Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday!!! And Happy Palindrome Day (if you don't look at the year)



Admin stuff

Our final poll for the January group read is closed and the winner is:
Chain-Gang All-Stars

The final poll for the February group read is live, here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

The nomination poll for March is also live, here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

As always, let us know if you’re interested in leading any of the group reads.




YESTERDAY I was having a bad day: My furnace was still not working well - it runs sometimes, but not all the time. I’m cold and I’m cranky about it. I was running a space heater yesterday and fried the surge protector for my computer, so that’s great.

TODAY things are looking up!!! I got a new surge protector and my computer is fine. My ex stopped by after work yesterday with a new module for the furnace (he'd already replaced everything else that's easily replaceable) and so far KNOCK ON WOOD I have HEAT!!! I am so attuned to all the noises the heating system makes now - I can hear it when the thermostat relay sends the "heat on" signal to the furnace, I hear it when the gas turns on and ignites, and of course I hear the blower come on. I am very hopeful that this final part replacement was the final fix and I will have heat all winter now.



I’ve been reading a bunch of different books, but not finishing many. NEXT week I will have a long list of finishes, but for this week, I finished one book:

Open Throat by Henry Hoke - this is a Tournament of Books selection, and it has been getting quite a bit of praise, but I don’t get it. It was boring and sad. It was not charming or funny or sweet or heart warming. I’m sorry I read it.





Question of the Week - It’s time for our annual poll of favorites!!!

What are your favorite books that you read this year?

(Any book, it doesn’t have to be a new book or a challenge book.) Try to limit yourself to a dozen or fewer so we don't overwhelm each other.



It can be difficult to choose just a few, I know!! I chose my favorite book from each month (except December, I'm not sure if I've read my favorite yet)
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
The Stolen Coast by Dwyer Murphy
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

You can add your titles to our LISTOPIA here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Happy Thursday, everyone!

This was another great week for reading! Since I’ve met my TBR goal for the year, and I’m super close to meeting my “New Books” goal, I haven’t spent quite as much time reading as I have during the past several weeks.

I’ve still managed to finish quite a few books, but I’ve also spent a little more time in front of the television. I’m currently doing a rewatch of Alice in Borderland, and I’ve started watching Aggretsuko for the first time, as well as the new live action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho. I’ve also had a chance to watch a couple of fun movies this week, including My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and The Royal Treatment. I highly recommend both movies.

The one reading goal that I still need to complete before the end of the year is my “New Books” goal. I am currently reading the final book on my list, and hope to have it finished by Christmas.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 815/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 321/634
📱Ebook TBR: 22/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 13/13
TBR Checklist Total: 356/883 (40.3% complete)

This week I received my final manga preorders of 2023. I got copies of Love's in Sight!, Vol. 5, by Uoyama; That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Vol. 23, by Fuse; and Alice in Borderland, Vol. 8, by Haro Aso.

These will be the final additions to this year’s “New Books” list.

Any books I receive as gifts during the holidays will automatically go on my 2024 TBR.

“New” Books Bought in 2023: 441
“New” Books Read in 2023: 440/441 (99.7% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Miss Morton And The Spirits Of The Underworld — I got this audiobook from my local library to listen to before bed. It’s the sequel to Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder. I really enjoyed this story! 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Double Sin and Other Stories — This is a great collection of 8 Agatha Christie stories. While the majority of the stories were not new to me, there were a couple that I hadn’t read before. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Poirot Investigates — I decided to get this audiobook from my local library to listen to before bed. This was actually my third time reading this book. I’ve read it once in print, and listened to two versions of the audiobook. John Rubinstein (who narrates this audiobook) is a good narrator, but I actually prefer the audiobook that is read by Richard Armitage. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Floating Admiral — This book was co-written by Agatha Christie and several members of The Detection Club. I thought this was a good mystery, and was really interested in the way in which the story was written. Each chapter was written in sequence by a different author, so they had to not only advance the overall narrative during their chapter, but also incorporate all of the clues that were presented in earlier chapters. I also thought it was neat to see how each of the authors would have solved the mystery. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include some derogatory language in the form of racial slurs. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Love's in Sight!, Vol. 5 — I really enjoyed having a chance to continue this series. The story has been great so far! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Vol. 23 — This was a great continuation of the series! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next volume. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Alice in Borderland, Vol. 8 — This volume featured (view spoiler)[ the story of the newscaster who was trying to make a documentary about Borderland, as well as Chishiya’s game against the King of Diamonds. (hide spoiler)] I thought it was a great continuation of the series, and I think it may have included some details that were left out of the live action adaptation. I’ll be interested to see how this volume compares to the corresponding live action episodes. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ Volume 8 does include graphic depictions of violence. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~Iron Flame — This is the sequel to Fourth Wing. I’m currently about 25% of the way through this book. I am enjoying it so far, but I haven’t been reading it as quickly as the previous book. 📚
~The Women's War — I am currently 45% of the way through this book, and I’ve really been enjoying it. My original goal was to finish this book on the 31st, but I think I will actually manage to finish it sooner. 📚
~The Dead Man in the Garden — This is the third book in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series. I got this audiobook from the library earlier this week, and I’m really enjoying it so far. 🎧

