Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I still contend Bezos/Amazon only purchased Goodreads to make it malfunction! I lost so much this morning! But finally…I am done!

Weather has been nice. I bit warmer off and on, but generally highs in the 70s. I can do that!

Life is busy but I feel as if I’m settling into more of a routine… Popsugar is now a priority to re-establish with more time in that routine! I’m gettin’ there!

ADMIN STUFF
**** Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is our August Monthly Group! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. (Celebrities are ‘august’!) This was selected by Reese Witherspoon. I’m excited for this one!!

****The nomination poll for the September Monthly Group read is HERE. Please do not forget to check the listing of books that are NOT eligible for September HERE before writing in a nomination! Happy nominating!!

The May Monthly Group read discussion of Bunny by Mona Awad, as well as the thread to list the book(s) you’ve read to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, are in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! It seems that several people have not been thrilled with this one… If you’ve read it, you might pop over and add your ‘two cents’ worth’ to the discussion! :)

In addition, we are currently on the lookout for three more monthly group read discussion leaders:
1) A “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of the June Monthly Group Read! Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. In honor of “Pride Month” as declared by US Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. (Also acknowledged in a 2019 tweet by Donald Trump.) Per Wikipedia this originated to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred at the end of June in 1969. June is increasingly recognized as “Pride Month” (for all LGBTQ+/non-cisgender folks) outside the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_pride
2) A “bubbling bibliophile” to lead the discussion of the July Monthly Group Read! The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley can be used to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas. You may have heard of “Christmas in July”! But this is NOT Christmas in July! :)
3) A “fearless facilitator” to lead the discussion of the September Monthly Group read, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. (Celebrities are ‘august’!) This was selected by Reese Witherspoon.

Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer for either or both! :)

Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE

Question of the Week
Do you feel as if your reading tastes have changed over time? If so, in what way(s)?
Mine have definitely changed. Of course, I have been reading for about 62 years! I would expect some change… :)

I have become much more accepting of books overall and much less “picky”! (I started out being VERY “picky”!) Especially with regard to typos, misspellings, and misuse of English grammar. I may roll my eyes and grunt or mutter, but I just keep on reading. I used to note corrections and send them to a publisher/author, but I find there are so many more errors in books now than there were in the past, it is time-consuming, frustrating, and irritating to do so. Since most publishers seemingly do not make extra effort to edit in detail, neither do I. That has been liberating for me…

In addition, after previously boycotting “romance” books I have discovered there are some of those I find very enjoyable to read! I just have to screen for “open-door” text and avoid those since that inclusion automatically spoils it for me. I much prefer my imagination to fill in any such details!

Lastly, I am more accepting of grisly details…though not much! I have confirmed that horror is a genre I must avoid since it gives me nightmares and I cannot recover from horrific visual images created by what I read!

How about you?

Popsugar: 40/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 49/52
RHC: 12/24

*Ash (Ash #1) by Malinda Lo ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was amazing, IMO! While I loved Huntress, a prequel published 10 years after this book, this book blew me away! I loved the strong feminist theme(s) as well as the diversity represented by a Sapphic relationship. (view spoiler)[She chose the female Huntress rather than “the Prince”! (hide spoiler)] You go, girl!
POPSUGAR: #1, #5, #14, #19-2017: prompt #17 A book involving a mythical creature, #22, #28, #31
ATY: #3-A book related to “first contact,” #5, #8, #9- William C. Morris YA Debut Award Nominee (2010), #26, #42, #45, #52
RHC: #24-2015: A book by or about someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ (both author and protagonist)

The Fox (Ash #0.7) by Malinda Lo ✶✶✶✶✶ was a short story available on her website. It was good, just as I find all her writing to be! Not counting for any challenges.

*The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill ✶✶✶✶✶ was proof that one person’s comment that struck you so strongly wasn’t nearly as important to the commenter! At one of April’s book club meetings another member asked if I’d read this book. I replied that although I own a copy I had not yet read it. Then she added that it reminded her of me. (Weird…) We were interrupted and I never was able to ask how or why I would remind her of a specific book… Then I made sure to read it in the next few days and when I asked her about this at the May meeting she had no memory of making that comment even though one of the other members had overheard her and noted that she remembered her making that statement… I had to laugh! So funny! I really hope she remembers in time for the June meeting, though I suppose I will never have an answer. So now I am conjecturing how I could remind someone of this book… I thought it was very well done!
POPSUGAR: #4, #19-2022: prompt #1 A book published in 2022, #28
ATY: #3-A book involving friends, family, or a found family, #5, #14, #28, #43, #44, #45, #52
RHC: #23

* The Storyteller's Deathby Ann Dávila Cardinal ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was one of the best books I’ve read lately! Much of this was drawn from the author’s personal experience and that was evident in my feeling this was all so REAL! Well-drawn believable characters and so much of Puerto Rican culture and landscape detail! Just an excellent read!
POPSUGAR: #2, #3, #4, #6, #19-2016: prompt #30 A book with a blue cover, #29, #31, #34, #48
ATY: #3-A book with magical realism, #4, #5, #10-Scary, #13-Quenepas, #14, #19-storytelling/writing, #25, #26, #28, #37, #42, #43, #47-OVAL, the shape of quenepas,
RHC: #23, #24-2015: A book that someone else has recommended to you-Laura!

CONTINUING:
*2nd Chance (Women’s Murder Club #2) by James Patterson
*Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses by Paula McLain
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
*Cross the Line (Alex Cross #24) by James Patterson
*3rd Degree (Women’s Murder Club #3) by James Patterson
*4th of July (Women’s Murder Club #4) by James Patterson
*The 5th Horseman (Women’s Murder Club #5) by James Patterson

I finished Heat Storm as my fan fiction book. OK, not really fan fiction. Not great, read worse.

I'm about halfway through The Satanic Verses as my book I should have read in HS. This book came out my junior year. We talked a lot about it being banned, and censorship and something about people burning Cat Stevens records. I thought since we were talking so much about it, we should read it. But, being a lazy high school kid with enough reading to do, I didn't run right out to the library. Now, I'm glad we didn't read it, because I don't understand it at all.

QOTW: Good question. I feel like in high school through my early 20s, my recreational reading was largely mysteries. I still like mysteries, but now I lean more towards historic fiction and classics. A historical fiction mystery is the best:)

Hello hello!
I finished a book this week! *cue confetti* And I started another one, and I love it! *more confetti*

It’s tech week for Baskerville so I’ve had 0.2% reading time once again, but after a rough Tuesday night (I didn’t leave the theatre until nearly midnight + work the next morning) and a smoother Wednesday, I’m feeling good heading into our final dress rehearsal this evening.

What Moves the Dead - 4 stars. Holy cow, I can’t wait to read more Kingfisher! I also feel like I should reread Fall of the House of Usher because I don’t remember fungi being mentioned at all. Rabbit on the cover - this is technically a stretch bc it’s for sure a hare, but I’m leaving it on the off-chance I don’t get around to The Constant Rabbit this year. We shall see!

PS 23/50
ATY 25/52
Mount TBR 20/60

Currently:
Jane Eyre - likely wrapping this up tomorrow, and then I can contemplate reading The Upstairs Wife or a rerereread of The Eyre Affair lol

The Three Musketeers - still chugging along here and enjoying it very much!

Yellowface - all I want is to tear through this because every other paragraph has me going “Wow. WOW.” The writing is excellent and it’s a good kind of stressful vs what I’ve been dealing with otherwise this week.

Upcoming:
The Crystal Cave

QOTW: Do you feel as if your reading tastes have changed over time? If so, in what way(s)?
Oh, definitely! I've expanded into more and more different genres, discovered new favorite authors, and so on. As tastes expand, I see rereads reduce in number, which is fine - I have a zillion favorites and never enough time to reread them all, but I cherish them still.

