Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Wow this week went by FAST!!  How can it be Thursday again??


Admin stuff
I think Lynn is having Internet problems so I scrambled to set up the Final poll for November - it SHOULD be open now, after I spent twenty minutes wrestling with different time zones:  
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

And tomorrow is SEPTEMBER, the group read will be Longbourn
(wow how is it September already???)





This week I finished three books, two for this Challenge, and I DNF'ed one book.

finished:
The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe - I first read this series back in the 80s when it was first published, and I loved it with all my heart.  It still stands as one of my all-time favorites, but this is my first re-read!  I was a little scared haha.  But it stands up!  This book is bonkers!  The hero encounters all kinds of crazy things, including some cave-dwelling ape men that instantly become loyal to him because of a gem he holds (that's what is pictured on the cover art).   This was my book I read more than ten years ago.

Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik - I loved the first book in this series, and I thought I had finally found a sci-fi romance writer I could get behind - I love romance and I love sci-fi, but I've been unable to find good sci-fi romance.  This book was NOT great.  The story was fine, but the writing was ridiculous, just constantly telling us the same things over and over - was it this bad in the first book too and I just didn't notice??  I'm crossing this author off my list ...   

The Big Gold Dream by Chester Himes - this is book three in Himes' Harlem Cycle, and I think maybe he was tired of writing these, it's all over the place.  This was my book with a color in the title.

DNF:
Landwhale: On Turning Insults Into Nicknames, Why Body Image Is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass] - this book was ... fine, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be.  I expected more of a well-organized manifesto, but it's really just a piecemeal memoir about how she's still dealing with past trauma.  Plus, I listened to the audiobook, and the author reads this, which IMO is almost always a mistake. Authors just don't know how to read aloud.  She kept pausing in the middle of sentences, where a comma would never be, for emphasis I guess.  Finally, 2/3 of the way in, I realized I just didn't want to listen to it any more.  And then I realized I don't have to!  Why force yourself to read books that neither thrill nor educate you?  It's not like it was for a Challenge category.




Question of the Week
How did you (or how are you planning to) handle the re-read categories in this year's challenge?  Do you often re-read books?


I am NOT a re-reader!  So when these "re-read a favorite!" type categories pop up, it's a true challenge for me!  And this year we had TWO of them! Yikes!  

Luckily for me, last year I decided it was time to finally re-read Gene Wolfe's Solar Cycle in its entirety.  And I started reading the first book, but completely stalled, because I am not a re-reader.  I was enjoying the book, but I always  had some other book I wanted to read first, so I never picked up the re-read.

So this year I went back to the beginning, I read the first book in the series for "wish you could read for the first time" and the second book in the series for "read ten years ago" (and seriously how are those categories not the same category?  I'm still so disappointed in this year's challenge categories).  It's working out well for me, these books are just as good the second time through.

I have no idea how it's Thursday again. I am just going through the motions from one crisis to another.

Yesterday Lucy stopped eating, so what was supposed to be a fun afternoon talking to a friend about our upcoming Disney trip got hijacked by me taking care of the bunbun. Had just made an emergency appointment at the vet's, trying to find a ride (home alone), when she started eating again and her temp finally went up again. During Mickey's evening check I found a small wound (presumably from a cat) and I was about to break down.

Luckily the wound seems to be healing well so fingers crossed nothing will get infected. Other than that I think he's doing great! He lost the scab from the maggots so his skin can fully recover now!

Today at 11am was the sale of the Annual Pass Party from DLP which is always a disaster so I was ramped up, and of course this morning Ezra had a stomach ache. Caught him, gave him painkillers and bowel stimulating meds (this one just in case so I only had to grab him once), checked his temp (which was good) and put him back outside to keep an eye on.

Ticket sales started as a disaster because the right page wasn't loading, but once it did, it went very smoothly. Save for the fact that the website doesn't know how to send an approval request to our CC and instead just says it was declined. Long live PayPal! And then Ezra was eating again too!

So now I'm on the couch, refusing to move until 5pm when the dogs need walking and dinner needs cooking, watching The Handmaid's Tale, because what better time to finally start watching a fucked up heavy show than when your mental health is a mess xD It felt like the right time, and so far it's working so yay!

Still no books- what a surprise. Barely reading fics at the moment either, cuz I'm in a watching mood. Did I say I caught up on Doctor Who? I have no clue about time anymore.

QOTW
I love rereading books! I'm still particular about it, and have to be in the right mood (which means the prompts can still be hit or miss). The rereading one you read more than 10 years ago prompt is not my favorite however, cuz it limits what I can reread, which doesn't help the mood part I need, haha! I'm not reading at all currently so who knows, this might not even be a problem eventually xD

I'll be on a bus for 7 hours in less than a month, what do we think? Will I read a book? Will I read a downloaded longfic? Or will I just end up staring into nothing listening to music imagining scenarios that will never happen? xD

I took a break from reading (unintended) the week of 8/17 but am back at it this week.

I am at 23/40 for the challenge and 36 books total for the year.

Over the weekend, I read The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev for "a book about a forbidden romance." I started reading this book a few months ago before I decided to do the challenge. I needed something light after some pretty heavy topics in previous reads so came back to this one and finished it pretty quickly. I enjoyed it. It was an original idea and the characters were well developed IMO. It's also a Mindy Kaling book selection if you need "celebrity book list."

On Monday, I was looking for inspiration and found it here in this group. I downloaded Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson from my library and read it in one sitting. It was recommended as a "book banned in 2022" and that is how I used it. This has been a TBR for me for a long time and the reco gave me the push to read it. It's 200 pages and YA so goes pretty fast. Very well done. Narrator is a 13-year old girl.

QotW
I do re-read books. I re-read The Fault in Our Stars in June having first read it in 2014. This again was before I decided to do the challenge but conveniently it slotted right into "... wish you could read again for the first time."

Typically when I re-read a book, it is when I want to revisit characters I like. Often I will skim to the parts of the book I enjoyed. With TFIOS, I read it cover to cover.

Sidebar story: I originally read TFIOS as an e-book from the libary. I found a hardcover copy at our local independent book store's used book section and bought it for $3. This time, obviously I read my hardcover. I was crushed when one of my dogs chewed on it! I've never had this happen but we adopted two (additional) dogs in December and this was a lesson for me. The book is still readable but it's literally dog-eared now.

Agree with Nadine above that the two re-read categories are pretty similar and very unoriginal.

Happy Thursday! I’ll be out of town for a few days this weekend at the OCTA theatre competition in Cincinnati* - we’re performing a scene from The Children’s Hour, which I’d worked on back in February. I’m glad to revisit the material, but not thrilled about the drive (although I’ve never been to Cincy before), and I’ve never competed at OCTA before so I’m doing my best to look at it with an optimistic attitude. And I’m only staying overnight on Friday and we’re heading back home as soon as we can on Saturday (yay carpooling!) so I’ll have Sunday and Monday to relax and maybe get some work reading done around the house.

