Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday, fellow readers!! It's late summer, my basil growing on the deck has come in a bumper crop so I made pesto last night, and I still have enough growing out there that I should make another batch of pesto next week. The weather has cooled off a tiny bit here, but it's not exactly "nice" because it's still so muggy, so even though it's not hot, I still need to run the a/c due to the humidity. This morning is a gloomy one with rain showers predicted later. A great day to stay inside and read!! (But really I should mow the lawn before it rains for real.)

With Lily at college, I've had to switch back to making coffee for one person, and I can't get the ratio of beans:water right - my first morning, I NAILED it, but since then it's been too weak or too strong. Yesterday it was too strong. Today it's too weak.




Admin stuff

Our August group read of Wrong Place Wrong Time is on-going here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The NOMINATION poll for the November group read is live here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...



I have been a restless reader this week - I keep picking up books and then setting them down again. As a result I've DNFed two books and finished two.

finished:
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams - I returned this one to the library only two weeks late haha! good thing they no longer charge a fine!! This was enjoyable, and if you like Williams' writing you'll like this book. No challenge category for this one (I mean, it fits several, but I've already checked them all off).

Real Tigers by Mick Herron - so much FUN! It's not a comedy, it's an espionage thriller, but it's full of wit. If you like British espionage and dry humor delivered by assholes, you MUST read this series. I checked off "tinker tailor soldier spy" in AtY with this one.



DNF
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn - yeah no one is more surprised than I am at how this book face-planted for me!! I usually love Raybourn's books, and this series gets raved about, so I had super high expectations . I barely got through the first chapter, however, because I absolutely HATED the "I'm not like other girls" heroine, and when I checked reviews to see if this got better, indications were that it decidedly did NOT. This book was on my list of books I must read in 2023, and my personal rules are if I try the book and DNF it, it counts and I cross it off that list. So that's the only "challenge" I've made progress on!

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley - I've been wanting to read this since it first came out, and I think I've borrowed it from the library three separate times! I finally made time to sit down with it and good lord all the extraneous words!! so many words! words going in circles! I knew there was no way I could handle an entire novel like that.

And this book has its neck on the chopping block, in danger of being DNFed:
The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami- I thought this would be weird and quirky, but instead it's just sort of ... there. Nothing about it is grabbing me. The most exciting thing about this book is the cover art that shows a woman floating on a subway platform, and my copy of the book doesn't even have that art. (My edition is the Beckoning Cat.)



I've made little progress on my challenges:

Popsugar 84% 42 /50
Must Reads 67% 8 /12
Nay's Winter 70% 7 /10
AtY 79% 41 /52


(Looks like that "winter" challenge I started is going to be finished by NEXT winter!)





Question of the Week

How many tries do you give an author before you give up on them, if at all?

This week's question is from JessicaMHR!



This suggested question was super timely for me, since I'm busy DNFing left and right just now!! And my answer is: it depends.

Sometimes a book is soooo bad and/or so not to my taste that I know I will never like a book by that author, and I write them off after just that one book. These books go on my "authors I never want to read again" bookshelf. Don't even bother trying to convince me to give these authors another shot, it's not happening. I know what I like and it's not that.

Sometimes a book is kinda sorta good but not great and I'll give that author a few tries, maybe two or three, before I decide that perhaps all of their books are going to be not great and I'm better off reading a book by someone else forever after. I gave Kristin Hannah two tries, I loved the first book, but wow I really hated the second book (The Great Alone), and so far as I can tell based on reviews, most of her books are like that second book, so I think I'm done reading her. I gave Taylor Jenkins Reid two tries, and I hated the first book I read by her (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo), but her new books always get so much hype so I was sucked into reading Malibu Rising, and I enjoyed it! But I'm still not so sure I want to read anything else by her. I read so many different authors each year that actually reading three books by the same author, over any period of time, is a lot for me!

And sometimes I USED to love an author, but something changed - either they changed or I changed - and I start getting an inkling that maybe I don't want to read their books any more. In this case, it will take me anywhere from two to seven not-great books before I write them off for good (I guess it depends on how much I loved their earlier books). Philippa Gregory got three DNFs from me before I stopped trying her books. Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs got dropped after three not great books. With Sue Grafton, I've got only two books left in the Kinsey series so I might as well read them, right?

Sometimes I keep reading an author even when I clearly don't even like their books any more, and I don't know why (yes, Stephanie Plum, I am looking directly at you when I say this).

Mick Herron's Slough House books are a joy.

That's right, totally forgot that today was Thursday. Usually my days get mixed up or they become nonexistent because I usually just stay home.

I've created a plan with my fam. They are not to talk about me finding a job anymore as long as I look for 10 jobs or so a week. It's become too stressful always talking about. The way I figure, I'll tell them if something hits or doesn't because I tend to tell them every mundane thing in my life anyways.

*****

On another note, we got so much rain yesterday it was awesome! Thanks to those storms in east Texas they made their way up to where I live. I spent my whole day driving in the rain because that's how long it was here for. Finally temps below 90 degrees! The 100s were literally becoming suffocating. I'm so tired of them already, especially given that we're nearing the end of August. I really hope the 100s don't follow us into September. That is so wrong for where I live.

*****

Onto book news:

-Last week I finished Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity which I absolutely loved!!! I don't think I can speak highly enough of this book. I felt seen and my behaviors and actions finally felt validated and they helped me to make sense of why I am the way I am. I've read 60 books this year and this one is my #1.

-Now I'm trying to get through The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet . I'm doing this as a group read for two groups I'm in here on GR. Really liking this book. It's kind of a dry read, but that's what I'm enjoying about it. Lots of personal narratives and dry facts.

-Don't know what I'll read after THWKY, but I do have my set list/TBR pile for September. I do a TBR jar so surprisingly I ended up with 3 Indigenous books. I also have another 3 Indigenous books that I had planned on reading as well.

-And then come November I am so focusing on Native American Heritage Month which will mean strictly and only Native American books. I am so stoked for that!

*****

QOTW:How many tries do you give an author before you give up on them, if at all?

Excellent question. Honestly, I've never thought about this really. I just go by with whatever I feel like. If I'm into a particular book then I might pick up another by the author. Other than that I don't pay much attention.

Happy Thursday from a soggy NEOhio - I saw photos last night from some flash flooding up in Lakewood that looked scary, people using rafts to reach mostly-submerged cars on the highway. For all that this week has been “back to normal”, it’s felt fairly hectic and the only things I’ve been able to finish have been comics, but those have been a lot of fun. I’ve been keeping up with the World Athletics Championships (“Worlds”) via YouTube clips as well - love seeing track and field competitions.

Finished - Three more volumes of Lumberjanes down! v7-9 - I’m really enjoying this series, even with the artistic shifts. The characters are wonderful and v9 had a fantastic roller derby storyline.

Currently:
Soccer in Sun and Shadow - I should probably consider this a “set aside” book because I haven’t touched it in a week or so, but I don’t want to put it down bc I need it for a PS prompt and I enjoy how it’s written… but the last few vignettes were starting to blend in my head a bit. I don’t know.

Right to the Kill - Loving this, just wish I had more time right now for it.

