Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Happy Thursday, fellow readers! :)

As Ron reminded us in Week #33, Banned Books Week in the US begins on Sunday, September 18, and continues through Saturday, September 24. Jennifer W had posted a link during the Week #33 Check-In: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I used this to create a whole listing of the books I was interested in reading as well as those I had already read. I was gratified to realize I had already read quite a few of these! I am going to try to concentrate on reading at least some of those I haven’t yet read and which I own over the next few weeks. And then prioritize them in the future. It frightens me to see books being challenged and/or banned within a self-proclaimed “democracy.” Access should be granted so that each individual can determine what they wish to read. No one person or group has the right to prevent access. *Stepping down from my soapbox…*

I awoke feeling totally wiped out and coughing and sneezing on Tuesday, so had to cancel my initial Borders Book Club Reboot meeting, but we’re rescheduled for this coming Tuesday! As it happened, one of the other members was sick as well. I felt MUCH better yesterday and better today. My body always reacts once the weather starts changing, especially in the fall. We have had temperatures down into the mid-50s at night here this week. I always react to that initially! I have a very strange body! LOL ;)

You will notice I completed 6 books this week! There is an ATY Team Readathon in which I am participating. (Though I have made myself not read as intensely this time and have been much more relaxed about it! Yes, I’m proud of myself! LOL) However, I’ve not taken the time to determine which prompts each book could fulfill, so will work on that over the next few days. In the interest of getting our conversation started, I am posting without those done for now… :) You are welcome! LOL I just want to mention that 4 of those 6 books were some of my absolute favorite reads! I love it when that happens!

ADMIN STUFF:
The September Monthly Group Read is Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and you will find that discussion as well as the thread to post the book you have read to fulfill prompt #6 A book written by a LatinX author in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. This prompt was selected for September to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated September 15-October 15 in the US. Nadine has graciously posted a discussion thread for Hispanic Heritage Month reading HERE. I will be finishing this book today and posting more questions, and responding to comments at least daily throughout the remainder of the month. This book has been a delightful read thus far! And, bonus, it is on the banned/challenged book listing, and it fits one of the Team Readathon prompts! Whoo! Whoo!

We currently have THREE Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
2) November: an “official organizer” to lead the discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
3) December: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! While I do plan to read or reread all 3 of these, I’m sure everyone would greatly appreciate it if others would volunteer to facilitate these discussions! :) I admit I'm looking forward to reading all 3 of them!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

Also, just a reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!” thread is open and available to everyone in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Is there a prompt you would like to be included in the POPSUGAR challenge every year?
The one prompt I would like to see repeated every year is “Read a book published in [the current year]. So, for 2023, it would read “Read a book published in 2023.” And then 2024…etc.

I guess I got to thinking about this with regard to the ATY challenge. There are some prompts that are repeated each year. I kinda like that.

I also appreciate a prompt that asks you to select a prompt from the past challenges to fulfill. That’s kinda fun.

I would also like a nonfiction prompt each year.

What prompt would you like to see repeated?

Popsugar: 45/50
ATY: 50/52
RHC: 18/24

FINISHED:
*The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue (10 STARS) was one of best historical fiction novels I’ve read. In a small microcosm of a converted storage room Donoghue depicts so many of the personal and interpersonal aspects of the era of WW I and the flu pandemic. A surreal reminder of the past two years of COVID overtaxing medical institutions, personal, and resources. A beautifully rendered story!
POPSUGAR: #5, #9, #25, #40-2015: prompt #27 A book you can finish in one day, #46-Dr. Kathleen Lynn
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…desolation…despair…but through perseverance, hope!, #7, #11, #13, #15, #17, #19, #20, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel NOT set in WW II

*Ghost (Track #1) by Jason Reynolds (10 STARS) was so well done! Reynolds’ writing reminds me of Zora Neale Hurston in that it directly reflects real life for these characters. It is imperative that youth have adults they can trust and respect, and who truly for and about them. Do yourself a favor and read this one! I am anxious to read the others in the series. I also have so much respect for Jason Reynolds for all the work he does with youth in the US.
POPSUGAR: #9, #24, #25, #26, #36, #40-2016: prompt #23 A book published in 2016, #47
ATY: #1-Aaron Holmes from the track team, #4-A book whose author is younger than you, #7, #19, #25-208 pages, #34-Coach and the Principal, #41, #49
RHC: #4, #24-2016: Read the first book in a series written by a person of color

*Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman (10 STARS) was such a poignant and emotionally challenging read for me. I could relate so closely to most all of Cee Cee’s 2challenges. I cried at least 4 different times while reading this book. I had to stop and consider my own similar experiences, recognize my own grief/frustration/anger and once again forgive. I must believe that as damaged as some adults are, we each do the very best we can for our children. But each of us has different and unique limitations to our skills and abilities when it comes to parenting…
POPSUGAR: #9, #19-summer, #25, #28-Summer holiday from school, #36, #38, #40-2015: prompt #42 A book you own but have not yet read
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7, #11, #15, #19, #31-2010, #34-Aunt Tootie was an excellent teacher!, #36-snails, #37, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #7: A historical fiction novel not set in WW II

Brave New World Revisited by Aldous Huxley (5 STARS). Huxley was unbelievably prescient in his vision of lies being broadcast enough to divide people in the US thereby creating a viable threat to our democracy. He didn’t foresee the internet, or else he would have probably predicted exactly what we have been witnessing in this country since WAY BEFORE 2016… A coordinated effort to dominate the voting public, making them believe lies…
POPSUGAR: #24, #31, #33, #40-2018: prompt #49 A book about a problem facing society today
ATY: #3, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …desolation…despair…, #7, #25-116 pages, #31-1958, #40-Strength, Justice, Judgment, The World, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2021: Read a book you’ve been intimidated to read

*Max's Story by W. Bruce Cameron (5 STARS) was just as wonderful as all the other books written by Cameron that I have read so far. And an invaluable resource at the end with pre-reading discussion questions, post-reading discussion questions, as well as follow-up activities!
POPSUGAR: #9, #19-summer, #24, #28-Summer holiday from school, #40-2018: prompt #34 A book published in 2018
ATY: #4-A book whose author is younger than you, #7, #14-972 ratings, #15, #21-A dog, #25-192 pages, #36-Max is a puppy, #40-Strength, Justice, Judgment, The World, #46-Max, #49
RHC: #24-2016: Read a middle grade novel