*Small point of order for the September discussion: As I'll be out of town this weekend, I'll be getting a late start on Longbourn (likely next Tuesday), but I have some prereading questions lined up to get us started!

Finished this week:
Summer Sons - 3 stars. I wanted to like this more than I did for its queer Gothic themes, but something was missing.

Thornhedge - 4 stars. I’m officially T Kingfisher trash and I love it. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023

Right to the Kill - 4 stars. Sailing right along in my Harmony Black/Daniel Faust reading; there’s only 3 books left to be fully caught up in these series, and it’s been such a ride! This one featured killer monster mermaids 😀

Red Dragon - DNF. Not nearly enough Hannibal Lecter in this Hannibal Lecter book, and homophobia/repressed gay tendencies is so LAZY.

“Sixty-Six Seconds”, from Urban Enemies - 5 stars. A great little short story in the Faust/Black universe, and the introduction of a new character!

The Descent of Monsters - 4 stars. I'm a sucker for epistolary books and the intrigue was excellent.

PS 39/50
ATY 47/52
Mount TBR 39/60
HF Summer Reading challenge 18/50 +2 bonus

Currently:
The Locust Job - that new character from SSS shows back up here, and onward we go!
Soccer in Sun and Shadow - I desperately need to come back and knock this one out, it’s stalled since Twelfth Night closed

Upcoming:
Longbourn
The Crown Tower (maybe)
Love in the Time of Cholera
Camp Damascus
The Lies of Locke Lamora reread
Black Tie Required
…September is stacked!

QOTW: How did you (or how are you planning to) handle the re-read categories in this year's challenge? Do you often re-read books? I liked the reread categories! I found a different translation of Beowulf that I'd been meaning to read for ages, for Book You Read 10+ Years Ago, and I lovedddd getting back to Unwind after 5ish years for Book You Wish You Could Read for the First Time Again (although any of my rereads could've worked for this one, because I love them all dearly).

I don't reread as much as I used to, but I still probably reread about 10-15 things a year. Tamora Pierce's Alanna series was a great revisit, and Are You There God? It's Me Margaret brought back so much nostalgia.

I finished The Raven Thief as one of my books published in 2023. It was a locked room mystery. I feel the author was more interested in the how than the who, but it was pretty good.

I read Rebekah as my book with the main character's name in the title.

QOTW: I haven't been much of a re-reader in the past, but since doing this challenge, I realize that books I read 15 years ago or more, I just really don't remember that clearly so it's almost like reading it for the first time. So, for the reread of a book more than 10 years ago I picked a Dickens book I read in 1993. He's my fave classic author and I hardly remembered anything of a Tale of Two Cities. For the book you'd like to read for the first time, I picked a childhood favorite, that again, I barely remembered.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

This has been another very busy week!

While I did manage to finish quite a few books since last week’s update, I actually finished almost all of them over the weekend. I just haven’t had much time for reading since Monday, due to all the service calls and doctor’s appointments I had scheduled.

Fortunately, this is the last day that I have any commitments this week, so I should be able to focus more on reading over the weekend.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 690/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 290/634
📱Ebook TBR: 8/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 310/883 (35.1% complete)

This is the second week in a row that I have not bought any books!

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 401
“New” Books Read in 2023: 373/401 (93.0% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Diamonds Are Forever — This is the fourth novel in the James Bond series. I thought this book was much more interesting than the previous one, and felt like the action was on par with what I’ve come to expect from the movie adaptations. That being said, this book does include some problematic content, due to when it was written. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book includes racism and racial slurs, homophobia, torture, and references to rape. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Lock Every Door — While there are a couple of Riley Sager books that I have yet to read, I feel pretty confident in saying that this book is my favorite that he has written. I really enjoyed re-reading this book, and thought the story was just as thrilling as it was the first time I read it! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Hunting for a Highlander — This is the eighth book in the Highland Brides series. I really enjoyed this story, and thought the main characters were very well suited to each other. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to rape, as well as spousal abuse. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Acceptance — This is the third book in the Southern Reach trilogy. Although this was my least favorite book in the trilogy (because of the frequent changes in perspective, which were often accompanied by time jumps), I actually thought that it was a great ending to the story. I’m really glad that I took the time to read this trilogy, and I’m looking forward to a re-watch of the movie adaptation of book one (which is very different from the original). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers — This was my second time reading this book, and I found it just as interesting as I did the first time. I thought the new epilogue was a really good addition to the book. Because of the book’s subject matter, I would definitely recommend checking trigger/content warnings prior to reading. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book includes a lot of detailed description of medical procedures (including dissection), as well as the decomposition of the human body. It also includes a chapter on cannibalism, as well as detailed descriptions of scientific experiments involving animals, many of which are disturbing. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Bookshop That Floated Away — I purchased this book after reading about The Book Barge in Jen Cambell’s The Bookshop Book. I thought the concept of a floating bookshop was awesome, and was fully prepared to love this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t. I wouldn’t say that I disliked it, but was left with more of a “meh” feeling after finishing it. 📚: ⭐️⭐️

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

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 56, so I haven’t made a tremendous amount of progress this week. However, I should be able to dive back into this story over the weekend, and I anticipate finishing it in the next couple of weeks. 📚
~Highland Treasure — This is the ninth book in the Highland Brides series. I’m currently about halfway through this book, and I’m really enjoying it so far. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to (and a scene of) torture, and references to rape. (hide spoiler)] 📚
~Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War — Right now, I’m three chapters into this book, and it has been fascinating so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have an opportunity to continue reading this one today, because I'm really enjoying it. 📚

QOTW:
Even though I’m not doing this year’s POPSUGAR challenge, I have done a little bit of re-reading. Most of this year’s re-reads have been books I originally read as library books before buying (or being gifted) a copy of my own.

I actually do enjoy re-reading books, but since I’m trying to read down my TBR and “New Books” lists, I haven’t had a chance to do very much of it this year. Some of my favorite authors to re-read are Jane Austen, Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Re-reading favorite books is very comforting to me, so it’s highly likely that I’ll pick an old favorite to read if I’m not feeling well, physically or mentally.

Happy Thursday.

I've been sick since Tuesday, but getting a little better each day. It was only 7 degrees this morning. September and October are sometimes heat on going to the office and AC on coming home months.

I finished my summer reading challenge! And technically, I finished PopSugar. I said I was only doing 30 prompts and technically I achieved it. Of course, anything else I read for which I can find a PS prompt will be bonus.

I got behind in ATY in 52 movies and got more caught up this week.

Unfortunately, I had to renew Eldest for a second time - me and 700 page books don't mix well.

