot of 'novel' concepts back then were already familiar to me. It made my train trips and hairdresser appointment way more interesting though.
The Puppy Primer by Patricia B. McConnell ~ ⭐⭐⭐⭐~ #20. A book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read ~ Finally was able to finish a book ending on a -t so I could read this book. It was super helpful, even for our girl whose puberty has already begun. It was good to read about the foundations of obedience training again and the methods you could use to strenghten that foundation. I will definitely try some training methods and games from this book. It sounds like I'm a bad dog mom, but this book also reminded me to treat our girl with more enthousiasm. Nowadays she's becoming a bit stubborn and that can be annoying at some times, but enthousiastically reminding her of all the fun she gets when she cooperates is definitely key to tackle this.
Currently reading
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan ~ #22. A book with a character on the ace spectrum ~ Still listening to this as an audiobook, but I will possibly buy it for my kindle since I sometimes have trouble following the narrative of the audiobook due to the foreign names. It's interesing so far, but I still don't feel completely engaged with the story.
Planning
week 22 ~ #2. A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship - Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
week 23 ~ #28. A book set during a holiday ~ Beach Read by Emily Henry
week 24 ~ #31. A book featuring a man-made disaster ~ The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
week 25 ~ #10. An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner ~ Beloved by Toni Morrison
Finished: Authentic Assessment in Social Studies: A Guide to Keeping it Real Good ideas and funny!Ellen Outside the Lines I was impressed the author was able to write something that didn't have anything to do with figure skating after his last one!
Philosophy in Children's Literature Perfect! I loved when it introduced me to a new philosopher as well as helping think about kid lit in a new way.
Started: Justice: Rights and Wrongs One of the philosophers introduced in the former book.
In the Key of Us using for prompt BIPOC romance
The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World A classic! Using for another challenge prompt, book made into a movie.
Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World's Most Creative People Designed well!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
QotW: I'm 28/50 @ 56%, so a little bit ahead of schedule if the year is 40% over. However, I feel like I'm way behind because it's been so long since I've checked off a prompt for this challenge. I've been focused on our local library challenge which I'm 46/50 for. And then our Super Summer Challenge comes out in a week, so that's likely going to distract me from Pop Sugar as well. Oh well, at least I'm getting a lot of reading done!
K.L. wrote: "In other news, I’m currently one week into my book buying ban, and things are going well so far. ..."I'm currently trying a zero growth acquisition model where I have to return library books or give away owned books (or at the very least finish them) before I can get new books. In some ways, it's harder than a book fast because there's room for negotations, whereas a book fast is a clean break. That said, I just want to support you in your book buying ban efforts!
I don't have much to say today. It's so hard to be "business as usual" when so many families are hurting here in Texas. And in Buffalo. And in Orange County. I don't even know what to say. I guess there's nothing TO say.We had our graduation ceremony yesterday, which is always exciting. Between the happiness and tragedy, I'm exhausted.
Currently Reading:
Daughter of the Forest - Getting the audiobook turned out to be the right call. I've only got 6 hours left, so I'm just waiting to have some time to keep listening. I'll admit, I didn't see (view spoiler) coming, and I'm very, very glad I was listening at 2x speed for that. If I'd been reading it, I probably wouldn't have kept going. BUT, I'm still really enjoying the story.
Feeling Sorry for Celia - I needed something easy, so I'm re-reading a favorite. The book cover is just about falling apart because I've read it so many times. I didn't know until last year, but the author is Lianne Moriarty's sister! I have no interest in reading Lianne Moriarty, but it was an interesting discovery considering I first picked this book up when I was in high school or early college!
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People - we were going to discuss chapter 4 today but my boss thought we all needed a break from deep discussions while processing the mess that is the US.
QOTW:
I'm behind on everything. I'm three books behind on Goodreads and haven't even bothered figuring out what prompts the books I have read fit. Although I could use Feeling Sorry for Celia for the board game in the title...
Hello! This weekend was deck work. After cleaning and power washing it the previous weekend, we sanded it (with a tiny power sander) and filled in the cracks with far too much wood putty. On Sunday, we applied the first coat of the stain. It was too thick to be done with a sprayer, so I did the top while my husband did the posts and sides. We ran out of time (and stain) on Sunday to finish the sides and the stairs. On Monday after work, we applied the second coat to the top, as it required 72 hours before furniture could go back on it, and my parents are coming tomorrow for the long weekend. (And it rained yesterday, so we had to have 24 hours after the second coat before it got wet.) I suspect my husband will spend part of Saturday finishing up the second coat and stairs because it's bothering him we couldn't finish.Finished This Week:
The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher. This was a disappointment. While it suggests it's about COVID in the South Side of Chicago, it's not. It's about how tough it is for Blacks on the South Side of Chicago to have good health outcomes. COVID is just a frame to rail against an unjust system. Gave it 3 stars for being disappointing. Couldn't find a PS prompt for it.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. I watched the movie when it came to Hulu back in February, and thought things had been changed. I'd read the book back in 2020 when I gave up on waiting for the movie. Except I got from the library, and everyone else had the same idea, so there was a waiting list to read it again. Finally got it and yes, the movie changed things. The mystery was the same, the characters were not. Love the book, won't watch the movie again. Reread, not for prompt.
Shipped by Angie Hockman. I wanted something light after all the work on the deck, and saw this was available from the library. Quite enjoyed it. I've read other romances where the two love interests are competing for the same promotion, but I only partly predicted the ending, so that was nice. Using for #1, on a cruise ship.