*The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (10 STARS) had a similar overall setting and theme as The Woman from Troublesome Creek, but was quite different, IMO! Both books were excellently written, though I think TGoS was a bit more “suspenseful” overall. I would love to know more about these characters’ lives from this point in time and I love it when I feel that way at the end of a book!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #26, #40-2018: prompt #15 A book about feminism, #47
ATY: #1-Alice Wright, #7, #11, #19, #20-1937, #24, #36-Bluey, #40-The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Justice, Death, Temperance, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #49
RHC: #11-Bennett, #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel not set in WW II

CONTINUING:
*Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (5 STARS)
*I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross #16) by James Patterson
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed No progress on this one this past week, but I may well concentrate on this over the weekend… It depends how our Readathon Team progresses! :)

PLANNED:
*Red Bones (Shetland Island #3) by Ann Cleeves
*Silent Voices (Vera Stanhope #4) by Ann Cleeves
*The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
*The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
This will actually be a reread for me, but I’m looking forward to it since I enjoyed this book so much the first time! And I’m sure I’ve forgotten some of the details!
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

favorite season

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo. YA romance. This was very okay and just okay. The romance was very much lacking.

set during a holiday

So, This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen. YA romance. This was cute and set in Oklahoma where I'm from.

living a double life

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer. Contemporary romance. She is Jewish and a secret Christmas romance novelist. This was cute. It gives Hallmark movie vibes. Zero spice.

no prompts

The Jock by Tal Bauer. M/M contemporary romance. Kind of insta-lovey but really enjoyable. Somewhat spicy. Also, there is a moment near the end that is never really resolved and kind of brushed over and not enough of a deal was made out of it.

Mr. Romance by Louisa Masters. Contemporary M/M romance. Enjoyable. Somewhat spicy. I do hate the cover so much though. So much.

QOTW:

I read way more fiction than non-fiction and I like the something you know nothing about prompt or the micro-history. I wouldn't be mad if they showed up each year.

Hi Lynn.

I'm technically reading a banned book. I've seen people celebrate all of September as banned book month, or just the month that has banned book week in it. I haven't progressed too much in The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956 because it's frigging depressing and I some days I can't cope with it.

This is the second time this year that I read a book that I had previously read as a child. In both cases, I didn't remember the title and it took me a while to track down the book because I only remembered vague things about it. Since I didn't remember the plot of Victoria I have no problems counting it. (Normally I don't count re-reads in my books read totals.)

It's like the author anticipated Dark Academia and Mean Girls in 1972 and wrote a book for tweens about girl drama at boarding school.

Finished:

Victoria
ATY prompt: A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role
Popsugar prompt: Can't find one

ATY - 39/52
PS- 32/35
Series -12/13
Clearing my TBR list: 30/40

Currently reading:

The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956 - 1/3 done

The First Rule of Punk - just started

QOTW: I like the book published in the current year prompt. I like the past prompt you liked too. It's a bit of a easy prompt, but you need those in years where all the prompts seem hard.

I like when PS prompts have themes (usually the advanced ones) like cover prompts (prettiest, ugliest) or this year with all of the two/double references.

In ATY, I like the book in the ATY best books of the month prompt. I normally hate list prompts, but this one the readers control, so the books don't come from a random person, selection committee or TV show/media company, but from the actual people who do the challenge.

Happy Thursday! Things are cooling down here in NEOhio and it’s starting to feel like autumnnn (apologies to all my summer-loving friends, but this is my favorite season). Hubby and I had a great time camping up at Lake Erie last week, and we have three more overnight camping trips planned for the remainder of the month. Otherwise, I have dinner with my parents to look forward to on Saturday (ish? It’s an early bday thing bc my mom’s going to be out of town. Regardless of what happens, I know the food will be good).

I didn’t get through many books this week because I decided to stock up on mood reads and ignore my library stack, but I’m okay with it.

Finished:
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution - 5 stars. Favorite book of the year, the hype is real, yadda yadda. If I had the Kindle version I probably would’ve highlighted something on every other page. RF Kuang just keeps getting better! Favorite past prompt - dark academia (2021)

Cat Pictures Please - 5 stars. I have discovered Naomi Kritzer and I am not going back! This put me in mind of Murderbot but with less space and more fluff. Hugo Award winner

Little Free Library - 5 stars. Another Kritzer short story, and absolutely magical. I read both of these in probably ten minutes and I’m so in love.

Sheets - 3 stars. The story was inconsistent and didn’t always make sense, but the artwork was incredibly lovely. There’s a v2, Delicates, but I’m not sure if/when I’ll get to it. Set during a holiday

House of Whispers, Vol. 1: The Power Divided - 4 stars. September BR in my Worlds Beyond the Margins group, and a continuation of the Sandman universe. Nalo Hopkinson brings us a breath of fresh air with Erzulie and her crew.

PS 44/50

Currently:
Dreaming the Eagle - I seem to pick this up roughly once a week. Slow and steady!
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix - Babel distracted me and now Ophie and Harmony have my attention. I need to get back to this soon!
Red Knight Falling - I like the team dynamic Harmony has going, and I already have my suspicions about who to keep an eye on in this volume.
Ophie's Ghosts - MG historical fantasy from Justina Ireland!
Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty - the August/September read in my Radical Reading group. Some tough material, and some information I’m familiar with thanks to books like The New Jim Crow and Women, Race & Class.

QOTW: Is there a prompt you would like to be included in the POPSUGAR challenge every year?
Similarly, I like the Book Published [This] Year categories. I've definitely been doing better about reading new releases these past few years, but it's still a good reminder :D Also agree with microhistory and various nonfiction books to make sure I get out of my SFF comfort zone.

Happy Thursday check in. I read 4 books for the week.
1. Gerta. 4 stars.
2. The Purrfect Murder. 3 stars
3. Now Lorraine Has Gone. 3 stars
4. A Psalm for the Wild-Built. 5 stars
QOTW: My yearly repeating prompt would be A different book by an author you read in 2021 (or whatever year it applies to).

It's cooler out this week (and in fact it was in the 50s this morning!!), but oh wow is it humid and rainy! So the air conditioning has been running most of the week ... until today. This week I was pet sitting my ex's dog, so it's been a THREE DOG HOUSE, which is FUN (and my younger dog especially enjoys his company) but it's also nice to have sent him back home so we can get back to normal. A third dog creates 200% more chaos.