Finished:

I Know Who You Are
ATY prompt: A book that involves a murder
Popsugar prompt: Can't find one
Summer challenge: Author's initials can be found in SURFBOARD (AF)

Of Mice and Men
ATY prompt: A novella (121 pages)
Popsugar prompt: A book you should have read in high school (2 people in the discussion said they read it in high school)
Summer challenge: A book primarily set outdoors/A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies

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

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

ATY - 34/40
PS - 30/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 12/12 - Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 35/52

32. A movie set in a UNESCO City of Literature - I Tonya (Lillehammer)
33. A movie by an writer/actor with a first name popular in 1923 - That Darn Cat (director Robert)
34. A short movie - Lego Disney Princess Castle Quest (49 minutes)

Currently reading:

Eldest - 80% done

Buddy Reads:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 23/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 12/21 chapters

QOTW: I think I used to enjoy re-reading books. Ironically, I got into reading prompts to diversify my reading. Now, I don't have time to re-read, except for books I'm re-reading with my kids.

Hi all,

Had a lovely Chicago trip over the weekend! Was great seeing all my family and friends there, and went to another summerween party. Yes it's a thing, yes it's fun. Reused my summer Bride of Frakenstein costume. Luckily it's really comfortable and packs well!

This week I finished:

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - Re-read so I could read the next book. I don't think i liked it as much the second time around as I did the first, but it's still a fun series.

For We Are Many - last book for my tbr challenge! 22 books selected by my book club for me to read this year. All from books I own but haven't read. I've actually doing pretty well on the tbr front in general, my owned list is now below 200! we'll ignore some of the new purchases that I haven't necessarily shelved yet haha.

Ninth House - finished audio book, was pretty good. I'll probably grab the next one once I finish the current one i'm listening to.

Currently reading:

The Vegetarian- very weird! not sure what to think yet. And i'm over half done haha.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - current audio book. I like it, although I kinda wish the whole thing was just the octopus narrating, haha. His bits are my favorite.

QOTW:

I've always been a re-reader, although less so now that I can easily borrow library books digitally. But i'll still go back for comfort reads to give my brain a break or just because I feel like it.

My only real problem with the re-reading prompts is deciding how I wanna handle it. Like the book you wish you can read again for the first time, my first thought was Night Circus. I already read that once a year, but usually in the fall to get atmospheric. I didn't want to have that prompt open all the way til then (I'm finished now). And a lot of my other absolute favorites I already re-read fairly recently. So I went with a book I like a lot, but due to changing tech and the world etc it you can't just read it like it used to hit before real-world tech started catching up to the sci fi. So I'd like to re-read it back when it was written, for the first time, to really appreciate the future-thinking.

The 10 years ago was also a bit of a thinker, because I haven't had good reads for 10 years. I was going to read a childhood book I haven't re-read since then, but I ended up realizing it's been at least 10 years since I read Cat's Cradle. Usually if I really want to re-read a book I don't wait 10 years. I didn't like it nearly as much as I did a decade ago, oh well.

Sheri wrote: "The Vegetarian- very weird! not sure what to think yet. And i'm over half done haha. ..."



LOL that book was SOOOOO much weirder than I anticipated!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Wow this week went by FAST!!  How can it be Thursday again??


Admin stuff
I think Lynn is having Internet problems so I scrambled to set up the Final poll for November - it SHOULD be open now, aft..."

Oh, so glad you are following through on your reread of Gene Wolf! I still have not progressed past first - time and other books - but I am hankering to read more in the series so hopefully early 2024.

Theresa wrote: "Oh, so glad you are following through on your reread of Gene Wolf! I still have not progressed past first - time and other books - but I am hankering to read more in the series so hopefully early 2024...."


Well brace yourself, because Claw is bonkers!

Happy Thursday once again! I'm so happy this week is almost over. I have travel plans for Saturday to Monday so I'll definitely get some reading done.

FINISHED: Yellow WifePopsugar #9-A book with a color in the title. This was my review:
I have too many thoughts to formulate what I really want to say. The author weaved a sad story from historical facts that countless women dealt with. The saying is We are Not our Ancestors, and at times it's meant to say that we wouldn't deal with the things that they endured. I'm going to say this..I'm not my ancestors...I don't have an ounce of strength to endure what they did. They had a sheer will to stay alive and oftentimes times that meant dealing with r@pe, not having enough food, and staying in living situations that I wouldn't want my worst enemy to deal with.

Pheby had to deal with a complex society where she was on this tightrope of society because she wasn't black enough or white enough. Both sides equally despised her. The Yellow Wife is a story that people don't want our children to learn. They'll learn that America was never great for anyone for straight white men.

Currently Reading: Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells
Killadelphia, Vol. 2: Burn Baby Burn and
The Merciless Ones

I DNF'd/Abandoned Ace of Spades and They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South because I really want to focus on my Popsugar books since I'm behind schedule.


Question of the Week
How did you (or how are you planning to) handle the re-read categories in this year's challenge? Do you often re-read books?

I normally don't re-read books. I have a few books like Kindred and The Feast of All Saints that I have read more than once but those are two of my absolute favorites. I may re-read the graphic novel version of Kindred and find another book to read from 10 years ago.

Finished: The Idiot I hadn't realized that Either/Or was a sequel to The Idiot, so I read them in the wrong order. I like Selin's perspective, but it's disconcerting how little initiatie she has. It feels like the book is happening to her instead of her doing things to move the plot along!

The Lost Library I'm sorry, but this was just too ridiculous for me. I saw one of the plot twists coming from a mile off and the resolution was silly. I've read almost everything Rebecca Stead has written and not really liked any of it. It may be time to give up on this author!

Started: The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Mind Behind the Universe Reading for teaching. Not really sure it's adding anything to my prior understanding. It feels like a slog.

QotW: I think it's worthwhile to re-read, but there are so many books out there that I'm interested in, that it takes a lot of discipline to re-read. Sometimes I do it by sharing it wish someone else. I recently did that with my favorite book from childhood, A Dream of Silence. A few months ago, I had a Vitamin B12 deficiency, but didn't realize that's why my brain wasn't working, so I had to re-read books days after I had just read them. Glad that's resolved!

Happy Thursday! It's beautiful and cool and breezy here today. I am almost too cold in my home office with the window open. No complaints here, I love the cooler weather.

I had Covid for the first time last week. Although I had a mild case, it was still a struggle. I was just so tired all the time. Yesterday was the first day I felt almost normal. It does not help that work is so crazy right now. I was back to work Monday (I work from home), but it was really hard to stick it out the whole day. Luckily, this did not affect my reading too much, other than not being able to stay awake.

Finished:
Zero Days Unlike Nadine, I enjoy Ruth Ware books.
The Story of the Lost Child Finally finished this series.
Symphony of Secrets Not as good as The Violin Conspiracy, but still good.

