Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 45: 11/2 - 11/9
I'll just answer the QOTW for now and return if I actually finish anything today. London was fun but tiring and I can't believe how busy it was for a damp, November weekend. I guess international tourism is back in full force. Both days that we swung past Borough Market it was too crowded to see anything, obviously it's got a lot more popular than last time I went (which must be pre-pandemic, I've lost all sense of years going by).Since our hotel was by the Tower of London and I had a 241 voucher, we decided to be proper tourists for a bit, and I never knew they had such an amazing collection of lifesize horse models with ridiculous facial expressions. I loved them, so much cooler than the sparkly crown jewels. I wonder if the original artists thought they'd really captured the spirit of the royal horses?
QOTW:
I've read 21, a few I loved and the rest are a bit on the average side. Several were ones I only read because I was in a book group at the time. My tastes clearly leans to "obscure by Goodreads standards".
Those I loved are Heartstopper: Volume One, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility.
Good morning Thursday PopSugar people! My physical reading is tanking thanks to NaNoWriMo (as I knew it would - when will I finally remember to leave November a blank slate in my reading plans?), and my audio choices have been a mess. But I think I've finally settled on a few things, so that feels good.Finished:
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank - 5 stars. If you enjoy the Finlay Donovan books this has probably been on your radar for awhile. I've always thought Vero was the stronger of the two characters so it's no surprise I loved this!
Currently:
King Lear
A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France
QOTW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
Oh fun! Looks like I've read 15 with 2 DNFs. Favorites include The Alice Network, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Spare.
Happy Thursday, everyone!I had an opportunity to do a tremendous amount of reading this week, and I’m getting very close to accomplishing my TBR goal for 2023. I currently have 9 books left to read, and at the speed I’ve been reading, I think I will be able to get through all of them before the end of the month.
I’d like to say that I’ve also made significant progress on my “New Books” list goal…but that would be a lie. I am continuing to read the books on my list, but it’s hard to make progress when you keep buying more books. Oh well. It is what it is.
This was another week where I read a lot of very enjoyable books. I ended up giving 5-star reviews to 5 books!
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 769/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)
📚Physical TBR: 310/634
📱Ebook TBR: 22/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 13/13 (100% complete!)
TBR Checklist Total: 345/883 (39.0% complete)
I picked up several new books this week!
Two of the books I purchased were new releases that I was already planning on buying this week. They were Murder in Williamstown, by Kerry Greenwood; and Bookshops & Bonedust, by Travis Baldree.
Of course, because I have zero self-control when it comes to book shopping, I also ended up getting copies of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett; and Critical Role Vox Machina Origins, volumes 1-3, by Matthew Mercer.
My biggest surprise purchase of the week, however, was System Collapse, by Martha Wells. Even though this book is not supposed to be out until the 14th, my local Barnes & Noble already had tons of copies on their New Release shelves! I was so excited to be able to get this one a week ahead of schedule!
“New” Books Bought in 2023: 430
“New” Books Read in 2023: 414/430 (96.2% complete)
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~By the Pricking of My Thumbs — This is the fourth book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. I really enjoyed this story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Postern of Fate — This is the fifth book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. I really enjoyed this mystery! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Starter Villain — This was such a fun read! I highly recommend it! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~They Came to Baghdad — This is one of Agatha Christie’s standalone mystery novels. I really enjoyed this story! It was very different than most of the Christie novels I have read; more thriller than mystery. I do have to admit, however, that I was not a big fan of the main female character. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Crooked House — I thought this was a really interesting mystery! Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Boomerang Clue — I really enjoyed this mystery, which is probably better known by the title Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? It was a very clever story. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Murder in Williamstown — This is the 22nd book in the Phryne Fisher mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Geneva: A Novel — I actually picked up a copy of this book on Audible when it was released last year, but I didn’t get around to listening to it right away. The hardback edition was released last month, and I decided to go ahead and get a physical copy as well. Since I hadn’t listened to the audiobook yet, I decided to listen to it and read my physical copy at the same time (so I am counting the book toward my TBR and “New Books” totals). I really enjoyed this story, and it turned out to be a great idea to listen to the audiobook at the same time. The three narrators all did a great job with their sections of the narrative, and injected a lot of emotion into their performances, which enhanced my experience of reading the book. There are some minor differences between the audiobook and hardback editions, but they are all differences in phrasing. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Numb to This: Memoir of a Mass Shooting — I borrowed this graphic memoir from my local library, and was really impressed. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Critical Role Vox Machina — I absolutely loved this comic book collection! The story was a lot of fun, and the art was fantastic. I did a tremendous amount of laughing while I was reading. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II #2 — This was an awesome continuation of this series! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II #3 — I really enjoyed this installment of the series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~Making It So: A Memoir — Sir Patrick Stewart’s memoirs are absolutely fascinating! I’ve read about three-quarters of the book so far, and I’m loving it. I will definitely be finishing this book by the weekend. 📚
~The Secret of Chimneys — I’m only a couple of chapters into this book, so I haven’t really formed any opinions of it yet. 📚
~Bookshops & Bonedust — I'm only 6 chapters into this book, but I'm really enjoying it so far. 📚
~In Her Highlander's Bed — This is the 11th book in the Highland Brides series. I'm currently two chapters in, so I don't really have an opinion yet. 📚
QOTW:
The only books I’ve read from this list are…
~Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, by Trevor Noah
~The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
Happy check-in, y’all! Why do I keep signing up for classes that I know a lot about? This past week I did a Heart Healthy Cooking class at a local library. It was very basic on the different food groups, need for exercise and basic good thinking about one’s body. Still, I did a few chair exercises with them and came away with an app that might be useful. It isn’t that I don’t know what to eat…it is more like I don’t do what I know.
I attended two events last weekend. Saturday was Cowboy Experience, which was a catered cookout along with demonstrations with explanations of various horse/cowboy skills – roping calves, mustang training, sidesaddle riding, and various reining techniques. Very interesting except my friend spent the time talking to everyone she saw rather than being with me.
Then on Sunday I went to a Foodie Festival with some friends. It was a mix of a craft fair as well as ethnic food trucks. I enjoyed the craft fair and bought some honey with comb! Hard to find. I also made an appointment with a masseuse for a massage the next day. But, we did not eat at any of the food trucks. Bah! I would have loved to sample the various foods, but one friend had her autistic son along and he did not want to eat at any and my good friend had pain in her legs and needed to sit to eat…no place for that with the food trucks. So we ended up in a pizza restaurant.
I did get the massage the next day. It was with hot stones…and not what I expected but better!
I’ve had more time this week to do home and yard stuff as well as consider how I am doing with goals and such. It has been a refreshing week.
Oh! Internet went down on Monday...and couldn't be fixed remotely until a tech came out on Wed. So...I took my MiFi from Verizon out of my trailer, hooked it up in my house, and voila! home internet!!! Of course, Breezeline restarted Monday night and tech was cancelled, but I learned that my MiFi can provide internet to my FireTV as well as my computer...and I have unlimited data plan for it...and already pay for it...and why do I need Breezeline?
Regarding reading…I am not sure that I will finish this challenge. I have 12-13 prompts to go, but I going to give it a try.
Finished
The Last Illusion – ATY #44. Continuation of a series which fits this prompt.