Crushing It by Lorelei Parker. I found this in the Overdrive app by looking for books that were similar to Shipped. A video game developer needs to overcome her crippling anxiety about public speaking in order to present her company's new game at the next Gamescon in Germany. To try to overcome her fear, she joins a weekly contest at a nearby bar where the participants read embarrassing journal entries from their past. Except one of the other contestants is the guy she just read her entry about having a crush on in college. I didn't enjoy the love triangle, and thought she gave one of the guys FAR too many chances, but loved all the video game references that a lot of other reviewers said they didn't understand. Pretty sure I am exactly the target audience for this book. Using for #25, About a Secret, as both guys in the love triangle are hiding things from the MC.
The Rainmaker by John Grisham. My husband likes to watch YouTube videos of "real X person watches movies about their profession" where X is a lawyer, doctor, submarine commander, stunt guy, etc. We watched one by a lawyer reviewing The Rainmaker movie, starring Matt Damon. This is one of my favorite books but least favorite Grisham movies, entirely because of the scene of Rudy's first day of the trial. Lawyer loved the movie, and after we finished the video, my husband asked if I had to go reread the book. And I did. Still love the book and dislike the movie. Reread, not for prompt.
PS: 25/50 RH: 2/24 ATY: 26/52 GR: 67/100
Currently Reading:
Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women's Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall. Graphic novel about women's rights through our planet's history. Just got to the colonial era. Using for RH #6, a nonfiction YA comic.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. Started over.
QOTW: Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
Looks like I'm exactly halfway in PopSugar and Around the Year, but dreadfully behind in Read Harder. I'm at 20/52, 23/52 and 20/60 for the other three challenges I try to do. But spring is typically so busy with work that it's when I reread series, and May is when my reading kicks into high gear. So I feel like I'm in excellent shape as well. But I need to stop avoiding Read Harder.
K.L. wrote: "Good afternoon, everyone! It has been a rather unproductive week. My original plan for the week was to finish some of the household projects that I started earlier in the year. Unfortunately, my ..."
I'm with you on the back pains. Hope it gets better soon. So frustrating when your head wants all kinds of stuff and your body just says 'nope, not today'.
I finished Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 as my manmade disaster. It was pretty interesting. Free advice. If they build a 50 foot above ground molasses tank within a mile or so of where you live, move. I don't know how you do want to die, but you don't want to drown in molasses.I have about 50 pages left in Slow Train to Switzerland: One Tour, Two Trips, 150 Years - and a World of Change Apart as a previous favorite-somehwere you want to go. I love books about travel. So much less expensive than actually travelling (although obviously not as good).
QOTW: I add 2 more favorites from previous years to bring the total up to 52. When I finish the Switzerland book, I will be exactly halfway done. So, looking good.
I've got some reading done including two books which might be my favorites all year. One of those was for the challenge for the prompt A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge I read The Shotgun Arcana by R.S. Belcher (western, people with special powers). This is the follow up to The Six-Gun Tarot and is even better than the first. It is a bit on the violent side (horror/weird west). Loved it.Speaking of light horror/thrillers I finished an arc of The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon and it was absolutely fantastic because you could see this actually happening.
I finished another rather forgettable mystery as well Key Lime Killer by Sharon Dunn
I also read a handful of graphic novels as well
Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo & Ren Graham which I enjoyed a lot and need to find the rest of.
Sleeping Beauties, Vol. 1 by Rio Youers adapted from a novel by Stephen & Owen King and yeah so not the time to read about a pandemic and harm to women
BURN THE WITCH 1 by Tite Kubo this one left me very underwhelmed. I don't see me getting more of it
QOTW I'm actually doing really good with the Popsugar Challenge. I'm at 37/50 and have something slotted in for the remainder. It's just finding time
For the alphabet challenge I'm at 20 of 26
For the Mount TBR (here on GR) challenge I'm at I think 32 of 48 books
It's the literary destination challenge I'm behind in as per usual (you read a book for all 50 states) as I read a lot of fantasy/SFF and books set in other countries (not to mention England and New York seem to dominate the mysteries I read) I'm at 22/50 but I've also read books set in 4 other countries so far
Life is pretty much back to normal here after covid since February. And I’m still amazed how much I’m enjoying things! Yesterday, I had a community meeting for a open source software. A 2 hour train trip, meeting of 2,5 hours and the same train trip back. I was so amazed (as in: enjoying) we are travelling just as if nothing happened the last 2 years. Things I (still) didn’t like: the hurry, the impoliteness (no one answered when I sat down and said ‘hello’ the persons next to me) and missing a train. PS: 12/40
Total 2022: 23
Finished
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Steven C. Hayes ⭐⭐⭐
I read this to learn more about the therapy I’m having. My experience with the therapy is a little different than the book describes.
Currently reading
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
QOTW
I’m way behind on PS challenge. That said, my goal this year is to read for pleasure, not for any challenge. I’ve read a record-high number of books in the first five months. I’m on a schedule of over 50 books a year. So I’m doing great on the pleasure part of my challenge.
Doni wrote: "I'm currently trying a zero growth acquisition model where I have to return library books or give away owned books (or at the very least finish them) before I can get new books. In some ways, it's harder than a book fast because there's room for negotations, whereas a book fast is a clean break. That said, I just want to support you in your book buying ban efforts!."Thanks Doni! I don't know if I'll ever get to the point where I can do a zero growth model, but I'd definitely like to get to the point where my home library isn't in a constant state of growth. I have managed to let go of several titles since I started focusing on reading my physical TBR though, which has been great, and I'm hoping to continue that trend as I get farther through my list.
