Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday, readers!!  it's been a wet, humid week here in NY.  So many bugs. SO MANY BUGS.


Admin stuff
The FINAL poll for our December group read is open:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

NOTE: one of the books that got the most votes in the nomination round looks like it's book 2 in a series.  How does the group feel about that?  For those of you looking forward to joining the December group read, are you okay with reading the second book in a series? have you already read Legends & Lattes? 

I can edit the poll today to remove that book if it won't work for all of you. But I know L&L was really popular in this group so maybe it's a non-issue. 

UPDATE: this second book is a prequel so it's probably fine and I'm worried about nothing!





This week I finished 4 books and DNF'ed 2 books.  It's been a rough reading week, I haven't liked most of my choices.

finished
Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency poems by Chen Chen- this was very meh for me; I loved his previous collection but this one just fell flat.  Happily, while I was browsing NPR's Books We Love to figure out what to read from that for AtY, I saw this book on the list!  Voila!  Category completed.

Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose - this was incredibly dull and it was a real slog to finish it, but I managed.  I used this for "route of travel" in AtY.

Black Vault by Alma Katsu- I spontaneously downloaded this free Kindle short a week ago to read when I had some unexpected downtime - it was really great, it felt like a full and complete story, not "a short story" at all, definitely at least a novella. 

The Vision, Vol. 1: Little Worse Than a Man written by Tom King - I've never been all that interested in the Marvel character, Vision, but I needed a book that won an award that starts with "W" for AtY,  since my previous choice was a dnf, and this won the Will Eisner award.  And after a series of DNFs and boring books this week, I REALLY needed something good!!  Thankfully, this fit the bill!  I was so impressed by this book!!  I need to go download volume 2 soon to find out the rest of the story.


DNF
To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai- I found this on a celebrity bookclub list somewhere and it sounded fun so I gave it a try, and it was so bad.  I skipped ahead a bunch and I still didn't care. 

A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano- after I finished the Black Swan Lake audiobook, I scrolled through BPL's offerings for Hispanic History Month to see if I could find something fun to listen to; I saw this and figured I could use it for the "Spice Girls" category in AtY (for "ginger spice" since it involves baking).  I don't read tween books very often, but I usually find them entertaining when I do pick them up.  Not this one!!!   The protagonist whined and complained non-stop about how she wasn't being allowed to help at her family bakery.  After six chapters of this, I'd had enough.



Popsugar - 90% 45 /50
2023 Must Reads - 75% 9 /12
Winter mini challenge - 70% 7 /10
AtY - 88% 46 /52





Question of the Week
Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader? Or do you like reading multiple books at the same time?


I read multiple books at a time.

Back in my youth I was a staunch one-book-at-a-time person, but at some point that shifted. The change probably coincided with when I started reading in different formats (e-books, etc), and then it was cemented when I realized I enjoyed audiobooks as well. My first audiobook borrowed from the library via Overdrive was in 2014, and then in 2016 I started reading poetry every day too, so that meant I generally had four books going at a time: audiobook, poetry book, ebook to read at lunch and anywhere else outside of home, and a paper book to read at bedtime. And I USUALLY stick to that.
But sometimes I get restless with the books I'm reading, and I pick up ANOTHER book, and maybe ANOTHER book.

I am currently reading:
Camp Zero
Tomb of the Golden Bird
Woman Without Shame: Poems

but I also have read the first chapter or so from:
Drive
The Nigerwife
Chain-Gang All-Stars
The Dead Romantics
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
The Secret Life of Violet Grant
Happy Place

AND EVERY ONE OF THEM IS FANTASTIC AND I WANT TO READ THEM ALL RIGHT NOW!!  (Except for the Dead Romantics, that one might become a DNF, not sure ... the library copy cover felt disgusting to touch, I couldn't stand it and had to switch to e-book)

I don't know why I'm being such a restless reader lately!! It's partly because the last few books I finished were dull, but it's more than just that, because I am enjoying the books I'm reading right now, so why do I keep reaching for more? Am I afraid the books I'm currently reading will become dull, too?

How is it the days keep going by so quickly. Can't believe it's Thursday already!

The weather out here is finally getting better. This week we haven't had temps above 95 degrees so that's been nice.

Still just focusing on school. In such a small town it's so hard to find a job on top of that and what I do find I don't have experience for which is also annoying, but I keep trying.

*****

Well I didn't finish any books last week because you guys know it takes me a while as I annotate. If anything I kept buying books last week. LOL! Terrible habit I know. My therapist has called it an addiction at this point and after everything I've read on addictions, she is correct. It really is. It's one thing to have a casual or special interest in books, but not to the extreme that I do.

I could list all of the books I bought recently, but they were a lot. over 10 I think. Again, bad me.

All of that said, these are the books I'm currently working on:

Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis--and How to Restore Our Sanity - I'm halfway done with this one and OMG this book is so great! The author doesn't hold back with his sarcasm and his bluntness. He clearly says what's on his mind. It's also gotten me in the mood to want to tone down on my social media because of how much society is so obsessed with it. Technology and social media are not going to go away, if anything it will continue to advance, but if I can take a break from it then all the better.

Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America - I'm barely on ch. 2, but it's a book I'm certainly glad to be reading. I got it last year on it's release date in HC, but it was a book I wanted in PB so I got this one on the release date too. PB's are just so much easier to annotate.

Pride and Prejudice - Kind of starting this one, but given that Indigenous Continent is 466 pgs, I might hold off. Still I do want to get to P&P. I need a palate cleanser.

*****

I do want to start reading more fiction for some reason. Even though my goal was to read 80% NF by the end of the year, given my goal for more fiction too that might not happen since it's already September. I'll just have to wait and see.

*****

QOTW:

Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader? Or do you like reading multiple books at the same time?

Oh definitely a multiple reader. I don't think I cannot sit with just one book. I get antsy that way. Plus since I annotate reading multiple books at a time makes things go oddly faster (you'd think it would go slower), but I have separate highlighters and separate tab sets per book I'm reading so that helps.