Personal Challenge: 41/50
Nadine's mini-challenge: 10/10
Marriott Library Challenge: 29/31

Finished: The If Machine: Philosophical Enquiry in the Classroom

Ellie Engle Saves Herself

The Case Against Sugar

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution

Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life

QotW:I have moved in the opposite trajectory as Lynn. When I was young, I liked every book I read. I have become a more discerning reader. I thought maybe I just happened to read all high-quality literature as a kid, but when I re-read books, I'm more critical now. I have more specific purposes for reading, so if authors don't fulfill those purposes, I'm more likely to put the book aside and look for something else. There are just too many books in the world to waste time with ones you don't like!

Wow - how did I manage to be posting early not late on Thursday this week? Oh, I know, everyone who needs to provide me with responses or edits or whatever seems to have started the Memorial Day weekend early so I have no conferences, no urgent emails or documents on deadline. Allows to me to catch up on the sly on some things -- should be housework but I'm opting for social media instead.

ATY - 42/52. PS - 34/50.

Finished this week:
Lulu in Hollywood - collection of essays mostly by Louise Brooks - very much a memoir. Used as Celebrity Memoir but perfect also for set in Hollywood. Louise Brooks was one of the great silent screen stars and I want to watch her films and read more about her after this. If you read this - get the expanded edition from 2000 -- more essays added and a lengthy biographical and critical essay by a famous british theater and film critic.
The Summer Before the War - not for any prompt I have left to fill - 5 star read - set in Rye UK in the summer of 1914 as WWI starts to darken Europe and UK.

Currently reading:
The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s - engrossing!
Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754 - 1766
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Murder of Roger Akroyd

QOTW: Well I should hope my reading tastes have changed in the multiple decades I have been reading! I'd say that generally, it's become much broader and more diverse. For example, I have added genres like SFF to my regular reading, picked back up more NF, scaled back on contemporary romance and cozy mysteries though still part of my reading. A lot of the subjects or locations or whatever that I am drawn to have remained the same (set in Paris, involving needlework, set in NYC) and more added -- every time I traveled through another country or visited another national park or monument, I add a new setting.

I don't think there is a single genre that I have dropped. I still read classics, romances, cozy mysteries, gothics, current fiction.

For sure my reading has not narrowed at all, only expanded.

Finished:

The Kiss Album Focus: Hell Or High Water, 1983 96 by Julian Gill (4/5, no prompt)

You get a ton of information on KISS during the 1980s and 1990s in this book. The book does need another proofreading pass, which prevents it from getting five stars.

A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson (5/5, reread)

So much about Garak and Cardassia are established in this book that are still in use today. The book has become deeper and more meaningful as I have aged and matured past my teen years.

Convergence by Zoraida Cordova (4/5, no prompt)

This was a highly enjoyable story with a few Romeo and Juliet vibes to it. It is the best High Republic story I have read so far.

Question of the Week:

Of course! I am open to more genres, and I have much less interest in books where military technology and tactics are a major focus (unless it is in a sci-fi setting).

Hi everyone,

Been an exhausting week, looking forward to a long weekend. My cat started his radiation and it's just been grueling. Still have to do it every weekday through mid June. I feel so bad for the little guy. Luckily they're also closed Monday so he gets a long weekend too.

This week I finished:

A Discovery of Witches - I'm counting this as my bought secondhand. Technically it was gifted secondhand but I figure it still counts, the secondhand is the important part. I've had it on my shelf for years and keep not getting around to it. It was also part of my TBR challenge so that worked nicely too. I liked it alright, i'll probably eventually finish the other two.

The Guncle - a book that takes place on vacation. The kids are on summer vacation so I'm counting it. This was my Books & Brew pick for my irl book club as well, for June. I liked it a lot, very charming and sweet.

Currently Reading:

Yellowface - i've had my eye on this a while, excited it's finally out.

When We Were Magic - audio book, this is weird an and i'm not quite sure where it's going. but I like it i think.

QOTW:

A lot. I feel like i am both picker and less picky than I was when I was younger. I will read a vastly wider type of books now. When i was younger i read pretty tightly science fiction/fantasy and only rarely deviated if it wasn't for class. However now I'm a lot more aware of social issues, so books that I thought were fine when I was younger stand out more to me as problematic now. I also have less patience for books that are just "ok".

Hey everyone, hope things are going okay for you guys.

Not so bad for me. I recently applied to a fast track/grad program to get my teaching degree, but we'll see if that works out. I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm used to disappointment. My pessimism aside, things are going good so I really can't complain.

Weather is starting to get a bit much. Temps in the mid 90s now (F). Our highest is going to get to 96 this week so we're about to hit those 100's soon. Not cool. Anything above 60 and I fry. I don't like the heat.

Other than that things are going okay.

*****

While I haven't directly finished any books this week, I have been working on a few.

The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History

American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking - I can't tell you how many times I've read this one. It's one of my all-time favorite books.

*****
I've got my summer reading list pretty much set. Too much fiction on the list so I might dwindle those down some.

Really trying to work on the PS challenge, but I can't seem to find books that fit.

*****

QOTW:

Do you feel as if your reading tastes have changed over time? If so, in what way(s)?

Sometimes my flow goes up and down. This year I have really been trying to read more nonfiction than ever before even though NF has always been my preferred genre. I've set a goal for myself to hit 80% NF this year. So far I am barely at 72% which is disappointing. I need/want it to be much higher. I know I still have until the end of the year, but I don't want to falter even though I have several fiction books on my list that I still want to read.

In terms of the nonfiction I read, it's simply a matter of what I'm into now. I can be into art one minute, history the next, pop culture, etc.

Happy Thursday!

Well, it's been an okay week. I'm trying to everything processed before the migration from polaris to koha. That way I don't have to mess around building records in a new system.

I don't need that headache with Summer Reading coming up in two weeks. I do have the first day done, i think. I know i'm mostly done. There may be some bits still to do. I'll have to go through my check lists and start organizing my papers and crafts.

Heck, I might even be one week short. I'm not sure yet. I will definitely double check and triple check.

Other than that, it's been a weeding battle. I have so much pepper weed and rag weed now starting. I sigh in despair when i look at the yard. sigh.

Other than that, I've been good. I've been reading and watching tv mostly. I did give my kids a bath on Sunday. The poor pathetic creatures tried to climb out of the sink multiple times. I had to plop them back into the water. I did get to try out the happy hoodie and it does work. It makes the blow dryer harder to hear and make them more calm. it's nice. The sink, the bathroom counter, and I were covered in black hair by the time i got done.

Popsugar:9/50
Finished: None

Reading:

Aty:10/52
Finished:None

Reading: None

Goodreads Challenge 317/400
Finished:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (Light Novel) Vol. 2
Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Vol. 9 (light novel)
Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower: Volume 1
My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress, Vol. 1
The Fiancee Chosen by the Ring, Vol. 1
Love, That's an Understatement, Vol. 1
Me and My Beast Boss, Vol. 1
Stupid Love Comedy Vol. 1
Inu x Boku SS, Vol. 1
Love and Heart, Vol. 1
Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1
Falling for Mindy: A Taboo Older Man Romance
The Lumberjack's Quirky Girl: small town, age gap, instalove romance
Her Alpha Daddy Next Door
Vampire Bait
Sun, Sand, and Seduction
You. Me. Bed. Now.
My Boyfriend's Possessive Brother
Reading:
The Unwanted Undead Adventurer: Volume 8

Nadine's Mini Challenge 7/10
Finished:None

Reading: None

Mount TBR:
31/150 Ebook
22/150 Physical

QOTW:

Yes, definitely! I was a hard-core romance reader, and now I find that I’m getting away from them for more things like light novels, manga, and other genres. I will still read select authors of romance, but they are few and far between now.

Katie wrote: I finished Heat Storm as my fan fiction book. OK, not really fan fiction. Not great, read worse.

Sweet! I love the Richard Castle books. Heat Storm wasn't the best, the others are better. And some of them are a bit tacky, but what do you expect really? They're supposed to be a little bit 'off' since some of the Castle episodes were, but in quirky ways.

My favorite will always be Heat Wave, especially because Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic read from that book during a Comic Con once and it was f'n awesome!

Happy Thursday, everyone! Looking forward to having a long holiday weekend.