QOTW:
I read a lot of fantastic books this year, so it's really hard to choose a short list of favorites. If I have to choose, I would go with the following books…

~Making It So: A Memoir, by Sir Patrick Stewart
~Bookshops & Bonedust, by Travis Baldree
~The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow, by Alyssa Palombo
~The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation, by Christina Morland
~Lonely Castle in the Mirror, by Mizuki Tsujimura
~The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
~The Throne of Glass series, by Sarah J. Maas
~The Tea Dragon Society Box Set, by Kay O’Neill
~The Promised Neverland series, by Kaiu Shirai
~The Bridgerton series, by Julia Quinn

Happy Thursday, and happy early Christmas to all who celebrate. My family aren't doing a full get-together til January when my sister is in town, but I'm hoping I'll get to see my grandma on Christmas morning. She's 94 and not in the best health, and naturally there's plenty of family drama going on that I'd rather stay out of. Otherwise things are going well here, the majority of my gifts are wrapped and ready to go :)

I finished a few more books this week!
The Six Deaths of the Saint - 5 stars. I don't think Alix Harrow knows how to disappoint me with a story.

Senlin Ascends - 3 stars. I liked the world-building, but I think this would have worked better had I stuck with a print/ebook copy instead of the audio (although John Banks narrated beautifully).

Bookshops & Bonedust - 4 stars. This was so cute and the perfect companion to Legends & Lattes! Hoping for a sequel but even without it these are excellent.

The Thief - 2 stars. A friend implored me to reread this and I honored every excruciating minute of that request, ha! This one just doesn't do anything for me, even the final twist.

PS 44/50
ATY 52/52
Mount TBR 52/60

Currently:
Never Send Roses
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017

Upcoming - hoping to knock these out before the end of the year!
The Hollow Places
Servant Mage
The Sword of Kaigen - this one will likely take me into January

What are your favorite books that you read this year?

Oh boy, favorites!



I also dove into the Lumberjanes series and I've been having fun with that (through v12/20), I finished the Wicked + the Divine series which was BEAUTIFUL, and I'm caught up through v11 with SAGA.

Finishing Never Send Roses will mean I'll be caught up on the Daniel Faust/Harmony Black series and can then turn my attention to Schaefer's other series, so I'm looking forward to that as well for the new year!

Hi all,

Been having a kind of quiet week at work, and been trying to get all the last minute christmas stuff done. Got all my out of state/out of country christmas cards in the mail, tonight I'll get all my in-state ones out. Been working on deep cleaning the house, getting ready for in laws over. Should also get started on present wrapping.

This week I finished:

System Collapse - I love me some murderbot. This was so good, but now I'm sad that I'm out of murderbot.

Sweet Paprika, Vol. 1, Sweet Paprika, Vol. 2 - trying to get some comics caught up on. This is a cute series.

The Brightest Fell - more october daye re-read

Currently reading:

Night and Silence - continuing on october daye re-read.

Sweet Paprika, Vol. 3 - continuing on with Sweet Paprika.

QOTW:

Always a hard question!

Some favorites for sure are:

System Collapse - Can't go wrong with Murderbot and this was a great edition

Bookshops & Bonedust - second books are always tricky and i thought this was a great follow up/prequel.

Stealing from Wizards: Volume 3: Kidnapping - I really love this series, and it was a great addition to it.

Happy Thursday!

Today is my last day of work. I don't come back until Wednesday. So I will enjoy my days off by binging Tubi.

Right now they have Earth: Final Conflict, 1 800 Missing, Le Femme Nikita with Peta Wilson, and a plethora of other fun oldies but goodies shows.

I have loosely planned Popsugar (mostly. missing 1 or 2) and some of ATY. I'm missing quite a few still, but I will remedy that today hopefully.

QOTW:

My favorites (being things I would reread and own and in no particular order) are:

Raven of the Inner Palace (Light Novel) Vol. 1 series
My Gently Raised Beast, Vol. 1
Love's in Sight!, Vol. 1 series
Maiden of the Needle, Vol. 1 (light novel) (Maiden of the Needle
The Great Cleric (Light Novel): Volume 1 series
Lightning and Romance, Vol. 1 series
Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense. Light Novels, Vol. 1 series
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too, (Light Novel) Vol. 1 series

My super top favorite has to be: Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 1 series

I finished Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Marriage That Shook Europe, It was very good.