Currently I have 2 books going, but I want to have a 3rd soon. Just need to decide which one. While I want to read P&P, I might hold off and read something else. P&P for some reason strikes me as more of a fall read. So right now I need another NF.

I'm thinking of doing a re-read (which I rarely do) of Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future because it's looking like it will be a group read for another group I'm in. I absolutely loved this book. It's one of my top books of the year so far.

It's feeling more like autumn this week, the sun is still shining but it's nice fresh weather. I've read loads thanks to the ATY readathon spurring me on.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher for ATY (NPR list). Loved this, the characters had a touch of Pratchett about them. I'm really enjoying discovering this author's backlist.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher not for any prompt but this was so cute and fun. It's not about a young King Arthur and Guinevere as I first thought, but sort of an alt-history, maybe there's magic, medieval setting feauring their queer namesakes who are betrothed and would rather not be.

Happy Place by Emily Henry for a holiday that's not Christmas (I'm using the British definition, my copy literally said holiday on the cover so I'm sticking with it). This was almost a mystery type plot, why did they break up being the driving factor to the plot. I related to Harriet a lot and I liked all the stuff about the stress work can put on relationships.

The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by T.L. Huchu for ATY (involving ghosts - although she didn't do much ghost-talking in this one). Trapped in a castle with a magical mysery to solve, I love the audiobooks of this series, Ropa has a lot of character and they feel so Scottish. This had a lot about privilege and colonialism in.

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel for bought secondhand. I tried to looking in the charity shops last week but it turns out I have all the books already?! At least all the ones I wanted to read I already had cheap kindle copies of. Then I remembered I bought a few books in Hay-on-Wye last year. This was a good adaptation, lovely artwork and very impactful. End felt a bit rushed, but maybe the novel was like that, I can't remember.

Currently listening to Feed Them Silence.

PS: 38/40 | ATY: 45/52 | GR: 76/100

QOTW:
I'm usually a two book at a time person, one audio and one print/ebook. I would like to get in the habit of having a short story collection on the go too, just reading one story at a time rather than trying to plough through them like a novel.

Nadine in NY wrote: "NOTE: one of the books that got the most votes in the nomination round looks like it's book 2 in a series. How does the group feel about that? For those of you looking forward to joining the December group read, are you okay with reading the second book in a series? have you already read Legends & Lattes?..."

I don't do the group read but Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel so it's probably less of an issue to read it by itself?

Happy Thursday! Celebrated my birthday a few weeks early with my parents this week (my bday is end of the month but my mom had scheduled her flight back west for sometime in between) and then my sister called the next evening... she's pregnant! I'm going to be an auntie!! I can't wait and I'm just hoping everything goes as smoothly as possible <33 my mom is of course already in hyperdrive and wants weekly updates.

Finished:
Longbourn - 4 stars. I truly enjoyed this, regardless of the retelling aspect. Sarah and Mrs Hill and Polly and James were all wonderful characters, and this has certainly added a depth to any future P&P rereads.

PS 39/50
ATY 47/52
Mount TBR 40/60
Summer reading challenge 20/50 +2

Currently:
The Lies of Locke Lamora reread! I'm in the final 1/3 and loving it all over again
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men I haven't had as much time for this the past few nights but I'm dying to see what happens!
Camp Damascus unsettling just like I wanted it to be

QOTW: Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader? Or do you like reading multiple books at the same time?
Definitely a multi-book reader. I've spent this year experimenting with narrowing it back down to maximum three at a time because I've been known to have half a dozen books on my Currently Reading in the past, and because I realize that even with one book going at home and an audiobook at the office I still may find room for a spur-of-the-moment group/buddy/reread, and it seems to have worked out fairly well! I'm not the greatest at impulse control but I'm proud of myself, and I'll still probably finish the year in the ballpark of 150 books read.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Despite having a very busy week, I have been able to do a decent amount of reading, and I’ve made a little bit of progress on both my TBR and “New Books” lists. Hopefully I’ll be able to focus more on reading over the weekend, but I’m feeling pretty good about what I’ve been able to accomplish since my last update.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 698/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 293/634
📱Ebook TBR: 8/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 313/883 (35.4% complete)

I did buy one new release this week, which was Yakuza Lover, Vol. 10, by Nozomi Mino.

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 408
“New” Books Read in 2023: 378/408 (92.6% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose — This was a great continuation of the Enola Holmes series! I really enjoyed the story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Highland Wolf — This is the 10th book in the Highland Brides series. I really enjoyed this story, and thought the main characters were well suited to each other. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Jurassic Park and Philosophy: The Truth Is Terrifying — This was a very interesting read. I do have to say, however, that it could have used some more aggressive editing. There were some inaccuracies (and grammatical errors) in a couple of essays that should have been addressed by the editors before it went to print. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Otaku Elf Vol. 6 — This was a great continuation of the Otaku Elf series! It’s going to be very hard to wait until next spring for volume 7. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Yakuza Lover, Vol. 10 — This was a great continuation of the series! I think there are only two books remaining in this series, so I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next volume. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 did not make any significant progress on this book during the past week, but plan to get back into the story next week. 📚
~The It Girl — This has been a pretty good read so far. I’m currently about 100 pages away from the end, and may finish it today. 📚
~The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing — This is actually a re-read for me (my first time reading a physical copy instead of an ebook from the library). I think the book is an interesting read, and I’m certainly open to trying the author’s approach to tidying. I will probably finish reading this book later today. 📚
~Spyder — This is the third book in the Dark Pharaohs Motorcycle Club series. The story has been good so far. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include a mother who is dying from cancer. There are also frequent references to grief, especially as it relates to the deaths of loved ones. (hide spoiler)] 📱

QOTW:
I usually end up reading multiple books at the same time. I try to limit myself to an average of 3-4 books at a time, and always make sure that they are either different genres, or about different subjects.

That being said, if I find a series that I am really invested in, I will read one book at a time until I’ve finished all of the books in that series.

Ellie wrote: "I don't do the group read but Bookshops & Bonedust is a prequel so it's probably less of an issue to read it by itself? ..."



Ah! thank you!! I didn't know it was a prequel. I'll stop worrying about it now :-)

Happy Thursday, all!