Currently reading:
Banyan Moon
Witch King
Chain-Gang All-Stars audio

QOTW:
I am not much of a re-reader. Nothing against it, just too many books to read. Jai's idea of reading a graphic novel version of a book you already read is great. Or I will listen to an audiobook of a book that I read a long time ago, like an Agatha Christie that I read as a child or a classic.

This has been the hardest back to school in a long time. Every part of my online teaching platform has failed in every way you can imagine and in a few I couldn't. I didn't much reading done period.

All I managed to read (not for any challenge other than my read 50 states book challenge) was Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith which is a Halloween setting, Indigenous character YA mystery. I liked it but the focus felt split because it was trying to touch on two racially biased/culture appropriation issues and didn't balance its approach well IMO.

QOTW I absolutely dread the re-reading prompts (and the celebrity related ones) I'm not a re-reader. It often doesn't play well with mystery readers. Part of it is I have a massive, physical TBR pile (keep me away from library sales please) and limited time. I just don't have time for rereading.

And I'm not the type who feels like rereading is coming home to old friends. I wish I did but it's not me. So how I approach it is often to fins something I did like that's short. Short is a real requirement here.

Then it occurred to me I'm a vast collector of manga and graphic novels and I'm using some of them to fit these prompts and feel zero guilt about it

Happy Thursday! I think I’ve missed three check-ins… We (me, my daughter-in-law Ashley, my autistic son Seth, and my grandchildren Eli (5 yrs) and Ewan (10 mos) roadtripped from Washington State to Chicago for my favorite nephew’s wedding. Yes, it was definitely an adventure. We stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial and at the Corn Palace along the way, and we thought Custer, South Dakota was so cute that we’re planning a vacation there for next summer so we can see Rushmore, Little Big Horn, and the Badlands (and shop at all the cute, kitschy shops in Custer). On the way home, we took a detour to Cape Girardeau, Missouri (down in the Bootheel) to see my mother. She hadn’t met Ewan yet.



Today is Eli's first day of kindergarten!

And Longbourn!? I've had that book on my Kindle for ages! I'm glad to have a compelling reason to read it.


Challenge Progress:
52 Book Club: 52/52 (Summer Challenge – 8/8)
ATY: 49/52 (Summer Challenge – 10/10)
Popsugar: 44/50 (Nadine’s Mini-Challenge – 10/10)

Completed Since Last Check-In:
The Spellman Files (The Spellmans, #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Apocalypse Factory: Plutonium and the Making of the Atomic Age: When most people think of the Manhattan Project, they think of Los Alamos or Oak Ridge, but the plutonium was enriched at Hanford (where we live) in Washington State. It was interesting to read something local. (52 BC 31 – a book set in a workplace) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dietland (52 BC 22 – a book with a body positive message) ⭐️⭐️
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 2: Graphic novel... Still a great story, but I had some difficulty with the flow of the panels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cutting Teeth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Gifts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
American Mermaid ⭐️⭐️
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Immortal Longings (Flesh and False Gods, #1): I have a lot of questions about the world building, and even though this was advertised as Antony and Cleopatra, I thought it read more like The Hunger Games fan fiction (with a more appealing Peeta). ⭐️⭐️⭐️
All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1): My first foray into the Murderbot Diaries! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea: If you want a story about a female pirate, skip this one and get The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. It’s much more satisfying. ⭐️⭐️
Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons: Written with wit and humor. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (ATY 27 – a book by an author from continental Europe) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wife App ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pageboy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six: I think I’ve decided that most thrillers aren’t for me. They’re just so convoluted and contrived. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Holding Pattern: Pretty tiresome account of a young woman struggling with adulthood, relationships, and family, but the author’s last name starts with X! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1): Super cute! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. High fantasy for people who aren’t sure they like high fantasy. (52 BC 12 – a high fantasy book) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




Currently Reading:
Shark Heart (PS 4 – a book by a first time author)
The Fashion Orphans
Babel: An Arcane History (Book Club)
In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch
Love, Theoretically
This Bird Has Flown
Mister Magic
The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts (PS 37 – a book you should have read in high school)

QOTW: I occasionally re-read books, but I found these prompts tedious this year. I agree, Nadine. This year's prompts were uninspired and repetitive. I hope someone at Popsugar has been paying attention.

Hi all! Been nice here in NY. Definitely getting more fall-like out there, though. Finally feeling back to normal. I also made a call to a new lawyer about my disability and he said (as I have) that if I was disabled 3, 6, 12 months ago and nothing has changed, why am I not still disabled? I feel much more positive after speaking with him. Though he said it could take 3-4 months for everything to go through, so I'll have to pinch pennies in the meantime.
Kiddo starts school next week! I can't wait. I'm kinda out of ideas to keep her busy....

I finished The Ghosts of Medgar Evers: A Tale of Race, Murder, Mississippi, and Hollywood. Loved it! It was the right mix of the author's memories as a local, his involvement in making the movie, the behind the scenes of actors and film people, and the real people and their history. It also dealt with the racism of people that still exist and the questions of white people's role in black stories. So glad I read it! A book based on a movie.

I've also been reading Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts for a book with only text on the cover, which mine has, though I have to admit, the picture cover makes me smile!


QOTW: I don't often reread, but it's more a matter of time than not wanting to. I didn't mind the reread prompts, though for a book you wish you could read for the first time again, it's another case of me wanting to find the PERFECT book rather than just one I really liked. I'm neurotic, what can I say?

Milena wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's beautiful and cool and breezy here today. I am almost too cold in my home office with the window open. No complaints here, I love the cooler weather.

I had Covid for the first..."

When I got sick this week, I had to take a Covid test (which I'd never done before and seemed like I was performing my own frontal lobotomy). However, mine was negative. Covid was horrid last year. I couldn't concentrate enough to read or watch new TV/movies. I wish you all the best in getting through this.

Happy Thursday! This week has been kind of chaotic work wise so I'm really glad we're getting to the end of it. And next week will be a short week with Labor Day and all.

I've got a bunch of books to report since I've finally finished off a bunch of in progress things that I've been dipping in and out of all month.

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot: really great book, nice introduction to intersectional feminism
Remote Control: this was my second book by Okorafor and once it again it was just ok for me. she's a good author; her work just isn't my thing
Malice In Miniature: pretty standard cozy mystery; I'm feeling done with this particular series
Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes: i've been following the youtube channel for a while now and was excited to get the cookbook. lots of good information paired with Miller's relaxed chatty vibe
The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession: good essay collection; at this point probably needs a new edition with new updates on each story

DNF: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels I hate to not finish an ARC but I was just really really hating it

Currently Reading:
The Lost Book of Moses: The Quest for the World's Oldest Bible--and the Man Who Wrote It

QOTW: I like re-reading; often I pick up on things I didn't the first time around, but also it's just comforting to read a book I already know and love. That said, I haven't completed either of the re-read prompts of this year's challenge haha.