Summer Sons - My audiobook this week. I’m loving the atmosphere but for some reason I thought this was a shorter book, like a novella. I should knock it out today if I don’t get distracted again.

PS 38/50
ATY 45/52
Mount TBR 38/60
Summer Reading challenge 16/50 +2 bonus

QOTW: How many tries do you give an author before you give up on them, if at all?
If they write a genre I like, usually at least two chances. I wanted to love The Emperor's Blades and tried that book three separate times and just. could. not. More recently, I tried Ishiguro twice and realized he's a big Nope for me. Then again, I haven't touched another SJM book after Throne of Glass was a bust.

I finished Magdalena: River of Dreams as my book with lyrics in the title.

I've started The Raven Thief as one of my books published in 2023 (I don't care when in 2023 they were published. IMO, that was getting too picky).

QOTW: It depends. If I absolutely hate the first book I read by auther, eg Ulysses, One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Catcher in the Rye, I probably won't give the author another go. If I didn't really like the first book, but there was potential, I'll the give the author 1 more chance. If it's an author I've read a bunch of books I love, I'll give them tons of chances. In the case of Larry McMurtrey, to my extreme disappointment. Actually I only read 1 book by him I loved and read a whole bunch I hated and managed to find a couple that were OK. But, when someone writes your all time favorite book, you figure he's got to have another great one in there somewhere.

Question of the Week:

I do not have a hard and fast rule. Some authors are in "author jail" like Orson Scott Card, and I just will not read any more of their work due to what I know about them.

If I just did not like the first book I read from an author, then I may consider a future book of theirs based on word of mouth or premise. It just will be a bit more unlikely. The more misses an author has with me, the less likely I will be to pick up another book of theirs.

Finished:

The Book That No One Wanted to Read (3/5)
Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 4 (3/5)
Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 6 (3/5)
Star Trek: SCE: Foundations (3/5) (reread)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters novelization (3/5)
The Flash by Geoff Johns, Book One (2/5)
Superman: Birthright (3/5) (reread)
Star Wars: Book of Lists (3/5)

Green Lantern: Rebirth (4/5) (reread)
Into the Dark (4/5)
Iron Man: Civil War (4/5) (reread)
Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four (4/5) (reread)
Batman: The Complete Hush (Batman (4/5) (reread)

Currently reading:

This Gray Spirit by Heather Jarman
The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott
Iron Man by Fraction & Larroca 1: The Complete Collection

Happy Thursday all.

Still kind of figuring out my emotions about my grandpa's passing -- we knew it was coming but it still doesn't quite feel real. The funeral is September 9th, so maybe it'll all hit then?

Books read this week:

Daisy's Run -- decently written sci-fi/space opera adventure, but the main character is a bigoted jerk, which makes it hard to sympathize with any of her problems.

Mister Magic -- not quite as good as Hide, the other book I’ve read by this author, but still oddly compelling. It reminded me of the Candle Cove online story in some respects.

Bloodchild and Other Stories -- I like Octavia Butler, and this was a good collection of some of her short stories and her thoughts on each one.

Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World -- since I’m going to Disneyland in September, I figured I should learn a little more about the history of the place. A great in-depth look at the Happiest Place on Earth ™ .

DNF:

This Thing Between Us -- probably not good to read a book about death and grief right after the loss of a loved one… but even putting that aside, this just felt dull, and according to a lot of Goodreads reviews doesn’t get much better as it goes. I wanted the haunted Alexa knockoff, not whatever this was…

Currently Reading:

Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die
The Agony House
Untethered Sky
How Can I Help You

QOTW:

I'll generally give an author a couple of chances before I give up on them, unless the first book I picked up by them is REALLY bad.

Mickey's doing better, but we've all set ourselves to 'he'll have to live inside for the rest of his life' unless a miracle hits.

I managed to blast through my cold enough to only have a slight cough now and then at Disney, so yay! Dad and I had a wonderful time, even though I had to walk the entire first day as all the wheelchairs were rented out when we got there, and when later that day I could get one it was a regular one, meaning I could only use it as a seat. We got our Disneyland Passes all sorted though, so we have nothing to worry about in terms of access the upcoming year!

The next day we took the financial hit in storing our luggage at the park instead of dropping it off at our next hotel so we could be at the wheelchair rental place as soon as the park opened, and I got an extra wide one! ...it was my own one again. In terrible shape. But I got a chair and it was wonderful.

Journey home was more of a mess. Should have been picked up in Antwerp by my mom, but due to health she couldn't drive safely so we had to take trains to our closest train station. And those final two connections we missed by mere seconds, we got to watch them both drive away. One caused an hour extra wait, the other 30 minutes. Instead of being home at 1:45pm, it was 4:20pm.

Speaking of the stolen wheelchair, the PostNL app has been showing a letter coming from Disney since yesterday. I have been anxious ever since but nothing yet. No wonder it took so long to get here, the address says ESPAGNE. I don't even know where they got that from honestly. But yeah. I'm terrified. Fingers crossed!

Reading? I don't know her. A couple fics, though!

QOTW
It depends. If I hated the first book I tried I am very unlikely to try again. If I merely disliked it or just felt it wasn't for me, I am likely to try again as long as the story appeals to me. If I loved other books by the author I've read but hate a specific one, I become more hesitant/careful, but I am willing to try again. (I'm looking at you Schwab.)

It's thundery today, and feels like autumn has arrived too early, the mornings are already cooling off. We're off to the Scottish Borders for a few days next week to see my parents, so I hope the weather isn't too miserable.

I think I got my reading mojo back this week.

Finished:
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid for past prompt (dark academia). I LOVED this, everything so drippy and damp, the atmosphere was so different and I really liked this whole world where creative writing is this lofty thing. I'm calling it dark academia because it has academics studying one of those writers, but they're mostly not at the university.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna for ATY (route of travel on cover). I was a bit hesitant about reading this due to comps with T.J. Klune, but I felt this was much less twee but still left me with the warm and fuzzies. Cute and fun, will be reading the companion book next year for sure.

Midnight by Amy McCulloch, for no prompts. This was more rich people on boats than Antarctic survival story so I was a bit disappointed. Annoyingly this doesn't fit any of my remaining prompts.

PS: 35/40 | ATY: 41/52 | GR: 68/100

QOTW:
Speaking of T.J. Klune, I gave him two chances because other people love his books so much even though the first one I read was kinda blah. Usually if I really don't like the first book I read by an author, I won't try any more, I have too many others to read. But if I am happy to give authors a second chance if the first one I try is middling and their other books sound different enough.

If I have loved an author's books in the past I'm probably like Nadine and give them a bit longer to get back on track. I definitely read far too much Anita Blake and Temperance Brennan before giving up on those series!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

It has been a ridiculously busy week. Between doctor’s appointments and service calls, I’ve had something scheduled pretty much every day. I’m really looking forward to things (hopefully) slowing down a bit at the beginning of September…

Even though the week has been busy, I’ve still managed to find time for reading, and I’ve actually been able to finish a decent number of titles.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 684/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 287/634
📱Ebook TBR: 8/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 307/883 (34.7% complete)

I did not buy any new books this week!