So... I hope this is okay to share here, but I've started a Goodreads group for my own reading challenge. This isn't meant to replace PopSugar at all! I was just inspired by PopSugar to put together a list of some of my own prompts -- some of which are favorites from other challenges and some of which I came up with on my own.

Link is here if people are interested -- https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Beyond that, I'm going to be heading to Disneyland the week of the 25th through the 29th. Which means next week I need to buckle down and get schoolwork done so I don't have to worry about it during Disney, haha...

Books read this week:

Odder -- adorable, heartbreaking, and full of lovable animals… though that’s to be expected from the author who brought us The One and Only Ivan.

The Crowfield Curse -- a well-done middle-grade fantasy taking place at an abbey in medieval England

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words -- the premise of a main character working as a translator for an alien race sounded fun… but the alien intrigue gets shoved aside in favor of a mediocre murder mystery.

My Rescue Dog Rescued Me: Amazing True Stories of Adopted Canine Heroes -- a fluffy, feel-good collection of stories about people whose rescue dogs helped them through difficult times.

DNF:

The Littlest Library -- yeah, sorry, not liking the trope of “guy and girl start off hating each other and then fall in love.” Especially because the guy in this is SUCH a jerk.

Currently Reading:

The Ostrich and Other Lost Things
Earthlings
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
Ella, the Slayer

QOTW:

As you can see from above, I'm often reading multiple books at once. I have a book I keep in my bag to read on work breaks, in waiting areas, and whenever I have a spare moment. I also have a book I read in the mornings before work, an audiobook playing in the car, and an e-book open on my computer that I can click over to when I get bored or am tempted to go to Amazon and shop, haha...

Ellie wrote: "I would like to get in the habit of having a short story collection on the go too, just reading one story at a time rather than trying to plough through them like a novel...."


I like that idea!!

Happy Thursday

After being so relieved that I managed to finally finish the 700 page sequel to Eragon, I was annoyed when I got the last Shadowhunter book to finish that series. The books have mostly been 425 pages, but the last one is 725 pages!

I'm also annoyed with my library. The random book I want to read this month is due back August 25. Since I've reserved it, the person can't renew it, but the library also doesn't seem to care that it's approaching a month overdue. I was a fan of getting rid of fines in lower income areas to allow more people to use libraries. But I live in a well off area and without fines people have just stopped caring about due dates.

So, I'll be reading my boring Nobel book and my door-stopper YA series book until this person feels like returning my last September book.

Finished:

Go Set a Watchman
ATY prompt: A book with the theme of returning home
Popsugar prompt: I can't find one

Series - 12/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells

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

ATY - 36/40
PS - 31/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 12/12 - Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 37/52

36. A movie that is in another language (or has been translated from it) - Only Yesterday

Currently reading:

The Fall of the King - 60% done
City of Heavenly Fire - just started

Buddy Reads:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 27/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 16/21 chapters

QOTW: I usually read 2 books at a time. I can sometimes handle 3. When reserve books come in at the same time and I've had to juggle 4, I found it too many.

Wow, but this week flew by!

This weekend is Rosh HaShanah. I have cleared my calendar even though I do not attend synagogue. Still I want to observe it in some manner just for me.

Plus, my brother and sister-in-law are coming. Beautiful people, but she intimidates me as she is such a homemaker…cooking and all (‘course she taught home economics) and I am not. I would much rather let the piles gather of things needing done or filing and sit with a book in hand. So some quiet before they get here sounds good to me.

I am on the last haul of those library books. One due today – finished. Two due tomorrow – one finished, one barely started. It will probably be late. And one due Saturday – nonfiction, about 140 pages to go. I hope to finish it. Finally, one due Tuesday. I will need to complete as much as possible by Monday morning, since time will be limited once my company comes.

Loving my extension and senior center classes! Really having fun with it all.

I decided that the only way my interests would get attention was if I scheduled time. So writing is on Tues AM, hiking and photography are on Wed with photography having both a learning time and field work time. As a result, I spent the writing time posting a new blog and making it live. I got in a hike of a bit more than a mile, took lots of pictures, and spent some time reading my how-to photography book! I am on a roll.

Finished:
Therapy – ATY Seasonal (Summer). 4*. I really did not understand nor like this psychological thriller. First, it is not my genre. Second, I could only read it in the daytime because it messed with my head. And, then the ending turned everything I thought on its head and really surprised me. Well written!

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden – Other Challenges. 4*. Ongoing book in a series. I love the story, and it is a fun read. Molly and her theater/flapper style friends are a joy and people I would love to meet. Too bad this is in the days of Irish rule in NYC.

Born in Ice – Other Challenges. 4*. Oh, my. I got so caught up in this story (romance) that I started dreaming it…and so, I got up to finish the book. Haven’t slept much, but ended up in tears it was so good!

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. 19%. Started reading this as part of my photography learning plan.

Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly - ATY Seasonal. 16%. Read a bit more but will need to finish by Tuesday.

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – PS #50. 53%. Need to finish by Saturday.

Against All Enemies – Other Challenges, PS #49. 6%

Home Fire – PS #14. 7%. Due tomorrow. It will probably be late, but I will try to finish at least 2/3 by then.

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

PS 32/50 and 7/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 33/52 and 7/12 for Spring Challenge (Q1), still planning Fall Challenge (Q4).
GR 184/200

QotW: Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader? Or do you like reading multiple books at the same time?
I typically read several books at a time. Frequently it even involves different modes (audio, Kindle, ebook), but lately it has only been actual books.
My numbers read at one time vary from a high of 9 to a low of 2-3. Right now I seem to be in a 2-3 mode for books I am actively reading and 6-7 for total started.

Hi all! Kiddo is settling into kindergarten. We're settling into being a 1 car family. I'm just waiting to hear from various places on my disability. I've been geeking out watching the weather as a hurricane might hit Maine, where I spent time when I was younger. I hope people stay safe.

I managed to get to the library yesterday. They're closing for 2 weeks next week for repairs and also to weed out the collection. I think they've already started. Lets say a library shelf holds 15 or so books. I was browsing in the "A" authors and many of those shelves only had like 5 books! For some reason, this *really* bummed me out. Maybe because I rarely read popular books, so I dig deep in the shelves for hidden gems. What books are now gone that I might have wanted to read??