The purple asters are blooming, so that means autumn is just around the corner.


This week I finished NO books! None! Zero! Nada! Zilch! Nichts!

I'm reading! I've got my usual assortment of: paper book, e-book, audiobook, and poetry book all actively being read! But I guess they are all really slow reads. And none of them will check any boxes I have left for this Challenge anyway.



QotW

Just like Lynn, the one prompt that I really want to see repeated each year is "published in this year."

I used to avoid new publications, I didn't like all the buzz, I was a "I'm not going to read what you tell me to read" rebel, plus it was annoying to have such long hold times at my library. But I have since discovered the absolute delight of discovering gems BEFORE they hit it big. I can get onto the holds lists early and read the book BEFORE all the buzz. So each year I try to read several dozen new publications.

I also like genre prompts, I like being forced to read something that I never would have sought out on my own. Sure, I might complain a lot (example: Lit-RPG didn't go over well with me, I struggled to find a book, and I hated the medical thriller I read by Robin Cook), but I liked being pushed to seek out, say, a Western (I never would have read The Sisters Brothers if not for that prompt! I thought I hated all Westerns! I do not), or learn about "dark academia" (I'm not the hugest fan, but at least now I know about it!), or realize that "cli-fi" is the name of a subgenre I had already been enjoying. I enjoy pushing my reading boundaries a little bit each year. So I hope next year includes another genre prompt that pushes me to learn something else.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I also like genre prompts, I like being forced to read something that I never would have sought out on my own. Sure, I might complain a lot (example: Lit-RPG didn't go over well with me, I struggled to find a book, and I hated the medical thriller I read by Robin Cook), but I liked being pushed to seek out, say, a Western (I never would have read The Sisters Brothers if not for that prompt! I thought I hated all Westerns! I do not), or learn about "dark academia" (I'm not the hugest fan, but at least now I know about it!), or realize that "cli-fi" is the name of a subgenre I had already been enjoying. I enjoy pushing my reading boundaries a little bit each year. So I hope next year includes another genre prompt that pushes me to learn something else."

This is an excellent point too, Nadine!

Dubhease wrote: " ... This is the second time this year that I read a book that I had previously read as a child. ..."



You know, I would like THAT as a challenge category!! I think we've had "a children's book you never read" but I'm not sure if we've had "a book you previously read as a child." Or maybe we have? I know something inspired me to read The Mark of the Horse Lord a few years ago, maybe it was a challenge category. *

I've got several books lined up that I would like to re-read someday:
The Shadow of the Torturer (I'm working on it!! but my re-read has been paused since April in favor of Challenge reads)
Name of a Shadow
House of Stairs
The Serpent
Nine Strange Stories

and The Pool of Fire is the third book in a trilogy, but I only read the second book as a kid, because back then we didn't have the internet to tell us when books were part of a series and I just relied on my library shelves, and apparently my childhood library let me down here. My current library let me down, too! they don't even own this series! So I went and bought the three book set, I have since read/re-read the first two ... I've yet to read the third. How does it all turn out??? Do they finally repel the Tripods from Earth???


* CORRECTION: we have, indeed, had "a book you loved as a child" back in 2017, and 2015 we had the very vague "from your childhood." So, okayfine, we had it before. I'd like to see it again!!

Happy Thursday!

It's an especially happy Thursday for me because I will be on vacation next week. I am very, very much looking forward to getting away for a bit.

QOTW:
I always love the book published during the current year, the previous prompt, and the book by an author you read last year, because those are ones I'd probably fill naturally anyway.

I also like a lot of the genre prompts and the ones that get me to read something I might not normally read. I really like seeing a different genre or subgenre on the list each time.

Finished:
The Sunbearer Trials - Aiden Thomas's latest book was very fun. A group of young demigods in a latinx-inspired fantasy world competition.

Tokyo Dreaming - Fluffy, cute wish fulfillment with a likable narrator. I enjoyed the first book earlier this year, so I grabbed the sequel from the library.

Comics and manga:
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book Three
Queen's Quality, Vol. 15
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 2
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 3
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 4
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 4
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 5
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 6
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 7
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 8

Currently reading:
Nona the Ninth - So much of the fun of this series for me is figuring out what the heck is happening, and so far this is no exception. Someday, I'm going to reread this entire series and catch all the little clues and hints, probably once the last book is out.

Planned:
Aces Wild: A Heist
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book Four
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book Five

Challenge Progress: 45/50

I don't know that anything interesting has been happening... Seth and I walk every morning, we go to the movies on Tuesday and the library on Wednesday. I cook dinner at 5. We watch baseball (Go Cards!) whenever it's on and "House of the Dragon" on Sunday night. And even though it's not an exciting life I'm finding so much pleasure in having a simple routine. I'm very lucky.

Completed:
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (PS 27: A Hugo Award winner) ★★★★
All Good People Here (PS 26: A book with a misleading title) ★★★★
The Space Between Worlds (PS 47: A book featuring a parallel reality) ★★★



Currently Reading:
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (PS 21: A book about a band or musical group)
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (Book Club selection)
Carrie Soto Is Back
Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir
Good Girl, Bad Blood
The Measure
The Book Eaters

QOTW: I always like to see the "Read a book published in 20XX" prompt. It's such an easy one! But my favorite prompts are the ones that make me stretch just a little bit. Being exposed to a new genre can be such an adventure.

Hello! We had a week or so of pleasant weather, but today is turning muggy again and I think it's supposed to last through the weekend. So much for having all the windows open all the time.

I had my in-person book club last night, probably the last for me for the season, unless we get very good weather in October, as I still don't want to spend three hours eating and drinking indoors with a group of people. But, for the second month in a row, they agreed to my suggestion of a book. Everyone loved The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet for this month, so fingers crossed it goes well for next month's choice.

Finished This Week:
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon. A book about a college freshman who finds herself trapped in a time loop of the first day of classes, and discovers a classmate is stuck too, but he's been stuck longer. I enjoyed their attempts to break out of the loop, and how they overtly reference Groundhog Day (which is playing on the quad that evening). What they do for fun once they hit the No Consequences portion (adopt ALL the dogs!) is fun as always. Barrett grew on me, as I quite did not like her in the beginning. Not for PS prompt, but could be for #1, Published in 2022.