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 401
“New” Books Read in 2023: 370/401 (92.2% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Surrender to the Highlander — This is the fifth book in the Highland Brides series. I thought this was a great story, and really liked the blend of romance and mystery. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include multiple references to rape. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Highlander's Promise — This is the sixth book in the Highland Brides series. I really enjoyed this story, and liked the two main characters. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to rape and spousal abuse. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Authority — This is the second book in the Southern Reach trilogy. While I did like the first book better, I thought this was a good continuation of the story. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to animal testing, which does not end well for the animals. A racial slur is also used. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Wrong Highlander — This is the seventh book in the Highland Brides series. I really enjoyed this story! Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to spousal abuse. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic — It took me over a month, but I have officially finished this book. I would not call this a fun read. The format is very textbook-like, with small print and two columns of text on each page, as well as an extensive appendix that takes up about 100 pages of the book. I do think this would be a good book for anyone who is researching the Titanic, because it’s easily the most comprehensive book I’ve found on the subject, but you can find a lot of the same information in more accessibly-written books. I am glad that I took the time to read it, but I’m also glad to be moving on to something else. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law — I thought this was a very interesting book. It raises a lot of questions about what actions are appropriate when dealing with invasive animal species, or animals that have been labeled “pests”. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does discuss a number of aspects of animal control that may bother readers, including hunting and euthanasia. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 2 — This is the second collection of classic Doctor Strange comic books. I really enjoyed having a chance to read these stories. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~The Man in the Iron Mask — This is the sequel to Louise de la Vallière, and the final book in the D’Artagnan series. I am currently on chapter 52, and moving through the story much more quickly than I anticipated. 📚
~The Bookshop That Floated Away — I’m currently a little over halfway through this book, but I honestly couldn’t tell you if I like it or not. 📚
~Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers — This is actually my second time reading this book (the first reading my own physical copy), and it’s just as interesting as it was the first time I read it. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book includes a lot of detailed description of medical procedures, as well as the decomposition of the human body. It also includes descriptions of animal testing, some of which is really disturbing. (hide spoiler)] 📚
~Acceptance — This is the third book in the Southern Reach trilogy. I’m currently about a third of the way through this book, and I am enjoying it so far. 📚
~Diamonds Are Forever — This is the fourth novel in the James Bond series. I’ve been enjoying this story so far. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book includes characters who are racist, as well as references to rape. (hide spoiler)] 📚
~Lock Every Door — This is also my second time reading this book (and the first time reading my own physical copy). I’m currently 12 chapters in, and enjoying it just as much as I did the first time. 📚

QOTW:
I don’t really have a set number of times that I’ll try an author’s books before giving up on them. It just depends on my reasons for not liking their books.

Hi All

Excited because i'm leaving on a little vacation tomorrow! With my cat's cancer, our big Amsterdam trip got cancelled (luckily hadn't atually booked anything yet, was in the research/planning stage when we first realized he was going to need surgery so decided to hold off booking just in case the worst happened, which it somewhat did. Luckily he's much better now!) And we've had to cancel/postpone/skip a lot of stuff due to not being able to leave him alone because of medication schedules and not wanting other people to have to deal with medicating a cat. So now he's off meds, and we can travel again! Just an extended weekend, but will still be nice to get out of the state for a few days and see all our friends and some relatives we haven't seen in ages.

This week I finished:

Fourth Wing - My library had the audio available for this, and I'd been hearing a lot of buzz. Normally i'm hit or miss on the buzzy books, but I was pretty sold on dragon riders. I ended up loving it, and I can't wait until the next one comes out this fall.

The Stonewall Reader - read this for read harder's nonfiction history book involving lgbtquia+ and/or BIPOC history. This was a collection of essays set just before, during, and just after Stonewall and the New York Public Library tried to grab across the spectrum of race, gender, and orientation to give many perspectives. Since all the essays had different writers it's kinda like any compilation. Some read better than others, but as a whole it was good chunk of history. Also realized a lot I've seen posted about stonewall is just a straight up myth. Like Marsha P Johnson didn't arrive until after the riot had started and things were on fire. She was very active once she arrived, and did a lot of work with the trans community both before and after. But the whole "she threw the first brick" was a myth, and there was no real consensus on exactly what tipped things from a normal raid to a riot. (There was an essay from her, outright stating that she didn't get there until after things started).

currently reading:

Ninth House - current audio book. I'm enjoying it all right, but I seem to not love Bardugo as much as most do. I think she's fine, but her stuff never seems to click into "must read" for me. I just kinda pick at them here and there.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - re read so I can read the sequel. Once I read the sequel I'll have finished off my TBR challenge for the year! (still plenty of books on it, just the 22 that were specifically picked by my book club for me to read this year).


QOTW: It depends. Some authors I just immediately say "nope, didn't feel this at all and I don't think I'd like anything else". Others I didn't LOVE but were fine. I might not go out of my way to read more, but I wouldn't avoid them if one of their books ended up working for a challenge, or someone specifically recommended one.

Generally if i read two books by an author that I was pretty meh about, I'll start assuming that I'm just not into them. Like Colson Whitehead, I've decided, is just not my style. Not to say he's a bad author, just I read The Underground Railroad and Zone One and neither really gelled with me. I've mostly forgotten what went on with the Underground Railroad aside from it being a literal underground train. And Zone One just kinda annoyed me, i didn't like his take on zombies or the society that came after. But that's a "it's me thing" not a comment on his actual writing. So I don't really plan to read more unless my book club ends up picking another one or something.

There are other authors I grew to not really enjoy, either because of personal growth or just got tired of them or whatever. Like I read a ton of Piers Anthony as a kid/high school . The older I got the weirder and more off put i felt about just how often he paired teenage girls with men significantly older. I did read one more recent one for a reading challenge, i think oldest book on tbr because I'd bought a few on kindle sale a long while back before deciding that maybe I was just done with him. It...wasn't great going back.

Nadine in NY wrote: "A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn - yeah no one is more surprised than I am at how this book face-planted for me!! I usually love Raybourn's books, and this series gets raved about, so I had super high expectations . I barely got through the first chapter, however, because I absolutely HATED the "I'm not like other girls" heroine, and when I checked reviews to see if this got better, indications were that it decidedly did NOT. This book was on my list of books I must read in 2023, and my personal rules are if I try the book and DNF it, it counts and I cross it off that list. So that's the only "challenge" I've made progress on!"

I was SO bummed that I didn't love this one! I adore her Lady Julia Grey series (and still need to read the final book + the novellas!) but Veronica does not do it for me AT ALL. Stoker is iffy. I gave this one 3 stars but would probably dial it back to 2 in retrospect.

Ashley Marie wrote: "... Then again, I haven't touched another SJM book after Throne of Glass was a bust. ..."


I actually really liked Throne of Glass!! There were a few things I complained about, but it was a debut novel by a young author so I figured she'd improve. I really liked the short stories she wrote in that world, too, and book 2 in the series (Crown of Midnight) was even better! But that was the end of THAT. Each book in the series got worse from that point. It became clear that the author had no idea where she was going with the series so there were continuity issues galore. Finally, book 6 in the series (technically the seventh book if you count all those shorts as one prequel book) was SO BAD that I could not finish it and I vowed to never again read a word she publishes. And I've stuck to it, with no regrets. She's become very popular, but Tower of Dawn was SO BAD that I am not the least bit tempted.