I finished The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner on audiobook. Fascinating! Highly recommended. Not very science-y, it mostly focused on Lise's life as a woman in science and then as a Jew in Europe during WWII. Her escape from the Nazis was the stuff of a movie script. Her relationships with other scientists who were men and not Jews was downright infuriating, and sadly still relevant in today's world of people who sit by and do nothing as "others" are targeted. Using for a book my best friend would like. My best friend is a librarian at a STEM-based high school, so yeah.

Currently reading The Bonfire of the Vanities, so far not horribly impressed, I'm curious to see where it goes.

Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry S. Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring. While I wasn't aware of this incident, sadly, it's not to surprising in the realm of civil rights' violations. Just getting to the part about Truman's reaction and response.

Read only a few more pages of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. This is going to be one of those books that changes the way I see the world and makes me think more critically about how I process information and my own actions. It was interesting that I could see exactly what was being presented in this book while I was reading about Meitner's colleagues. They weren't Nazis, but they went along with so much of it that they had to twist themselves into knots to continue to justify their (in)actions with regards to Lise.

QOTW: Who me? Read more than one book at a time? I'm such a mood reader that I always have to have multiple options going just in case one isn't grabbing me. I do usually wind up with one book taking the lead, but I always need other options. I also end up with book hangovers if I don't have something going to pick right up after a book ends. That can lead to slumps and that's no good...

Bea wrote: "Born in Ice – Other Challenges. 4*. Oh, my. I got so caught up in this story (romance) that I started dreaming it…and so, I got up to finish the book. Haven’t slept much, but ended up in tears it was so good!"

This is one of my all-time favorites. I actually met Nora Roberts at an author's appearance and had her autograph this one even though it is paperback. I re-read this one every few years. Love Grayson and Brianna. *swoon*

Michigan is at the football weather stage where it's been really sunny but also cooler. Not the worst thing in the world. We still have our boat in for a few more weeks and I wouldn't mind getting out on the lake again before it goes into storage in early October.

29 / 40 Popsugar
41 / 52 Annual Goodreads challenge (I just increased my goal from 24 since I hit that quite a while ago)

On Friday, I finished The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough by Thomas Curran. If you read my post last week you'll know I do not recommend this book. I read it for work and it did fill a prompt for me (released in last half of 2023) but I had hoped to get more from it than I did.

From there I turned to Girl Through Glass by Sari Wilson which I have had for years on my Kindle (another Kindle Daily Deal impulse purchase). I read this one for "a book with 'girl' in the title" obviously. It was interesting. I was sharing with my book club that if I was in a college comparative literature class, I would write an essay comparing this one to The Painted Girls. The similarities were striking: both occur in the world of ballet (albeit nearly 100 years apart), both feature young protagonists (age 11-16), both have ballet benefactor (read creepy old guy) characters. It was really surprising the correlations I found.

Question of the Week
My reading process follows Nadine's pretty closely. I usually have an ebook in process (particularly in the summer when I am on the boat or in the lake); an audio book for long drives; and also a paper copy. I've been on a library kick for the last few months and that has included ebooks, paper copies AND audio books. I'm fortunate to have a very well-funded library system.

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, all!

So... I hope this is okay to share here, but I've started a Goodreads group for my own reading challenge. This isn't meant to replace PopSugar at all! I was just inspired by P..."



Of course it's okay!!! And, I know we're all wondering what Popsugar has planned for 2024, it's nice to know we've got your list now as a fall back if they don't create a list!

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, all!

So... I hope this is okay to share here, but I've started a Goodreads group for my own reading challenge. This isn't meant to replace PopSugar at all! I was just inspired by P..."

Just checking... is it your intention for your challenge to be started at the beginning of 2024?

Bea wrote: " Beautiful people, but she intimidates me as she is such a homemaker…cooking and all (‘course she taught home economics) and I am not. I would much rather let the piles gather of things needing done or filing and sit with a book in hand..."

I wonder how many of us are not "good" homemakers. It would definitely cut into my reading time if I cleaned more regularly!

"I decided that the only way my interests would get attention was if I scheduled time..."

I admire your discipline! I've tried to schedule my interests so that I'm working on them every day, but I haven't actually stuck to that so far.

Finished: Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers This book can be summed up in three ideas: 1) make time for teens to read independently, 2) let them choose their books, 3) give them book talks so they are exposed to different possibilities

Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times I started reading her earlier book, Middle School Matters and could not finish it, it was so terrifying. This book didn't hit me at all in the same way. I don't know why. Maybe it was just the timing. That said, I didn't find it all that helpful either.

You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory I came away from this thinking the author was a really interesting person and I am not. :) It didn't make me want to write at all, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.

Started: I haven't really gotten far enough into any book yet to count it for this period!

QotW: I sometimes try to discipline myself to only read one book at a time, but I don't usually succeed. Right now, I've only got one book on my "currently reading" list, but that's only because I moved two other books to "partly finished." I need to stop getting new books! It distracts me. In the past, I've sometimes had something like 13 books going at one time!

Hi all,

Had to take two cats to two vets on Monday. One got a great report from the Oncologist, he's doing great! No sign of regrowth, fur is growing back well, can shift his appointments to every 2-3 months now instead of every month. Then the other had some bloodwork due to some weight loss and other issues, and unfortunately her thyroid levels were both high. So we're now having to give her meds twice a day. Luckily we managed to find another brand of food that has the special hypoallergenic protein that she needs that she really loves, and at least so far we've been able to hide the pill inside the food with no issue.

This week I finished:

Hell Bent - did audio book of this, I liked it even better than Ninth House I think. Maybe because I was more invested in the characters at this point? Good audio book in general, I like how Alex and Darlington get different narrators.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Bleh I was NOT a fan of this. I was kinda worried I'd be in the minority, since I saw a bunch of other people on my friends list loved it. But I didnt like the writing style, It was very "a dude wrote this" with the way women were written about. Also with the title, I expected it to be more light hearted and whimsical. But I didn't find anything wonderful in the book. Only one person in the book club actually liked it though, so i felt a bit better. I'm willing to admit some of it could be my mood though. I lost track of time and ended up having to drop another book mid way through and then speed read it to get done in time for the meeting. So it wasn't really the best mindset to go into it.