Finished:
Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean - 4 stars - for celebrity book club (Good Morning America book club). This was a really fun romance/"chick lit" type story. I found Mika to be relatable and sympathetic, even when it was her mistakes causing issues.

Comics & manga:
Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, Vol. 2
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 7

I am currently at 28/50 for Popsugar (22/40 and 6/10).

Currently reading:
Last Canto of the Dead by Daniel José Older - not currently for a prompt. I kind of wish I'd had time to reread book 1 before diving into this sequel. It took me a little bit to get reoriented, but now I'm enjoying it.

Upcoming/Planned:
American Panda by Gloria Chao (for forbidden romance)

QOTW:
When I was younger, I'd consume anything fantasy/sci-fi related pretty much indiscriminately (and some related genres, like urban fantasy/paranormal/light horror ala Anne Rice). I went through this whole vampire thing in the 90s when I was in high school. Oddly enough, I also read a lot of Harlequin romance during my impressionable years, thanks to raiding my Grandma's shelves.

I would also reread very often (once a year or so) the books from my personal library, especially in the pre-Internet days when I needed to get to a bookstore or a library to have new books available.

I feel like I've become a lot choosier in what authors I read now, but I also read a lot more widely across genres, and I'm more aware of and less tolerant of problematic content. The only genres I still don't read much are horror, westerns, and "literary fiction". I also reread a lot less, mostly now only when I want a refresh on a series or when it's been a while since I read a favorite.

Okay, definitely adding Heat Wave to my summer reading.

With a title like that, it totally screams hot and heat and summer :D

Happy Thursday!!   Spring has not let go of us yet - it's so cold, I had to turn the heat on again today.  I'm planning to go to an outdoor concert tonight and I'm thinking I might need to wear my winter coat!!  It will be my first concert in YEARS (not counting high school concerts, of course).  Now that I'm old and tired and cranky, concerts never seem worth the effort, but Otep on tour again got my attention. (Does anyone else like Otep?? I know she's not exactly Top 40.)



This week I finished a bunch of books and I am feeling good about my progress.  I love weeks like this!!  

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala - I've been wanting to read this for a while because it sounded like so much fun, but it turned out to be much too goofy for my taste.  It has flames on the cover, however, so I used it for "a book with flames on the cover" in the "winter" challenge, and I used it as my "book that is light" in AtY (can a murder mystery be "light"? when it's goofy like this, I say YES).

American Panda by Gloria Chao - I had read another book by this author and found it to be just so-so, but I am so glad I read this, it was just delightful!  Thank you to the Challenge for pushing me to pick this one up to read for "started in NaNoWriMo."  This is a perfectly sweet YA romance that has a lot to say about the pressures felt by children of immigrants who feel pulled between pleasing their parents and being typical American kids.

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan- I've always enjoyed Milan's romance novels, but I had not read one in a long time, I was just off the historical romance wagon I guess.  Milan has been self-publishing her books for a few years now, so when I saw "a book that was self-published" on this year's Challenge list, I knew exactly which author I was going to reach for.  Yet again, thank you to the Challenge for pushing me to read this book that I had on my TBR but I probably would never have gotten around to reading. I also used this for "inter-racial relationship" in AtY.


Pop: 27/50   
Winter:  4/10   
AtY: 22/52   
2023 must-reads: 5/12




QotW

Short answer: a little bit!

I've always been a genre reader, and my first favorite genres - mystery & SFF - are still my favorites, although it goes in phases that last for a few years: sometimes I read mostly mysteries, sometimes mostly SFF, sometimes a lot of romance, and that cycle has continued throughout my life.  I used to think I didn't like horror, but I have finally acknowledged that yes I like horror too - I'd been reading it all along, but I'd just been thinking of it as SFF.  Thirty years ago we had a huge used book store in the area, and I would buy a lot (A LOT!) of mystery novels and gardening books there.  I wish Goodreads existed back then!  I've forgotten more mystery novels than I can remember from those days.  Then I went through a regency romance phase - right about when my marriage started failing - I guess if I wasn't getting romanced in real life, I wanted to be romanced in my novels. About fifteen years ago I went through a YA dystopian phase, probably thanks to The Hunger Games, and now I rarely find a YA book I can enjoy.  Have I gotten pickier about these? or do recent YA books just suck?  I can't tell.

I've become more discriminating in general in the last decade or so, I am a lot pickier about writing style, and I read more general fiction, literary fiction, and "women's fiction" now, and sometimes I even like "chick lit."  Genre fiction is still my go-to, but now 1/4-1/3 of the books I read fall into the "general" or "literary" category.  

I started doing reading challenges in 2015 and that really helped me broaden my reading horizons and realize that I actually like a lot of stuff that I didn't expect to like - that's when I realized I like women's fiction and literary fiction.  That's also when I started letting myself DNF - if I'm going to branch out and take reading risks, I have to let myself also quit a book if I hate it!

And the farther I get from my school days, the more I see the appeal of nonfiction LOL now that I'm no longer being forced to learn things, I find it interesting to learn things.  That said, nonfiction is still just 10% of what I read.  Or maybe I've always liked nonfiction!  There was that time that I read soooo many gardening books! and before that I was reading cookbooks, and after the gardening books I was reading parenting books (for obvious reasons, I think).  Now I'm reading science books.

I read a lot of poetry in high school, but for a long time, in my 20s, 30s, and 40s, I just ... didn't.  I don't know why not.  If you'd asked me if I liked poetry, I always would have said "yes."  Seven years ago I read some stupid self-improvement essay about doing one thing every day (the example in the article was making a little chair from a different material each day, like popsicle sticks or - yes this was one of their examples - ice cream sandwiches), so I got this idea in my head to read a poem every day.  And that morphed into me always having a poetry book in my "currently reading" pile.


Good question!! That made for a fun trip down memory lane for me :-)

Ron wrote: "Katie wrote: I finished Heat Storm as my fan fiction book. OK, not really fan fiction. Not great, read worse.

Sweet! I love the Richard Castle books. Heat Storm wasn't the best, the others are bet..."

Yeah, I definitely think I chose unwisely. Just thought it would be fun to read a book with both Nikki Heat and Derek Storm. And, it took me an embarrassingly long time to get the Rook/Castle chess reference.

Yeah, I definitely think I chose unwisely. Just thought it would be fun to read a book with both Nikki Heat and Derek Storm. And, it took me an embarrassingly long time to get the Rook/Castle chess reference

I know what you mean. I didn't buy into the Nikk Heat/Derek Storm stuff either. It just wasn't a great crossover.

Still, I like the others better, but that's just me.

Hi all! Been pretty nice here in NY this week, though cooler today. I had a sick kiddo Monday and Tuesday and then she's off school tomorrow and Monday, so I haven't and won't have a chance to do my usually routine. Hopefully my mom can come over tomorrow and watch her for a couple of hours so I can run errands, but even if she can't, we need groceries!! Her cousins are coming from out of state this weekend to my dad's house, so I'm also hoping that we can convince her to have a sleepover with them. She's all for it now, we'll see when my boyfriend and I try to walk out the door without her...
I'm also trying to get into physical therapy for my fatigue and breathing problems, but no one close to me takes my insurance, so more calls...

I finished The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism I used it for a favorite past prompt, man made disaster. Fascinating and tragic event that I'd never heard of before this book. I recommend it, but there's a lot of places and a lot of names and no real attempt by the author to make sure the reader can keep track of everything... It also has a map, but that was bloody useless.

I'm making progress in When Christ and His Saints Slept. My goal is to finish by next weekend. May be overly ambitious with kiddo off this weekend.
Also got some more listened to with Stay Gold. Not sure if I'll use it for color in the title or queer lead. I like it, the characters are cute and act like teenagers, in a good way. Interesting to read in these times, though. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a trans teen...
Down to the final third of The End of the Affair. The second section got better, but good lord people, sleep with each other or don't, but make up your minds!! Using it for love triangle.
The other day I started The Turn of the Key, but then realized it's due back next week. How do library due dates sneak up on me so fast??