Aunt Bessie Considers – No challenge. Audiobook. Continuation of a series. Cozy mystery.
Death is a Lonely Business – Other challenge. A book by a favorite author, Ray Bradbury. Kind of a mix of science fiction and horror. Weird, but I was grateful for the ending which brought the many strange pieces together.
The English Breakfast Murder – Other challenge. Cozy mystery. I seem to be in a mood for fun, cozy reads...or maybe it is just a quick way to get a bunch of books read. Either way, it works for me during this holiday season.
Currently Reading:
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 27%. Not making much headway as this book includes exercises to do. I am thinking that I might need to find another book for this prompt.
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 14%. Have restarted reading this book. No headway this week.
Bone Deep – PS #1. Still at bedside, which is closer to being read than on shelf.
Mister Impossible – Other challenge. Not yet started. Same status as Bone Deep, except this is a library book and so will have to get done.
A Distant View of Everything – ATY #45. 8%. Will get this done by Sunday as it is a quick, cozy read. That will keep me on track for ATY.
Aunt Bessie Decides – Audiobook. No challenge. 71%. Should finish today.
Home Fire – PS #14. 32%. Due at library 11/12. Should finish by then.
On deck:
The Age of Innocence – Library discussion scheduled for 11/14.
PS 37/50 (72%) and 7/10 (70%) for Nadine’s Challenge (I have two checked out from library…and hope to get the third one by December. Might finish this one yet!)
ATY 44/52 (85%) and Spring Challenge Finished*, Fall Challenge 8/12 (67%).
GR 217/200
*I reviewed my read books from Mar 1 – May 31 and was able to complete all prompts with books read during that time.
+I did the same type of review for Sept 1-Nov 30 (Fall) and was able to complete 8 of the prompts as well as plan for an additional 2 (originally planned for 10). I doubt that I will get that last 3 planned or read, but who knows?
QotW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
I have read 25 and another 13 are on one of my TBR lists (wishlist, friends recommend, new series).
Five stars:
Where the Crawdads Sing
Educated
The Nightingale
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The Four Winds
Orphan Train
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Happy Thursday.This week has been exhausting. I'm so ready for this semester to be over...
Books read this week:
The Sisters of the Winter Wood -- decent but slightly convoluted historical fantasy mingling Ukrainian/Russian mythology with Jewish history and a retelling of Goblin Market.
Another Kind -- graphic novel about found family, mythical creatures, and cryptids. This was super cute and fun!
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life -- decent middle-grade novel about a neurotic thirteen-year-old boy trying to find the meaning of life (or just the keys to the box his dad gave him for his birthday) in New York City.
Leonard and Hungry Paul -- I’m all for slice-of-life books, and it was nice to read about genuinely nice characters trying to be their genuine best. But boy, this was pretty dull.
Currently Reading:
Fuzzy Nation
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Migrations
Bookshops & Bonedust
QOTW:
Of the books on this list, I've read 10 and DNFed 7. My favorites of the ones I did read would have to be Station Eleven, Project Hail Mary, and I'm Glad My Mom Died.
Wow another week. Two weeks into November. No doubt time will continue to fly. All the better though because I'm waiting for a few books to come in and they won't be delivered until Nov. 22nd. *****
So things are going well. I recently (and by recently I mean today), got my second book self-published so I am super stoked! Definitely proud of this one. I was proud of my first one, but there's something hopeful about this one even though I dig deep with certain subjects.
Those are the books I ordered. Just in time to surprise my family with copies on Thanksgiving. Only my mom knows I've been working on a book, but she doesn't know it's book 2. The book I'm currently working on is book 3 which I'm hoping to have out next year.
I'll be giving copies to my friends and other family members their copies come Christmas.
Still, don't know how I'm going to keep the secret until Thanksgiving. I've gotten better at secret keeping, but barely enough. With my new book I am so stoked that I want to share it right away. In that sense I'm glad it won't arrive until the 22nd.
*****
Now onto my book stuff.
-Finished:
Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels - This one was fun. It's more of a teacher's guide, so I used it as a reference for a class assignment, but I still enjoyed the heck out of it.
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today - for a YA edition this was pretty good. It's very short which makes sense. Had to use a YA version for a class assignment as well.
You Are What You Watch - This book has taken longer to read. Rather than a general book, it reads like a textbook. I don't mind those types, but because it can feel so dense it makes it harder to get through, especially when it's jam packed with charts/graphs/research and tiny font.
*****
-Currently Reading:
UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government's Search for Alien Life Here―and Out There
*****
I want to add in another book to read as well, but I haven't been able to decide what.
I have been keeping up with my Nonfiction November reads. Having read 4 in total.
*****
QOTW:
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
I've only read two: Spare by Prince Harry and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. There are way too many fiction books on the list, but I'm not surprised. And what few nonfictions there are just don't interest me. People are into fiction which is cool. Nothing wrong with that. Just wish there had been more variety.
Spare was just okay. Not enough for me to remember anything though. KOTFM was amazing. And after having seen the movie even more so.
Mod
Your clueless American friend needs more detail here! What is a 241 voucher and what are these lifesize horse models? Are these former famous horses that have been memorialized with special statues?
QotW:I have read three of those books all the way through. A Gentleman in Moscow is outstanding (five stars).
Finished:
The only new-to-me book I finished was Star Wars: Tarkin by James Luceno. It gets a solid 3/5. Take it for what it is, which is a character study of Tarkin with some insights into Vader, Palpatine, and the Empire. It hangs well with his novels Cloak of Deception and Darth Plagueis.
Rereads included the first two I.K.S. Gorkon books (a Star Trek series featuring a Klingon ship and crew) and Star Trek: Lesser Evil.
Currently reading:
The Silmarillion by Tolkien (reread)
Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Collection by Waid/Wieringo (reread)
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Jackson
Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi by Hearne
Star Trek: Rising Son by Perry
Tales of the Batman by Wein
We technically got some wintry mix in the night, but it was just regular rain during the morning drive, so I'm still waiting on the first proper snow of the year.
Happy Thursday.We are under a freezing rain advisory, so it's a great day to WFH. We got snow too, but it's supposed to melt. Some years we don't get winter weather until mid-December, so I'm not thrilled to see it now.
I finished All's Well. I really liked how it blurry Alls Well that Ends Well, Macbeth, and the fact that sometimes male health care professionals discount or don't believe women's pain. It was less WTF did I just read than Bunny, but still involved magic.
I have officially completed the 45 books I said I could read as my Goodreads challenge. I had no idea how working hybrid would affect my reading. I'm not sure what number to pick for next year? 48?
Finished:
All's Well
ATY prompt: A book about a person/character with a disability
Popsugar prompt: A book with a song lyric as its title
Series - 14/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells, Mortal Instruments
Nobel laureates - 6/7
Random books - 7/7 - I finished my goal!
ATY - 44/40
PS - 38/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 12/12 - Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 47/52
46. A title that contains a word often found in a recipe - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Currently reading:
Doctor Zhivago - 7% done
Buddy Reads:
The Horse and His Boy - 6/15 chapters
QOTW: I have read 5 of the list. And there are 3 on my TBR list.
Ashley Marie wrote: "QOTW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?Oh fun! Looks like I've read 15 with 2 DNFs..."
Which two were so bad that you didn't finish them?