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. My Pacific Islander book, which I finally got around to reading. I really enjoyed this one, and have convinced my book club to read it next. When I saw there was a sequel, I convinced myself that it meant X would happen, but then Y happened instead, and I was glad to have predicted wrong. A large portion of the book takes place in 1880s Honolulu, which I found fascinating. I think I need to read more historical fantasy. Using for #15, Pacific Islander author, but could also be #34, Set in Victorian Times.

Time Enough for Love by Suzanne Brockmann. Finished the audiobook. Still one of my favorite interpretations of how time travel works, but the book was far more melodramatic than I remembered. Especially in audiobook format. Reread, not for prompt.

Be the Serpent by Seanan McGuire. Book 16 in the October Day series that came out two weeks ago, finally delivered on Monday. Big things happen, the world of Faerie is forever changed, and ... I didn't love it. Maybe it was because I saw too much speculation about who the person mentioned in the summary would be, and I didn't want that speculation to be true. Maybe there wasn't enough of Quentin and Toby's found family. Maybe it was who died. But I didn't love it. Using for #1, published in 2022.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. I thought the final book in the Scholomance series was releasing next week, so I started my reread. I discovered it's actually 9/27 for the release, but I can't stop the reread now. Still love this book.

PS: 41/50 RH: 12/24 ATY: 48/52 GR: 140/100

Currently Reading:
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik. Continuing reread. I reread the ending first because it makes me cry (not the cliffhanger, the parts directly before), and then started from the beginning.

I have a bunch of books checked out from the library, most of which I am on like page 10, but haven't been able to commit to any of them yet.

QotW: Is there a prompt you would like to be included in the POPSUGAR challenge every year?
I quite liked last year's prompt of a book with fewer than 1000 reviews on Goodreads. It encourages you to read something that isn't the current hot thing, but it's also incredibly versatile. By requiring reviews, not ratings, a lot of books qualified that I didn't expect. Most of the non-fiction I read qualified, but also new releases, as not enough people have read them yet.

About a third of my books read last year qualified for this prompt, although it became a mini challenge for me to see which book I owned or was already going to read had the fewest. Women at the Beginning: Origin Myths from the Amazons to the Virgin Mary was my winner, with 1!

It's been a graphic novel kind of week. I read

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia which has some of my favorite Teen Titans reimagined with really nice art.

The Ghost of Ohio by Andy Biersack which wasn't bad

GHOST GIRL ゴーストガール 1 Ghost Reaper Girl by by Akissa Saiké Which had a good story idea rather ruined by the sexist fan service up skirt shots and other stuff you see in shonan manga

and Judas Complex by Son M which is a pharmaceutically created werewolf story that I really enjoyed.




QOTW I haven't given that much thought. I guess if there were repeated ones, I'd like them to be easy ones like a book published in the current year, A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you, The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed, Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, A different book by an author you read in 2021 (picking from the last few years worth of prompts for these)

Happy Thursday, everyone!

It has been a super busy week! I’ve had a chance to look at four more houses since my last update, and I’m going to be looking at two more this weekend. I feel like I’m getting closer to finding the right place, but I just haven’t found it yet.

I did make some progress on my packing project this week. I managed to finish packing up my home library over the weekend, with the exception of the books I’m currently reading and my cookbooks (which I’ll pack at the same time as my kitchen supplies). This was a massive project, so I’m really excited to have it finished!

As far as reading news is concerned, I didn’t finish a single book this week! I’m currently in the middle of four books though, and I’ve kind of been jumping back and forth between them. Hopefully I’ll have some time to finish at least one book over the weekend.

Goodreads: 463/200
TBR Checklist: 401/972

Finished Reading (Fiction):
None

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None

DNFed:
~Rebecca — I normally really like Gothic literature, but I just could not get into this story. I was pretty distracted this week though, so I might give this novel another try at a later date.

Currently Reading:
~Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 1
~Forensics and Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers
~The Starless Crown
~The Librarian and the Orc

QOTW:
I really enjoyed having advanced prompts that focused on our TBRs, so I’d love to see a TBR-related prompt get repeated every year. Maybe something like “a book you meant to read last year, but didn’t.”

K.L. wrote: "Rebecca — I normally really like Gothic literature, but I just could not get into this story. I was pretty distracted this week though, so I might give this novel another try at a later date...."


I liked Rebecca. I think it takes the reader a while to begin to suspect (view spoiler)[that the narrator & her new husband Max are both completely unlikeable jerks and the narrator is being unreliable. I struggled with that for a while. I would think: "I just don't like her," and finally I realized, I'm not supposed to like her. They're both awful. (hide spoiler)]

Happy Thursday!

This weekend one of our local libraries is having its annual free Comic Con (or rather, Comic Arts Festival, to avoid copyright issues)! It's not as huge as, say, DragonCon or SDCC, but it should be a lot of fun. And it actually focuses on comics, haha...

Books read this week:

Cemetery Boys -- I predicted certain plot points fairly early on, but this was still an amazing story about Latinx culture, gender identity, and a lovely queer love story.

Nightmares and Dreamscapes -- good collection of short stories by Stephen King… though I confess to skimming the sports essay at the very end.

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory -- another short story collection, this one written by the guy who created the TV series “Bojack Horseman.” (Full disclosure, I’ve never watched that show…) Weird but surprisingly touching and bittersweet stories, all dealing with themes of love and loss.

Catfishing on CatNet -- I wanted to love this one -- who wouldn’t love a social media network that revolves around cat pictures? -- but it just fell really flat for me. It tries to raise questions about the ethics of artificial intelligence but most of that gets lost in a generic thriller plot.

DNF:

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother -- an origin story of sorts for Cinderella’s wicked stepmother. I had hoped for something a little more magical, but this author decided to strip away ALL the fantasy/fairy-tale elements and turn the stepmother’s story into a grim and depressing semi-historical fiction. Sorry, not what I’m looking for in a fairy-tale adaptation…

Currently Reading:

Suckers
Starve Acre
Across the Desert
Book Scavenger

QOTW:

I've always enjoyed the "book mentioned in another book" prompt, as it can tie into previous years' challenges easily.

Happy Thursday! It’s autumn, at least the weather is. I love it: lower temps, winds, rain, beautiful colors, reading under a blanket, and the food… o boy, the food: mushrooms, stews, game, hot chocolate, …all the deep and earthly flavors… okay, now I need to snack.