QOTW: A little. When I was a teenager, I loved romances, now I avoid them like the plague most of the time. I've always enjoyed YA, historical fiction, mysteries, and realistic contemporary fiction. Now I read more nonfiction and classics. I think most books that appealed to me when I was younger would still appeal to me now.

The weather's been so nice, we've had a few trips to beer gardens and just enjoyed being outside without freezing! We went to a chilli and cheese festival at the weekend which was fun. I wasn't brave enough to try any of the real hot sauces though, I like the fruity medium heat ones. And the cheese.

Finished:
Nothing But The Truth by The Secret Barrister for a book a friend recommended. This was more of the same by this author but I find it all very eye-opening as to the state of the British legal system. Would definitely recommend to someone considering law as a career.

Cursed Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber for ATY (related to a chess piece). I loved this second instalment, it was exactly what I needed right now. Not too serious but just enough danger without being depressing like some secondary world fantasy gets. Great middle book!

Currently reading After That Night and listening to Clytemnestra.

QOTW:
Definitely. I read a lot more widely now. I used to get really into one type of book and read anything I could get my hands on that was similar but now I like more variety. I used to reread a lot more, especially series. Now there are too many new books for me to read for the first time to spend much time revisiting books.

Happy Thursday. Life is busy as things wrap up for the year. We have things to do every weekend now. And weekends are when I do most of my reading.

I finished two books. Neither were what I was expecting. The Madeleine L'Engle book was more spy intrigue, although it raised good questions about ethics in science that are still good questions today. The Alice book was too violent for me. The Caterpillar, Walrus, and Rabbit was almost like rival gang leaders committing extortion and prostitution. I thought I was always down for a Wonderland retelling, but I didn't need that much sexual slavery.

The Arm of the Starfish
ATY prompt: A book related to science
Popsugar prompt: A book set in the decade you were born

Alice
ATY prompt: A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies
Popsugar prompt: A book with a rabbit on the cover

Series - 6/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent

Nobel laureates - 2/7
Random books - 3/7

ATY - 19/40
PS - 18/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 20/52

20. A movie with a cover or title that includes a route of travel - The Cat from Outer Space
21. A movie by an Asian diaspora writer/actor - P.S. I Still Love You

Currently reading:

The Silver Chalice - 60% done
Something Rotten - 70% done

Buddy Reads:
God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God - 5/15 chapters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 11/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 1/21 chapters

QOTW:
I don't know if it has. Certainly not like my mother. Mom was always reading romance novels. Around the time she retired (and went through menopause), she traded romance for detective stories. I always thought it was funny that she hit her 50s and was done with romance and just wanted to read about smart women solving crimes.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I started doing reading challenges in 2015 and that really helped me broaden my reading horizons and realize that I actually like a lot of stuff that I didn't expect to like - that's when I realized I like women's fiction and literary fiction. ."

Yes. I started giving myself a monthly challenge in 2016 (from mostly PopSugar prompts, picking my favourites) to diversify my reading so I wasn't just reading series or reading books with my kids. I used to read a lot as a kid and teenager. Life got busy as an adult and then as a mom. Reading prompts are awesome! But I still say my favourite genres haven't changed that much.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

This turned out to be an incredibly productive week. I made a deal with myself that I could read as much as I want this week, but only if I take a break every couple of chapters (or after each manga volume) to unpack a box or accomplish another household task. Amazingly enough, it actually worked! I was able to completely fill my recycle bin with broken down boxes this week, and I finally have a fully useable kitchen!

As far as reading is concerned…

I managed to read a tremendous number of books this week. Most of the titles I finished were from my “New Books” list, but I also read several from my TBR as well.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty good about my progress on both lists. I think I’ll be able to meet both of my remaining reading goals for the year, though I will have to step up my TBR game a bit now that my “New Books” list is more under control.

I’m also looking forward to the SciFi Summer Readathon, which begins on June 1st (next Thursday). I’ve got quite a few SciFi titles on my TBR list this year, so I have plenty of books available for the readathon. I’m planning to sit down with my list this weekend to make some plans about what I’ll be reading, which should be fun.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 470/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 192/634
📱Ebook TBR: 7/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 11/13
TBR Checklist Total: 210/883 (23.7% complete)

I ended up getting several new books this week, many of which were nonfiction titles. I picked up several books about the Titanic, prompted by my having watched some documentaries about the ship on Disney+ over the weekend.

I also got copies of Suicide Squad Vol. 8: The Final MIssion; The Tea Dragon Society trilogy, by K. O’Neill; The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame; and Frog & Toad The Complete Collection, by Arnold Lobel.

While I did break my book buying ban, I still managed to make a significant amount of progress toward my goal of reading all of the books I’ve purchased in 2023.

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 277
“New” Books Read in 2023: 253/290 (87.2% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Frog & Toad The Complete Collection — I’ve had my copy of Frog and Toad Are Friends ever since I was a little kid, but I’d never read the other books in the series, so I was super excited when I managed to find a book that included all of them. It was great to finally have an opportunity to read those stories, and to re-read a childhood favorite! I loved the artwork, and really enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Perilous Undertaking — I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the Veronica Speedwell series! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Story of the Titanic — This children’s book did a good job of explaining the ship’s history. The illustrations were great! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
This week I finished reading the Bleach manga series! There were a couple of story arcs that started to feel longer than they needed to be, but overall I really enjoyed the series. I really liked the characters, and the art was fantastic. I would like to watch the anime adaptation at some point to see how it compares, but I think it’s going to be a while before I get around to it. (I’m just in the middle of too many other shows right now to be starting another one.) The volumes I read this week include…
~Bleach, vol. 36 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 37 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 38 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 39 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 40 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 41 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 42 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 43 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 44 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 45 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 46 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 47 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 48 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 49 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 50 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 51 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 52 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 53 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 54 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 55 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 56 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 57 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 58 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 59 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 60 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 61 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 62 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 63 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 64 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 65 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 66 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 67 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 68 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 69 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 70 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 71 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 72 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 73 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Bleach, vol. 74 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I also continued reading the Pokémon Adventures manga series this week! Unfortunately, I have reached the point where I will have to take another break from this series, since I am still waiting on one book to arrive in the mail. Hopefully it will show up soon, because I really want to keep going! The volumes I read this week include…
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 7 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 8 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 9 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 10 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 11 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon X•Y, vol. 12 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Sun and Moon, vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon Sun and Moon, vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In addition to these series, I read the following graphic novels and comic books…
~The Tea Dragon Society — I absolutely loved this book! The story and illustrations were wonderful, and I definitely want to have a tea dragon come and live with me! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Tea Dragon Festival — The second book of the Tea Dragon series was just as wonderful as the first one. It really made me want to live in the world the author created. I really liked that the author included representation of deaf people in this book. I thought sign language was portrayed very well in the illustrations, and appreciated the fact that the author included references to learn more about sign language at the end of the book. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Tea Dragon Tapestry — I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the first two books in the series! The story had a lot to say about grief, which I found really impactful. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Hawkeye: Avenging Archer — This was a good collection of Hawkeye stories. I really liked the artwork. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Ultimate Comics Hawkeye — I really enjoyed the artwork and story, but since this is apparently part of a larger Marvel storyline, this book’s conclusion was not satisfying. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Occupy Avengers, Vol. 1: Taking Back Justice — This comic book collection was okay. I did like the first story, but didn’t care for Red Wolf’s origin story, which was included at the end of the book. It felt really out of place in the context of the narrative that I’d just finished, and it also included a lot of problematic content (probably due to when it was written). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Occupy Avengers Vol. 2: In Plain Sight — I enjoyed this comic book more than the first volume, but felt like the ending was very abrupt. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Suicide Squad Vol. 8: The Final MIssion — The final volume of the original Suicide Squad series actually ended up being my favorite book in the series. It did still include some problematic content because of when it was written, but the ending was extremely satisfying. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~The Three Musketeers — This book continues to be fantastic! I’m really looking forward to seeing where the story goes in part two. 📚
~The Wind in the Willows — I decided to read one chapter of this book before bed each night, and I am really enjoying it! I absolutely love the illustrations in this edition! 📚
~Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth — This book has been fascinating so far! It’s amazing how much Mrs. Brown’s life story has been distorted by Hollywood, especially since her real life was so incredible. 📚
~Showcase Presents: Ghosts, Vol. 1 — I am thoroughly enjoying this comic book collection. All of the stories are short, standalone stories, which is making the book a really quick read, despite its size. 📚
~A Treacherous Curse — So far the third Veronica Speedwell book has been really good! 📚

QOTW:
I would say that I’ve gotten much more comfortable with the idea of DNFing books I don’t like, but my genre preferences really haven’t changed all that much.