Dubhease wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "QOTW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?Oh fun! Looks like I've read 15 with 2 DNFs..."
Which ..."
The Girl on the Train was terrible and A Gentleman in Moscow was a snoozefest.
Hi all, Been very migraine-y this week due to all the weather fluctuations. Keep going from freezing to 60s to raining to sunny, and add the time change on top of it.
This week I finished:
Stealing from Wizards: Volume 3: Kidnapping - I had preordered this and binged it right away! Loved it just as much as the first two. Great middle grade series for those who like wizard school book. Very charming! I know the author too (online) and he's a very nice guy.
All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me - audio book finish. I liked it overall, it's an interesting perspective on a job that most people probably don't ever think about. A lot of it was about the author's own life and how the job got him through a tough time and suited that portion of his life, before it no longer did and he eventually moved on as his life moved into a different phase.
Currently reading:
The Splinter in the Sky - this is a space opera, reminds me a bit of A Memory called Empire. Vast space Empire, a smaller entity objecting to being forcibly consumed by empire and a single person being sucked into the heart of the empire and getting swept into high level politics dealing with it. I'm liking it.
When Women Were Dragons - current audio book. Liking it so far.
QOTW:
I read 34 of them, 35 if you count one that I got partway through and DNFed. A few more are on my TBR list, others are on my "nope not even going to try" list.
Several are ones I really liked a lot, I don't know about favorites. Project Hail Mary, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Pachinko, Station Eleven, Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto Is Back
Most of them I at least enjoyed reasonably well.
Beartown I dnfed, A Gentleman in Moscow I probably would have dnfed if it wasn't for book club, i gave it 1 star.
Finished: The Humans About an extraterrestrial who comes to Earth to prevent the solution to the Rheimann hypothesis from getting out. He falls in love and becomes human. Extra fun because I picked this up at a math museum. I'd give it a 4.Ok, my book search link just broke, so I guess I'll do the rest of these without it! No Two Persons was fun because it was like a collection of short stories, but had the connection of reading a book in common. Very enjoyable for a meta-people who enjoy reading.
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking This one was only so-so, not terribly more redeeming than other self-help books. But I found myself having interesting conversations because of it.
Elsewhere This is the third book of hers I've read and I like all of them! This one's about a girl's after life where they age towards rebirth.
Started: How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question This looks to be a fun, light, philosophical read.
QotW: Oh no! I counted them, but I've forgotten my total. *goes back and recounts.* It looks like the total is 9. It says that I read All the Light We Cannot See, but I don't remember reading that! So, not counting it. My favorites:
The Midnight Library
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Between the World and Me
Which ironically, two of the books I finished this week were by the same authors!
I read 3/4 of The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain and decided that was enough of that. There were some quite funny ones, but there were some clunkers, too.Now I'm reading Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story. I really love novelizations of the Bible. It gives you some possible insights to what people were thinking and makes you think of aspects of the story that otherwise may have passed you by.
QOTW: I counted 9. I loved loved loved Where the Crawdads Sing.
Happy Thursday! I've been listening to lots and lots of audiobooks. I recently discovered a blackwork embroidery group, and I'm seriously addicted. Keeps my mind and hands busy!Challenge Progress: I'm ready for new challenges!
The 52 Book Club: 52/52 + November Mini-Challenge 1/2
ATY: 52/52
Popsugar: 50/50
Completed:
Starter Villain: John Scalzi is just a terrific writer, and I love Wil Wheaton as a narrator! ★★★★★
Emma: This is a manga version of Emma, and it's really well done. Great for reluctant readers. I may read more of this series of Manga Classics. ★★★★
On Earth as It Is on Television ★★★
How to Sell a Haunted House: Puppets are scary. ★★★★
The Block Party: I'm glad I don't live in this neighborhood! ★★★★
Enough ★★★★
Currently Reading:
Sunburn
Making It So: A Memoir
The Second Chance Hotel (Goodreads Giveaway)
Blowback A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump
Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism
The Golden Spoon
Black River Orchard
QOTW: I've read 45 of the books listed. I loved Station Eleven, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, and Project Hail Mary.
Greetings from NYC in Autumn! It's finally arrived! Tree color has left a lot to be desired -- the deep reds haven't shown up though there are sections of lovely golden yellow. Still an awful lot of green and the roses are still blooming on the vine in front of my building. But it feels like autumn, not late summer. (No, Nadine, we still have not had a killing frost, but temps are dropping into F30s at night.
I'm now 45/50 - actually possibly 47/50 as I have 2 books I read this year that in a pinch can fit 2 prompts if I don't finish the 2 I'm planning to read. I'm pulling the plug on those 2 at the point I finish reading the other 3. My work is intense and reading time not all that available.
Finished:
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy
Miracle on 34th Street - prompt film made into a novel -- Valentine Davies wrote the script and after it started production, decided it needed to be novelized and published.
Highfire - this was such fun! I was laughing out loud.
Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower
Currently Reading:
A Free Man of Color
Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes
The Man in the Brown Suit
Coming up:
Gingerbread
Haven Creek
Interior Chinatown
Water for Elephants
I'm pretty sure that one of the books planned for prompt on PS is going to be tossed and one I read will be used -- it does require an 'interpretation' of the prompt though. Won't be first time .... it is my challenge after all.
QOTW: I've only read 14 of the books, most liked but hated some like Normal People and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I am rarely in sync with the majority of readers on GR. I tend to avoid newly published and hyped reads, even from favorite authors (exception, long awaited next in series - you bet the second I get my hands on GRRM's The Winds of Winter I'm reading it!), prefering that they mature in my TBR Towers for some time - years, decades even.
Of those I have not read, at least half are already in my TBR Towers aging. Probably another 10% are authors I dislike or books I will never read for one reason or another. What's left after those numbers might very well get read -- or maybe not. I'm kind of indifferent.
Missed last week, but I'm I won't go back that to my last post - basically, I finished the books I was reading then, but don't have that much to say about them!Other than that,
Finished
Moon of the Turning Leaves, my second half of 2023 prompt-fill. Really enjoyed this, though not quite as much as Moon of the Crusted Snow. I think it had some pacing problems - it was quite slow to start and then ended in a rush. But for anyone who loves dystopias, this would be high on my list of recommendations!
Soulstar No prompt. End of the Kingston trilogy. I enjoyed the whole thing but wasn't super thrilled with it - although, that said, I did read them all fairly quickly, didn't just think I'll get around to it for picking up the next book. It was an interesting world, and I would be interested in more works exploring aspects of it - the Amaranthine, the utopian society they reference, but I think mainly of the main characters felt a little flat to me.
Currently Reading
The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction Really loved the first section of this, on books, bookstores and libraries. Flagged a little in the middle, with various introductions to other works. But getting close to the end and am really getting back into it. Not for any prompt.
The Rage of Dragons Loving this. The action just keeps pushing, I feel so much for Tau, even while doubting the wisdom of his choices. I really like that it shows the work (and some of the happenstance) of him getting so good at fighting - like how he happens to try attacking with two swords instead of sword and shield. I do hope that at some point the perspective of the hedeni will be addressed - they're the ones having their land invaded! Can't wait to see where it goes though - was at a bookstore yesterday and was very sad they didn't have book 2 as I was ready to pick it up even without finishing this one.