Dubhease wrote: "Milena wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's beautiful and cool and breezy here today. I am almost too cold in my home office with the window open. No complaints here, I love the cooler weather.

I had Covi..."

I think last year's strain (Omicron?) was much worse. I am almost all better, thank you!

Jackie wrote: "Remote Control: this was my second book by Okorafor and once it again it was just ok for me. she's a good author; her work just isn't my thing..."


I have a hard time with her books, too. I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by Who Fears Death. It was amazing. I loved it. I've since read five more books by her and each one has just fallen flat for me. Five subpar books in a row is a lot of fail. The stories SHOULD be great, but they just ... aren't. I'm starting to think she's like Charles Dickens for me: great ideas for stories, but fails in execution. (I'm completely done with Dickens - never again with him!)

I still have The Book of Phoenix on my TBR list, it's in the same world as Who Fears Death so I feel like I need to give it a try. I see Remote Control is also in that same world! It's not on my TBR, but if Phoenix works for me, I'll try it.

Rain radar was completely wrong today. This morning it said it would stay dry all day. And of course, just as I was going home on my bike: it rained. Fortunately I went home, arriving soaken wet at work is much much worse.

PS: 34/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 45/52

Finished
Destino by Raffaella Romagnolo⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS #50, a book with alliteration in the title (title in Dutch: Een verloren vriendin
I read some reviews on GR where people complain about the writing. I loved the writing! I was driven into the book rightaway and now I feel like I know the Leone Family. And you learn a lot about the complex Italian history in the first part of the 20th century.

Currently reading
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore (longest on TBR). Almost there, World War 2 is starting…
Keep Saying Their Names by Simon Stranger

QOTW
I just don’t know how to handle these categories. So little time, so many books. It feels like a shame to re-read a book, because I can’t read a ‘first time’ book.

Now I’m thinking about it: I did a re-read of a book I read when I was a kid. It was kind of a new reading experience because I’m so much older now (and wiser, I hope). Maybe I can do another one, they don’t take too much time. I’m doing 40 out of 50 prompts this year, so maybe it’s not necessary to re-read another one *smile*

Happy Thursday!

We moved the entire manga collection yesterday and today. I'm exhausted. I still have to find room for things. I hate weeding them though. My colleague says to stop buying things, but the only way to keep a collection fresh is to buy new material. He also says not to collect the whole series. Okay, I see his pov on that if it's not going out.

Other than that, I've had a uneventful week. I can't wait for the 70 degree weather coming this weekend. It's a bit hazy with the wildfires in Oregon, but mostly it's been good.

Popsugar: 25/50
Finished: None
Reading: None that I’m aware of

Aty:35/52
Finished:None -- I did a bit of shifting around and got few more in there.

Reading: None that I’m aware of

Goodreads Challenge 483/400
Finished:
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
A Tale of the Secret Saint (Light Novel) Vol. 3
Lovestruck Prince! I’ll Fight the Heroine for My Villainess Fiancée! Volume 1
A Tale of the Secret Saint (Light Novel) Vol. 4
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol.2Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, Vol. 4 (Volume 4)

Reading:
My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!, Vol. 1
Ten Ways to Get Dumped by a Tyrant: Volume I
The Scarlet Alchemist
Fourth Wing
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares

Nadine's Mini Challenge 8/10
Finished:

Reading: None

QOTW:

I love rereading! It's like visiting family and slipping into comfy pajamas! I get to read things I missed the first time and have fun coming back to my favorite parts. I sometimes have different opinions when I'm done.

Happy Thursday! My big vacation for the year starts next week, and I am so looking forward to it! I could really use a break.

Finished:
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling - 3 stars - 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.

Comics & manga:
Persona 5, Vol. 8
The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1

I am currently at 49/50 for Popsugar (39/40 and 10/10). I also finished my 200-book Goodreads challenge for the year... in August. (This is due to reading a lot of manga)

Currently reading:
The Brass Queen - for the "bought secondhand" prompt.

Upcoming/Planned:
Nothing at the moment - I guess we'll see what the library fairy brings me when I'm done with Brass Queen and PS challenge. :D

QOTW:
I don't mind rereading, depending on how long ago I read it/how much I loved it. I think this comes from when I was stuck at home with limited access to the library/new books when I was a kid, so I had a limited number of books and was constantly re-reading those. Some of those have become comfort books over the years, and I go back to them periodically.

Usually I will pick one series or author to reread a year, to refresh my memory. If I'm trying to get caught back up on an author's work (like I'm doing with Seanan McGuire's urban fantasy), I'll reread the last few books in the series before I fell off, just to remember what was going on.

Mandy wrote: "My colleague says to stop buying things, but the only way to keep a collection fresh is to buy new material. He also says not to collect the whole series. ..."


Oh nooooo!!! 50 slaps with a wet noodle for your clueless colleague who clearly does not read this type of thing. It's someone like him who is the reason I was able to happily read volumes 1 through 6 and then ... stalled ... because unbelievably my library system had volume 9 but they did not have volumes 7 or 8. I finally caved and bought it. And because books I own have a lower priority, I STILL have not read it. I basically just stopped reading that series because of someone's bone-headed decision.


(I'm talking about Ex Machina in this case, not manga ... but it's the same idea.)

I was just outside pulling weeds and I saw what I thought was a big black wasp out of the corner of my eye. I stopped to watch it, because I like watching insects, but it turned out to be a little hummingbird!! She flitted here and there but I guess I scared her off of the verbena that was next to me, so she flew up and settled on a branch in the spruce tree. And it's only when they are stationary that you can really appreciate how TINY they are!!! She was just a wee little thing!!

Then a dozen mosquitos attacked my arm - in full sun! on my brick patio next to my driveway! why are there mosquitos here?? - so I came in to take a break.

This is the second time I've caught a hummingbird on that verbena, which means I will ALWAYS grow verbena now.

It's Verbena bonariensis, to be specific. It's not perennial here, but I grow it in a container, and last winter I dragged the container into my garage and it survived the winter there. It self-sows a bit, too.

https://www.bluestoneperennials.com/V...

As always, I forgot today was Thursday. LOL! Well kind of. I've just been busy with school now and a friend placed my book in his bookshop (totally unexpected.) It's not about the money or notoriety for me. I wrote my book for myself and my family and friends. Everything else is just background.

*****

Book Update:

-I think I only read one book last week. I'm losing track. It was a poetry on neurodivergence.

-Not sure what I'm planning to read this coming week.

*****

I did order 3 books from Birchbark Books in Minnesota though. I love that shop. If I remember correctly, I think someone here on GR recommended it to me once.

Banned books week is coming up in October so I'm preparing early. I always like to get at least one banned book a year as a result so I got Fools Crow which I've seen on lists before.

I also picked up these ones-

A Child of the Indian Race: A Story of Return

Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery
*****

Question of the Week
How did you (or how are you planning to) handle the re-read categories in this year's challenge? Do you often re-read books?