The Inheritance Games - I needed a book about brothers for another reading challenge and this came up. It's very YA but i'm finding the series a fun romp. Kind of YA Knives Out. Doing the audio book, finding it a good walking series.

currently reading:

The Archive Undying - Still reading this since I had to put it down to read the Oscar Wao book. It's very...dense. I don't love it, but it's interesting enough I want to see it through. Lots of fascinating ideas, I think the execution just isn't great. Too confusing and all over the place.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet- bedtime re-read

QOTW:
I used to be a one book at a time person. But now I basically always have an audio book going. Sometimes i have some comics going alongside what i'm reading. and I've been seeing a sleep doctor to get my sleep back on track, and she recommended that I keep reading IN BED to 15 minutes, and make sure that whatever it is that i'm reading in bed isn't a super page turner/ overly exciting. So I started A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet as my bedtime read because I've read it several times, so it's easy enough to pick up and put down. (she said I can read longer before bed, just don't do it IN bed). Also even before this I'd sometimes have a bedtime book if I was reading something like horror, or like a really upsetting book about the state of the world or anything like that. just to have something more relaxing to read before bed. Or if I'm tackling a REALLY long book that is challenging, like the Count of Monte Christo I'll do the read a couple chapters in between books method of gettin through it.

Sheri wrote: "she recommended that I keep reading IN BED to 15 minutes..."



LOL well apparently my brain is on board with your doctor's advice, because I rarely manage to stay awake longer than 15 minutes reading. I wish I could! in the old days I could!! but now ... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I finished Two Little Girls in Blue as my book with girl in the title. And with that I finished the challenge.

I read Surviving The Forest. So sad. I'll never understand how people can have so much hatred in them.

I've started A Minister's Ghost. Kind of a slow start. Hoping it picks up.

QOTW: I always have the Bible going, but other than that I'm generally a one at a time reader. Sometimes if I'm reading a somewhat dry, but interesting, non-fiction book, I'll read a novel alongside it.

I'm checking in on time with so many updates. First- the weather is perfect fall and I am so thankful for it. Second- I leave tonight for Greece (Athens & the islands) I'll be on vacation for 10 glorious days. Third- I took your advice (thank you so much) and interviewed both positions, weighed my options, had candid conversations with my existing team, was extended two offers, and accepted one of the positions. I start 10/9 and I honestly couldn't be happier to shut down my work computer and check out for a bit. The process was transparent, awkward and filled with hard conversations. It still feels weird given how FAST everything went, but I trusted my gut and I am eager to reflect, sit with my decision and come back to wrap everything up. The new role is a group that my team works with today, so not that far of a move away from my existing team (which is good). I greatly appreciate all your thoughts and feedback as I went through this process. I'm just happy to have a resolution and to move onwards.

58/75 GoodReads Challenge
40/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
1.) Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy (#13 Pub in 1985) ⭐⭐⭐: This was gory and weird. Not sure I "got it" --

2.) Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (No PS Prompt) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Out 9/19 and would work for set in 1970s if someone needs that decade. Knoll knocked this one out of the park for me. I went to FSU almost 30 years after these horrific events took place so I had high expectations going in, my sorority house was next door, so it was always talked about. This book creeped me all the way out, but I still couldn't put it down.



Currently Reading:
1.) The Count of Monte Cristo
2.) The Winners



QoTW: Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader? Or do you like reading multiple books at the same time?
Multiple books at a time reader here~ Usually always one long one via serial reader app, one in print/kindle and one audio. Sometimes a work non-fiction going too. The key for me is different topics so they don't slide together in my head.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! Celebrated my birthday a few weeks early with my parents this week (my bday is end of the month but my mom had scheduled her flight back west for sometime in between) and then my si..."

Happy early Birthday Ashley Marie and congratulations on being a future Auntie!! How wonderful. 💖

Happy Thursday!

Life in general has been relatively quiet and peaceful. Not much drama or untoward has happened. (Now I will knock on processed wood [aka books]). It's been rather nice outside except for the random 15 minute deluge of rain. Literal sheet of rain just pouring from the sky. It literally impeded vision. We even had a fog bank so bad I thought I was on the Northern Californian coast. You could barely see across the street it was so thick. I burned off once the sun rose, but it was spectacular.

Yesterday, I swear my mom was being tormented by a poltergeist or some other mischievous creature. Maybe her quarks were off. It was something. Things were falling out of the fridge (she said the tubby flew out of the fridge, landed on its bottom, and the lid popped off and jumped back into the fridge), her cheese package wouldn't open, she kept dropping things. She even said she was going back to bed and wouldn't turn the stove on because it was that bad.

I feel a grain of sand's worth of guilt for giggling, but it is sorta amusing. These are things that usually happen to me. Along with walls and desks and other various objects jumping out and attacking me as i walk by them.

I have four stacks of books to process, four stacks of books to due date, and four stacks of paperbacks to cover. Oh and one small stack of easy books to finish covering. Help!

I started story hour again. I had 4 kids the first day. It was nice because most of them were in the class last year. Why are 3-5 year olds so cute?!

I can't believe my niece is only 2 months away from being 1 year old. How time flies.

Popsugar: 29/50
Finished: Gabriel's Rapture ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ps 28 This is the continuation of Gabriel's Inferno.