Redder Than Blood Picked this up for my light and easy travelling around book but am finding it hard to get into. Maybe I need to start these books with an hour at home to at least let me get into them, because with 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, it doesn't really let the story get its hooks into me.
Tom Lake Just started last night. The bookstore that didn't have the Rage of Dragons sequel did have this. I want it for ATY body of water and was high enough on my libraries hold list that I wasn't sure I'd get it this year, so decided to indulge. Only a couple chapters in but I'm not sorry - such beautiful writing.
QotW
24 read, more on my TBR list.
Favorites would include Cloud Cuckoo Land, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Station Eleven, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, although weirdly for that last one, I don't remember it at all, I just happened to click to check how I rated it and it was 5 stars!
Maybe I need to reassess some of my ratings given that Station Eleven has stayed with me since I read it in a way that Eleanor Oliphant obviously didn't. Or I need to re-read and re-rate - as if I didn't have enough to read already!
Theresa wrote: "prefering that they mature in my TBR Towers for some time - years, decades even..."Haha, this is SO me, too.
ATY has a prompt next year for a book that's been on your TBR for at least a year- pah! amateurs! I'm going for a book that's been on there for at least 10, and I'll still have hundreds of choices! :)
ETA: I had to check, cause I'm a nerd like that. Books added to my GR TBR prior to the end of 2013- over 500!!
Hi all! We had some sleet last night, but it quickly turned to rain. All our leaves are down, so now it's a waiting game until snow arrives to cover everything in white. So we all went out to vote Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, my boyfriend reports that my front passenger tire is completely flat. It was fine the day before, so I must have run over a nail or something while we were out voting! Ugh. He's tried reinflating it, it just empties again within a few hours. It's our only car, so I canceled my appointments for today. I'm going to get snow tires on next week, so hopefully we can hobble along until then. What really irks me is that tire was new this past spring! Finances are starting to stress me out as I likely won't hear on my long term disability until the new year.
Mostly been reading Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism. I'm past the halfway point and it's really picked up steam. It still surprises me how quickly they caught McVeigh. I also still wish the author would stop putting in the comparisons to January 6, every time he does, it takes me out of the story.
Read a little bit more of Floodpath: The Deadliest Man-Made Disaster of 20th-Century America and the Making of Modern Los Angeles. They're both due on the same date next week, so I'm trying to finish both.
Listened to a bit more in Rook, but not much.
QOTW: I actually thought it would be 0, but it's 3! All the Light We Cannot See, The Lost Apothecary and On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. None of them are new favorites, but I liked them all ok.
Happy Thursday! Finished:
Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire - 4 stars - continuing my catch-up (re)read of this series. The next book in the series is the last one I read in paperback, so after that, I'll be catching up to new (to me) content!
Comics & manga:
The Moth Keeper
Something's Wrong With Us, Vol. 16
Spy x Family, Vol. 10
Rainbow Days, Vol. 6
Currently reading:
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree - I'm about 10 chapters in and really enjoying it.
Upcoming/Planned:
The Siren, the Song, and the Spy by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
The Future by Naomi Alderman
System Collapse by Martha Wells
QOTW:
I have read 13 of the books. None of them were particular favorites, except maybe Heartstopper: Volume One, Project Hail Mary, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I have a few more from that list on my to-read or maybe shelves, and a couple on my "never" list.
Mod
I had to google what that is - it looks really cool!!! I don't do embroidery, but if I ever started, I think I might start with that.
Mod
We have had a killing frost up here, plus snow, but I don't think we are getting any "second summer" after this ...
Mod
Haha, this is SO me, too.
ATY has a prompt next year for a book that's been on your TBR for at least a year- pah! amateurs! I'm going for a book that's been on there for at least 10, and I'll still have hundreds of choices! :) ..."
LOL yeah I also have a bad habit of buying books and not reading them - it's not just books I do it with, all sorts of things I buy and then... just don't use. Like it has to age first. idk.
Since so many of us do it, there must be a reason behind it.
I try not to buy many books, because I'm more likely to read it if I borrow it from the library.
Well, hello! I am home earlier than normal from work ahead of the 3-day weekend (Happy Veterans Day!), so I decided to check in early since I can. I got a lot of reading in since our last check-in and checked off another advanced prompt. That brings me to 36/40 and 8/10 for this challenge, and I officially hit the 100 book mark. Finished:
* When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton, which was one of my book clubs' picks for this month;
* The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino and translated by Giles Murray, which was a NetGalley copy from the publisher. The book comes out next month and I'd definitely recommend if you enjoy Japanese mysteries;
* Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman, which I used for the advanced prompt "a book that was self-published" (and also one of the BookRiot Read Harder prompts); and,
* Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics written and narrated by Dolly Parton, which is my other book clubs' pick for November. I'm going to try and get an ebook copy or hard copy from the library this weekend to view the pictures. I'm also curious how closely the audiobook followed what was written because it sounded like an interview with Dolly speaking extemporaneously (which was great!).
Currently Reading:
* The Buenos Aires Quintet by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, which I'm continuing to not actually read but continue to leave on this list;
* A Promised Land by Barack Obama, which is on the list referenced in the QotW! It fits one of my open prompts;
* Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert, which fits one of my open prompts; and,
* Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay, which I received from one of my local PBS stations as part of the National Endowment of the Arts Big Read program.
Question of the Week:
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours? According to my count, I've read 29, have marked 6 as "to read," and am currently reading one. Of the titles I've read, I'd say these were my favorites (GR is spinning at the moment, so no hyperlink):
* The Midnight Library
* Daisy Jones and the Six
* Becoming
* Anxious People
* Born a Crime
* The Underground Railroad
* Homegoing
* An American Marriage
* Demon Copperhead
Jennifer W wrote: "Theresa wrote: "prefering that they mature in my TBR Towers for some time - years, decades even..."Haha, this is SO me, too.
ATY has a prompt next year for a book that's been on your TBR for at ..."
LOL! I don't even think that qualifies as amateur!
I think the last time I had to read a book that's been on my TBR for a period of time I pulled one off the shelf that was a first edition hardcover from the late 1990s. I KNOW I have some from the 80s lurking there, late 80s mind you as I didn't start having income to buy books until after 1987 (when I'd been a lawyer for a year). I don't even bother trying to determine if it is the 'oldest' in my TBR Towers -- I just go to my GR Want to Read list - since I only joined about 10 years ago ... I just make it my oldest on my GR TBR list ....
My goal would be plucking something from the towers that's pre-2000!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "But it feels like autumn, not late summer. (No, Nadine, we still have not had a killing frost, but temps are dropping into F30s at night. ..."We have had a killing frost up here..."
Let's see -- still a few weeks in which it could happen. or not.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Laura wrote: "Happy Thursday! I've been listening to lots and lots of audiobooks. I recently discovered a blackwork embroidery group, and I'm seriously addicted. Keeps my mind and hands busy! ..."..."
Blackwork can be very addicting. I have several needlework friends who have become quite enamored of it. I've done it myself though it hasn't bitten as an obsession - yet. I do cross stitch which includes a lot of purely embroider stitches. I also do some needlepoint. However little stitching has been happening in this household for way too long -- volume of work since April 2019 - when a very big complicted first impression case landed in my lap - just has pushed it aside. It got buried along with a whole bunch of other things when a 2nd huge case landed in my lap in 2020. Both are still dragging on. However, I'm starting to add things back in a tiny bit at a time. Have made some good progress lately on a small book-related sampler.