Just popping in to note that I *am* alive. Haven't had energy for much beyond the basics of life lately - turns out I'm anemic! So at least there's a relatively simple answer.I finished The Expanse series - excellent books; and I read two tiny small books appropriate to my low iron capabilities right now: Puritea and And In Her Smile, The World.
Hopefully more extensive reading and exuberant posting is in my near future after I get treatment!
Harmke wrote: "I'm with you on the back pains. Hope it gets better soon. So frustrating when your head wants all kinds of stuff and your body just says 'nope, not today'.."Thanks Harmke!
Happy Thursday! I keep thinking it's Friday for some reason. Last day of school is tomorrow! I've mixed feelings about that. I'll miss my free time while my daughter is in school, but we've lots of fun summer plans that'll be good. Currently Reading
The Dragon Reborn for "book about a party" as in a "party of adventurers" not a "celebration". ;) Over halfway. Meant to get more read but my weekend was more adventurous than I'd hoped. Oh well. Still loving my reread of this fantastic fantasy.
QotW
I've read a number of massive books lately, so I've fallen behind. Goodreads tells me I'm a book behind schedule, so not too bad. I should be able to catch up here soon! Finished 17/50 for the Popsugar challenge so I'm at 34%.
Hi Everyone!I have 11 days before Summer Reading Program starts!! AAAHHH! so I'm stressing on that. I need to do a check list of everything I've actually accomplished to make me feel better, i think. Then, i can concentrate on what I need to do. Ugh! I hate being a one woman show sometimes.
Anyway, it was a good reading week for me. I took a footnote from K.L. and have been trying to kick my physical books I own to the curb and get them out of my tbr and downsize my collection. Or make room on my shelves for other tbr books. Triple stacked books with books atop them . . .
As i shake that image away and shudder, I will now list the books I have read this week:
Silver in the Mist NetGalley book. YA Fantasy. It was pretty good.
Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 1
Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 2
Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 3
Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 4
Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 5 A older manga series by a manga-ka i enjoy a lot. i own 98% of her work that has come over to America.
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 1
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 2
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 3
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 4
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 5
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 6 By same author of Phantom Thief.
Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars #1 This was a kickstarter funded project. I got the whole ebook as a draft version and read it. I can't wait for my physical copies to come!
And lastly, I finally finished Murder on the Orient Express!! I literally finished the final four pages at my desk this morning in my office. I can now say I've read an Agatha Christie book.
Continuing reads:
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 7
I've put many of my books on hold for a while. I will definitely get back to them, but I need to read something different. I'm getting burned out on regular novels. so i'm going to switch it up to manga for a bit. two birds one stone sort of thing.
QOTW:
Since I just put Murder on the Orient Express on my challenge (for #2 takes place on train, etc.) I have officially read 25 prompts! so 50% done with PopSugar.
I'm 21/52 for ATY. I'm double dipping with some of my PopSugar titles.
For the Goodreads I’m actually way behind. I’m 92 of 400. I should catch up fast by kicking my tbr.
Happy Thursday! We're due for more rain and thunderstorms tonight. The best new development at home is that hubby rearranged the kitchen, so the cats are getting used to only having one cat-flap to the basement where they previously had two. I've only managed to finish comics and play scripts this week, but in light of the news -- Buffalo, Texas -- my focus isn't what it usually is.
Gotham City Sirens: Book One - 4 stars, reread. Paul Dini is one of the best comics writers out there
Gotham City Sirens: Book Two - 2.5 stars. Dini left after the first book and things really went downhill
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde - 5 stars. I was familiar with Kaufman's Laramie Project script, but after working on Earnest I had to read this one about Wilde, and it didn't disappoint
Venus in Fur - 5 stars. I saw a local production but rated the script anyway because WOOF
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World, Vol. 4: Birth of the Dragon - 4 stars
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World, Vol. 5: Tomb of Shadows - 4 stars. Finally getting around to finishing this series. Two volumes left for June!
Catwoman, Volume 1: The Game - 4 stars. I dig this art, I dig the writing
Saga #59 - 4 stars
PS 29/50
Currently:
Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America - I had to take a break from this for a few days but I'll probably finish tomorrow. Ijeoma Oluo pulls no punches
Dismembering Lahui: A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887 - An excellent history with plenty of notes
Shorefall - Taking my time with this but it's brilliant and so immersive
The Silmarillion - Still going
QOTW: Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
I'm doing well!
For some ungodly reason (ahem: comics/graphic novels/quicker reads like that) I decided to shoot for 200 books as my yearly total, and I'm actually managing to keep pace with it fairly well.
The PS challenge is going well, I'm already past the halfway mark.
I'm halfway through my Around the World challenge in my Worlds Beyond the Margins group, where the goal is to read more marginalized authors.
And my annual summer historical fiction challenge is coming up in the Historical Fictionistas group, which I'm always excited for.
Hi all, Rainy day today, but looks like it'll be a lovely 3 day weekend this weekend! Looking forward to to a bit of a break. No real plans, but going to lunch with friends and might do a picnic in a park.
This week I finished:
Seasonal Fears - I liked this, but i think I really should have re-read Middlegame first. I feel like i forgot a lot of which was important. I don't think I connected as well to Melanie and Harry as I did to Rodger and Dodger from the first one, either. At some point I'll need to re read them back to back. It feels like maybe another book will be coming, maybe before i read that one.
Stardust - audio re-read
Light from Uncommon Stars - my next books & brews read. I really loved this, although I have a feeling it'll be a polarizing read. I can see how people would find it weird or offputting, or not be able to deal with the some of the trauma in it etc. But I found it beautiful and lovely and i loved the mix of science fiction and fantasy elements. Usually i'm in the minority for disliking a book everyone else loved, I think it'll be reversed this time. I guess we'll see!