Happy Thursday once again!!! I wanted to post this morning but I keep coming on the page and seeing that it wasn't up yet. Last weekend was fun. I went to our Asian Festival on Saturday and Sunday I hung out with a friend at a new coffee shop and colored in our adult coloring books and caught up.

I managed to finish 2 books this week. None for the challenge, however.
I listened to Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist 5 stars!! I haven't given a book 5 stars in a little while but I did. I think my review says it all.

Madame Restell was a BADASS in her own time. We rarely hear about women in the early 1800's championing their rights to bodily autonomy and abortion. As a full-spectrum doula that supports those seeking abortions, this makes me really happy to know that she helped so many women almost 200 years ago. Now let's get to the fact that people(Men and antichoice) haven't changed in 200 years and I doubt they ever will. You could be a woman living in the tenements of New York in the 1800s or a woman living in the present day and you will still have people trying to tell you want you can and can not do with your body and reproduction, all the while berating you for having children or too many children or being poor, or being black etc. Most men will NEVER understand how it feels to be pregnant or even have a period, yet in still they still try to tell us that they know best about childbearing and being a mother.

Madame Restell lived her life out loud and bold as hell!! I admire a woman that turned her nose up at people that tried to tell her what she was doing was wrong while conditionally they thought it was okay to get her services when it comes to them and their circumstances. Note the picketers at abortion clinics that still come and get services. (I know because I used to volunteer at a local clinic)

I also loved how the book talked about that piece of crap Anthony Comstock. I learned more about him than I really wanted to know. And the information especially about midwives(Black) being pushed out of practice by white male doctors, I've known for years as a birth worker of color.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in abortion or its historical aspects.

Camp Midnight Volume 1 This was a super cute quick read. I love stand-alone graphic novels but I found out this has a sequel, I immediately put it on the tbr list. The art and the main character Skye was really the highlight.

QOTW:
My reading tastes have changed. i wouldn't say drastically but i'm definitely more of a non-fiction reader now than what I was 10 or 15 years ago. I used to really love mysteries but now I'll pass those up for some sci fi.

Finally, it’s Thursday!

Well, quiet weeks and slow times have moved on.

This past weekend, I finally decided to change out my wardrobe. It had been so hot last week, that I had worn a pair of shorts most days. So…heavier sweaters and pants went into the trunk and shorts and lighter tops came out. Was that a wrong decision! It turned cold! And, here I was stubbornly still wearing shorts with blankets and heat in the house!

I am getting my feet wet with manga. It is a relatively new adventure, although I tried it one year many years ago with another group. I don’t find reading from back to front or from right to left the main issue. That seems fairly easy to me. Nope, it is the names and graphic panels that are causing me difficulty. Still…it is a culture that is new to me…and so worth trying again and again. And, I actually enjoyed it this week.

After more or less hibernating for a week or so, I am back to doing again. Helped a friend with his yard, helping another move this weekend, going to a movie with a friend, and back to walking and interacting with neighbors.

My compost pile is now empty of growing tomato plants. I have given away a lot…some to be picked up today. Others have gone into my own garden, although I do not need more tomato plants (had four well-established prior to all the transplanting). Now I have 12 established with 11 making tomatoes and 10 more recently transplanted. Those last are struggling with 3 looking fairly good and the rest really wilty looking. But, at least I gave them a chance rather than just discarding them.

My beans are starting to produce as are the peppers. The radishes are nearly done with two yet to be pulled. I started some seeds for carrots, radishes and beans, and the radish seeds are sprouting!

Finished:
Freaky Green Eyes – ALCM. 4*. Wow! This book was definitely not what I anticipated. And, although it has a flavor of abuse, it is more in the character of the controlling father rather than physical abuse, which is only hinted at (suspected bruises covered up? yelling between parents?) I did like the courage and growing up that Franky exhibited at the end.

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra – RwS. 4* I seem to have been circling the world with my reading this week. This book is set in India. I loved the part the elephant played as well as the misunderstanding between the wife and husband. Both made the story relatable

The Janissary Tree – PAS, old challenges. 4* This book has been on my TBR for a long time. I was a bit surprised by the time frame (Istanbul, 1836) and the protagonist (an eunuch). But the story and adventure kept me reading. Ended up enjoying this historical mystery.

Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 – No prompt. 4* Still exploring manga. This is the second book that I have attempted. Like the first, it is a collection of many issues. Also like the first, there is a fair amount of fighting and anger, and it was a bit hard for me to tell the various characters apart initially. However, by the end, I was getting the hang of who was who. BTW, part of my issue with who was who is related to the similar looking names for everyone as well as their hair style.

Every Note Played – ATY #19 (arts). 5* This book was about a concert pianist who developed ALS. I gave it a rare 5* rating as the book not only was entirely about ALS and its progression but also about the regrets of life by both the one afflicted and those around him. AND, it was also entirely about music and the impact it had on each life.

The Ancient Magus' Bride: Wizard's Blue, Vol. 4 – No prompt. 4* Another book exploring the manga genre. I really liked this one and would love to find books #1-3. The graphics helped me to figure out what was going on, the story was one I could follow that was not just fighting and anger, but involved a quest. And, it was fun!

The Abandoned Empress, Vol. 1 (comic) – No prompt. #4. This one was a graphic novel. Fantasy genre. Lovely graphics and story.

Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows – No prompt. Kindle. 13%. Weird book. On hold.
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%. On hold.
The Night of Fear - No prompt. Ebook. 61%. Liking this book. Would have finished it but too many others being read.
On the Road – ATY #20. Still in the intro.
A Question of Belief - ALCM, PAS. 56%.

Currently Reading (Buddy Read):
The Three Musketeers – 48%.

On deck:
Confessions of a Bookseller
Oh Danny Boy

PS 16/50 and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 19/52 and 11/12 for Q1 Challenge, 4/12 for Q2 Challenge
GR 106/200
RwS 13/30

QotW: Do you feel as if your reading tastes have changed over time? If so, in what way(s)?
Actually, this question reminded me how my initial reading as a kid was anything horse or western. I especially admired the cowboy ethic.
Now I read a more eclectic list. I do enjoy non-fiction in science and history...or hobbies. My main genres are mystery, paranormal, cozy mysteries, suspense, historical fiction.
I have learned over the years that I like some SF and some horror, but I am tentative about reading authors I haven't tried in those genres. And, I do not like explicit sexual scenes. I'd rather use my imagination. I will read romance if a mystery is involved, though.

Happy Thursday! This week has pretty much been nonstop work. Very much looking forward to a three day weekend!

Some of my neighbors in my apartment building are moving out-a bunch of college kids- and they have thrown out so much stuff the last few weeks. Like cooking ware, chairs, all kinds of household things, and thrown it into the dumpster or covered it in trash so it's completely unsalvageable. We have so many thrift stores in the area, I don't understand just throwing it all out. Also, are they just going to buy all new things at their next apartment??

Finished:
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man- a PI mystery with some noir flavor to it. I liked this more than I thought I was going to- it was a fun mystery
-40 A book by an author with the same initials as you

Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto- I think the point the author's making about grind culture is good, but I wish it had gone deeper. There was a lot of repetition. I think it could have been an essay.
- no prompt

Currently reading:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- reading for the movie prompt
A Promised Land- about halfway through this, the politics are very depressing
And somehow have started three short story collections- Exhalation, Gods of Want: Stories and The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories
my goal is to finish one of these collections this week

QotW:
My reading tastes have definitely changed. In the last few years I've started reading more nonfiction and short story collections. Also more books that have been translated- because I realized a few years back pretty much everything I read was from England or the US. And never read graphic novels/manga at all until recently.