Reading: None that I’m aware of

Aty:35/52
Finished:None

Reading: None that I’m aware of

Goodreads Challenge 503/400
Finished:

How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?
Fox Snare
The Scarlet Alchemist
The Emperor’s Lady-in-Waiting Is Wanted as a Bride: Volume 1
I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: I'll Spoil Her with Delicacies and Style to Make Her the Happiest Woman in the World! Volume 1
Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight: Volume 1
Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight: Volume 2
The Villainess and the Demon Knight (Manga) Vol. 1
The Villainess and the Demon Knight (Manga) Vol. 2
Gabriel's Rapture
Hostile Takeover

Reading:
Gabriel's Redemption
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (Light Novel) Vol. 4
The Great Cleric: Volume 1
Fourth Wing
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares

Nadine's Mini Challenge 8/10
Finished:

Reading: None

QOTW:

As you can tell by my goodread's challenge reading list, I usually have multiple items I am reading at a time. Sometimes I put them down and they fall along the wayside. Others, I can pick up and remember what happened before I put it down. The Scarlet Alchemist is one such book. I went back maybe a page and was like, "Oh, yeah. That's what's going on."

Other times, if it's a classic or heavier book or if I'm super invested, I will focus on that book and finish it.

Katy wrote: "I finished Two Little Girls in Blue as my book with girl in the title. And with that I finished the challenge.."

Congrats Katy!

Britany wrote: "I'm checking in on time with so many updates. First- the weather is perfect fall and I am so thankful for it. Second- I leave tonight for Greece (Athens & the islands) I'll be on vacation for 10 gl..."

So happy for you with the new position, Britany!! And I hope you have the most amazing time in Greece <33

Bye bye heat! It seems its finally over with the 30+ temps. Now it’s time for autumn, my favorite season!

PS: 35/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 47/52

Finished
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore⭐⭐⭐
#49, longest book on TBR
It took a while, but it's done! I don’t know how many beheadings, castrations, poisonings and other cruelty have passed on these whopping 1.467 pages… I feel grateful I live in the 21st century. And I hope Putin and Russia don’t get us back on the track of the ages before….

Currently reading
The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West

QOTW
I usually read a fiction and nonfiction book. I like to read fiction in bed before I go sleeping, so there’s always a fiction book next to my bed. And I love nonfiction so I'm usually reading one of those too. Tomorrow is 'library day', so I can choose a new one. Jeej!

Doni wrote: "Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, all!

So... I hope this is okay to share here, but I've started a Goodreads group for my own reading challenge. This isn't meant to replace PopSugar at all! I was just..."

My intention is for it to be started in January 2024, but you can start it anytime! This should be for fun and not have a ton of rules attached.

Britany wrote: "I'm checking in on time with so many updates. First- the weather is perfect fall and I am so thankful for it. Second- I leave tonight for Greece (Athens & the islands) I'll be on vacation for 10 gl..."

So excited for your vacation!! And I'm glad you were able to make a job decision that you feel positive about! I hope it is a better fit for you!

Greetings from a NYC with cooler temps and lower humidity FINALLY! Alas, I'm currently stuck inside with an intense pressure of work, but the weekend beckons.

Finished:
The Guest List - prompt - celebrity list - Reese's - I came very very close to not finishing this - I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries and this was boring and irritating. Struck me as a thriller for the non-thriller/crime fiction reader. I will not soon read Lucy Foley again. If I had been someone who DNF, this would have been one, but I did at least get another prompt out of it.
Appointment with Death

That puts me at 41/50 for PS.

Currently reading:
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
The Stationery Shop

QOTW: I'm primarily a one book at a time gal - always have been and I'm a fast reader. However, I do juggle more than one at at time if it is a tome like my PS longest book read or when I was reading Proust for 9 months. Also when I'm reading pretty much any non-fiction - even if reasonable short. For example, I am just under half-way through The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family after a couple three days of steady reading and needed a break for fiction - even though their lives are anything but dull and practically read like fiction. It was just feeling episodic and I needed a palate cleanser. I read an Agatha Christie in a day or two and will now go back to the Mitfords. another break for fiction could happen over the weekend.

I also sometimes take a break from a read because I hit something that takes an emotional toll such as a chapter in Lab Girl that I just had to walk away for a few days to process, or some scene in a book has me sobbing -- which does happen. I always go back when I've settled back down. But in the meantime I read something light and quick or even just start something else.

I also will juggle an ebook read with a print book read -- sometimes wherever I'm reading hasn't the best light for print books. And my eyes are old at this point, needing more light.

What usually happens even when juggling a couple reads for different reasons, I reach a point that I'm just so involved I can't stop reading the book - I'm compelled finish. Usually hits around a third into the book.

Hi Everyone, I read 3 books for the week.
Run, Rose, Run. 2 stars. I'm not a James Patterson fan. I know he's a co-author but still. I didn't have a desire to read the book but my good friend lent it to me. I give her books all the time & she reads them without complaint. I felt it was the least I could do.
Kindness Goes Unpunished. 5 stars. I love the Longmire series.
The American Agent, 5 stars I love the Maisie Dobbs series.
I'm using Sept & Oct to catch up on series. Then it's non fiction November.
QOTW: I read one book at a time.

Happy check-in! It's beautiful here. Colours are changing on the trees, there are still sunny days with a nice breeze. I need to mow the lawn but the compost is full of leaves already, darn I have to wait until pickup. ;)

The ATY read-a-thon has pushed me to do lots of reading and I've managed to finish 3 more PS prompts so that's great.

Finished Reading:

Time Is a Mother ⭐⭐
There was one poem I really loved but mostly I couldn't connect with it.

Golden Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(PS two languages)
Middle grade poetry in verse. The mc has kleptomania and her father is falsely convicted of a crime in Pakistan.

MPLS Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gorgeous artwork. For Prince fans.

Barely Functional Adult: It’ll All Make Sense Eventually ⭐⭐⭐
I thought this was a graphic novel but it's a book with little drawings added here and there. The author used metaphor to dole out advice to her past self. Not what I was looking for.

After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse ⭐⭐ (PS independent book store)
I bought this thinking it was actually more story for this world. Realized it's just a couple lines about various characters so I kept this to read for the next read-a-thon. Now I can get rid of a book.

Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Letters, Recipes, and Remembrances ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If he writes it I will read it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm finally done with these Omnibuses. This mostly deals with after Joyce's death and Buffy's second death. Sad. Somehow there's still Angel in it.

Tastes Like Shakkar ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS Romance fat lead)
Book two of a series. This was a spin on Much Ado About Nothing.

PS 46/50
ATY 48/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 189/250

Currently Reading:

Punching the Air
Jane Eyre His term of endearment was 'my mustard seed'???????