Finished
Kranichland by Anja Baumheier ⭐⭐⭐
Not for PS

Currently reading
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Roller-Coaster: Europe, 1950-2017 by Ian Kershaw - Almost finished, 1 chapter to go.

QOTW
Read a book published in ‘current year’. I guess we now voted that one in, didn’t we?
And please, some non-fiction related to current events would be great. I would prefer history related to current events (Russia, for example), but that’s my history fetish. But what I most love is a prompt that forces me to read something I would never had done and turns out to be a gem. Surprise me!

Today reaches the midpoint of my self-imposed book-acquisition ban. I wasn't as strict about it as I am during Lent. But it's certainly helped me make more progress on the books I already have at hand. Do you guys feel like the desire to read and the desire to get books are almost two entirely separate desires and at times incompatible with each other?

Finished: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements for prompt cutlery on the cover. I enjoyed this one. It had a nice flow, and had interesting stories, organized by elements. I'd give it a 3.

The Faraway Nearby This book was medicine. I am grieving and this book addressed loss of a different kind, namely losing her mother to senility. It was beautiful. I'd give it a 4.

Started: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Mending of Our Bodies and Hearts Focuses on the embodied trauma of racial relations. I think it's good, but the jury's still out. Has a lot of exercises that I want to skip over, but try not to.

The Night Circus for prompt set in Victorian era (could also be used for set in fall.) I'm enjoying this one, but am not very far into it.

Qotw: I agree with the ones you mentioned, Lynn. Also maybe book from a genre or sub-genre you don't usually read. And I really liked all the TBR prompts (except longest and book randomly chosen), so maybe some of those. I know a lot of people didn't like the DNF/TBR prompt, but I did. There are a lot of books that I just get distracted by and never think about coming back to.

Lynn wrote: As Ron reminded us in Week #33, Banned Books Week in the US begins on Sunday, September 18, and continues through Saturday, September 24. Jennifer W had posted a link during the Week #33 Check-In: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I used this to create a whole listing of the books I was interested in reading as well as those I had already read..,It frightens me to see books being challenged and/or banned within a self-proclaimed “democracy.” Access should be granted so that each individual can determine what they wish to read. No one person or group has the right to prevent access. *Stepping down from my soapbox…*

It frightens me too, to see so many books being challenged the way they have been. For a country that is supposedly founded with freedom of speech, many seem determined to silence it which is downright terrifying.

The US is changing into a scary country.

*****

Banned Books Week is certainly important. Sure we should be advocating for these books all year round but at the same time it's extra meaningful to showcase it fully so that we don't forget what it is many of us are trying to fight for. Reading matters and should not be controlled no matter what is read.

I set up a book cart in my room and I've got 56 that are on various banned lists. Completely ridiculous. For fun, I wrapped some caution tape around the edges of the cart.

*****

Moving on. Things have been crazy weather wise. We had a lightning storm on Monday and thunder storm on Tues. The thunder storm broke one of our trees so that was wild.

*****

Got my flu and latest covid/omicron shots last week and my arms still hurt some. Apparently, the pain can last between one to two weeks, yikes.

*****

Time has gotten away from me so I haven't really gotten around to reading much. I keep wanting to though.

****

QOTW: Is there a prompt you would like to be included in the POPSUGAR challenge every year?

Great question. I would like more prompts geared towards some nonfiction.

This year I had to dig deep for nonfiction ones.

Only 25 of the books I read for the challenge were nonfiction and some were double-dips so I technically don't count those.

Plus, I have a hard time coming across people who read as much nonfiction. Not only have I rarely come across nonfiction readers here on GR but in general such as on Twitter, Instagram, and especially TikTok, it's hard to come across nonfiction readers. Because of that, I'm always extra curious as to what nonfiction books other people would read.

Hi all! Thanks Lynn for highlighting banned books week!! I've been reading banned books almost all year, and loving it! I've been a proponent of the freedom to read since I was a teenager and found out some people like to take that right away from others. Why? You really think you're going to make the world a safer place by eliminating Harry Potter or Anne Frank? It especially boggles my mind in this day and age when any kid can get on their smart phone and access anything they want in the palm of their hand. Ok, ok, I'll climb down from my soapbox, too.

Around here, things have been pleasant, the weather has been nice, the kiddo is enjoying pre-k, I'm still struggling with doctors and insurance and disability (the joys). I am *not* ready for it to be fall yet. I don't like layers and real shoes, etc etc. Oh! And I ran to the dollar store here in town to grab a couple things and they already have Christmas wrapping paper out!! This is an abomination! Grrr....

I didn't finish anything this week. I had grabby hands and got a bunch of books from the library (because I *still* think I can Read ALL the Things!!) even though I already had a bunch of books at home...

I've been working on The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Still so awesome. Something was just revealed and I can't wait to see where things go next!

The Satanic Verses Not much progress, but still liking it. (banned book!)

When She Woke. I had to check this back out. I opened it to find where I had left off and promptly read 30 more pages... whoops.

QOTW: I would love to see Read a Banned Book every year (I know... you're all shocked right about now). I also think a book about STEM should be on there. My favorites though, are prompts where we get a little creative to fill prompts, I like seeing what people come up with and how we interpret the wording!

Harmke wrote: some non-fiction related to current events would be great. I would prefer history related to current events (Russia, for example), but that’s my history fetish.

I'm with you 100% on this. More nonfiction would be great. There's so many categories that fit within that umbrella genre that people don't really look at. And with history, well you can go just about anywhere with that. I like your idea of current events. I'm always trying to read up on current events so it would be perfect.

Doni wrote: "... Do you guys feel like the desire to read and the desire to get books are almost two entirely separate desires and at times incompatible with each other? ..."


Definitely. Back in November, there were three books I REALLY was excited about!! I asked for, and received, them for my birthday. And ... here we are, it's September of the following year, and I haven't read any of them.

Ron wrote: "Plus, I have a hard time coming across people who read as much nonfiction. Not only have I rarely come across nonfiction readers here on GR but in general such as on Twitter, Instagram, and especially TikTok, it's hard to come across nonfiction readers. ..."


The main nonfiction reader in my life is my mom, and she is not on ANY social media. I wonder if there is a correlation? Are nonfiction readers more no-nonsense and thus also do not want to fuss with sm? My mom is also elderly and that might also have something to do with her absence on sm, but she's got friends on FB who encouraged her to join, and she did, and ... she never ever uses it, or any other platform.