I also got really picky with mysteries- I think I read too many all at once and some of the tropes started to annoy me. And found out with romance I either love a silly romcom or a one with a pretty sad backstory.

Happy Sunny Friday!

I ... did not fully comprehend what it being Thursday meant, yesterday, due to it being my first recovery day from Disney. It was a trip where I walked for 2 days, and only could use my wheelchair while in queues, so it's been a harder recovery than usual. And this time we went by train, so we were home way earlier than we would have been! And still... haha!

I met up with a friend of mine while my mom went off on her own. I had a wonderful time (even when my friend left for work and I, too, was on my own) and mom did not. Well, she did, but she's focusing more on everything that was 'horrible', so *shrugs*

Next up: The Pride Party next month! This time I'm going by train in my wheelchair, so wish me luck. We had to get a different train and only after booking did we realize that for that train my wheelchair is a bit too wide, so fingers crossed all will work out! At least dad can walk up to the train with us, so even if it's a disaster and I can't take the wheelchair, he can take it back home and I can rent one at Disney.

Speaking of. Remember how my wheelchair was stolen last month?

Turns out it wasn't stolen by another guest (it was a genuine mix up), it was stolen by Disney. I exchanged my rental on Monday and out came ... MY WHEELCHAIR. They literally pulled off stickers and screwed on a Disney number plate. My next step is emailing the train service (our seats didn't exist) and after that emailing Disney to leave a formal complaint. We had to drop €750 on a new wheelchair because it hadn't been found, with insurance only covering €370. And now it turns out Disney failed! So yeah. They gots to know, see what they can do.

Mickey is still stable, I guess, but he's eating less and less on his own. The only things he will reliably eat is endive and parsley. He hasn't even touched his forcefeed since last night. So when dad gets home we'll check his cheeks to see if maybe his teeth are in need of filing again. That in combination with him exhausting himself trying to wash himself might be why he's not eating as much.

Today is the day my dad's dad is going into a care home, though, so I am expecting dad to be absolutely broken when he gets home. Wish him luck!

...That was a lot. My apologies.

Read
The Toll for fave challenge from past. No idea which one but eh
Didn't hate it as much as some seem to do! Though I did have some issues with it. Most were explained in the author's notes my copy had, but they were not enough to make it better for me. Just because I understand why an author chose to do what they did, doesn't mean I have to like it, hahah! It's sad, though. One of the choices was different timelines, so something would be a shock when revealed (without waiting 2/3rds of the book as well). Shame, cuz the first line of the GR summary of the default edition spoils that exact surprise. I might have to go and change that summary to what the back of the book says (and the other editions I've seen)

Currently Reading
The Giver of Stars
It's funny, cuz I saw this cover and fell in love. Not even really knowing what it was about I bought it. Seeing the US cover was a shock, cuz if that was the cover I had to see, wouldn't even looked twice at it. I'm not overly far in, every time I tried to read something came up, so I can't really give any thoughts about it yet, beyond that some of the 1930s US slang being used makes me have to stop to google a lot xD

Heart of Darkness for shortest book on TBR
Once again I went in blind. My best friend got me this secondhand, and I shoved it into my bag so I had something to read on the train without having to carry around a heavy hardback. Read the first part, and no idea what's happening or whatever. At this point I am also too stubborn to read a summary or anything so wish me luck xD

Three Musketeers has been on hold until I'm not so exhausted and stressed. I want to enjoy it, not get bogged down by older writing.

QOTW
OH FOR SURE. Genre-wise I'm still solidly a fantasy lover, while also still reading anything that sounds interesting. I have grown mostly out of YA, however. I find I no longer have the patience for the forced romances that somehow overtake the entire plot and/or the forced straightness of most of them. The only YA I can still tolerate is when there is no romance at all, or preferably, when the book is queer. So I read more adult, now, but my fave age range is now Middle Grade. I love how it doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's not pretentious, it's not trying to show you how many words and euphemisms the author knows... It's just cozy and I love it.

I also used to love High Fantasy, but currently my (mental) health isn't up for it. That's not a true change, though, just a hiccup.

I have gotten pickier, though. But I wouldn't say in a bad way. I've learned my tastes, and I've gotten better at not picking up something I already know I won't enjoy, just because it's popular. I definitely notice more about what works for me writing style wise or not, and spelling errors and any other kind of mistakes truly bother me. Not to the point where I'd contact a publisher, but it does show up in my reviews, and if bad enough, affect the rating.

Once I DNFed a book because a) the story wasn't engaging me and b) the Dutch translation was so absolutely terrible, I couldn't do it. Have not yet DNFed a book over mistakes since, though!

Erin wrote: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- reading for the movie prompt

Excellent! I still need to re-read this one so I can familiarize myself with it. I first read it when it came out and I remember loving it. Now I want to read it again because of the movie. Don't know when I'll get to it though.

Well, I'm at it again. I'm currently reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

It's among my top 5 books of all time. I remember my dad telling me about it years ago and so when he did I read it and it changed my life and my perspective on life.

I had never heard of the word 'introvert' before I read this book and as I read it, I remember everything about it made sense. I no longer felt like there was something wrong with me.

Growing up I was always getting in trouble in class for being "too quiet" or "too shy". Trouble enough to the point where my teachers would call in my parents and we'd have talks, or rather they would talk and I would just sit there. I mean seriously. Parent/teacher conferences all because a student would not talk in class. I'm pretty sure there are more important cases than that.

I have four copies of this book and I practically read it each year. Now any time I read it, I'm always getting something new from it which is great. None of my annotations in the book are the same. And I love going back and making comparisons between them.

Hello! I'm late checking in, but have done some reading recently. I've been sick with a cold this last week and spending my days sleeping on the couch and reading in between naps.

PopSugar 19/50

Finished
The Whispered Word Book 2 of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society mysteries. As enjoyable as the first. I'm trying to fit the whole series in to my reading this year. (Prompt: Alliterative Title)

The White Album by Joan Didion I originally ordered this from the library for the book published in the year of my birth, but ending up reading Hitchhiker's Guide for that. So this was for book with a color in the title. It's a book of essays. Some were really interesting, others were boring. I think it may have felt more profound when it was published, but it feels like we've moved past a lot of the points she was trying to make.

DNF
Rodham I just didn't care. Sorry Hillary.

Currently Reading
The Fiancée Farce Saw this on display at the library as I wondered past, so I grabbed it. So glad I did!

Coming Up
Trail of Lightning

QOTW
When I was in high school I used to read horror - Dean Koontz and Stephen King. I can't stand horror any more - it gives me nightmares.

Besides that very obvious change, I've gotten into cozy mysteries recently. And this challenge (and ATY) has me reading a lot more widely than i used to.

Carmen, I can't believe Disney made off with your wheelchair!! I hope they make it right for you!

Hi everyone! So this week had me working a lot. They want me to start opening registers but I never got trained for it so my manager is gonna have me trained this Sunday on how to do so. My managers are anticipating a huge crowd for the museum this Memorial Day weekend so we are getting a lot of shipments in the stores. The store i was working inn yesterday, the storage room had TOO MUCH!!! My coworker and I had no idea if we had or not had things do to how crazy it got in there.

Recently, I watched booksandlala's video about reading books from every year she has been alive and it inspired me to see I have that as well. So I have read every book I have been alive but when I was logging down the 5-stars reads from every year like she did, only two years have no 5-stars from me: 1999 and 2002. I have been adding some books into my tbr published in those two years so I can have those 5-star reads.

I only finished one book this week (to be exact, it was this morning lol) and it was The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West. The narrator is fantastic and really fits the vibe of the story. I gave it a 4/5 even though I felt like it became background noise at some points in the book but I was able to understand what was going on.