It all depends on the book, but I am certainly not a re-reader.

Juanita wrote: On Monday, I was looking for inspiration and found it here in this group. I downloaded Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson from my library and read it in one sitting. It was recommended as a "book banned in 2022" and that is how I used it. This has been a TBR for me for a long time and the reco gave me the push to read it. It's 200 pages and YA so goes pretty fast. Very well done. Narrator is a 13-year old girl.

I can't tell you how excited this makes me. Not that my opinion is of any value. Regardless, it's so great that you read it. I'm glad you enjoyed it too. It's such a good read. I first read it when I was 14 and it's been my all-time favorite book ever since because of how much I could relate to it.

On another note I forgot, there's a reading challenge on TikTok called 23for23. It's an initiative where you read 23 BIPOC books for the year.

It made me realize how bad I've done in terms of my BIPOC book subjects/authors. I've only read like 8 which is a shame because I was really hoping to read a lot more this year. Whether I'll actually read 23 books between now and December has yet to be determined, but I found a good chunk of my books that are by BIPOC authors. Also ordered 3 from an Indigenous bookshop (Birchbark).

September 7th is 'Buy A Book Day' and 'Indigenous Literacy Day' so it will be perfect to read one of those by then. Also Sept. 22nd, is 'American Indian Day'. Not that I should have a reason to read Indigenous books. I've been wanting to all year, but always get distracted by other things and other books.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Oh, so glad you are following through on your reread of Gene Wolf! I still have not progressed past first - time and other books - but I am hankering to read more in the series so h..."

LOL. I've been reading Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series. It has to go a LOOOOOOONG way before being as bonkers as that entire series is!

Milena wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's beautiful and cool and breezy here today. I am almost too cold in my home office with the window open. No complaints here, I love the cooler weather.
..."

Isn't it just the most gorgeous day here in NYC area?! Sunny, comfortable temps and low humidity!

Like you, cooler weather is my preference. I adore winter!

Ron wrote: "On another note I forgot, there's a reading challenge on TikTok called 23for23. It's an initiative where you read 23 BIPOC books for the year. ..."


Oh! I've read 42 books by BIPOC authors so far this year so I guess I can stop ;-) It's the meaning of life and all that ...


(No of course not, I'm not actually going to stop haha)

Nadine in NY wrote: dozen mosquitos attacked my arm

encourage your local dragonfly population. I had a skeeter problem, but then, a swarm of 25 or so dragonflies came, and now there are barely any skeeters around my house.

now freaking, nasty, ucky, blucky, wasps. i have to spray the nest in our fake shutters on the front of the house. last time (when i was sick) they built a nest by the front door on the porch light.

Nadine in NY wrote: I stopped to watch it, because I like watching insects, but it turned out to be a little hummingbird!!

one dived bombed my head and scared the crap out of me! they sound almost like wasps (who like to fly into my face!) and that's what i thought it was. or a taratula hawk (Pepsis thisbe). those are scary s.o.b.s too. but thankfully as long as you don't bother them, they don't bother you. it's said getting stung by one is so painful that it's in the top five of most painful stings you can get.

Nadine in NY wrote: " tomorrow is SEPTEMBER, the group read will be Longbourn..."

Let me put a plug in for Longbourn - I have had it on my TBR forever and finally read it earlier this summer. It was wonderful! I gave it 4 stars and enjoyed it immensely. It could be a really great discussion book. I'll try to join in on the discussion as it evolves. I know I had some good back and forth in another group about it after I read it.

Mandy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: dozen mosquitos attacked my arm

encourage your local dragonfly population. I had a skeeter problem, but then, a swarm of 25 or so dragonflies came, and now there are barely any..."



I love dragonflies! I don't know how much more I can encourage them!!! I'm cheering them on!!

The swallows have gone south for the year, and I guess that's not helping any.


I saw some HUGE dragonflies at my mom's house on the NJ shore - she said Rutgers releases them over the marshes to keep mosquitoes in check. It's true I didn't get as many mosquito bites as usual at her home.

We have a massive mosquito population here, at all hours of the day, and they are at their worst at this time of year of course. The Cicero Swamp is right across the street, so I guess there's not much that can be done about them.

Theresa wrote: LOL. I've been reading Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series. It has to go a LOOOOOOONG way before being as bonkers as that entire series is!..."




Interesting!! I LOVE batshit-crazy books!! I have not yet read anything by Muir, but I guess I should! I've had that first Harrow book on my TBR for a while now, but you all know how it is: so many books, so little time.

I not only can't believe it is Thursday already, but also that it is the last day of AUGUST! This month flew by.

PS - 40/50

Finished:
Lolita - prompt book published year I was born. It also fits any challenge prompt anywhere for banned book.
A Study in Brimstone - not for challenge - my Feminerdy Book Club discussion book for September - fun but underwhelming paranormal retelling of Sherlock Holmes stories.
Death Comes as the End - an Agatha Christie I'd never read before! A rare occurence.

Currently reading:
Career of Evil
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

QOTW: For the prompt 'read more than 10 years ago, I reread The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman because I wanted to watch Season 1 of Dark Winds, the series adaptation of this book series. I'm going to read the 2nd book in the series before watching Season 2 also. I've really enjoyed rediscovering this series of mysteries -- and I have not read all of the series either, plus read what I did out of order.

For the prompt 'book you wish you could read for the first time', I did not see this as a prompt requiring you to reread a book. I interpreted it to be a book you just read that you wish you could have that first time experience with again - which meant it was NOT a book you could plan for and that suits me. My choice was a short English translation of The Cook by Maylis de Kerangal. It's just a little gem of a book to have discovered - one I purchased on a whim one day in an indie bookstore. Every year there are one or two books I read that I almost regret I won't ever again have that first time experience with - one years ago was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue another was The Night Circus, a third was The Book of Emma Reyes. Oh and every one of those was an impulse buy in a bookstore.

I do rereads, more now actually than in the past. I'm not counting comfort reads - favorite seasonal books or romances that I sink into now and then. I'm also not counting listening to audiobooks on long trips or during boughts of serious insomnia -- I don't do audiobooks unless it's something I've read -- just doesn't work for me.

In fact I always have a few in my TBR. Almost always they are books I read 3 or 4 decades ago - I'm of a certain age you know - and frankly I don't remember much about them or I've read something that reminded me of it, or it's a book I just know I didn't grasp or truly appreciate when I first read it. For example, I just read Lolita again - last reading it about 40 years ago - and there were all kinds of things I picked up on that I had no idea on back then - made it a richer reading experience. That's true of just about every book I decide to re-read. I'm also participating in an Agatha Christie reading challenge this year which has led to me rereading many of her mysteries that I last read in my early teens. Let's just say I don't remember much and they feel really fresh!