Jennifer W wrote: "I had grabby hands and got a bunch of books from the library (because I *still* think I can Read ALL the Things!!) even though I already had a bunch of books at home ..."


ugh I keep doing this to myself, too!! It's so frustrating because I just do not have time to read all of them and I end up returning a bunch UNREAD and I hate that

Hi! Good Afternoon, everyone!

I started Story Hour once again. My first session was on Tuesday. I had 5 adorable 3-5 year olds in my class. It was fun. I forgot how tiring it is though.

The weather is going from 100s/high 90s to the low 70s/high 60s at the end of the week, which will no doubt go back up to the 80s again later. This is when the thermostat will go cray cray and not know what it wants to do.

I'm trying to find volume 16 of Royal Tutor, which has walked away somewhere in my massive collection of books. In the process of looking for it, I found a whole section of books I didn't have on goodreads. After, I finished adding them, I added 80 books. Sigh.

That poltergeist reading meme is looking pretty good now.

I did get rid of two series, which i will add to the public library's collection.

Finished:

Steins;Gate 0 Volume 1
Dandelion Magic
Hinamatsuri, Vol. 2
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion, Vol. 1
Cemetery Boys

Continuing:

Naruto (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 5: Includes Vols. 13, 14 & 15
The War of the Worlds (not this version. It's the complete works of mr. wells, but only reading this story.) for PS social horror. I've only ever watched the movies (both the 53 and 2005 versions) so this is an interesting experience for me. it takes place in 1898, which I never really considered before. I was actually taken aback when I realized the ginormous disparity of the technological and time differences.

Planning: So up in the air about that right now.

QOTW:

That's a tough one. I've looked at the Challenge for the last few years, pretending i was going to do it. this is the first year I've actually truly participated in it.

My fast, cheap, easy answer is graphic novel. I'm always down for this one.

Mandy wrote: "My fast, cheap, easy answer is graphic novel. I'm always down for this one...."


.That's always my choice for "favorite past category"!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I had grabby hands and got a bunch of books from the library (because I *still* think I can Read ALL the Things!!) even though I already had a bunch of books at home ..."


ugh I keep doing this to myself, too!! It's so frustrating because I just do not have time to read all of them and I end up returning a bunch UNREAD and I hate that."

FIVE of the books I checked out are books I started, but didn't finish. If I would just stick to one or two of them and finish them!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "My fast, cheap, easy answer is graphic novel. I'm always down for this one...."


.That's always my choice for "favorite past category"!"

Aren't they fun?! I love manga and some graphic novels.

I definitely hear y'all on wanting to get books being different from wanting to read them. Working at two libraries definitely doesn't help me any, since it is way too easy to get my hands on almost any book I hear about. But there is only so much time to read, and so a lot of the time I'll end up not reading a book that I was super excited about just because there was another book I was more excited to read first.

Speaking of libraries, I started up my Wild Wednesdays program (STEM activities for grade schoolers) yesterday. Had a low turnout due to the school scheduling its curriculum night at the same time OTL but the kids who came had a good time.

It was a good reading week, but a bad finishing week:
Making Friends: the third book came out recently, so I'm rereading the series. Good thing, too, since I remembered almost nothing but the basics of the plot for this one. TBH, not the greatest plot, but there's some fun stuff in there.

Burma Chronicles: I've read a few other graphic novels by this artist, which is the main reason I picked this one up. Not his best one, but still interesting.

Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian: Another one that I'm reading to refresh myself before reading the latest volume, and another one where I had, in fact, forgotten a lot of what ended up happening. This one is a little more understandable, since there's a lot of worldbuilding to pack in, along with introducing the main characters and their deals. And tossing in action and danger on top of that, there's just a lot to take in.

Passport: PS 41 (Double Life) I think "graphic memoir" is becoming my favorite type of book to read. That said, this one was just okay for me. The main draw, the author finding out her parents are spies is kept mostly on the sidelines, with the actual story being about her struggles in high school. The author's note at the end explains this a bit, but I still found it a bit lacking. Also, the art style occasionally made it hard to tell characters apart.

Currently reading:
True Biz (almost done!)
The Dog Stars (also almost done)
Snow Crash
Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board
Never Open It: The Taboo Trilogy
Life of Pi
The Mirrorwood

QOTW: This is the first year I've done this challenge, but I agree with those saying that a book published the current year would be a good one to have every year.

Greetings! This has been a long stressful week - by Noon on Tuesday it felt as if it had lasted 2 weeks! 😳 Fortunately today I was able to take some time for calm and in fact am headed out to dinner with an old high school friend at a NYC midtown restaurant I last ate at in February 2020...it survived pandemic shutdown!

Still at 44/50. I do have lined up to start one of the remaining six books this weekend. Goal is to finish them by end of October, fitting them in around several other reads.

Finished:
The Lincoln Highway - 5 stars and 5 hearts! Fantastic, wonderful book - coming of age, moral journey, road trip and a retelling in a way as well. Loved everything about it - Towles just gets better and better.

The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King wrote a fairytale in the 1980s and this is it. I could not give it more than 2 stars -- it wasn't bad but it was for sure a good 150 to 200 pages too long and not a particularly involved plot. It also suffered badly by comparison to The Lincoln Highway which I was reading more or less simultaneously.

Current reading:
Nearly Departed in Deadwood - cozy series set in Deadwood, SD where I will be on vacation in a couple of weeks.
Faithful - starts dark and serious - which is why I'm also reading the cozy
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - my booktok book - yes finally back to reading for PS!

QOTW: Like Lynn, I like the current year prompt because I make a point of reading books for PS that have been aging in my TBR for a while, so a 'current year' prompt has me indulging in something hot off the presses so to speak.

I would like to see a prompt every year that has you reading a book of essays or short stories. I like reading collections like that and they are a great way to transition between books and find new authors -- and you can read them a few at a time.

I would like to see a prompt every year that basically requires you to read something in translation - and it doesn't have to be an English translation of a foreign work as we have challenge participants all over the world and for them it could be, for example, a japanese translation of a Canadian book.

I often feel that too many of the prompts are first US-centric and second English speaking countries-centric. Having prompts that fit globally and also encourage global reading are preferred.

I would like a prompt that has you reading a classic - modern or older, adult or child or YA, literary fiction or genre -- every year.