Nadine in NY wrote: "LOL yeah I also have a bad habit of buying books and not reading them - it's not just books I do it with, all sorts of things I buy and then... just don't use. Like it has to age first. idk."I heard somewhere and shamelessly stole the idea that book acquiring and book reading are two separate hobbies - and I just happen to excel at both!
Happy Thursday! I'm still in a reading slump. I've been starting and stopping books and putting them down because I lose interest. I managed to finish one book Killadelphia Vol. 5 which is the last of the series. I kinda figured things would end that way and it flowed into the spin off series Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog, Vol. 1: The Fire Next Time that I just ordered.
I DNF'd Selections from Skeleton Crew DNF'd at 46% because King always manages to have a racist character saying the N word with the hard R. I'll pass!!
My birthday was Tuesday so the Friday before I managed to go to Barnes & Noble and finally buy Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror
Question of the Week
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
I've read 9 and have 22 on my TBR pile. Some of my favorites were Everything I Never Told You
The Underground Railroad
Homegoing and The Testaments
Mod
I was immediately alert since a good friend of ours had just been fooled into giving all his personal information out over the phone, believing he was speaking with Amazon about an order that had been misdelivered... The first guy hung up on me because I related my hesitations to him! LOL Then as I sat blinking into a laptop screen that I was unable to use, I called again and got a different person. I will say I am rather grateful right now that I have NO credit! Honestly, it doesn't matter to me a whole lot if someone gained access to my bank account, etc. More power to them if they can obtain any credit with my information! I can't... LOL 😁 I followed their instructions and did get a name and extension number for the person who claimed to be a Microsoft Tech... At one point he did ask if I'd placed an order through Amazon lately and I was happy to report it had been YEARS since I had used Amazon because I dislike the company and will shop anywhere else if at all possible. So I will forewarn you-all that criminals have been using Amazon as a cover to try to gain access to financial resources. For what it's worth. I "think" this guy was legit, but honestly, who knows? Our friend is now paying for protection of his financial resources. I have no resources to protect, so I'm just glad to have access to my computer once again! And if they were looking to scam me...SURPRISE! You didn't vet your victims very well in advance! 😊
Myrtle is currently in “sick bay”! 😊 (No, not a person! My car! LOL) The brakes just started grinding like crazy on my way home the other day. She’s done very well in the aftermath of a deer running into her a while back. And the mechanic discovered it was the fault of the brake parts they had installed about 18 months ago, so we won’t have to pay for parts and perhaps much less of the labor cost. Fingers crossed!! In the meantime, one friend/neighbor gave me a ride to pick up another friend’s (actually her husband’s) extra vehicle. Both of them thanked me for allowing them to help someone else. Such wonderful friends! I am blessed. 🤗
ADMIN STUFF:
The November Monthly Group Read will be The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern!. The discussion is posted in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. (I and the IRL book club I facilitate LOVED this book so much!) This book could be used to fulfill prompt #41 A book written during NaNoWriMo! No “marvelous manager” volunteered to lead this discussion! I have posted some generic questions and will post others about mid-month since most of them are to be answered upon reading the whole book, IMO. With that said, there is, IMO, more than enough material for a good discussion to occur organically! So if you are planning to read this, please join in! I had not planned to reread it but will try to do so this next week. This is one book I do not mind revisiting since I found it enthralling and literally awe-inspiring the first time around.
The December Monthly Group Read will be Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #32 A book published in the last half of 2023. I’m certain there is a “cool captain” out there amongst you-all who is just dying to facilitate this discussion! Please message either myself or Nadine to volunteer!
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE
Question of the Week:
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
Ack! You changed it on me, Nadine! LOL 😉 I like this one better though!! It’s more fun…
I have read 35 of them with another 30 already on my TBR listing, of which I own 11. Interesting…
I would say that 25 of the 35 I’ve read are favorite reads for me! Ugh. A listing is expected... Okay.
1. All the Light We Cannot See
2. Where the Crawdads Sing
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
4. Daisy Jones & The Six
5. The Nightingale
6. Becoming
7. The Goldfinch
8. The Tattooist of Auschwitz
9. Malibu Rising
10. The Vanishing Half
11. The Great Alone
12. A Gentleman in Moscow
13. Everything I Never Told You
14. Pachinko
15. Project Hail Mary
16. Carrie Soto Is Back
17. Beartown
18. Crazy Rich Asians
19. The Giver of Stars
20. Remarkably Bright Creatures
21. The Lost Apothecary
22. Before the Coffee Gets Cold
23. Homegoing
24. An American Marriage
25. Between the World and Me
This is in no way prioritized. I could never do that since there are different genres/subgenres represented... But you already know that I truly enjoy and love many of the books I read! (I'm easy! LOL)
Message is too long, so my books listing is in another posting!
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Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 14/24
FINISHED:
*Strange Sight (Essex Witch Museum Mystery #2) by Syd Moore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I picked this up as a palate cleanser before launching back into The Three-Body Problem! This was extremely well done, IMO! I appreciate the informative bits (Charles Bonnet Syndrome) as well as the inclusion of intense social issues (child trafficking). All while maintaining romantic bits as well as some paranormal bits! I think Rosie and I are quite a bit alike in some ways…
I waited for Sam to answer. There was so much testosterone in the room, I knew if I were to jump in first it might emasculate my colleague. Nuance you see. I was getting there.
I could relate to curbing my own initial reaction to jump right in without forethought as to the implications for a male colleague! That would be me! Just charging on ahead! 😊 (I’m not an Aries for nothing! LOL)
POPSUGAR: #1, #5, #19-2017: prompt #32 A book about an interesting woman, #36, #39, #46-Hecate, #50
ATY: #2, #3-A book with a secret passage, #6, #10-Scary, #11-Mary’s Charles Bonnet Syndrome, #13-hook, flowers, #14-Mary and Tom, #18, #37, #42, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2015: A romance novel
*The Strange Casebook (Essex Witch Museum between-the-numbers) by Syd Moore ⭐⭐ is shown between installments 4 and 5 in this series, but not numbered. It was only available as an ebook ☹ or audiobook, so I quickly read it on my new-to-me laptop! A collection of short stories:
“Death Becomes Her” was a bit creepy at the end!
“Snowy” was another story about death…seems to be a theme here!
“Madness in a Coruña” was quite strange…and involved a suicide (death again!)
“She Saw Three Ships” was uh…uhm…UGH! Not my kind of story. A bit too gruesome though also starkly unbelievable. Kinda like zombies. I dislike the whole concept of zombies…
“Jocelyn’s Story” was weird. That’s all I can say…
“The House on Savage Lane” contained what could be referred to as “dark humor,” though for me this was just gross and wrong…
I definitely did not enjoy this collection. Too horrific for me. I am such a wuss!
POPSUGAR: #5, #19-2020: prompt #35 A book with a 3-word title
ATY: #2, #3-A book where a battle takes place, #10-Scary, #14, #28, #34, #42, #43, #45
RHC: #21, #24-2015: A collection of short stories
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ proved to be a very unique look at the Holocaust and the aftermath for one person, the author’s father. However, it was much more complex and complicated than even that. Parent-child relationships can be very difficult, particularly as the parent ages and his/her health declines. Let us remember to treat others with acceptance, compassion, and respect! Each and every one!