So I guess I gave her four tries before giving up on her forever, since the last four books were one or two stars.

Carmen wrote: "so we could be at the wheelchair rental place as soon as the park opened, and I got an extra wide one! ...it was my own one again. In terrible shape. ..."



They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!

Ellie wrote: "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna for ATY (route of travel on cover). I was a bit hesitant about reading this due to comps with T.J. Klune, but I felt this was much less twee but still left me with the warm and fuzzies. Cute and fun, will be reading the companion book next year for sure...."



Good to know!! (And it seems like I almost always agree with your taste in books.) I don't generally like twee but I was thinking about reading this book because her first book, The Lost Girl, was so moody and atmospheric, although it was clearly a debut effort, so I've been paying attention to this author since. I wasn't crazy about the Celestial Trilogy, I DNF'ed book 2 in that series. But now I want to give her latest a try.

I remember Tower of Dawn being bad but I gave it three stars?! Maybe I slipped on the keyboard 🤣 I did plough onto the end but agree the series went downhill...and I wasn't going to read any more SJM but for some reason I picked up House of Earth and Blood and really enjoyed it. I didn't like her other series though and quit after the first book.

Sheri wrote: "Fourth Wing - My library had the audio available for this, and I'd been hearing a lot of buzz. Normally i'm hit or miss on the buzzy books, but I was pretty sold on dragon riders. I ended up loving it, and I can't wait until the next one comes out this fall...."



OMG everyone is loving this book!!!! I'm also hesitant about buzzy books, but I have to give this one a go.

Ellie wrote: "I remember Tower of Dawn being bad but I gave it three stars?! Maybe I slipped on the keyboard 🤣 ..."



LOL this happens to me a lot!!! My memory of a book may be "it was great!" or "it was crap!" and yet I'm startled to see I gave it three stars. Like The Lost Girl - I remember loving that book! but I gave it three stars, so I guess I didn't love it at the time. Same for Throne of Glass, I thought I really liked that one, but ... three stars.

Happy Thursday

I managed to finish 2 books on Tuesday. Our book club at church finished a book we'd been reading since April. We discuss one chapter per week, with gaps if most of the group can't make a week. It was a five star book and I'll have to re-read it at some point because it was that good.

The The Apollo Murders is kind of what bugs me about famous people getting book deals that aren't biographies or non-fiction in their area of expertise. Does Chris Hadfield know a lot about space - yes. Is it impressive that he's a colonel, received the Order of Canada, writes books and has podcasts about space, and got to sing David Bowie in space - yes. Does that mean that he shouldn't get his fiction book edited like every other writer - No!

I liked his protagonist, Kaz. I thought the plot was fairly good, even though contrary to the title, it's not a mystery. The book suffered from pacing problems, as he wastes pages "science-splaining" things that do not advance the plot. Like do you need a over 2 page explanation of how the moon came into being to understand that Apollo 18 is going to the moon - No. Kill your darlings and write a tighter book. I gave it 3 stars. An okay first fiction book, but even I could have edited it to be a better book.

Finished:

The Apollo Murders
ATY prompt: A second book that fits your favorite prompt - A book by a writer honored by Queen Elizabeth II
Popsugar prompt: A book you bought from an independent bookstore
Summer challenge: Science fiction book/Sun, moon, or stars on the cover

God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God
ATY prompt: A book that is light
Popsugar prompt: none
Summer challenge: I'm lucky I found an ATY prompt

Series - 11/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells

Nobel laureates - 4/7
Random books - 5/7

ATY - 32/40
PS - 29/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 10/12
Around the year in 52 movies - 32/52

30. A movie related to a chess piece - Charming
31. A movie found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com - The Pale Blue Eye

Currently reading:

Eldest - 60% done
I Know Who You Are - 50% done

Buddy Reads:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 23/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 11/21 chapters

QOTW:
This is a timely question as Chris Hadfield is coming out with a second book, featuring Kaz in a new mission/assignment. Do I read it? Maybe I'll cop out and let my husband read it and tell me if he fixed his pacing problems in this one.

I have decided to give Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin a second chance with her fiction, on the off chance that the first book was just establishing her protagonist and the second will get better. Like Chris, she's super-smart and I admire her. I want them both to succeed as fiction writers, but 2 chances is all they are getting.

I guess I might try to give a writer 2 chances, if the first book was at least a 3 star read. A one or two star read and no second chance.

Happy Thursday!

We got the expected rain. It wasn't horrible, and it was muggy. But the best thing was that it cooled down to like high 70s to mid 80s. The 90s will come back with a vengeance before long though.

Tuesday I woke up at 3 something in the morning. I was wide awake. It was stare at the ceiling in the dark awake. So instead I got up and took the dogs outside and tried to relax enough to go back to sleep. That didn't happen until about 4:45 or so. I plopped on the couch and dozed until 6. Sadly I had to get up and go to work.

The worst thing was that I was so tired that I was wide awake that night. I didn't even yawn until midnight.

Other than that, I've been trying to laminate the huge backlog of manga and light novels in the back room. Four stacks about 2 1/2 feet tall. So not fun.

I always fall behind during Summer Reading. I have to concentrate on that so my other work gets pushed to the background.

Plus, I'm adding more as I process the new stuff as it comes in. I have three four stacks of processed books in my office that i'm trying to get out along with three stacks of unprocessed books. Sigh.

My niece is now mobile! She crawling and picking herself up to stand. She is so adorable. My sister still calls her typhoid baby. With affection, of course. She did get us sick. My little typhoid baby.

And then, my grocery store HAD to have a display of Halloween board books. Cute adorable squeaking bat, ghosts, spideys, pumpkins and so many others. I sorta splurged and got them.

My sister came down on Saturday, she left me alone in the BABY CLOTHES section. Unsupervised. With cute baby clothes. It's like leaving me unsupervised in the bookstore. You don't. BAAAAAD idea. Super bad idea. Like too-many-cute-clothes-i-bought-out-the-store bad idea.

Popsugar: 25/50
Finished: None
Reading: None that I’m aware of
I may have filled a couple but I can remember now.

Aty:31/52
Finished:None
I must rearrange a couple of titles before I can list them. I don’t remember what they are. Except Raven of the Inner Court 2 and 3. 2 has a moon which fulfills the moon, sun, stars prompt, and 3 is replacing it for the ghost/specter one.

Reading: None that I’m aware of

Goodreads Challenge 476/400
Finished:
Solo Leveling, Vol. 3
My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1 vol 2
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 2
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 3
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4
The Billionaire and the Virgin

Reading:
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too, (Light Novel) Vol. 3
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior (Light Novel) Vol. 4
The Scarlet Alchemist
Fourth Wing
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares

Nadine's Mini Challenge 8/10
Finished:

Reading: None

QOTW:

I think I wouldn't try the author again if I disliked their writing the first time. If I liked one of their books, I would definitely try others by them, and if I didn't like that book/series, I would most likely be disinclined to try again except for the book that I liked.