QOTW:
I usually have at least two going, one book, and one ebook. My currently reading shelf has 10+ listed though...

Britany wrote: "I'm checking in on time with so many updates. First- the weather is perfect fall and I am so thankful for it. Second- I leave tonight for Greece (Athens & the islands) I'll be on vacation for 10 gl..."


Congratulations on your new role, how exciting!!! Enjoy your well-deserved vacation. I've never been to Greece, and I've never seen the Mediterranean Sea. Not sure if I ever will, since I hate to fly.

Just one more day for a poll to close for a group I'm in to determine the BOTM, but it's looking like this book will be one of them:

Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future

I sure hope so. I love this book, it's one of my favorites of the year. Even though I read it in May, I am certainly willing to read it again!

I actually made a Thursday check-in on Thursday! Finally! Blessed Feast of the Cross for those celebrating today!

Finished 36/50

Unseen Academicals for "book about a sport". Cute but took me awhile to get into.

Hetalia: Axis Powers, Vol. 1 for "historical fiction". I love this concept SO MUCH. It is absolutely hysterical. And yes, reading The Red Horse last year totally helped me understand this manga better.

Currently Reading

A Crown of Swords for "a book you should have read in high school". Because apparently that's when both my husband and my good friend got into Wheel of Time, while it took me until I was almost 30! Oh well. Better late than never. Btw, the Amazon Prime show is FAB, forget the haters. There's a ton of us who love the books who also think the show is fantastic too. Season 2 is BEAUTIFUL so far! Go watch it!

QotW

I really don't. I like getting absorbed into the books and keeping focus on one thing at a time. The only time I double up is if there's a heady non-fiction book I'm reading. The I'll do maybe one chapter a day of that and then switch to something easier. But I much prefer one at a time.

Hello! Happy check in! Today has been a day. I got to work and realized I didn't have my key card to get into work. So I had to race home- safely of course- and tore up my apartment and then it turned out the key card had fallen out of my packet and was under my car seat. So stupid. Then we were stupid busy after a pretty calm week, and my coworker was out sick. So it was a lot of work today. Our UPS guy told me I should open some wine or something tonight. Sounds like a plan!

Finished:
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger- I really liked this. Explores the way women have used anger to spur change, and how anger has been used against them. I bought a copy of this when it came out, but decided to listen to the audiobook. I'm glad I finally got to this
-no prompt

Yellowface- this started strong, but for me it feels like it kind of spun out of control by the end. It reminded me a little of both White Tears and Black Buck, but I think I liked those better. I did like her writing, it was very easy to read, so I'll probably pick up some of her other books.
-no prompt

Currently reading:
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators- this is another I've owned since it was released, and I've decided listen to the audiobook. It's pretty infuriating. It's also fascinating to read when you already know how everything ends. He keeps describing times when he and his sources trusted people that we know wind up being pretty terrible.


QotW:
I tend to read one fiction in a physical book and one nonfiction in an audiobook at the same time. And sometimes I have a short story collection going at the same time. When I have too many fiction books going at once, I feel like I never really fully get invested in the books. Also I get stressed seeing too many books on my currently reading section.

Britany wrote: "I'm checking in on time with so many updates. First- the weather is perfect fall and I am so thankful for it. Second- I leave tonight for Greece (Athens & the islands) I'll be on vacation for 10 gl..."

Congrats on the new job!

I turned in my letter of resignation at work today. I'll be officially retired in two weeks. I was hoping this would be a time of celebration, but I'm retiring early because I'm just so dang unwell. I'm hoping relieving work stress will help me regain a portion of good health. We will see. It was a hard decision to make, but it was such a relief when I finally did so.

We are having lovely fall weather here. It's my favorite time of year.

I have been reading very little the past 6 weeks, other than the never-ending War and Peace audiobook. I was hoping to be done by now, but it tends to make me sleepy, even though I'm enjoying the story.

Finished
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - 5 stars; PS #39 (wish you could read for the first time again)
I decided to go back to near the beginning of my reading life. I was an avid reader from the moment I could read, but I have little memory of what I read until the 4th grade. I can't remember whether it was this book or Charlotte's Web that my teacher read to us first, and I loved them both. I had not read this one since I was a teenager, so I was excited to see how it held up. I still felt all the emotions my little 10-year-old heart did that first time.

Currently Reading
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (72% done)
Longbourn by Jo Baker (90% done)
The Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain (10% done)

Goodreads: 57/90
Popsugar: 43/50

QOTW:
I try to have a fiction, a non-fiction and an audiobook going at the same time. This is a later development in my life - I would never have considered reading more than one book at a time until I was in my 50s.

It was an awful week at work (along with a broken tooth) so I didn't get much done other than a few graphic novels

However that led me to finish A book you wish you could read for the first time again. I was waffling about this as I'm not much of a rereader. I have a few Agatha Christies and Nancy Drews lying around and I was going to do that.

Then I realized I might not be much of a rereader but I AM big on visual media rewatches/rereads I can rewatch Star Trek a thousand times and reread Sandman endlessly so why not reread Fullmetal Alchemist for this (HOW is this 20 years old already?!?) I've been collecting manga/anime since the 70s and this is still my all time favorite

so for the reread I read Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 2 and Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 by Hiromu Arakawa which is about 550 pages so I'm counting it

I also read a horror graphic novel The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus which was pretty good

QOTW I am a multiple reader. Pretty much half the rooms in my house has a book and the ereader is always in my purse for when I'm out.

Juanita wrote: "Bea wrote: "Born in Ice – Other Challenges. 4*. Oh, my. I got so caught up in this story (romance) that I started dreaming it…and so, I got up to finish the book. Haven’t slept much, but ended up i..."

Juanita, I usually do not consider myself a romance reader, but some authors can write stories with romance in it that grab me. Nora Roberts books do that.

In reading Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future , the chapters are really long. I'm currently reading one that is 108 pgs!

I love this book though. It's one of my favorites of the year.

Doni wrote: "I admire your discipline! I've tried to schedule my interests so that I'm working on them every day, but I haven't actually stuck to that so far."