POPSUGAR: #4, NEW #18, #19-2015: prompt #18 A Pulitzer Prize winner, #23, #28, #31
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #6-his mother’s diaries, #10-Scary, #14, #19-graphic novel, #24, #28, #37, #43, #52
RHC: NEW #8, #23-social horror, #24-2015: A graphic novel, a graphic memoir, or a collection of comics of any kind
This completes my documentation of the Mrs. Pollifax books! I have loaned them all out to my best friend and she is binge-reading them now!
*A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax #4) by Dorothy Gilman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was absolutely delightful! Emily P has amazing encounters with some of the pertinent (and impertinent?) people! But she makes some friends here who will be with her in some of her future adventures as well!
POPSUGAR: #16, #19-2015: prompt #29 A book set somewhere you have always wanted to visit (Switzerland), #28, #36, #39, #50
ATY: #3-An adventure book, #5, #11-Mr. Sabry, #14, #24, #33, #34, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2015: A book written by someone over the age of 65
*Mrs. Pollifax on Safari (Mrs. Pollifax #5) by Dorothy Gilman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ finds Mrs. P on safari with at least one assassin, the most wanted and vilest of assassins. But she doesn’t know which fellow traveler is the assassin. And there is a very smitten Cyrus Reed along…and if not for the (literal) feather in her hat, she might not be alive!!
POPSUGAR: #16, #19-2015: prompt #29 A book set somewhere you have always wanted to visit (Africa), #28, #36, #39
ATY: #1-Africa, #3-A book in which someone is captured, taken hostage, trapped, or imprisoned, #5, #10-Scary, #14, #24, #37, #43
RHC: #23, #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman
*Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station (Mrs. Pollifax #6) by Dorothy Gilman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was another excellent and uniquely thought-provoking installment in this series. Spies battling it out for a person with exclusive knowledge that could propel a nation ahead of all others in a specific area. Is that worthy of murder? I did think the ending was a bit unrealistic, but definitely not enough to deter me from reading the series!
POPSUGAR: #16, #17, #19-2022: prompt #29 A different book written by an author you read in 2021, #28, #36, #39
ATY: #3-A book that involves a moral dilemma or question, #5, #10-Scary, #14, #18-Forensics, #24, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2017: prompt #11 A book set more than 5,000 miles from your location
CONTINUING:
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk is the book I had selected to fulfill prompt #13 A book published in the year you were born. (It’s not exactly that year, but very close!) I wanted to read this because I remembered having read and enjoyed a Herman Wouk book when I was in my teens. I think it was The Winds of War, though I am not certain… I plan to read that one sometime next year after finishing this book! I am finding this one to be an absolute delight! I can relate to both Marjorie and her mother! I laugh at least once on every page!
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
This one may need to wait until December or at least near the end of this month.
PLANNED:
*The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern for our Monthly Group Read! This is a reread for me and although I already have a full slate of books planned to read this month, I really am looking forward to reading this one again!
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaqfor an IRL book club
*To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose for an IRL book club
*Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour for an IRL book club
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey for an IRL book club
Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich released October 31!
Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree for our December Monthly Group Read, released November 7.
System Collapse (Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells scheduled to release November 14.
Happy Thursday! The weather here can't make up its mind. 70s today. 40s tomorrow. It's been like that all week!Finished 44/50
Oh man if that large Sanderson book doesn't trip me up, I might actually finish this challenge!!
Legends & Lattes for "book written during NaNoWriMo". This was really cute. Nice, feel good read.
Franny and Zooey for "book that takes place entirely in one day". I mean, technically it's two different stories that each take place in one different day, so I think it counts. I loved it, but it's definitely more of a "classic" philosophical novel.
Currently Reading
BECOME LEGEND: The JordanCon 2021 Anthology for "book that was self-published". I mean, it's a bunch of short stories that people submit to JordanCon and the Con publishes them for the attendees. So I'm counting that as "self-published" since it's by the Con for the Con and doesn't go through any official publishing house and isn't sold outside the Con site.
QotW
I've read seven, which is remarkable given how I'm always behind the times and read lesser-known books. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood is definitely one of my favourites. Everyone should read that book!
Mod
And sweet dreams to them!
"In most states in the USA, we switched back to Standard Time last weekend, and even though the jump "back" is easier to deal with when waking up, I'm still all out of sorts, and I will be for a week or two more. These time changes really mess me up."
It throws me off a bit as well, but only for 2-3 days. I still disagree with this. I personally believe we would all be healthier without messing with "time." I guess I'm showing my age, but really!!
"Admin stuff
Nothing new.
November group read is The Night Circus - discussion post is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
Oh, ye of little faith! I have posted some initial questions for the November Monthly Group Read with more specific questions to follow at mid-month. It looks as if there are a few who will be participating. Now I must locate my copy to reread quickly next week. 😋
"Earthdivers, Vol. 1: Kill Columbus written by Stephen Graham Jones - I had been really looking forward to this graphic novel ever since Jones first told us he was working on it! It sounds so awesome!! But I was disappointed, it was confusing and not much happened. I don't know if I'll bother reading the next volume (if there even is a next volume)."
Ugh. It's so...disappointing...to be...disappointed! 😒
"The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells - back when MurderBot first came out, I decided I needed to read more Martha Wells, so a few years ago when my library system was hacked and shut down for months, I figured I should buy some books, and I bought this book. I never got around to reading it back then, so I decided this year I would definitely read it, and I put this on my list of Books I Must Read in 2023 (only one book left to go on the list!). It's entertaining enough, I guess, but it's not particularly special in any way. I never would have sought out more books by Wells if this had been my introduction to her. It's really hard to believe the same author wrote both!"
I still might give this one a try if I come across a cheap copy...
"Question of the Week
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
I can't resist a list, so when I saw this article, I started counting. 34 (and one of those was a DNF)
I usually don't like the super popular books, so I was surprised to find that several of my favorites were on this list!
Normal People
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Big Little Lies
The Vanishing Half
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
The Underground Railroad
Homegoing
Station Eleven
Sea of Tranquility"
So funny! I have two favorites among your list: The Vanishing Half and Homegoing. I haven't even read 5 from your favorites listing.
Mod
Since our hotel was by the Tower of London and I had a 241 voucher, we decided to be proper tourists for a bit, and I never knew they had such an amazing collection of lifesize horse models with ridiculous facial expressions. I loved them, so much cooler than the sparkly crown jewels. I wonder if the original artists thought they'd really captured the spirit of the royal horses?"😃
Sounds like so much fun!!
"QOTW:
I've read 21, a few I loved and the rest are a bit on the average side. Several were ones I only read because I was in a book group at the time. My tastes clearly leans to "obscure by Goodreads standards"."
I always feel that way as well. So I was surprised by how many I'd read and loved. Though there are so many others not listed that I would include!!
"Those I loved are Heartstopper: Volume One, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility."
Though I'm typically not a fan of graphic novels, Heartstopper is one I may well read one day. And I really meant to get to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow this year, but it looks as if that one will be booted to 2024!