I am not someone though who looks to re-read someting I read recently - or even in the last 2 decades - unless I really don't remember much (that happens) or it is a complex book and sections need a revisit -- Proust fits there, and given the amount of time between books in the series, GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire.

I am also inspired to re-read a book if I've read or about to read a retelling -- depending on how long ago I read the original. I likely will reread David Copperfield either before or after finally reading Demon Copperhead in part because it is a favorite Dickens and in part because it's been a couple decades since I last read it.

Not every book, not by a long shot, is worthy of a re-read. But to say you would never re-read a book because there are so many new books or other books calling your attention I personally think is denying yourself a great deal of pleasure and even insight. And many of those books you re-read - most in fact - are better written than a lot of contemporary works.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: LOL. I've been reading Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series. It has to go a LOOOOOOONG way before being as bonkers as that entire series is!..."




Interesting!! I LOVE batshit-crazy bo..."

Gideon the Ninth is the first and a wild ride. Reaction: what the hell was that! The second, Harrow the Ninth, makes Gideon look straightforward and time, leaving you saying: what the HELL was that???!!! Nona the Ninth has you sitting shaking your head in disbelief. I am hoping Muir takes a couple years to write Alecto the Ninth so I have sufficient time to recover and prep for the final book in the series.

I am using my husband's desktop and had a posting all typed up, but Goodreads lost it. Geeminy!

I'll try to get something posted tomorrow. His computer setup is NOT ergonomically correct for me and my shoulders and neck are already killing me... :(

I have moved both September Monthly Group Read discussions to the Currently Monthly Group Read folder. Thank you to Ashley Marie for leading this month's discussion!

Later...

Nadine in NY wrote: "I have a hard time with her books, too. I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by Who Fears Death. It was amazing. I loved it. I've since read five more books by her and each one has just fallen flat for me."

I really enjoyed Binti: The Complete Trilogy when I read it last year, and thought that I would enjoy her other books as well. But I tried reading Lagoon, and had a hard time staying invested in the story. I was thinking about giving Remote Control a try, but probably won't have time to get to it this year.

K.L. wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I have a hard time with her books, too. I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by Who Fears Death. It was amazing. I loved it. I've since read five more books by her and each one has just..."

I read the three books in the Binti series, and I read Lagoon, and they all fell flat for me. In fact, at some points I actively disliked them while I was reading them.

Happy check- in! It's been a while but I'm actually back to reading. Oddly enough quitting everything I was trying to read and rereading a favourite series got me back into reading. It still took week though.

Finished:

Fourth Wing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was fun. DRAGONS.

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum: An Autistic Comics Anthology ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think I first heard of this from this thread so thanks to whoever that was.

The Old Woman with the Knife ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY dark)
A good idea but it never built to much.

What Kind of Woman: Poems ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really liked these poems.

Chill Factor ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY recipe)
The library finally sent this. Book 3 of Rachel Caine's weather warden series. Two more to go.

The Blood Gift ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very heavy book and it took me months to read but I really loved this duology.

I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Baer read the comment section instead of deleting them. She posts the original comment and pulls out words for her poem.

RIVER'S EDGE ⭐
Worst book of the year for me. A mostly random pick from the library that did not work out well. Set in 90s Tokyo following six teenagers. So depressing and crazy weird. @Nadine this might be the book for you if you want batshit.

Bitter Root, Vol. 1: Family Business ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another book I picked up because of this thread.

Princess Princess Ever After ⭐⭐⭐
The tea dragon books are so much better.

Wild Sign ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm finally caught up in this world.

PS 42/50
ATY 48/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 178/250

QOTW:
I love re-reads but this challenge was to get me out of that habit. I turned one of the rereads into a book that makes you nostalgic and the other into a straight reread. I think the phrasing and doubling up was annoying.

Happy Thursday, y'all.

Visiting my sister this weekend. We're planning out more of our Disneyland trip that takes place the end of September. Should be fun!

Books read this week:

Untethered Sky -- I wasn’t expecting this to get as heartbreaking as it did… but still a well-done novella that takes the sport of falconry and raises the stakes with rocs!

Misty of Chincoteague -- not quite as good as King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian, but still a fun horse story that I somehow never got around to reading as a kid.

Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die -- an anthology of stories that each share a concept -- what if there were a machine that would tell you exactly how you would die? Some of these stories are blackly humorous, some thoughtful and sad, some dystopian, but all make fantastic use of the concept.

The Crane Husband -- a dark and gutwrenching retelling of “The Crane Wife” that deals with abuse, generational trauma, and parentification of children.

DNF:

The Agony House -- I like Cherie Priest, but maybe she should avoid trying to write teenage protagonists… nothing that came out of her main character’s mouth sounded like an actual teenager. Also yay for casual racism. /sarcasm

Currently Reading:

Swordheart
Drunk on All Your Strange New Words
The Annihilation of Foreverland
How Can I Help You

QOTW:

I'm not a huge fan of the re-read prompts. I did try to make sure I read books that I knew I already loved, so it wasn't so much of a chore to re-read them.

Erica wrote: "RIVER'S EDGE ⭐
Worst book of the year for me. A mostly random pick from the library that did not work out well. Set in 90s Tokyo following six teenagers. So depressing and crazy weird. @Nadine this might be the book for you if you want batshit...."



LOL duly noted! I immediately raced over to the book page and read reviews and pulled up some sample pages, and ... I think I'll pass on this one, not my kind of crazy, it's giving me strong "Riverdale-but-also-with-extra-explicit-violent-sex!" vibes.

This past week was a wide-open calendar week. I only had one MD f/u appt. scheduled and one class. You would think (I did) that I would get a lot of reading done, right? Nope. Can’t believe I missed that wonderful chance to get some of these books off my desk!

The shed roof was replaced last Friday. So very glad that got done so promptly as the rains moved into the area on Saturday for several days!

The sheetrock guy came out yesterday (Thursday) and replaced the shed ceiling. He is coming back today to sand it down ready for painting.

The MD took me off of the Otezla. Now she wants to try another medication…this one injections. The downside is that it messes with the immune system. Now, I have had psoriasis since about the age of 10…and currently I have few involved areas on my body…mostly scalp. As long as the creams and foam keep the itch away, I am OK with it. But, messing with my immune system in the season of Covid and flu and pneumonia season? Not so OK with that.

My decision to read on my backburner books got way-laid. I have six library books still waiting to be started. Maybe after I get some of these library books done I can focus a bit more on books I own.

Finished:
A Fatal Thaw – 4*. Next in series. No challenge. I enjoyed touching base with this series again. I remember liking the first one a lot…and then I read this and found I hadn’t even read the first book, at least per GR. Go figure! Anyway…a new series! I also like the Alaskan native perspective, since it is a new one for me.