Where the Drowned Girls Go
Across the Green Grass Fields I started where the drowned girls go, then realized I missed a book in the series. but my library only had the pervious one on audio so...I'm doing them at the same time. The Green Grass one is supposed to be stand alone, but the main character is mentioned in Drowned Girls so I'm trying to hurry and finish the audio first. Luckily it's short, only have about an hour left. Hopefully can finish tonight, and then move on with the other.
QOTW:
I skipped all reading challenges this year except goodreads. I'm 22 books ahead on that because I lowered my number by 25 this year so I wouldn't be hovering so close all the time and feeling stressed. This is my "read what I want, when I want" year. I'm still doing book clubs, and that's enough guided reading for me. Honestly this has been such a stressful year so far i'm glad. It's nice not having to keep up with spreadsheets and worrying about how many books ahead/behind I am, or if i'm saving too many difficult prompts/burning through the easy ones too fast etc. I have read a few books that I know fit, just because i had books on my kindle that i knew worked and used that as a reason to read them next. But I'm not going out of my way to FIND books at the library or whatever that fit. at some point when I have time I might go fill in a spreadsheet and just see where i stand without trying.
Hi all! Beautiful day here in NY. I was busy earlier this week, so I decided to spend today lounging and reading. Not that I finished anything. In fact, I went to the library the other day and had a case of grabby hands/ I CAN read all the things.... So now I'm working on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy I still can't keep track of all the people and who's on what side. I hope it comes together because I'm determined to finish it.
Getting closer to being finished with The Lost Apothecary, maybe by next week if I can stick to it.
About a third of the way through Mexican Whiteboy. I'm not too into it and feel like my main goal is to read it so I can delete it off my tablet and get back storage space.
I also picked up Ghost Boys last night, because I have a horrible sense of timing. I borrowed the book a couple weeks ago, but reading about a young black person being shot right now... might be too much.
Though right after Sandy Hook I read Think No Evil: Inside the Story of the Amish Schoolhouse Shooting...and Beyond and found it comforting.
QOTW: The only numerical goal I set is my Goodreads's goal, and my main page helpfully tells me that I'm 3 books behind right now. My other goals are to always be reading a book off the 1001 books to read before you die list (Tinker atm), and books that are being banned or challenged (both Mexican and Ghost Boys).
Mod
LOL duly noted! Luckily, there are no molasses tanks near me.
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Yes I'm too angry to even talk about that.
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I finished The Expan..."
a diagnosis is half the battle!
Happy Thursday. I am excited for a long weekend. Work has been...stressful (to put it mildly). I finished one book this week and will probably finish another one over the long weekend (which I am v. excited for!)
Finished:
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Delila Harris. This was...ok. The writing was good and kept me entertained but it didn't wow me and the end was disappointing.
Continuing:
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. I will finish this one over the long weekend I am sure. It is a good story and I can't wait to finish it.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. I just started this audiobook this morning. I haven't formed an opinion yet so we will see where it goes.
QOTW:
I am at 20/50 so if I can finish 5 books by the end of June I will be at exactly 50%. Last year I finished on December 27th so only a couple days before the end of the year. I hope to finish a little sooner than that this year.
Nadine in NY wrote: "I made the mistake of reading the first page of Front Desk this morning, and I've spent the last few hours ignoring the world. Whoops! This book really sucked me right in!!"I love this book. I've got to finish the series. I wish all kids would read it.
It's been a week of doctors, diagnoses, more and more medications, side effects, etc. Not my favorite week. I'm trying not to be too grumpy and miserable but am failing a bit. The Uvale school shooting hasn't helped. I'm so sad that us Americans have chosen this type of society and are unwilling to change it. But we are what we are, and I'm trying really hard not to stress about things over which I have no control. There's still so much good in the world, and so much even in my pain-filled life (like books), and I need to focus on that. I haven't finished reading anything this week.
Currently reading
A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie
Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
QOTW:
Goodreads - 34/100 (34%)
Popsugar - 16/40, 4/10 (40%)
Looks like I'd better step up the pace.
Driving to spend Memorial Day weekend with my sister tomorrow. Hopefully the audiobook I've got will tide me over on the four-hour drive, haha...Books read this week:
Nettle & Bone -- another home run by one of my favorite authors! Dark but often snarky and deconstructive, this makes for an excellent dark fairy tale.
The Stories of Ibis -- I think this would have worked better as a collection of stories and novellas than as stories united by a framing device… but it was still a surprisingly powerful read, and a thoughtful and unusual look at the “robot uprising” plot.
The Hidden Palace -- just as beautifully told as the first book, The Golem and the Jinni.
Salt Magic -- graphic novel. Really loved this story about a girl combating a witch threatening her family’s farm in the early 20th century.
DNF:
Remarkably Bright Creatures -- I really wanted to like this because c’mon, a friendship between an old woman and an octopus? I just found it surprisingly boring… and the character of Cameron obnoxious enough to kill my enjoyment.
Currently Reading:
Indistinguishable from Magic
Rune Scale
Hide
Deep Roots
When Women Were Dragons
QOTW:
I finished the challenge last week! Now catching up on my never-ending TBR list, haha...
Harmke wrote: "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Steven C. Hayes ⭐⭐⭐I read this to learn more about the therapy I’m having. My experience with the therapy is a little different than the book describes."
This sounds like an interesting type of therapy. Do you have a better book than this about it then?
Christine wrote: "Just popping in to note that I *am* alive. Haven't had energy for much beyond the basics of life lately - turns out I'm anemic! So at least there's a relatively simple answer."Enjoy those iron pills! It's weird that lack of a mineral can cause your whole body to be so out of whack.