Happy check-in! I've had a good reading week plus a couple of things were finally published. 😀 It's nice to be free of my challenges so I can just read whatever.We've had weird weather, I think it counts for winter in Toronto or Vancouver but it's not November on the prairies. It's above zero and snows/rains so everything is slush. I'm not complaining at all, it's nice. Barely have to shovel.
Finished Reading:
Artie and the Wolf Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the library big read on Overdrive. A middle grade graphic novel about werewolves and vampires. It was cute and had good artwork.
The Bone Witch ⭐⭐⭐
Ya fantasy but not the overdramatic type. This is more necromancy and daeva instead of witches.
Loathe to Love You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Felt like rereading. It was good to read all three together instead of months apart as they were released.
The Official Disney Parks Cookbook: 101 Magical Recipes from the Delicious Disney Vault
Was gifted this and finally read through, I won't be rating it until a I make a few things. There are some tasty looking things. Also the "Grey Stuff" recipe is just great to see. (Although the grey stuff isn't grey looking in the picture because it's a chocolate mousse.) Most of the recipes don't appear to be related to the films/characters/rides.
Spy x Family, Vol. 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one was more serious then the previous 9. We get character backstory and lots of commentary on war and a need for peace.
Check & Mate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was super cute! Ali Hazelwood did a good job with ya. I really want to play chess now.
The Last Train to Key West ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chanel Cleeton is really good at historical fiction. This was inspired by the 1935 hurricane that hit the Keys and killed many WWI veterans.
PS 50/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 244/250
Currently Reading:
Fourth Wing rereading before I start Iron Flame
QOTW:
I was a little surprised with what made the list. I've read 15, plus one I'm apparently currently reading. There's a few on the tbr as well.
4/5 stars:
The four Taylor Jenkins Reid's
Where the Crawdads Sing
Big Little Lies
I'm Glad My Mom Died
The Spanish Love Deception
Born A Crime
Heartstopper
Red Rising
Crazy Rich Asians
Beartown
Dark Matter and Anxious People weren't faves.
I’ve read more than half! 39 out of 76. Lots of good ones, but since I can’t see my star ratings on the list, I’m not going to click through all of them to check. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Project Hail Mary jumped out as favorites I still remember details from.
Happy Thursday! Took a nice walk today, had a chat with a friend- if nothing else this less than great week makes for good stories!- and finally got in a bit of reading. I'm off in a sec to meet up with my parents for dinner and a show- the Mavericks, a group from the 90s they love and offered me a ticket to come with about 6 months ago. So that'll be a fun night!If anyone else finds themselves with a lot of free time suddenly, there's two shows I'm watching on Viki I'm liking. There's Perfect Revenge Marriage- a rich people revenge/contract marriage drama, and Moon in the Day- a reincarnation/revenge drama. I was watching both before getting laidoff, the revenge bit is a coincidence, I swear!
Finished:
nothing!
Currently reading:
The Angel of the Crows- almost done! Really liking it, a supernatural/mystery/cozy story. But sometimes cozy books are a little to twee for me, and this isn't. It's just the right level of cozy
QotW:
I've read 28! My favorites are Normal People, All the light, Homegoing and Becoming. That list is an interesting mix- some are still high on my tbr and some I have no interest in
Happy Thursday!I have no notifications for groups again. I completely forgot it was Thursday!
I get a three day weekend this week. Yay! I'm going to binge a bunch of shows and read.
The weather is dragon breath now! I'm excited. The kids have sweaters on now. Reba is in her black and grey skull and cross bones while Ziggy is fashionably dressed in a multicolored sweater with a jaguar and snake scene. Last week they were both in their pale pink leopard print before I had to switch them (because they got into freaking rag weed out on the road behind my house) to navy blue winter scene of moose with red and white.
I hate the time change. It's only 4:30 and it's getting freaking dark. So not happy about it.
I'm being lazy today and won't list all the books I read this week. I did finish Gabriel's Redemption and started Gabriel's Promise.
QOTW:
I've read 2. Project Hail Mary and Crazy Rich Asians.
I have three on my tbr: Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Red Rising, and Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Mod
Good for you doing NaNoWriMo!
"Finished:
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank - 5 stars. If you enjoy the Finlay Donovan books this has probably been on your radar for awhile. I've always thought Vero was the stronger of the two characters so it's no surprise I loved this!"
Oohh!! Only available in ebook format. Guess I'll have to take a break from this thread to read it! Be right back! LOL (How did I not know about this?!?) Thanks so much for mentioning!
"QOTW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
Oh fun! Looks like I've read 15 with 2 DNFs. Favorites include The Alice Network, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Spare."
I hope to get to The Alice Network and Spare next year!
I know I didn't read much...well I should say finish much, cause I have been reading. However, I'm not at home so I'll answer just the QOTW for now.Question of the Week:
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
I have read 12 and have 25 on my want to read list. But, there are like 8 or 9 more that I have been thinking about adding as well. It's crazy how many of those WTR I actually own and still have not read them!
Mod
That is awesome!
"I’d like to say that I’ve also made significant progress on my “New Books” list goal…but that would be a lie. I am continuing to read the books on my list, but it’s hard to make progress when you keep buying more books. Oh well. It is what it is."
I still believe you are brave for even trying! LOL
"Two of the books I purchased were new releases that I was already planning on buying this week. They were Murder in Williamstown, by Kerry Greenwood; and Bookshops & Bonedust, by Travis Baldree."
I'll be ordering some new releases next week! Definitely including this one!
"Of course, because I have zero self-control when it comes to book shopping, I also ended up getting copies of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett; and Critical Role Vox Machina Origins, volumes 1-3, by Matthew Mercer.
My biggest surprise purchase of the week, however, was System Collapse, by Martha Wells. Even though this book is not supposed to be out until the 14th, my local Barnes & Noble already had tons of copies on their New Release shelves! I was so excited to be able to get this one a week ahead of schedule!"
I'm just thrilled to know there are others like me! And I am so jealous of your week-ahead purchase!! YAY!
"~By the Pricking of My Thumbs — This is the fourth book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. I really enjoyed this story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Postern of Fate — This is the fifth book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. I really enjoyed this mystery! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"
I finally received installments 2 and 3 and am looking forward to finishing the series as well!
"~They Came to Baghdad — This is one of Agatha Christie’s standalone mystery novels. I really enjoyed this story! It was very different than most of the Christie novels I have read; more thriller than mystery. I do have to admit, however, that I was not a big fan of the main female character. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️"
Don't think I've read this one!
"~The Secret of Chimneys — I’m only a couple of chapters into this book, so I haven’t really formed any opinions of it yet. 📚"
Haven't read any from this series...
"QOTW:
The only books I’ve read from this list are…
~Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, by Trevor Noah
~The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood"
Interesting! Did you enjoy them both?
"Dubhease wrote: "The Girl on the Train was terrible and A Gentleman in Moscow was a snoozefest."I finished The Girl on the Train but I agree it wasn't that great.
Mod
Why do I keep signing up for classes that I know a lot about? This past week I did a Heart Healthy Cooking class at a local library. It was very basic on the different food groups, need for exercise and basic good thinking about one’s body. Still, I did a few chair exercises with them and came away with an app that might be useful. It isn’t that I don’t know what to eat…it is more like I don’t do what I know."
Unfortunately, I believe that is true for most of us! We know better...