Nadine,

Fair warning if you give Fourth Wing a try, it does get much spicier than your average fantasy book. I know that is fine with some people, and a deal breaker for others.

Finished: The Science of Breakable Things
Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care This mostly focused on stories of projects the authors did with elders. They were inspiring, but I would have liked more of a how-to format.

Started: Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World

QotW: The strongest instance of this I can think of is Diana Wynne Jones. I picked up a book of hers (The Merlin Conspiracy), and just didn't really get into it. But I had bought it, so instead of getting rid of her, I just gave up on it for the time and tried it again later. She ended up being one of my favorite authors and I read everything she had ever written!

This has made it harder for me to get rid of books because in the back of my head, I'm wondering, did I not like it or was it just not the right time?

Nadine in NY wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Fourth Wing - My library had the audio available for this, and I'd been hearing a lot of buzz. Normally i'm hit or miss on the buzzy books, but I was pretty sold on dragon riders. I e..."

It's an interesting book. It doesn't have the highfalutin language like a regular fantasy book would have. it's more down and dirty with everyday language and f-bombs. there's also a heavy dose of sarcasm and snark too.

I put it down for a while. I need to leave it alone for other things until i'm ready to pick it back up. I was highly enjoying it until i read the last page. big mistake.

Don't look at the very last page if you read it. Normally there is no major plot bomb on the very last page. There is in this one. Just don't look.

I did and regret it heartily cuz now i'm spoiled. sigh.

anyway, it's a you breath wrong and you die sort of fantasy with a bit of political intrigue, war, and dragons.

it new adult and definitely has a lot of eyeball sex for the mcs and mention of it.

Greetings from NYC! Like Nadine, weather is a tiny bit cooler but mostly still too humid, though yesterday was gorgeous. I played hooky - went to see Barbie (weekdays you can see in a mostly empty theater that otherwise is sold out). Working for oneself means you can sneak off to the movies or lunch with a friend. The movie got out late enough (due ot the full half hour of previews, not one of which is enticing me back to see the movie) that I had to stop halfway home and find a park bench in Central Park sufficiently isolated to join in a conference call on one of my cases. Ah, so painful, sitting in the shade with a light breeze, sun shining, green all around, bikers and runners in the distance.

I LOVED Barbie! So clever and fun -- and it all looks so effortless which we all know it wasn't. I keep remembering moments and just take a moment to admire the delicate balance maintained throughout the movie - pushing to the edge yet still keeping it light. I did have a Barbie as a kid but it was passed on to my sisters and was left behind in my far distant childhood. I actually had no idea how far the whole Barbie franchise has gone with Mattel.

PS - I'm at 39/50. I am currently reading 2 which will knock off a couple more prompts.

Finished:
Liar's Poker - this was my book about a sport/athlete - bond tranding in the 1980s was a blood sport after all.
The Restaurant and Christmas at the Restaurant - 2 more of Pamela M. Kelley's books set on Nantucket, this time revolving around a family that owns one of the restaurants mentioned in her Beach Plum Cove Inn series. Enjoyable and the perfect antidote to Liar's Poker 😁

Currently reading:
Lolita
Les Misérables

QOTW:
I have no rule. It really depends on many factors. Three examples:

Hilary Mantel - I was so angry with Wolf Hall, finding it just badly written and a torture to after the first 100 pages or so. I have so far refused to read any more of her books, and certainly no more of the Cromwell series. BUT, I keep hearing that her one set during the French Revolution is really good and written differently than Wolf Hall -- so I have added it to my TBR. I was a French History major, and still a serious francophile and love reading fiction set during and around the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Some authors become experimental in their later books and it may not work for you. Doesn't mean earlier works won't suit you.

Louise Penny - I read Still Life as an ARC way back when and was not impressed. Did not hate it but found it not particularly interesting or well written - not different enough from any number of other mystery writers I was reading regularly. So I never read another. Years, decades pass, and every friend I have who loves mysteries as I do, and reads the same authors I do, adores her series and can't wait for the next to be published. So I re-read Still LIfe last year and liked it - still had some of the issues that made me find it underwhelming, but I think I'll try a few more. All my friends say that she really hits her stride around the 4th or 5th in the series. I also see she has a non-series book out - or maybe it's a different series - will try that. I do believe that most writers should not be judged on their first published book alone as it can take time to develop as a writer and with series to develop the series. On the other hand, you can be a Patrick Rothfuss and have only one good book in you. Or a series can just stop working for you = the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich lost me around the 10th volume or so. They just seemed to be more or less the same plot recirculated with Stephanie herself never growing and moving on -- I understand nearly 30 books into the series, she's still bopping between Ranger and Joe - pick one already! Or dump both! That alone was driving me nuts. Though I loved Grandma and Lula .... the main character and plots were stagnate - I had enough.

[Author:Kristin Hannah|54493] - my first book of hers was a Christmas novella - Comfort & Joy - which is magical, very different for a holiday book and I loved it and have even re-read it. The second book I read of hers was The Nightingale which blew me away - just so good. However, everything I've read since then - her earlier women's fiction - has been ho hum. I don't seek them out but if one pops up in my TBR, I'll read it. I might try another of her historical fiction if the subject interests me. She is not a writer that works for me.

Hi Everyone, I read two books for the week both for Pop Sugar. I also finished the Pop Sugar Challenge this morning.
1. Mercury Pictures Presents. 3 stars. PS # 11 A book about or set in Hollywood. I was expecting to really like this book. It got better by the end but parts felt long.
2. Love, Theoretically. 5 stars. PS # 32 A book that came out in the second half of 2023. I really like Ali Hazelwood.
QOTW: It's rare I haven't finished a book but the author that comes to mind is David Foster Wallace. There are two authors that I'm glad I read a book of theirs but will never read them again.
1. A Little Life
2. Freshwater

Hi from WI! We are having a hell of a heat wave up here - yesterday I saw a high of 101 which is extremely unusual for us. It's supposed to break tomorrow with temps going back down into the 70s. I'm originally from the south so I'm more prepared for this but up here we're really not set up to handle this very well. Yesterday there were power outages all over area - luckily not for very long. And they've had to cancel school in some districts because not all the schools have AC - or having some small window units that are not up to the job. Stay hydrated friends, and keep your animals out of the sun!

Finished
Flashback: I continue to enjoy this park ranger mystery series, though I didn't like the historical timeline in this one.
The Baker & the Bard: ARC of a graphic novel that will be out next spring; recommend for cozy fantasy peeps
Jane Austen Embroidery: Regency Patterns Reimagined for Modern Stitchers: even if you aren't an embroidery person, if you love Jane Austen or the Georgian/Regency period pick this up. so much interesting information about needlework and fashion during that era

Currently Reading
The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession: working through this an essay at a time, interesting but I think I prefer his long form work
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot: I think I waited like 6 months to get the audiobook of this so I *will* finish it before it goes back to the library, but I keep having to stop to think about what she's saying
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: it's an ARC so I really really don't want to dnf but I'm seriously not enjoying it so far

QOTW
I guess it depends on why I didn't like the book. If I didn't jive with the writing style, that's likely a one and done. If it's more like a plot situation, I'll probably give it another go but with a more discerning eye. Like for example, I loved The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware but hated The Turn of the Key by her. I'll still pick up a book by her again, but I'll stick to the ones that have a premise I'm really into.