QOTW: My reading taste changed slightly. I used to be into short story collections but every time I read them now, I just cannot get through it. I think since I am reading multiple books at once, I don't have the interest with reading a short story collection.

Bea wrote: "Finally, it’s Thursday!

Well, quiet weeks and slow times have moved on.

This past weekend, I finally decided to change out my wardrobe. It had been so hot last week, that I had worn a pair of sh..."

A lot of the time the next volumes will have a character list and story so far in them. Not all but quite a few I’ve come across do. They help keep characters and affiliations straight.

Wizard blue is a spin off series to The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 1. The Ancient Magus' Bride: Jack Flash and the Faerie Case Files, Vol. 1 is a spin off series as well. there are also two light novels, silver and gold something.

I loved the volumes of abandoned empress I’ve read. I also like Daughter of the Emperor, Vol. 1 and Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion, Vol. 1.

You may want to try the animes of some of these manga. I watch to get a feel for voice and character traits. Like fruits basket. Ayame is so funny to listen to and Shigure singing high school girls.

Sometimes the anime comes out before the books too.

Happy Friday!! Goodness, my ability to check-in on time this year has been abysmal. It's my daughter's last day of preschool! T.T I can't believe I have a kindergartener now. Where does the time go?

Finished 19/50

The Hero of Ages for "book with mythical creatures". This definitely redeemed the series for me. Crazy ending to this first trilogy! Loved it.

Speak for "book that's been banned/challenged in 2022". This book really resonated with me in high school, and going back to reread it, I totally understand why. It was good to revisit it. VERY good book but huge trigger warning for sexual assault.

A Taste of Paradise: Stories of Saints and Animals for "favourite past prompt/first book you see in a bookstore". It WOULD be a kid's book, wouldn't it? Oh well. I was behind in my reading anyway and my daughter will love it. Very beautiful illustrations and I learned something new!

Currently Reading

The Fires of Heaven for "book becoming a movie/tv series in 2023". YEAH SEASON 2 FOR WHEEL OF TIME GOT A RELEASE DATE THIS WEEK! I'm SO excited! I mean, technically it's only covering books 2/3, but given that they're currently filming season 3 and probably working on planning season 4, this book is definitely in the works for film this year (and informing decisions they're making for earlier seasons so....I'm saying it counts)!

QotW

I used to be ok with more darker stuff, but as my life has also gotten darker, I find that I lack the emotional capacity for those things now. I've also grown to love Orthodox literature and grown out of YA books. I've become more interested in non-fiction and autobiographies than I used to be too. And a bit more critical too. I've read so much over so many genres, I just know what I like now. XD

Mandy wrote: "Wizard blue is a spin off series to The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 1. The Ancient Magus' Bride: Jack Flash and the Faerie Case Files, Vol. 1 is a spin off series as well. there are also two light novels, silver and gold something. "

Mandy, when I returned Wizard's Blue to the library, the librarian checked for volumes 1-3 for me and put them on hold. Hopefully I will have them soon. At the very least, I will be able to get caught up on the back story. She also told me volumes 5 & 6 are available for lending also.

Alex wrote: Speak for "book that's been banned/challenged in 2022". This book really resonated with me in high school, and going back to reread it, I totally understand why. It was good to revisit it. VERY good book but huge trigger warning for sexual assault.

This is my all-time favorite book. I first read it when I was 14. While I could not relate to the sexual assault part, I could relate to the depression, the silence, the way of art as an escape, having friends not taking the time to understand what I was going through, and one other reason that I can't remember.

I can't count the number of times I've read this book even as an adult. It was my one comfort in high school. I don't know what I would have done without it.

That being said, it's such a tragedy that this book has been banned on so many lists in so many school districts. I'm just one of the millions that this book has helped and for parents, teachers, administrators, and the govt. to not realize that is a travesty.

Carmen wrote: "... Turns out it wasn't stolen by another guest (it was a genuine mix up), it was stolen by Disney. I exchanged my rental on Monday and out came ... MY WHEELCHAIR. They literally pulled off stickers and screwed on a Disney number plate. ..."


WHAAAAAT??!!?? that is nuts!!

Jen wrote: "... Upcoming/Planned:
American Panda by Gloria Chao (for forbidden romance)..."


I just finished this book! I used it for NaNoWriMo

Carmen wrote: "Happy Sunny Friday!

I ... did not fully comprehend what it being Thursday meant, yesterday, due to it being my first recovery day from Disney. It was a trip where I walked for 2 days, and only cou..."

How awful!! I hope Disney makes things right for you.

Kaia wrote: "Rodham I just didn't care. Sorry Hillary."

I'm a big proponent of historical fiction but histfic about still-living people always weirds me out.

Sheri wrote: "A lot. I feel like i am both picker and less picky than I was when I was younger. I will read a vastly wider type of books now. When i was younger i read pretty tightly science fiction/fantasy and only rarely deviated if it wasn't for class. However now I'm a lot more aware of social issues, so books that I thought were fine when I was younger stand out more to me as problematic now. I also have less patience for books that are just "ok"."

Yes yes yes, this is me too Sheri!

It's been so quiet on Goodreads this week. I guess everyone is getting an early start to the holiday weekend.
The weather here is gorgeous. I can't wait to chill and do almost nothing for 3 days.

Finished:
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder This was just not as interesting as I was hoping it would be.
Clouds of Witness So I have read this book before, but it was only at the end that I remembered. I hate when that happens.
The Half Moon

Currently reading:
Horse
The Tale of Genji
The Unbearable Lightness of Being on audio

QOTW:
My favorite books growing up were mysteries. That hasn't changed. I also read a lot of literary fiction and women's fiction (although they weren't called that then). I still read all of those, but my tastes are much more varied now. I also now love SFF, romance, classics, non-fiction (especially science and memoir), graphic novels, and lots more. I will give almost anything other than self-help and politics a try.

Oops, it’s Friday! I completely lost track of days. We’re in Italy right now, in South Tyrol (Dolomites). Great weather, great food (cross-over of German and Italian) and great scenery. Tomorrow we’re driving to Switzerland for the last part of our ‘Tour de Alps’. Tiny little party spoiler: my allergies.

I read a lot, but finished nothing yet.

PS: 24/50
Total 2023: 26

Finished
Nothing

Currently reading
De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje by René van Stipriaan
Die Wintergarten-Frauen. Der Traum beginnt: Roman (Die Wintergarten-Saga 1) by Charlotte Roth

QOTW
Yes and no. I still like historical books best. I did so as a child and I still do, it never changed. And I still don’t like sci-fi or crime. Having said that, my overall taste has broadened by the years, thanks to challenges like Popsugar and, well, life I guess. I now read biographies, current day literature, young adult (easy, it didn’t exist when I was a ‘young adult’) and nonfiction books on current day affairs. I dropped romance books, it has become a too easy read for my taste.

Gah, starting a new book today!

Kay Redfield Jamison just released (Tues 5/23) her new book called Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind .

I didn't even know about this. It just came up somehow. I love her work. I've read her main ones: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness , Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament , Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression . I still need to read Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide .

I am certainly anxious to get started on this new one. It's a book that deals with trauma and how to cope with it which is perfect for me.

I'll be sure to let you all know what I think.

Good Afternoon. This is my second attempt at checking in. I wrote the email out just now but Good Reads wouldn't let me post it. It said I was only notifications. Hopefully this time I can post. I read two books for the week.
1. The White Lady. 4 stars. PS # 12 A book published in Spring 2023. I love this author. I don't know if this book will be part of a series or a stand alone.
2. The Madness of Crowds. 4 stars. Not for this challenge. I also love this author & series.
My reading has changed over the years. The number of books I read yearly has increased. Thanks to the multiple challenges I do my reading has diversified. I read a lot of different genres but like historical fiction the best. I read a lot more nonfiction now. I also track my reading which is something I didn't do years ago.

Harmke wrote: "young adult (easy, it didn’t exist when I was a ‘young adult’) ..."