"I attended two events last weekend. Saturday was Cowboy Experience, which was a catered cookout along with demonstrations with explanations of various horse/cowboy skills – roping calves, mustang training, sidesaddle riding, and various reining techniques. Very interesting except my friend spent the time talking to everyone she saw rather than being with me."
Ohh, that can be frustrating.
"Then on Sunday I went to a Foodie Festival with some friends. It was a mix of a craft fair as well as ethnic food trucks. I enjoyed the craft fair and bought some honey with comb! Hard to find. I also made an appointment with a masseuse for a massage the next day. But, we did not eat at any of the food trucks. Bah! I would have loved to sample the various foods, but one friend had her autistic son along and he did not want to eat at any and my good friend had pain in her legs and needed to sit to eat…no place for that with the food trucks. So we ended up in a pizza restaurant."
I trust you enjoyed it all anyway!
"I did get the massage the next day. It was with hot stones…and not what I expected but better!"
I had a massage therapist in the past who did an amazing job with hot stones! I'm sure you felt marvelous afterward!
"Oh! Internet went down on Monday...and couldn't be fixed remotely until a tech came out on Wed. So...I took my MiFi from Verizon out of my trailer, hooked it up in my house, and voila! home internet!!! Of course, Breezeline restarted Monday night and tech was cancelled, but I learned that my MiFi can provide internet to my FireTV as well as my computer...and I have unlimited data plan for it...and already pay for it...and why do I need Breezeline?"
Wow. Internet/WIFI is a challenging concept, IMO!!
"Regarding reading…I am not sure that I will finish this challenge. I have 12-13 prompts to go, but I going to give it a try."
And the good news is there are NO Popsugar police! As long as you have fun and enjoy some books along the way! That's all that really counts! 👍😊
"PS 37/50 (72%) and 7/10 (70%) for Nadine’s Challenge (I have two checked out from library…and hope to get the third one by December. Might finish this one yet!)
ATY 44/52 (85%) and Spring Challenge Finished*, Fall Challenge 8/12 (67%).
GR 217/200
*I reviewed my read books from Mar 1 – May 31 and was able to complete all prompts with books read during that time.
+I did the same type of review for Sept 1-Nov 30 (Fall) and was able to complete 8 of the prompts as well as plan for an additional 2 (originally planned for 10). I doubt that I will get that last 3 planned or read, but who knows?"
It amazes me sometimes how books I've read just happen to fulfill prompts!
"QotW: How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
I have read 25 and another 13 are on one of my TBR lists (wishlist, friends recommend, new series).
Five stars:
Where the Crawdads Sing
Educated
The Nightingale
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The Four Winds
Orphan Train
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI"
My book club will be reading Educated soon and I hope to get the last 3 on your list in 2024...
Mod
Hang in there!!
"Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life -- decent middle-grade novel about a neurotic thirteen-year-old boy trying to find the meaning of life (or just the keys to the box his dad gave him for his birthday) in New York City."
That made me chuckle!
"Leonard and Hungry Paul -- I’m all for slice-of-life books, and it was nice to read about genuinely nice characters trying to be their genuine best. But boy, this was pretty dull."
Yep! Sounds like one I would enjoy... LOL
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
I keep telling myself I need to dig out my copy and finally read this!
"QOTW:
Of the books on this list, I've read 10 and DNFed 7. My favorites of the ones I did read would have to be Station Eleven, Project Hail Mary, and I'm Glad My Mom Died."
Oh, my! That sounds like a lot to DNF! I guess I usually just persevere...but then I really enjoy most everything I read. I loved Project Hail Mary!
Two-week check-in. The days and weeks fly by. Finished
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White - 4 stars
My Halloween read. It was a very entertaining retelling of Frankenstein from his wife's viewpoint.
The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman - 5 stars
I am forever haunted by this book, and I will never forget it. I wish everyone would read it and learn from it. I found it quite brilliant in style and format.
At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - 4 stars
My monthly Christie. I really enjoyed this Miss Marple story of her spending a fortnight in London at a luxurious and old-fashioned hotel. There is nowhere she can go that murder doesn't follow.
The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham - 3 stars
Not nearly as good as The Firm, but it was worthwhile to re-enter the world of Mitch McDeere 15 years later. Much of the storyline is told in meeting after meeting after meeting. That was tedious but necessary to move the story along. I worked as a legal secretary for 25 years, and sadly the exciting moments in the legal world are rare and the meetings are endless.
Goodreads: 76/90
Popsugar: Completed
QOTW:
I had added up how many I had read when I saw this list the other day. I cannot resist doing so on any book list I encounter. Since my memory is shot, I just went back and counted again. I obviously love the books everyone else loves.
Read: 47
On my TBR: 16
Only 13 of these books have escaped my notice. I'm not looking very closely at them since I'll feel compelled to add them to my TBR.
Bea wrote: "Why do I keep signing up for classes that I know a lot about? This past week I did a Heart Healthy Cooking class at a local library. It was very basic on the different food groups, need for exercise and basic good thinking about one’s body. Still, I did a few chair exercises with them and came away with an app that might be useful. It isn’t that I don’t know what to eat…it is more like I don’t do what I know."I've done the same thing. I always assume that everyone has picked up this information along the way, and I have been very surprised by how many have not. I do not always do what I know to do, either. Depends on the day.
Has anyone watched the "All the Light We Cannot See" miniseries yet? There is a lot that is different than the book, as of course there has to be. I quite liked the changes and thought they fit well in a TV format. And I really liked the ending better than in the book.
Mod
I rarely watch adaptations and I hesitate to do so with this even if it is on Netflix which is the only streaming channel to which I subscribe. I just loved that book so much...
🙂
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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Winter is knocking at the door now, it's COLD. I'm really glad my heat has been working the last two days. I need to drag my container plantings into the garage - I leave them out for a few freezes so they know it's time to "go to bed" now.
In most states in the USA, we switched back to Standard Time last weekend, and even though the jump "back" is easier to deal with when waking up, I'm still all out of sorts, and I will be for a week or two more. These time changes really mess me up.
Admin stuff
Nothing new.
November group read is The Night Circus - discussion post is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This week I finished 2 books
Earthdivers, Vol. 1: Kill Columbus written by Stephen Graham Jones - I had been really looking forward to this graphic novel ever since Jones first told us he was working on it! It sounds so awesome!! But I was disappointed, it was confusing and not much happened. I don't know if I'll bother reading the next volume (if there even is a next volume).
The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells - back when MurderBot first came out, I decided I needed to read more Martha Wells, so a few years ago when my library system was hacked and shut down for months, I figured I should buy some books, and I bought this book. I never got around to reading it back then, so I decided this year I would definitely read it, and I put this on my list of Books I Must Read in 2023 (only one book left to go on the list!). It's entertaining enough, I guess, but it's not particularly special in any way. I never would have sought out more books by Wells if this had been my introduction to her. It's really hard to believe the same author wrote both!
Question of the Week
How many of the 76 most popular books of the past decade have you read? Are any of these books favorites of yours?
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
I can't resist a list, so when I saw this article, I started counting. 34 (and one of those was a DNF)
I usually don't like the super popular books, so I was surprised to find that several of my favorites were on this list!
Normal People
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Big Little Lies
The Vanishing Half
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
The Underground Railroad
Homegoing
Station Eleven
Sea of Tranquility