Just an ordinary week. More and more colleagues are coming back from their vacations, so it gets busier and busier.

PS: 33/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 44/52

Finished
Displaced by Stephan Abarbanell⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not for PS.
1946, a young Jewish woman is sent to Germany on a secret mission by the Jewish resistance in Palestine. She embarks on a journey through a shattered Germany, full of displaced persons and goods. Elias Lind has asked her to find out whether is brother is still alive or not. He was declared dead by the Britihs, but Elias has reasons to believe he is still alive. The story itself is not that impressive. The impression of the uncertainty, living between hope and loss is impressive.

Currently reading
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore(longest on TBR). I’m making progress: just read about Napoleon last weekend. Still about 300 pages left…
Destino by Raffaella Romagnolo

QOTW
If I really don’t like a book, I’m not likely to read another book by that author. Unless… everyone is talking me into it because ‘this one is really different’ or when the description indicates it’s really different and everyone is telling it’s great.

Nadine in NY wrote: "They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!"

In their defense (and in this case it is legit) I didn't want it back and I definitely don't want it back now. By the time I found out they took it I'd already bought a new one, so there was no point for me to get the old one back, and by now the damage is so terrible I wouldn't even feel right taking it home and giving it away for free. The whole right wheel is no longer a straight circle, for example.

PostNL failed again today, so I am still in a heightened sense of anxiety waiting for news. I will take it as far as I need to but fuck I'm so exhausted. I don't want to have to take it that far. I don't want to waste an entire afternoon at a police station trying to explain what happened. So I just really need this letter to contain good news: that they'll reimburse me for the new wheelchair. Some extra pixie dust would be nice too cuz wtaf was this?? But honestly, just a compensation for what we had to spend because they messed up is all I'm after.

It sucks, cuz on June 12th I got the email saying they'd passed it on to the claims department, and I'd hear from them via mail. August 9th I emailed them to ask if there was any news because I'd still not heard from them and I figured 2 months was a fair enough time to wait before asking. They said they'd pass it along again and they'd 'send it out again'. When I saw ESPAGNE on the envelope I knew why it had taken so long. It was stamped on June 20 so they really got back to me fast. But putting the wrong country on the address will really slow things down. It's a miracle it's showing up here at all when you think about it; someone must have taken to Google to see where the address was located!

Seeing that made me extra glad that I sent along my address in my August mail because I had a feeling jhadsksgd

Jackie wrote: "Hi from WI! We are having a hell of a heat wave up here - yesterday I saw a high of 101 which is extremely unusual for us. It's supposed to break tomorrow with temps going back down into the 70s. I..."

That's crazy!!! We often get your weather the next day, but I don't see 100 degF in our forecast for tomorrow.

Our schools don't have a/c, either. I wonder how hot it has to get for them to cancel school.

I keep seeing Fourth Wing everywhere too. It's all that is talked about on TikTok. I'll admit that part of me is curious about it, but ultimately I know it's something I won't read for a variety of reasons. Still though, it's nice to see that people are enjoying it.

The problem for me about TikTok is that I have to dig deep for NF readers. I follow a lot of booktoker's just for the fun of it, but there are only 2 that are NF readers.

*****

On the topic of NF, I am still reading The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet . I'm only in the middle of ch.6, but I'm hoping to read it by the end of August. It's been a really good book so far. Ch. 5 was a bit dry but that's okay. The rest has been really good.

I have my September tbr set, but I certainly want to get going on The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America . That is going to be a main focus along with these other two Indigenous books: The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America and Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America .

Mandy wrote: "it new adult and definitely has a lot of eyeball sex for the mcs ..."



Hmmm this gives me pause. I usually hate new adult, and new adult usually has a ton of buzz, so this explains the buzz.

I AM super curious though, so I still want to read it!!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "it new adult and definitely has a lot of eyeball sex for the mcs ..."



Hmmm this gives me pause. I usually hate new adult, and new adult usually has a ton of buzz, so this explains ..."

new adult covers 18 to 25. she's twenty something, i believe.

It's the first week back to class for my anatomy students and it has been hellish. Every part of the online learning platforms are glitching and not working so I've been crying, not reading. I finished no books

On the other hand tonight I'm listening to Dacre Stoker, Bram Stoker's great grand nephew talking about his uncle and his writing on a live stream from a library in SC along with the band Valentine Wolf (whom I love).

QOTW Interesting question. Honestly if I stop getting something from an author it's often more because of the author's public life than their writing (I see no value in giving money to pedophiles, racists, homo or trans phobes etc).

That said if I find the writing to be weak, I'll stop getting it. I run into this issue when series go on to long. I stop getting the series but would probably try another book from that author. If I try a handful of books from an author and they synch up with my tastes then I'll move on but it's usually a less conscious choice. However, a few I disliked so intensely that I haven't given a second chance

Happy Thursday! I have a few days off from work, until Monday, so enjoying a little break.

Finished:
Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire - 4 stars - for a book I read more than 10 years ago. I'm glad I reread, because I'd forgotten a lot about this series.

Comics & manga:
Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 39
Persona 5, Vol. 7
The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 17
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Vol. 26
Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan Vol. 8
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Vol. 10
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Vol. 11
Rainbow Days, Vol. 5
How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 9

I am currently at 48/50 for Popsugar (39/40 and 9/10).

Currently reading:
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling - for a book with a pet character. I just wanted something quick and light while I'm in vacation-prep mode, and this fits the bill.

Upcoming/Planned:
The Brass Queen - for the "bought secondhand" prompt, but I'm going to twist it to "borrowed from the library" so I'm still reading a secondhand book, just not buying it.

QOTW:
In general, unless there's something I know I really don't like about the author or their work ("author jail," as Brandon put it), I usually give an author two strikes before they're out for good.

Two week check-in. Time flies. We've had lovely cool, rainy weather the past few days. I haven't been able to enjoy it much because something is wrong with my legs and I can hardly walk. I'm having an MRI in a couple of hours, so hopefully there will be a resolution.

Most of my reading time has been spent on a War and Peace audiobook (nearly 50% done). I'm enjoying it a lot.

Finished
The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons - 4 stars; PS #32 published in second half of 2023
I loved this book about a woman who owns a bookstore and begins a book club in the shelter she creates in a back room during the London Blitz in WWII. Delightful characters, lots of feel good moments (and feel sad moments as well).

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie - 4 stars
My monthly Christie. This is a Miss Marple tale that is as delightful as always. And as always, I didn't guess the murderer. This was published in the 1960s, and her novels are growing right along with the times as far as cultural issues. Still a racial slur or two for Italians though, but to be expected back then, unfortunately.

Goodreads: 56/90
Popsugar: 42/50

QOTW:
It depends on how badly I hated the book. The more the hate, the less likely I will try it again (looking at you, Gabriel García Márquez). If an author I already like writes a bad book, I will give them another chance. And if it is a series that I have invested a lot of time reading but gets bad along the way, I will probably finish the series eventually.