Happy check-in! Bit of a weird week of snow and warm sunny days here. Can't complain though family down east got through a destructive storm okay. The news has been heartbreaking this week for sure. Finished Reading:
Book of Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2022 author you read in 2021)
This was a bit disappointing just because I had big expectations. A good concept and urban fantasy by a fave author was great but the plot was slow moving.
The Cellist of Sarajevo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2015 set in a different country)
Fantastic historical fiction. I had to search for a quote to add to my favourites.
The Waiting ⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to the person who mentioned this in check-ins weeks back. An interesting graphic novel on the Korean war(s).
BRZRKR, Volume 1 ⭐
Did not enjoy this, it was gory without a plot. Opening Fire is so much better with a similar concept.
Breaking Badger ⭐⭐ (2022 tiger on the cover)
This was a disappointment. It's book four in a series, and it lost what I liked about the first three books. This series is on my craptactular shelf for a reason.
PS 2022 40/50
PS 2015 35/50
Goodreads 126/250
Currently Reading:
Magic Shifts
QOTW:
Well I'm 40/50 on 2022's and 35/50 on 2015's. I got stressed by the end of the year, last year so I've purposely marked off prompts when I complete them as opposed to waiting for a specific book for each prompt.
I haven't done much reading lately, between a migraine, the distraction of the Australian election and then the news coming out of the US. But I did manage to finish one book this week. PopSugar Challenge 26/50
Finished
Christmas Caramel Murder yeah... I hated it. There was granular detail about things that didn't really matter and I wanted to shake the author and yell, "Get to the point!" I thought maybe these details would be important to solving the mystery, but they weren't. It's the 20th book in the series, so obviously there are people that love that style, but it really wasn't for me. Still, it was a short read and a number of the recipes looked good. Prompt: Book with a recipe in it
Did Not Finish
I DNF'd Borderline because I couldn't get into it and Working Class Boy because it wasn't very well structured.
Next
I only finished Christmas Caramel Murder last night, so haven't started anything new yet. I'm going to pick up Legacy as soon as I'm finished with today's work, so I can try to finish it before the end of AAPI Month. Then I need to get started on the other library books before I need to return them.
QOTW
I'm doing really well. Last year I only finished 18 books, and it was probably around this time of the year that I got a bit depressed and stopped reading books for the challenge. This year has been better for all kinds of reasons, including better health, new medication and less stress. I'm pretty confident I'll actually finish the challenge, plus I'm 7 books ahead of schedule, so very happy with my progress.
Happy check-in. This week is the ATY read-a-thon, so my list is way up, even though the change in the weather has had me outside doing yard work a bunch. I did get to go out of town for a day trip on the long weekend to visit family and it was wonderful. And I even got to go and visit one of the bakeries featured in the book I'm reading. Rolo cheese cake 😁👍👍Books I finished:
Moon Called & Cry Wolf ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompts: ATY Reread: Non-human MC & Set in a rural area.
It's time for my yearly reread of this series.
Clap When You Land ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: Latin American author.
I loved this so much. I think I still pick The Poet X as my favorite, but I just haven't read a dud from Elizabeth Acevedo
Spy×Family 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: PS: Found Family.
So now I have read a manga that isn't Sailor Moon. It was fun, made me laugh and now I can't wait to read the next one, but I'm stuck waiting on the library hold...
A Spindle Splintered ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: Goodreads Choice nominee.
My sister recommended this and as it was short, I got it for the read-a-thon. I'm glad I did. I love a good fairy tale retelling and I've always had a soft spot for Sleeping Beauty. This was great, but a little too short.
Book of Night ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: Tarot card (The Hierophant)
I can see myself upping this to a 4 star if the next book is better, but this book spent too much time with flashbacks to try and cover the fact that nothing much was happening in the present story line. By the end when they stopped with the flashbacks, it was great.
Talking to Canadians ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: Loving LGBTQIA+ relationship.
I miss the Mercer Report so much! I could just hear Rick Mercer's voice the entire time I was reading this and it brought me back. I can't wait until his next book.
The Cellist of Sarajevo ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: PS: Man-made disaster.
In Mercer's book, he talked about going to Bosnia, which reminded me of this book, which I've had for at least 10 years but never read. My sister borrowed it and then returned it, so it was sitting out and looking at me, so now my physical TBR (books I've picked up from various places that don't have due dates looming over me) is finally lower than it was at the start of the year. 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Books I made progress on:
Only in Saskatchewan: Recipes and Stories from the Province’s Best-Loved Eateries
The Emma Project
QotW
My stats so far are:
ATY: 51/75
PS: 29/50
ATY Reread: 12/52
Goodreads Choice: 20/30
Physical TBR empty: 2/10
Wheel of Time: 3/15
So at this point, I've decided to let the WoT series go. I'll finish it when I finish it, and if it lasts into next year, so be it. And the reread challenge is more just to see if I do it naturally, not something I'm actively working for. But otherwise I'm right on track. I keep feeling like I'm falling behind on popsugar, but I'm over half done, so I shouldn't feel that way. It's just that for ever book I finish for popsugar, I seem to finish 3 for ATY, but I have a lot more prompts for ATY... My Goodreads Choice challenge is just a personal attempt to read as many past nominees as I can, from any year. If I reach 30 too soon, I'll up it, like I do my regular Goodreads challenge. Speaking of which, it says I'm 2 books behind schedule, but given the read-a-thon still has 3 days to go I'm pretty sure I'll catch up.😉
Oh my gosh ya’ll, I made the mistake of downloading the game Township to my phone and now I’m like a crazy person always checking on it! I reminds me of when I used to play Farmville and I’d go on Facebook just to check my crops. 😊 Nadine in NY wrote: I made the mistake of reading the first page of Front Desk this morning, and I've spent the last few hours ignoring the world. Whoops! This book really sucked me right in!!