Doni, I didn't go for everyday as that felt way too overwhelming. Nope, I aimed for a couple of hours once a week...except for photography which I broke into two parts: field work and learning. Those both get a slot in my schedule. And ancestry work was put into the schedule starting in October!

Britany wrote: " Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (No PS Prompt) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Out 9/19 and would work for set in 1970s if someone needs that decade. Knoll knocked this one out of the park for me. I went to FSU almost 30 years after these horrific events took place so I had high expectations going in, my sorority house was next door, so it was always talked about. This book creeped me all the way out, but I still couldn't put it down."

This review stimulated me to look up the book. As a result, I am now entered into a drawing for a copy and have put it on my Friends Recommend shelf. Thanks.

Teri wrote: "I turned in my letter of resignation at work today. I'll be officially retired in two weeks. I was hoping this would be a time of celebration, but I'm retiring early because I'm just so dang unwell..."


Congratulations on being brave enough to do the hard thing, and best wishes in this next stage of life! I hope you do feel better with the reduced stress.

Theresa wrote: "Greetings from a NYC with cooler temps and lower humidity FINALLY! Alas, I'm currently stuck inside with an intense pressure of work, but the weekend beckons.

Finished:
[book:The Guest List|52656..."

Glad to hear your thoughts on the Mitford book - I've owned a copy for years but it's thick enough to be daunting whenever I peek at it lol

Cornerofmadness wrote: "It was an awful week at work (along with a broken tooth) so I didn't get much done other than a few graphic novels

However that led me to finish A book you wish you could read for the first time a..."

Ouch! Thinking of you, that sounds awful. But HOORAY for FMA! (I'm still not over it being 20yrs old either). I finally finished reading the series two years ago and it's definitely something I'll reread eventually! Hopefully sooner rather than later, and I still need to finish watching Brotherhood.

Mayday!! All my library holds are coming in at once! My library bookshelf is overwhelmed. I’m not sure I’ll be able to read all of these books before they’re due back, and of course, there’s a hold list after me so I can’t renew them. I might have to resign myself to waiting a couple more months to read some of these books. Even if I canceled all other plans to read, which I won’t do, this is a lot of books. It’s just my luck that the one time I wouldn’t have minded someone returning a book late, they actually returned books early!

Finished
The Hacienda by Isabel Canas (a book about a forbidden romance). Fantastic! I loved this book so much that I placed a library hold on her other book even before I finished this one. I had a good feeling when I saw a blurb from Simone St. James on the cover.

Reading
Kindred by Octavia Butler

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century by Charles King

DNF
House Made of Dawn by N Scott Momaday. Oh, I hated DNFing this one. I watched a docuseries N Scott Momaday was part of and decided to read one of his books. He’s a profound speaker and writer. But as it turns out, I don’t enjoy profound books that much.

QOTW
I read a few books at a time, usually a print/ebook and an audiobook.

Happy Friday! The summer heat and humidity is finally over and I could not be happier.

Since Bea brought up Rosh Hashanah. We usually don't do any kind of formal celebration, but this year it falls on my father's birthday, so we're getting together and having some traditional-ish food. I am making honey cake, noodle kugel with colorful vegetables, and Israeli salad. I am also not a housekeeper, but I do love to cook (audiobooks help). I just haven't cooked much lately due to low energy from perimenopause and recovering from Covid. Let's hope I have the energy to handle these today. My husband will actually chop the Israeli salad tomorrow morning so that will help tremendously.

Finished:
The Mistress of Bhatia House
Family Lore
Well, That Was Unexpected
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

DNF:
Witch King This one kills me, but I just could not get into it. Maybe I will go back to it some day.

Currently reading:
Greek Lessons
The Quiet Tenant on audio

QOTW:
Once I started listening to audiobooks, I am always reading at least one book and listening to one book. Sometimes I throw in a physical book. I only read physical books at home in natural light, so for commuting, reading in bed, etc. it's always an ebook.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Greetings from a NYC with cooler temps and lower humidity FINALLY! Alas, I'm currently stuck inside with an intense pressure of work, but the weekend beckons.

Finished:
[book:The ..."

Well I actually had to renew twice the 3 week borrow from NYPL before I actually started it - because it looked so long and I had other books to finish! LOL.

BUT like just about all NF of any kind, the listed page length is deceptive. The actual reading is about 500 pages and it is very readable - I'm going to add this author's other biographies to my TBR or at least those about people of interest to me. There are photos at the front, a really interesting forward by the author which I do advise reading, and at the end extensive notes, bibliography, and index.

I read 250 or so pages - just under half of the actual text part - over last weekend. I'll finish this weekend. It's compulsively readable I'm finding.

This week I finished The Long Earth, and Team Rodent : How Disney Devours the World. Don't have much to say about either beyond what I posted last week. Don't think I'll continue with The Long Earth series, even though it managed to perk up the excitement right at the end.

I also read Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, not for any prompt. Sleuth Jane Austen is kind of fun. I was expecting some twists that didn't happen, particularly re how she assessed people's characters (view spoiler)[ Like, I get that she didn't question if her friend could be a killer at all, she knew her. But the new heir came off dislikable, and then had several shady things revealed about him, but she never questioned him either. Just oh, I feel like he's a good guy. I was totally expecting her to at least consider if her impression of his character might be off. (hide spoiler)] I'm not decisively saying I won't continue the series, like with The Long Earth, but I'm not rushing out to pick up the next one either, so in effect, I probably am, as it will just fall to the wayside.

I am currently reading 3 books - How High We Go in the Dark (ATY repeated object), Nona the Ninth (Alliterative title) and Six Wakes.

QotW
So I used to be completely one at a time. But in the past few years, I've started having multiple on the go. I'm not sure if it's due to the challenges, but it keeps me from really getting bogged down if I'm not that into a particular book. Also, since that, my annual numbers read have gone up, although there's other things that might account for that as well. So now, I usually have a couple at home that I alternate between, depending on my mood, and one on my phone that I can read on work breaks or when I have waiting time out of my house - I used to always carry a physical book, but this is easier, even though I do prefer reading in hard copy.