Happy Thursday! I made it, just barely!!

Finished 32/50

How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self for "book with just words in the title". It was actually pretty good!

As I Lay Dying for "celebrity book club read". WEIRD book. I don't know how I feel about it.

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians for "book about a family". I liked it! Nice junior reader fantasy. Sanderson's answer to Harry Potter, basically.

Currently Reading

Every Memory Deserves Respect: EMDR, the Proven Trauma Therapy with the Power to Heal for "book bought secondhand". REALLY good so far! Totally recommend for trauma survivors.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter for "book released in second half of 2023". I'm halfway through and liking it so far!

QotW

It REALLY depends. I gave Hemmingway three tries before I realized I was done since he comes so highly recommended, but I read ACOTAR and hated it so much, I won't read anything more by her (yes, I know everyone loves this series...I stand by my hate. XD). So it really depends on just how badly an impression they leave, lol.

Happy Thursday! Yesterday and today were beautiful. I enjoyed them immensely. But yet more rain for tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday. This weekend is looking like a stay inside and read weekend.

Finished:

How High We Go in the Dark (ATY 3 books set in different centuries book 3) 3 stars. Good but I wish that you could have checked in with each character for more than one chapter.

The Starless Sea (ATY object repeated on cover) 4 stars. A secret library! Sign me up! The descriptions in this book are so magical.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (PS main characters name in the title) 5 stars. I devoured this one. The author is very talented in creating a "unlikeable" character who you still cared about.

Currently reading:

Great Circle (ATY related to a geometric shape)

Upcoming:

Triptych (PS becoming a tv series or movie 2023)

QOTW: It really depends. If the first book I read is either bad or not written to my taste, I will not pick up another. (Alex I completely agree with you. I read only the first book in ACOTAR and could not understand why everyone loves it so much.) On the other hand, if I think a book was ok but didn't live up to its potential then I will give the author one other try. I thought Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic was ok but I liked The Daughter of Doctor Moreau better. If I read a book I really love then I will usually give an author more tries if they have some "just ok" books after that.

Happy Thursday! It's been so gross and muggy here- I'm ready for summer to be over. I need the cold! We're finishing up a huge project at work this week- it feels like we've been working double time, and are finally getting a chance to relax a little. It's pretty satisfying to get this huge order done though.

Finished:
Today Will Be Different- I really liked Semple's first book Where'd You Go, Bernadette, but I did not care for this book at all. At least it was a quick read, but what a disappointment.
-43 A book that takes place entirely in one day

After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made- nonfiction about different countries that have slid into fascism and loss of individual freedoms. I found it really interesting how he explored the patterns of authoritarianism that happen around the world. The writer worked in Obama's administration, so he has a lot of personal experiences he brings to the book.
-no prompt

Paused:
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop- I had 20 pages left in this, and my ebook loan ran out! My friend had told me if you put your phone in airplane mode you can hold onto the loan for a little longer, but that was NOT true, lol. Now I have to wait like two months to finish it...


QotW:
After college, when I was trying to read through a lot of the "important" authors, I would give authors two tries before I bailed on them. I wound up reading a lot of books I didn't like though, so I decided to stop with that. Now it really just depends. If I didn't hate a book, just found it didn't work for me, I'm more willing to give the author another try. Especially if their next book sounds interesting and get a lot of positive review.

Also now that I get most of my books from the library, I can read a few chapters of the author's new book and then bail if it still isn't working for me.

Katy wrote: "Actually I only read 1 book by him I loved and read a whole bunch I hated and managed to find a couple that were OK. But, when someone writes your all time favorite book, you figure he's got to have another great one in there somewhere."

I love this! Sometimes we just can't give up on someone because we absolutely loved one of there books....that diamond in the rough.

Just saw that Fangirl was listed on a banned books list. Seriously?

I don't see anything wrong with it. The girl goes against the assignment, she has social anxiety disorder, her dad is bipolar, she gets involved in a general relationship with a guy in a non-sexual way. Tell me, where is the reason for it being banned?

Ron wrote: "Just saw that Fangirl was listed on a banned books list. Seriously?

I don't see anything wrong with it. The girl goes against the assignment, she has social anxiety disorder, her d..."

Censorship groups like to challenge anything that has profanity or takes the Lord's name in vain. I haven't seen Fangirl listed anywhere but it wouldn't surprise me; Rowell's other book Eleanor & Park has been challenged for profanity and encouraging "bad behavior" - they like to be vague in their reasoning too.

Wow! What a week!

Last week I told you that my shed ceiling had fallen in and that there was mold around the insulation and ceiling sheet rock. Well, I got the quote for the work on Tuesday, lost a bunch of sleep due to brain still trying to assimilate the cost, talked with the roofer contractor again, called the financial planner, made plans to withdraw the monies from investments, signed the contract ~ all on Wednesday!

The contractor’s card also said they do gutters, so I asked if he could do the front gutter on the shed, which is too high for me on my regular ladder to clean and which was full of pine straw. He recommended a guy, who came out Thursday accompanied by the contractor to view the job and he completed it (cleaning out the gutter and putting a cap over it to prevent buildup again) while he was here!

The roofing crew is coming out either today or tomorrow to do the work. Since I had expected that they would be coming in a week and not this week, I did not think the monies for the roof would have been processed and put into my bank account until today or Monday. Oh, no! The monies were there on Thursday (the next day). All I can say is wow!

Since the lawn care company usually comes on Friday, I had to arrange for him to come a day earlier just in case the roofing crew and their dumpster were here blocking access to the backyard. Thankfully he could make the change.

I started taking a medication for prevention of further development of psoriatic arthritis (one finger so far) and to clear my body of the plaque buildup. I am not sure it is doing much nor whether there will be funding for paying when the sample is done. I don’t have much body plaque at all, mostly on scalp. Oh, well. Guinea pig time, I guess. At least I haven’t had any of the severe side effects.

The phone photography course #1 session was great! I learned a lot about my new phone’s camera. I also learned a bit about container gardening and am excited to try some for next year’s planting.

Regarding Popsugar and reading, I am getting a bit weary of reading. Perhaps that is because so many other things are happening in my life that are exciting and interesting as well as the fact that I am inundated by library books! Sixteen with six of those having final due dates within the next 10 days. Yikes! I am also tired of having books, particularly those I report here, hanging out on the back burner. Someone here reports continuing to work on back burner books when even a few pages are read…thus, making headway even slowly. I have decided to adopt that mode for my own pending books.

Finished:
The Ghost and the Dead Deb – Other challenge. 4*. Cozy mystery involving a bookstore owner and a 1920s PI who is now haunting the bookstore. Together they solve murders. Fun. Imaginative. Current murder solved with reference to hard-boiled cases from the past.

A Cast-Off Coven – Other challenge. 4*. Cozy mystery set in San Francisco involving a vintage clothing owner who happens to be a relative new witch finding her way into a new society as well as a new city. Lots of mysteries surrounding the vintage clothing and vintage times, which are solved in present time.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club– ATY #33. 4*. This was a typical Lord Peter Wimsey mystery. The solution was a bit surprising as all the details were worked out. Enjoyed this romp in an historical time in British society.

Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing– ATY #31. 3*. This book read like lectures…full of scholarly information with a dab of personal journey in it. I learned a lot about the writer, the reader, and the message, but it did not help me with my own struggles to set down the stories that I dream or write the new blog I have started.

My Friend Flicka – PS #39 (book wish could read for first time again). 4*. I don’t remember this specific book from my childhood, but I am sure that I read it. I read everything I could get my hands on about horses or involving horses. Since I do not re-read due to the fact that mostly I read mysteries and remember them too well to enjoy the story on a second reading, I chose a childhood story to revisit. It was delightful! I am sure I would have loved it as a child.

Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book.

The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%.

Dumplin' – PS #10. 1%

Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly - ATY Seasonal. 11%

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – PS #50. 6%. Gee, this one is due tomorrow and I have 255 pages to go!

On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Therapy – Other challenge
Pudd'nhead Wilson – ATY #34
The Chemistry of Death - ATY #35
Therapy – ATY Seasonal

PS 31/50 (plus I have 7 waiting) and 7/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 33/52 and 5/12 for Q2 Challenge, 10/12 for Summer Challenge {Finished Q1 challenge}
GR 176/200
RwS: 25/30

QotW:
If a book is awful, for whatever reason, I will seldom go back to read another by the same author. However, like several have mentioned, if it is a 3* read, which to me is OK but not great, then I will give the author another try.

I do sometimes get tired of books in series, especially when they become too much like a repetition of every book that went before with no real new thought. Or sometimes I burn out on a series because it gets darker than I like. Kay Scarpetta stories were like that for me.

Also like others on here, one bad book by an author I usually enjoy will not stop me from continuing to read the next...but two or three might. It hasn't really happened much for me, so I cannot think of an example.

Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!"

In their defense (and in this case it is legit) I didn't want it back and I definitely don't want it back now. By the tim..."

Today the letter FINALLY made its way to me. It took two tries today even, but it's here so *breathe*

They are refunding me the difference of the cost of the new chair! So basically what insurance didn't cover, Disney will! I could honestly cry with relief!

Carmen wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!"

In their defense (and in this case it is legit) I didn't want it back and I definitely don't want it back ..."

This is so good to hear, Carmen!! So glad for you <3

Carmen wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!"

In their defense (and in this case it is legit) I didn't want it back and I definitely don't want it back ..."



I'm so glad they are doing the right thing (and of course they are, they are Disney) but I'm angry that (a) it happened at all, and (b) it took SO LONG for it to be resolved.

Cornerofmadness wrote: "It's the first week back to class for my anatomy students and it has been hellish. Every part of the online learning platforms are glitching and not working so I've been crying, not reading. I fini..."


Oh you teach anatomy?! My daughter is taking anatomy this semester! Apparently she has to dissect a cat, which is no biggie for her because she already had to do that in high school.

Teri wrote: "Two week check-in. Time flies. We've had lovely cool, rainy weather the past few days. I haven't been able to enjoy it much because something is wrong with my legs and I can hardly walk. I'm having..."



That sounds kind of scary. I hope they had good news for you.

Alex wrote: "but I read ACOTAR and hated it so much, I won't read anything more by her (yes, I know everyone loves this series...I stand by my hate. XD) ..."



LOL not everyone loves her!! I've never read ACOTAR and I never will! I support you in the hate!!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "They STILL have your wheelchair??!!! This is crazy!!"

In their defense (and in this case it is legit) I didn't want it back and I definitely don'..."

b) is only slightly their fault. They sent off this letter 8 days after the case got to them, which I think is pretty solidly on time. Problem is the wrong address making it take over 2 months to get to me. Very curious how long the second one will take; that's been 15 days already as well.

Like yes, them putting Spain for the country is their fault (and I really truly wonder how they ever thought I was from Spain) but they did respond quite quickly.

Sending off my confirmation of their offer tomorrow and then I'll be waiting for a link to actually request the refund! To be continued xD

Hmm, not sure when my last check in was.

Will just do my last few reads.

My Murder A fun concept (the murder victims of a serial killer are cloned and revived, they now have to readjust to life and deal with what happened to them). Predicted the ending but just as a "I wonder if.." stray thought, so that was kind of fun. Not used for the challenge, did use for ATY'S unusual title (on the premise that people don't usually get to refer to their own murders).

We Ride Upon Sticks Really liked this. Had some issues about how it all worked and what they were thinking as it went through, but then that was actually pretty neatly resolved by the ending. I didn't realize it was written from the point of view of the team, collectively, until a fair chunk into it (I thought it was some unnamed team member narrating), but that actually also made sense for the story. Used for about an athlete / sport.

Lessons in Chemistry This didn't work for me at all. It just was such a mismatch of tone (light and quirky) and subject matter (view spoiler)[(institutional sexism, sexual assault, the loss of a partner. I think this just took me about because I wasn't expecting the first sexual assault at all, so was thrown when it happened.) (hide spoiler)]. Also parts of it were just way too far fetched, I actually physically rolled my eyes while reading a number of times. The biggest one - how did she get on a tv show? (view spoiler)[All we know is she has a confrontation with Pine about his daughter taking her daughter's lunch. Based on that one interaction he would have know what her attitude and manner of speaking were like, wouldn't have known anything about her cooking abilities. And yet, based on that he not only decides that she's right to host a cooking show, but sticks with it and fights for her when it's further revealed that she won't listen to him as the producer or go along with his vision of how the show will work? Did I miss something? I mean, I know the book tells us she's gorgeous (without putting any effort in or paying any attention to that herself of course), but in her first episode he's also telling her she looks heavy on camera. So it can't just be looks, if that was the criteria, he could have found someone else quite easily. (hide spoiler)]
Phew. Apparently I had thoughts. Well, used it for ATY's school subject in title.

Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up Not for a challenge, this was the pick for one of my book clubs. It was a compendium of some of the major mistakes or events with unintended consequences in the history of humanity. Having recently read Humankind: A Hopeful History, which argues that humans are inherently decent despite all the bad stuff we've done, I was hoping this book would be more of a counterpoint to that. But it didn't make any overarching argument about human nature, it was really just a list in book form. But amusing enough.

Currently reading The Jasmine Throne for the ATY challenge about finding an author through the literary map website. Wasn't super engaged to start but something just happened to ramp up the drama, so hopefully I'll get more into it. Although I could already stand to lose a few of the extraneous point of view characters.

Re question of the week, I don't know that I've ever really decided to give up on an author for work quality (although as mentioned above I will stop supporting them if they start promoting viewpoints I find abhorrent). I think it's more that if I didn't love a book, I don't deliberately decide that I'm not going to read them again, it's just that there's so many other things to read, I just end up not coming back to it. There's a few series I've left off that way (Stephanie Plum, Dresden Files). But then there's other series that I do fully intend to finish, but I haven't been back to in quite some time, again, just because I'm reading other stuff. And I don't always know which of the two reasons it is on the ones I've stopped. Hmm, maybe I need to get more deliberate about my reading choices.