That book looks cute, I added it to my TBR.
Participating in the ATY Read-A-Thon has really kicked me in to gear!
Finished:
7 finished this week, 2 for Popsugar
Year of the Reaper
PS #15, ATY #52, RH #13
This was okay. At times it read like a debut novel and others I got a little lost. I think it was just that it never fully grabbed my attention. It did get a bit better towards the end though.
Guess I’m of the minority on this one.
Fourth of July Creek
’21 50 States
This book took me awhile to read, partly b/c it’s 466 pages but also it has some hard to read moments. It’s about a social worker in rural Montana in 1980-81, who honestly seems to have his own problems. He gets mixed up in a few hard cases and even gets investigated by the feds at one point. There’s murder, drugs, prostitution, divorce, alcoholism, and other hard life situations.
With the Fire on High
Not for challenge
I think this was my favorite of her books so far.
Some Girls Do
PS #5, ATY #47
I grabbed this book of the new shelf at the library not really knowing to much about it beyond what was on the dustjacket, and it turned out to be a good book. It is a sapphic book about two high school girls who fall in love. One is openly out and the other wasn’t even aware that she liked girls in that way, and was afraid of what that would mean for her life.
Shiloh
’21 50 States
This was my first time reading this. I really liked it TBH.
Book Lovers
ATY #51, ’22 50 States
This was the newest book by Emily Henry and I REALLY loved it. It’s not your typical mushy, sappy romance in fact they (view spoiler) There’s a lot of heartbreak in this book actually, and even a surprise that you never see coming until you are in it (hint: it has to do with the sister). There were many things I had thought of but, that was not one of them. Gotta love a good twist!
Red Clocks
’21 50 States
This book was…upsetting? Ironic? Omniscient? And foretelling.
It’s the future and abortion is illegal in the USA (everywhere!)
This book was O-kay. I think I mostly didn’t like the style that this author writes in. I read it for the state (Oregon) it takes place in not the topic.
Currently Reading
At First Light
Heart and Seoul
Let Me Hear a Rhyme
Question of the Week:
Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
2022 Challenges:
Popsugar: 40/50
ATY: 41/52
A to Z: 22/26
50 States:
2021.....37/50 (Have until end of June) OMG I have 13 left still and a month to do it in!!
2022.....13/50
Read Harder: 13/24
Goodreads: 87/100
For my Cultural Appreciation Month reading, I've read:
14 books for Black History Month (Feb.)
17 books for Women's History Month (Mar.)
4 books for National Poetry Month (Apr.)
4 books for Asian American & Pacific Islander Month (plus 2 books I'm workin’ on)
As for Pride Month in June, I didn't realize it was coming up. I’ve already read a couple this past week that were LGBT+ books. Hopefully I can get in a few more next month.
Teri wrote: "This sounds like an interesting type of therapy. Do you have a better book than this about it then?"No. My psychologist recommended this one to me. I like her treatment better than the book, that's all. The book is a lot of theory and visualizing exercises. The theory is fine, I recognised a lot about what I'm doing in my brain. I have difficulties with the visualizing part. So my psychologist is using other techniques to learn me to switch channels in my brain.
Teri wrote: "It's been a week of doctors, diagnoses, more and more medications, side effects, etc. Not my favorite week. I'm trying not to be too grumpy and miserable but am failing a bit. The Uvale school shoo..."Sorry you've had a rough week. Health issues suck. Violence sucks. Hope you feel better soon.
Take care!
Mod
That book looks cute, I added it to my TBR. ..."
It was really good! 5 stars. She manages to tackle a lot of heavy subjects like poverty, racism, classism, etc, and she does it with an optimistic outlook that she CAN overcome. I do NOT get choked up while reading books, but this one got to me. Author's note at the end says a lot of the incidents in this book actually happened to her and her family.
I finished it by the afternoon, but that's because I hardly did anything else all day. I'm sure my boss would not be happy if he knew.
So, don't start reading it unless you've got a bit of free time ahead of you!!
Happy Friday! It's nice to hear everyone's plans for the weekend. It sucks still basically being on lock down when life is otherwise getting back to normal. My co-workers are now going into the office once a week. But with the current Covid numbers in NYC and my husband's health situation, I don't feel comfortable going in. Have yet to broach that with my manager, but he's been very understanding.Finished:
The Overnight Guest
The Kaiju Preservation Society I enjoyed this, but not as much as everyone else seems to have.
West Side Love Story I think I won this in a giveaway. It just showed up on my Kindle one day, but I don't remember receiving an email about it. Maybe the email went to the Promotions folder, which I never look at?
Currently reading:
Matrix
The Worst Journey in the World on audio
QOTW:
I am at 39/50 for Popsugar and 34/52 for ATY. I hope to finish Popsugar by end of June, but then again I have Life and Fate on my plan, which is over 800 pages. Maybe I can finish all but that one by the end of June. I have been flying through books, husband watching baseball helps.
Kendra wrote: "Rolo cheese cake 😁👍👍"That sounds delicious.
Jennifer W wrote: "Sorry you've had a rough week. Health issues suck. Violence sucks. Hope you feel better soon.Take care!"
Thank you. Every time I get discouraged, I hear of others who are in worse shape and decide to be grateful instead. Did some gratitude work today (meditation, stretching, mantra) and am feeling a lot better about my life.