Everyone says this!!! And it always confuses me!! I DISTINCTLY remember a young adult section in my library back in the 1970s. Maybe it wasn't CALLED "YA" but that's what it was. It was juvenile fiction for older kids. That's where I found a bunch of Andre Norton books, Three Investigators mysteries, Nancy Drew mysteries, the entire Wizard of Oz series, all of Madeline L'Engle books following the Austin, O'Keefe, and Murray familys, Judy Blume, the Tripod trilogy from John Christopher, those wacky V.C.Andrews attic books, and random stand-alones that I still remember like The Mark of the Horse Lord, Is There Life on a Plastic Planet?, House of Stairs, A Gift of Magic, Go Ask Alice, & The Iron Doors Between.


These are not children's books (well, maybe Wizard of Oz was, idk) and they are not for adults either. They are YA. I mean, look at The Moon by Night, published in 1963, about a teenaged girl on a cross-country road trip with her family, and her budding romance with a rich but troubled boy. That's solid YA right there.

Ron wrote: "Alex wrote: Speak for "book that's been banned/challenged in 2022". This book really resonated with me in high school, and going back to reread it, I totally understand why. It was good to revisit ..."

I totally agree! I was shocked to see it on the banned list. I distinctly remember introducing my English teacher to the book and her LOVING it. I mean, so many students could probably find their voice and validation reading it. Like yes, I understand it covers a very heavy topic, but it does so in a good and realistic way that teens need to know about! Banning it seems like overkill. There's nothing "wrong" or "bad" or "harmful" about the book. It's well written and talks about things that should be talked about in a healthy and real way. Hence the title!

Two-week check-in. I haven't been reading a lot, but I did get a couple of books in.

Finished
Finding Me by Viola Davis - 4 stars; PS #8 celebrity memoir
My old book club fell apart at the beginning of the pandemic. I discovered one in my area through a larger women's online group. I hadn't met anyone in this book club before, but I was brave enough to attend earlier this week. Unfortunately, I had had two glasses of Dr Pepper earlier, and caffeine makes me very chatty. But I had a really good time talking about books in person again, and they didn't seem to mind that I talked too much. I hope.

Anyway, I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. Other than a few stylistic issues that I would have edited differently, this is a very compelling story. Viola grew up in extreme poverty and violence, and it is interesting to see how she got out of that. She knew from the time she was a child that she wanted to be an actress, but that was not an easy career choice - for anyone, really, but especially a dark-skinned, not classically beautiful woman. She does a great job with the narration.

I watched several movies of hers that I hadn't seen ("Air," "Fences," "Doubt," "Widows," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"). She is extremely talented.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult - 4 stars
I read this for Jewish American Heritage Month. This was such an interesting and difficult story, as her books tend to be. The author usually has a big issue theme, and this one is forgiveness. A granddaughter who is not interested in her Jewish heritage, a grandmother who was a Holocaust survivor, and so much more. Great read. Be prepared to crave hot bread throughout the entire book.

Currently Reading
Night by Elie Wiesel
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Goodreads: 39/100
Popsugar: 30/50

QOTW:
I read many different genres as a child, and I still do. Although my choices have expanded, the variety isn't much different. Still like mysteries, classics, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, biographies, fantasy, sci-fi just as I did then. I liked romance novels more back then, though. I wasn't my cynical old self yet. :D

Ashley Marie wrote: "Kaia wrote: "Rodham I just didn't care. Sorry Hillary."

I'm a big proponent of historical fiction but histfic about still-living people always weirds me out."

I was going to read it for the fanfic prompt, because technically it's an alternative universe - what happens if Hillary never married Bill? It was an interesting idea, but just didn't grab me.

Happy... Friday! I went on a road trip yesterday to my sister's house and entirely missed the check-in. Better late than never, right?

Last night I watched my niece's graduation -- I can't believe I'm now old enough to have a nephew and a niece that have both graduated high school. Also celebrated my 40th birthday today with my siblings and their families. And we celebrated in a very mature manner -- video games and a Mario-themed birthday cake courtesy of my cake-decorating sister. Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional!

Also dang, I DNFed a lot this week...

Books read this week:

The Invisible Man -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “a classic, pre-1900.” Notable for pioneering many of the concepts used in works featuring invisibility powers, yet it also lacks much in the way of a character arc for the titular character. Not as good as The War of the Worlds or The Time Machine.

Make Me No Grave -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “a Western.” Technically classified as a “weird Western” -- a Western with fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal elements -- this was a fun romp that thankfully didn’t contain any of the racism and misogyny that seems to permeate a lot of older Westerns (and even some modern ones).

Gemina -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “recommended by a library staff member.” Just as good as the first book in the series. I love the format of these books!

Small Things Like These -- not for any challenges. I don’t get the hype behind this one. Though it does call some terrible things from Ireland’s past to light (the Magdalene laundries), it felt like it should have been a longer book. At the very least give it a proper ending…

DNF:

Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth -- historical non-fiction just isn’t my thing, I think.

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao -- wasn’t holding my interest.

Thistlefoot -- quarter of the way in and the only character I really like is the house with chicken legs. That’s not enough to make me keep reading 300 more pages.

Currently Reading:

The Know-It-All
In the Land of Invented Languages: Esperanto Rock Stars, Klingon Poets, Loglan Lovers, and the Mad Dreamers Who Tried to Build a Perfect Language
Stoneheart
Death on the Nile

QOTW:

I used to read exclusively fantasy and science fiction, and shunned most other genres. Now I find myself diversifying my reading, adding more thrillers, non-fiction, and even a handful of romances and historical fictions depending on my mood.

Alex wrote: I totally agree! I was shocked to see it on the banned list. I distinctly remember introducing my English teacher to the book and her LOVING it. I mean, so many students could probably find their voice and validation reading it. Like yes, I understand it covers a very heavy topic, but it does so in a good and realistic way that teens need to know about! Banning it seems like overkill. There's nothing "wrong" or "bad" or "harmful" about the book. It's well written and talks about things that should be talked about in a healthy and real way. Hence the title!

Exactly!

That's what I don't get. Yes it deals with a heavy topic of rape and sexual assault, but those in power (and the parents who push it), fail to see or accept that these things happen to kids/young adults.

They say all of these books that are being banned are to "protect the kids". That's a major cop-out and total lie! If that were the kids why not protect them from things that actually matter instead of words on a page?

'Speak' is one of those books that kids can relate to. It's their voice when they don't have one. I can't count how many times I read it in high school. Heck I can't count how many times I read it in college either or there after.

Like I said, I may not have related to the sexual assault part, but there are so many themes and topics in the book that go beyond that. I found representation in the fact that it was okay not to say anything.

And I loved her writing style. She does a lot of fragmenting and that showed me two things:

1.) It's okay to use a writing style that goes completely off the books in terms of what you're initially taught.

2.) I fragment my sentences when I talk so this book showed me that there is nothing wrong with that. It's kind of like stuttering for me. People always want me to "talk right" or "talk better", but I have a hard time doing so. I just get tripped up. It's like my mind is going a million miles an hour so I have to pause for a second to think of the next word or sentence to say. And if I pause too long people get impatient.

'Speak', at least in how it was written, has given me some confidence that it's okay to fragment. It's just a part of who I am. I have a hard time accepting that or dealing with it, but I can't change it no matter how hard I try.

Kenya wrote: "Happy... Friday! I went on a road trip yesterday to my sister's house and entirely missed the check-in. Better late than never, right?

Last night I watched my niece's graduation -- I can't believe..."

Happy Birthday, Kenya!! I think video games and Mario cake is perfect for those of us born in the early 80s!! :D
(now I'm kinda jealous I didn't do that....)

Teri wrote: "I hadn't met anyone in this book club before, but I was brave enough to attend earlier this week. Unfortunately, I had had two glasses of Dr Pepper earlier, and caffeine makes me very chatty. ..."



LOL I would not call that unfortunate!! I think being chatty in a book club is perfect. I'm sure they were thrilled to meet you and hope you'll come back next time.