Personally, I like the variety of the prompts. I started doing the PS Challenge because I was in a rut reading the same genres over and over and over again even though I had a eclectic massive set of TBR Towers. I will basically read anything with words but it's just too easy to fall into a rut of just reading the same things more or less again and again. I've expanded my reading so much - discovering subgenres I actually really like that are part of genres that previously I avoided like the plague (horror -- I find I quite like modern and classic gothic though).

Doni wrote: Do you guys feel like the desire to read and the desire to get books are almost two entirely separate desires and at times incompatible with each other?

Oh most absolutely. I see it as reading and then collecting. It's fun finding those new releases or hidden gems or books you discover randomly at a bookstore. There's a kind of rush (that I personally get) from it. Like the collecting is a game and reward whereas the reading part is a relaxing pleasure.

Mandy wrote: My fast, cheap, easy answer is graphic novel. I'm always down for this one.

Yeah definitely a fun one. I love GN's so it would be cool to have this as a topic.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Dubhease wrote: " ... This is the second time this year that I read a book that I had previously read as a child. ..."



You know, I would like THAT as a challenge category!! I think we've had "a ..."

Nadine- you have just lead me to a piece of my childhood I thought was gone forever! Every once in a while I would mention to a bookish friend a book that I loved when I was in seventh grade and a long term sub did a read aloud "about these tripods that came to Earth." No one knew what I was talking about. My husband has accused me of making it up. It has been in the back of my mind for years and today you came up with it! The White Mountain. What a relief (I didn't even know I was carrying the burden in my back brain). I am so excited to read it again- it is already on hold at the library.

The real Serendipity (yes with a capital) about this whole thing is that I have not been reading these threads. I have become a dabbler in the group and have not actually posted all year (I think). Once a quarter I might read ten or twelve posts if I think about it on a Thursday and today...

Thank you so much for mentioning the tripods so I know my memory is real and I can go back and enjoy a book I loved as a child! You made my whole day- and I think I will become more committed to the group again!

Happy Thursday! Daughter went back to school this week, so it's been a big week for us!

Currently Reading

Parenting in Repentance, Growing Together in Love, Gratefulness, and Joy for "book you know nothing about". ALMOST done!

The Red Horse for "book about a man-made disaster". NEARLY 50% through and, let me tell you, we've definitely hit the "disaster" part. War is nasty and evil, I don't care who you are.

QotW

I'd love a return of the TBR list prompts, because my list is huuuge and any help with that is always appreciated! ;)

Happy Friday morning from Australia! It's raining the proverbial cats and dogs here and I don't have any work to do today. Perfect environment for curling up and finishing a couple of books.

I finished two books this week - one challenge and one not.

PopSugar: 37/50

Finished
A Special Cornish Christmas. A contemporary romance that I though was a bit long. Okay, but I won't be seeking out her books again. Prompt: book set during a holiday.

Houseplant Party: Fun Projects & Growing Tips for Epic Indoor Plants. Only two months until I'm in my new place, and I'm preparing to fill it with plants!

Currently Reading
All That I Am
Backyard Bounty: The Expert Guide to Growing Your Own Organic Vegetables

QOTW
I read quite a bit of nonfiction, so I like prompts that allow me to fit it in. I also like the Chinese zodiac prompt from this year. My tiger book was one of my favorite, and I have a rabbit book ready for next year if it shows up again.

Happy Thursday! It's been a nonstop week- so much work, can't wait for the weekend! A lot of my work this week was labor intensive, but didn't require a lot of thought, so after running through all my podcasts I decided to try audiobooks again. Usually I can't concentrate when its the same voice talking for too long, but I tried a short story collection and it's been really nice!

Finished:
Life Ceremony- I loved this collection! The stories are so weird, I just want my friends to read it so we can talk about them.
-no prompt


Currently reading:
Cemetery Boys- managed to renew my loan, so I can start this again

The Boat- short story collection. Some I love, some not so much, but they're all really well written.

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fiction and Illusions- short stories, listening to this at work. About 5 hrs left- and I have about 5 hrs left on this big job, so I'll probably finish it tomorrow.

QotW:
I really like the prompt "read a book from author you read previous year." It's a nice reminder to revisit an author I liked before. Sometimes I'm too focused on new to me authors.

I also really like the one about a book becoming a movie or tv show that year.

It has been a weird week here in the UK.

Finished:

The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew for parallel worlds. This was a good, moody, supernatural dark academia, featuring a deaf protagonist by a deaf author.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus for ATY (handwriting on the cover, well at least the UK one). I wasn't sure about the characters at first but then the red herrings started falling fast, and while I worked out a bit of it early on I would never have guessed who did it. If you don't like her books, this is more of the same, if you do, ditto.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston, this was a cute romance, featuring a ghostwriter who can see ghosts!

The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal for Hugo award winner. This is a bit of a cheat as it's only a novelette, but I have read a lot of the winners already and I just wasn't in the mood to read one of the ones I hadn't. This made me cry. The novels are prequels to this so I am glad I read them first.

PS: 40/50 | ATY: 43/52 | GR: 85/100

QOTW:
I also like the niche genre prompts, even if I end up not liking what I read for them. Though I don't want the same genres repeated every year. I like the current year/previous prompts on years like this where we have a lot of specific prompts.

Nadine in NY wrote: "The main nonfiction reader in my life is my mom, and she is not on ANY social media. I wonder if there is a correlation? Are nonfiction readers more no-nonsense and thus also do not want to fuss with sm?"

That might be true. I read quite a lot nonfiction (about 1/3 is non-fiction and that's only because it takes more time to read nonfiction) and I quitted FB and Insta. Too much nonsense. So GR is my only social media, besides Twitter, but I use that as a news agency *smile*.

Harmke wrote: That might be true. I read quite a lot nonfiction (about 1/3 is non-fiction and that's only because it takes more time to read nonfiction)

Yeah, that's the thing about NF. The time it takes. I annotate my books, both F & NF, but when it comes to my NF books that's when annotating takes the longest because there's so much information to keep track of. Still, though, I love it.

And even though it takes longer, even if I don't finish an NF within a month, if I'm reading it in that month I still add it to my count because I know that reading it will take a while compared to when I annotate F books.

Kaia wrote: I read quite a bit of nonfiction, so I like prompts that allow me to fit it in

Awesome! I read a lot of NF too. I would like more prompts that gear towards that genre. It took me a while to find books that were NF to fit in this year's categories.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I had grabby hands and got a bunch of books from the library (because I *still* think I can Read ALL the Things!!) even though I already had a bunch of books at home ..."

ugh I..."