Mandy wrote: "Hi Everyone!I have 11 days before Summer Reading Program starts!! AAAHHH! so I'm stressing on that. I need to do a check list of everything I've actually accomplished to make me feel better, i th..."
I feel you on the Summer Reading prep. Shew it's a lot and my schedule is already out of whack because of it. haha. Also, nice to meet a fellow public librarian here! I'm assuming that you are at least since you mentioned Summer Reading. haha.
Hello! Spent this past weekend enjoying some shows and sights in NYC. It was a much needed break, but I'm ready for cozy reading chair time this weekend hopefully. Especially since I have Monday off. Maybe I can catch up a tad, unless I end up catching up on sleep instead. haha.Finished:
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
This book was interesting. The pace felt very slow and it was hard to get through at times. There was just enough tension and mystery to keep me engaged and going with it though. Overall the whole thing ended up feeling very surface level and while I enjoyed it there were several parts of the story that could have been fleshed out and made things a bit more interesting. For example we never get a full explanation of Lib's past, just glimpses, when it obviously is greatly affecting the person she is in the book. Also, we never get a full picture as to how the people around Anna allowed her to get to the point she did.
Prompt: A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title
Currently Reading:
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Prompt: A book becoming a becoming a TV series or movie in 2022
Overall Progress:
17/50
QOTW:
Well, I'm a little behind. I'm a slow-ish reader and tend to fall asleep after 10-15 minutes of reading unless I'm careful, so I catch my reading in 10-20 page spurts a lot. This makes reading 50 books in a year a little challenging and I really have to be intentional with my reading time. 17/50 makes me 34% done with the challenge, but as you mentioned we're 40% into the year so I do have some catching up to do.
Already on the mend from my COVID case this past week. I will never take my nose for granted again-- Spending this long holiday weekend sanitizing and cleaning my apartment (oh and reading).29/80 GoodReads Challenge
25/50 PopSugar Challenge
Finished:
1.) The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (#3 NP Society) ⭐⭐⭐1/2: Picked this one up since my pick for this prompt didn't really satisfy the prompt (IMO), I wanted more about the diving, this was more about the friendship between Young-sook & Mi-ja.
2.) The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (No PS Prompt) ⭐: Hated this one- complete slog for me, and unless you like hearing white mansplaining about a random assortment of topics, skip it.
Currently Reading:
1.) Watership Down (#9-found family)
2.) Her Dark Lies (#38 - party)
3.) Year of the Reaper (#15- pacific islander author)
QoTW: Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
I'm on track. I usually read what I want the first half of the year and slot books in for prompts as I read them, and focus the second half of the year of purposely picking up books for the prompts left. I'm at 50% complete so a tiny bit ahead of track for the challenge.
Kenya wrote: "Remarkably Bright Creatures -- I really wanted to like this because c’mon, a friendship between an old woman and an octopus? I just found it surprisingly boring… and the character of Cameron obnoxious enough to kill my enjoyment.."I've heard so many good things about this one lately Kenya!! Now, wondering if I would also find it boring. :)
Happy late check-in! I think I jinxed myself the other week when I said I thought work was going to calm down- I was very wrong. Very wrong. I'm really excited for this three day weekend- very excited to actual have a three day weekend most of all. Planning to get some reading done- I've started a bunch that I like, but haven't made a lot of progress.Finished:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles- read this for a book club. I've owned this for years, and kept putting it off because I thought it would make me cry. And it really, really did! But I loved it, a lot.
25. A book about a secret
Currently Reading;
A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain- fascinating. If I could focus, this would be a really quick read
Conversations with Friends- I liked the first few chapters, then set it down and forgot to pick it up. Trying to finish this during this weekend
Dracula- still going
QotW:
I'm not doing super great. Mainly just not doing great on setting aside time to read.
That being said, I've read a lot of books this year that I really love. So quantity of books- pretty bad. Quality of books- pretty good.
I meant to check in earlier but time got away from me, so I'm checking in now :-) I finished two books since the last check-in and used one for an open prompt. I'm now at 11/40 and 3/10 for this challenge, and at 32/75 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* Have We Met? by Camille Baker, which I used for "a romance novel by a BIPOC author." I thought it was a fun, fast read; and,
* How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur and narrated by Michael Schur, Kristen Bell, D'Arcy Carden, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Manny Jacinto, Marc Evan Jackson, Jameela Jamil, and Todd May. This is one of my book club's picks for June. My e-hold came in MUCH sooner than expected, so I finished it before June even started. The audiobook version was really terrific -- I loved The Good Place and loved being reunited with the cast this way.
Currently Reading:
* Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, which I have stalled a little bit on reading since a bunch of library holds and book club reads have taken precedence;
* The Glass Devil by Helene Tursten and translated by Katarina Tucker, which I'll use for the second "twin towns" advanced prompt;
* Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, which I returned early to the library but the digital copy is still accessible in my Kindle library, so I decided to keep going until the library due date cuts me off completely. I've found myself skimming a bit, but I think the chapter I'm on now will be less background and more theory/tips that should hold my interest a bit more; and,
* Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, which is one of my book club's picks for June. I'm reading the 20-year anniversary edition, which is about 100 pages longer than the original due to a new Prologue and some updates to the material. I've just started diving into the meat of the book.
QotW:
Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress? I'm not quite at the halfway point for this challenge but still moving forward, so I'm totally fine with where I am. For some reason, I'm not having as much luck matching my reads to my open prompts this year, but that's ok with me. I'm slightly ahead on my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge at the moment, so I think I picked a good target number. For the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, I've completed about a quarter of the prompts so far. I didn't finish last year's challenge for the first time since I started it and probably won't finish this year's, so I'm just going to see how far I get and be happy with wherever I land.