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason – PS #12 (published in Spring of ’23). 3*. The story was fun, and I loved the ending because Alice became more human. BUT I had trouble with the fact that Alice was so stiff emotionally in the beginning of the book and that she misunderstood idioms became a bit tedious early in the book. And this is book #3! Not sure if I want to go back and read the first books.

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. 14%

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. 38%.

The Diviners – old challenge. 24%. Due today with no renewal. Will binge to finish.

Call Down the Hawk – PAS. Also due today with no renewal. Another weekend binge.

The Chemistry of Death - ATY #35

The House in the Cerulean Sea - PAS

On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Therapy – ATY Seasonal (Summer)
Pudd'nhead Wilson – ATY #34
Washington Square - for library discussion group

PS 32/50 (plus I have 6 waiting) and 7/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 33/52 and 7/12 for Spring Challenge (Q1) , still planning Fall Challenge (Q4). HOWEVER, I have now finished 2 for the seasonal challenges.
GR 178/200
RwS: new challenge starting – 30 books

QotW: How did you (or how are you planning to) handle the re-read categories in this year's challenge? Do you often re-read books?

Mostly I do not re-read books and usually HATE re-read prompts. However, in a challenge, I try my best to honor the spirit of the challenge.

The two here were about a book you wish you could read for the first time again and a book you read more than 10 years ago. For the first, I chose a book that I must have read as a child. At that time, I was heavily into horses and read every story that I could get my hands upon. I chose My Friend Flicka. I didn't remember the story at this stage of my life, but I felt that I must have read it way back then.

For the second prompt, I chose a non-fiction book that I read while in the convent. It was short and spiritual, and one that felt good to touch base with again.

My preferred genre of mystery does not lend itself well to re-reads, since I remember the stories too well, which spoils the outcome. However, some classic mysteries will find their way into my life again and again. Agatha Christie is certainly one example.

@Nadine Haha. Well I can’t fault you for not wanting to read it. :) The synopsis seemed arty and chill, then all the violence and obsessions with corpses showed up. ??

Since last week, I finished The Jasmine Throne. My thoughts about it improved from when I posted last week (that I wasn't that engaged), but I feel like I may just not end up picking up the sequel. Not deliberately, but there's just always going to be something I want to read more. It's too bad, it was for the literature map website ATY prompt so I was hoping I would love her work just as much as the author I put in to find her (N.K. Jemisin).

Then read Project Hail Mary for ATY's geometric shape prompt. It's funny because I ranted last week about how far-fetched Lessons in Chemistry was, and this one had moments that were just as improbable, but I was amused and not outraged. No idea why I had such different reactions, but I really enjoyed this overall, and adore Rocky.

Currently Reading
So I actually forgot to include this last week, which I think is a sign of how engaged I am, but I've been plugging along with Bone & Bread for awhile. It's a solidly good book, and I care about the characters, but for some reason I just never reach for it. Also, misleading cover award.

Also started The Rook, for secondhand purchase and ATY chess prompt. Very enjoyable so far, but again with the implausibility of a person with amnesia going to work and faking that they didn't!

QotW Used to be a very big rereader. Had some books that I read annually, and used to keep every book I ever read in case I might want to reread. But in the last few years, I've really cut down on that. Not sure whether it's due to the challenge or also my attempt to start getting my book piles under control, which means I need to read new things, not the same old ones. Now once I've read a book I only keep it if I really loved and think I will want to reread - but since I've started that system I haven't been rereading.
This year I've only reread one book when one of my book clubs picked it. Fortunately I was able to use it for the + ten years ago prompt. I think for the first time reread I may go back to Pride and Prejudice as that used to be one of my read annually's, but I haven't indulged in awhile.

Happy late check-in! It's a late check in cause i really don't have much to report. I barely read anything this week. I started and abandoned a bunch of audiobooks and reading a grand total of 20 pages in a book I have to return to the library tomorrow. But I have a three day weekend coming about to start, so I'm going to try to get to a few of the many, many books I have out from the library right now. My boss today told me I could take off a little early today to get the weekend started- which I was more than happy to take advantage of!

Finished:
Odder- this was a very short, very heartwarming middle grade story about an otter that winds up at the Monterey bay aquarium. I really liked this. The otter's POV is pretty adorable.
-16 A book where the main character's name is in the title

Currently reading:
Un-Trumping America: A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again- after bailing on 4-5 audiobooks, decided to start a book from an author/narrator I know I like.

QotW:
I never really re-read many books. Sometimes I'll go back to a book to reread the bits that I like, but rarely read things the whole way through again, because I always feel like I should focus on all the new books I haven't got to yet.

My plan for the prompts is to reread Look at Me and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle back in high school, and loved it. I remember reading it in the back of the car on the way to the state fair, until it got too dark to see. Haven't read it since, but I want to see if I still love it. Jennifer Egan is one of my favorite authors, but when I read Look at Me I just thought it was fine. But I've found myself thinking about it over the years, and I wonder if it's a book I would appreciate more now that I'm older. We'll see! I think my copy is about to be available from the library.

Happy Friday! Time for a long weekend! Heading to my mother's on Sunday for a BBQ which should be fun. I'm planning on making a key lime pie for the party. Definitely one of my favorite pies.

Finshed:

The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House (no prompt) 4 stars. I'm loving this series so far. The artwork is cool and the characters are excellent.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (ATY author from continental Europe) 2 stars. This book was really not for me. Unreliable narrators can be fun if the story goes in unexpected directions. This did not go in unexpected directions.

Great Circle (ATY related to a geometric shape) 4 stars. This was an excellent book. In the present an actress is playing a famous female pilot who disappeared on her trip around the world (not Amelia Earhart, a fictional pilot). In the past you see this pilots entire life up to that point. I'm not usually big on historical fiction but this one was pretty engaging.

Triptych (PS becoming a tv series or movie) 3 stars. First book in the Will Trent series. This one was good but I think I prefer her longer standalone books.

Wrong Place Wrong Time (ATY cover text not completely horizontal) 4 stars. I always love a time travel book. The key to a good time travel book is sticking the landing. This one was a great ending.

Currently reading:

When Life Gives You Vampires (PS romance with a fat lead)

Upcoming:

My Best Friend's Exorcism (PS set the decade you were born)

Tread of Angels (PS shortest book on TBR)

QOTW: I'm not a big re-reader. For a book I wish I could read for the first time, I went with one of my childhood favorite's The Phantom Tollbooth. I still loved it. For a book I read more than 10 years ago, I went with A Game of Thrones. I spent the reread shaking my head saying "don't trust him" and "you're going to regret that later" and "I can't wait for your gruesome death".

Okay so I couldn't remember the books on my September TBR so I had to redo it.

These are the main 3 I'll be focusing on:

The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America - I'm doing a buddy read with someone on GR for this one.

Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America - Even though I have the HC, the PB is being released Sept. 12th so I'm going to wait until then. So excited for it!

But you don't look autistic at all