Me too! I keep making the mistake of grabbing a bunch from the library and then adding more on my Kindle, and then I'm just overloaded all around.

Anne wrote: "Thank you so much for mentioning the tripods so I know my memory is real and I can go back and enjoy a book I loved as a child! You made my whole day- and I think I will become more committed to the group again! ..."




Haha! happy to help!!! I know your frustration - for YEARS I searched for that Jane Gaskell fantasy series - no one knew what I was talking about - I FINALLY found it last year and what a relief!!!


That tripod book really made a strong impression on child-me, too. I can see why it would stay with you! Enjoy the re-read (if you choose to)! They are kids' books so they are basic, and they are old so a bit sexist, but overall I found they stood up to a re-read and I enjoyed them. Still need to read that third book of course ...

Doni wrote: "Do you guys feel like the desire to read and the desire to get books are almost two entirely separate desires and at times incompatible with each other?"

I think that reading books and buying books sometimes become two separate hobbies.

Joanna wrote: "... a lot of the time I'll end up not reading a book that I was super excited about just because there was another book I was more excited to read first ..."



yessssss!!! I was super excited to read The Hacienda, but when my holds came in I also got Fevered Star, which I was even MORE excited about. So now I'm reading Fevered Star, and I'm halfway through, and it's good, but it's kind of boring. So last week when my hold for Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta arrived, I started reading the first few pages, and it's really good! But I need to finish Fevered Star. So I'm still reading Fevered Star, but Carlotta is just STARING at me from the top of the pile next to my bed, and I really really want to get to it ... ugh!!

K.L. wrote: "Doni wrote: "Do you guys feel like the desire to read and the desire to get books are almost two entirely separate desires and at times incompatible with each other?"

I think that reading books an..."

I have this problem. I must seek help for it. Sigh

Theresa wrote: "... it wasn't bad but it was for sure a good 150 to 200 pages too long and not a particularly involved plot. ..."



LOL that's how I would describe almost any Stephen King novel!!!

Happy Friday. So last week I was away and this week is the ATY read-a-thon, so sorry I'm late. But I do get to celebrate because I finished the ATY challenge.🥳

Stats:
PS: 45/50
ATY: 75/75🥳🥳🥳
ATY Reread: 36/52

I only have 5 more for popsugar, but I'm still struggling with the plane/train/boat prompt. I keep DNFing every book I pick. And I also have to laugh because I still don't have a book with witches done because I've used them all for different prompts.

Books I finished:

The Final Gambit ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: No people on cover.
I really enjoyed it, although the love triangle aspects felt forced and unnecessary.

Fire & Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY Reread: Book 2 of 2 books with the same word in the title. (Blood)
With the show out, I wanted to reread this to refresh my memory on the story.

The Wake: The Deadly Legacy of a Newfoundland Tsunami ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY: Set on or near a body of water.
This would also have worked for misleading title because I went in expecting a disaster book, and got a book on the history of the mining industry on the Southern peninsula of Newfoundland instead (A different type of disaster). But it was good. And given the author's dad had worked in those mines, the ending really packed an emotional punch.

Cemetery Boys ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: PS: Latinx author.
I wasn't planning to read this, but then when the announcement went out that the group read was starting, I noticed it was available on Overdrive and I borrowed it on impulse. I am so glad I did because I loved it. Yeah, I could predict the ending fairly early on, but I can do that with most books, and I don't see it as a problem.

Spy x Family, Vol. 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: None
I'm so glad I found this series. It's just fun.

My Wedding Dress: True-Life Tales of Lace, Laughter, Tears and Tulle ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: None
I've had this on my physical TBR pile for a while, but this week my mother told me I needed to give it back, so I had to finish it right away. It worked great for the read-a-thon. Some of the stories were funny, some sad... My favorite was the bride who's (not white) dress bled onto her, so she spent her wedding night with bright pink skin.😄

Servant Mage ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: PS: Fav author quote on cover.
I picked up this novella solely because it had a quote from S.A. Chakraborty on the cover. The book itself was ok - good world building, interesting ideas, but it felt like it should have been expanded to a full novel/start of a trilogy.

The Colossal Magic Nothing & The Infernal Path ⭐⭐⭐⭐ each
Prompt: None
Books 5 & 6 in the Rat Queens series. After the mess of book 4, this got the series back on track - but I wish they hadn't jumped around in time so much.

Cast No Shadow ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: None
Another impulse read - I was in the library and I had time to kill, so I picked a random graphic novel of the shelf and started to read. It made me laugh a bunch, so I ended up borrowing it and finishing it later.

Letters in a Bruised Cosmos ⭐⭐
Prompt: None
As a poetry collection, this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Rosemary and Rue ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: ATY Reread: Female PI.
I wanted to reread the series before I got the new book, but I think I left it too late to start. Oh well.

Books I made progress on:

Carnival

QotW

I would love to have published in current year, Goodreads Choice nominee, connected to a book you read last year, and book with less than 5000 ratings as prompts every year.

Kendra wrote: book with witches"

here are a few suggestions for witches

Burn the Witch, Vol. 1
The Initiation
Witch & Wizard

I finished Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story as a book about band and with that I finished the challenge.

I read Murder at Kingscote. On vacay in Newport, saw it, bought it, read it, liked it.

And I just finished up Island Schoolhouse: One Room for All.

QOTW: They didn't do it this year, but I like the "book that you meant to read last year" prompt being done every year, and also the fave category from a prior year. Other than those (and maybe the current year publication, which I don't love as much because my library is not superquick about getting books so it generally means buying a new book), i think I like having the categories different.

Ron wrote: "Great question. I would like more prompts geared towards some nonfiction.

This year I had to dig deep for nonfiction ones.

Only 25 of the books I read for the challenge were nonfiction and some were double-dips so I technically don't count those...."

That's pretty good, I only had 15 nonfiction books, but I wasn't particularly trying to read mainly nonfiction. I do think that at least one category should require a nonfiction. They usually have categories requiring fiction by saying "a novel."

K.L. wrote: "I think that reading books and buying books sometimes become two separate hobbies."

That reminds me of a craft quote I once read. "Until you accept that buying yarn and knitting are two separate hobbies, you will never be free."

I went to the library yesterday - ONLY to return, since I already have so many books to read. Ended up borrowing two and buying eight at the book sale.