Mod
Welcome to yet another
My Thursday didn’t begin well. No internet. My phone wasn’t sending text messages. By the time all that was restored, it was time to leave the house to take my husband to an appointment, and then go back to town to take my good friend who had dental surgery last week to two appointments. By the time I arrived home that night I was exhausted. (It seems as if it doesn't take much to get me to the point of exhaustion any more...)
I spent 2-3 hours on the phone with AT&T about internet connection on our phones and when the girl who knew nothing and had to keep “consulting with the tech team” started all over by asking me the same questions after all that time, I just gave up. I informed her how I missed the good old days when I could walk into a store and get problems resolved…and hung up. It was the kindest thing I could do. I was soooo frustrated and angry that I had to force myself to refrain from yelling. So now I will restart that process tomorrow morning. She called me 6 times that afternoon and her supervisor left me 2 voice mail messages. I did not respond at all. *sigh* But I’m not being forced from my home or country by violence, so it’s all good. I will survive and hopefully thrive!
I got my friend through her dental surgery and she is recovering well! Don’t ever think you’ll be absolutely idle during retirement! LOL Unless you have no friends or relatives who may need your assistance! I’m trying to space out my travel over different days for appointments and such and now am having difficulty scheduling my own appointments around everyone else’s! LOL But I am honestly just glad to have the time and be able to do it all for them! No regrets. Life is GOOD!! I am retired, after all!
As of Thursday, it had been raining and storming off and on here Wednesday night, all that day, and that continued. Also cooler, highs only in the 60s. With storms arriving at any time I must make sure a bedroom door is open so our “Mini” can hide under the bed. That is her spot when it rains very hard or storms! And now as of Monday, our temperatures are in the high 80s with sunshine! Our weather is definitely NOT boring!! It provides much variety!
ADMIN STUFF:
First and foremost, Nadine posted the nomination poll here for the September Monthly Group Read. I appreciate the graphic she selected. (She is always so helpful!) Please help us select a book to fulfill prompt #6 A book written by a LatinX author in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) in the US! As always, I’m anxious to see what books will get the most votes for the final selection poll to be posted this Thursday!
May’s Monthly Group Read is Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier and Stormie ~ Book Dragon ~ is leading this discussion! This book will fulfill prompt #15 A book written by a Pacific Islander author in honor or AAPI Appreciation Month in the US! You can also post any book you have read to complete this prompt here. This will wrap up at the end of the month, but will still be available in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder.
We will need a "marvelous manager" to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I have a brand spanking new hardback of Beloved and also some additional resource materials for June’s discussion. I moved both June discussion threads to the Current Monthly Group Read folder. I am looking forward to others’ comments! I consider Morrison’s books to be tough reads, but necessary…
The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Now that we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
I am actually thrilled! Remember that I finished in 2021 on the very last day of the year…with only 30 minutes to spare! I really want to avoid that ever happening again! LOL
I have fulfilled 38 of the 50 prompts and I listed those remaining 12 prompts along with the books I’ve selected for each at the top of the Word document I keep for this challenge. And actually, whenever I can get time to list fulfilled prompts for each of the 7 books I read last week (It was the ATY 2022 May Team Readathon!), I will actually be down to only 11 prompts remaining. Cha-ching! Some of these books are chunksters, so I plan to concentrate on those in July. (I have quite a few Buddy Reads scheduled for June and a 10-day Team Readathon beginning this Friday…)
So I’m pretty sure I will NOT be finishing at the very last hour of the year for 2022! YAY!!
I’ll post the books I read as soon as possible… *sigh*
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Baking Cakes in Kigali (other topics)The Postmistress (other topics)
One Thousand and One Nights (other topics)
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (other topics)
The City We Became (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gaile Parkin (other topics)Hanan Al-Shaykh (other topics)
Olga Tokarczuk (other topics)
Alison Stuart (other topics)
Holly Jackson (other topics)
More...
Lynn is having Internet problems this morning - as she put it: life stops without the internet these days.
Admin stuff -
Let's see, we still have the May group read of Year of the Reaper finishing up, next week it's JUNE and our group read will be Beloved!
And we have a nomination poll open for the September group read for a book by a Latinx author
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
I made the mistake of reading the first page of Front Desk this morning, and I've spent the last few hours ignoring the world. Whoops! This book really sucked me right in!!
This week I finished 3 books, one for this Challenge, so I am now 33/50.
The Undressing: Poems by Li-Young Lee - I enjoyed this, it's a bit different from the poetry I usually read, it managed to be both dark and lyrical.
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho - I have loved every book Cho has published - she's a go-to author for me. This perfectly filled the "afterlife" category, since two of the main characters are ghosts. (This would also work for "sapphic book")
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng- this was a perfect book. It was exquisite. And usually I'm the reader who is all "too slow, so boring, too many words" but not this time!!
Question of the Week
Now we are approaching the end of the first half of the year, how are you doing on your reading challenge progress?
I'm in excellent shape! Last year I just played it by ear a lot and read whatever I wanted, and I ended up finishing the Popsugar challenge in December which stressed me out to no end. Never again for me!
According to my spreadsheet:
The year is 40% over
I am 33/50 on Popsugar, so I'm 66% done.
I am 4/11 on my "Must Read in 2022" challenge, so I'm 36% done.
And on my Cultural Appreciation Month reading, I've read:
8 books for Black History Month
11 books for Women's History Month
7 books for Asian American & Pacific Islander Month (plus 5 books I'm currently reading)
And I'm lining up books for Pride Month in June!