I'm reading Gone with the Whisker. Cozy mystery.

And I'm also doing my annual read of A Christmas Carol.

QOTW: My 5 star reads this year were:

Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Marriage That Shook Europe

The Guest List

The German Wife

Lucky Man

Two Little Girls in Blue

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Water for Elephants

The House at Riverton

Rilla of Ingleside

Happy Thursday and Happy Solstice! We do a big dinner for the solstice every year instead of Christmas. There's so much going on at Christmas it's nice to keep the meals simple. This year's solstice dinner is a Greek leg of lamb with roasted root vegetables and a good bottle of wine. Greek salad on the side, of course.

Challenge Progress: I'm done with all my main challenges, and I finished the 52 Book Club's December mini-challenge based on the song My Favorite Things. I'm still working on ATY's winter challenge based on three wintery phrases. I'm tackling "WINTER WONDERLAND" this month... reading one book with a title that starts with a letter in the phrase. I'm still on track to finish by the end of the month.

Completed:
The Kingdom of Sweets ★★★★
Warrior Girl Unearthed (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND) ★★★★
My Favorite Things: A Christmas Collection (52 BC "my favorite things") ★★★
Amazing Grace Adams (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND) ★★★★
How to Knit a Love Song (52 BC "warm woolen mittens") ★★★
Do Tell (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND) ★★★
The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos ★★★★★
Orwell's Roses (52 BC "raindrops on roses") ★★★



Currently Reading: I've joined a new book club sponsored by a local bookstore ("Adventures Underground") that specializes in science fiction/fantasy and comics. This will be fun! It'll be a nice balance to my other book club which tends to focus on social, political, and environmental issues.
The Women Could Fly ("Adventures Underground" Book Club)
Nine Perfect Strangers (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND)
Dating Dr. Dil (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND)
Nothing to See Here (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND)
Imperfect Women (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND)
The Night Sister (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND)
The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty
The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism (ATY - WINTER WONDERLAND) - Steve Kornacki!!!

QOTW: There were some tough decisions here, but I picked a favorite from each month. I have to give an honorable mention to John Scalzi... I thoroughly enjoyed both The Kaiju Preservation Society and Starter Villain!
January: All the Broken Places
February: How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
March: A River Enchanted
April: Project Hail Mary
May: Yellowface
June: Tress of the Emerald Sea
July: All the Sinners Bleed
August: The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
September: Happiness Falls
October: Starling House
November: Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism
December: The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos

Happy Thursday.

Sorry to hear about your furnace Nadine. We had to replace ours last winter.

I am still incredibly disorganized for Christmas this year. I seem to have no energy for it.

I read two "books" this week. One was a short story by Tolkien. I didn't like having completed 39 PS prompts, so I went looking for a prompt I could fulfill to bump it up to an even 40 - shortest book was easy.

I finished my challenge of using ATY prompts as movie prompts. In retrospect, I should have converted the two book list prompts to something like "best picture" or a movie equivalent. If anyone is ever going to try this with PS prompts, alter them as needed. Book cover prompts also don't always translate well to movies.

Finished:
Leaf by Niggle
ATY prompt: none
Popsugar prompt: The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list

Pardon Me, You're Stepping on My Eyeball
ATY prompt: A book with an unusual or surprising title
Popsugar prompt: none

Series - 15/15 - I finished my goal!
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells, Mortal Instruments

Nobel laureates - 7/7 - I finished my goal!
Random books - 7/7 - I finished my goal!

ATY - 49/40
PS - 40/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 12/12 - Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 52/52 - Completed!

52. A movie with an unusual or surprising title - Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer

Currently reading:
You'll Be the Death of Me - 65% done

Buddy Reads:
This Present Darkness - 10% done

QOTW: I had a few 5 star reads:

A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories
Something Rotten
The Silver Chalice
The Darkest Dark
Daisy Darker
Leaf by Niggle

Merry Christmas to anyone who celebrates that, and a happy winter solstice to all!

Finished:

Ghost Dance by Christie Golden (3/5, book published in 2000)

This is a mostly average trilogy so far. Golden gets the characters right, but I have also seen her write much better books in Star Wars.

Question of the Week:

Discounting rereads, I still had a pretty nice crop of new-to-me books for 2023, some of which are listed out below.

The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts (5 stars!)
Heir to the Jedi
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade
Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 4
Cinder
XOXO
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 4: I Kissed a Squirrel and I Liked It
The Maid
A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla® Series
B^F: The Novelization Of The Feature Film (5 stars!)
Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country (5 stars!)
His Majesty's Dragon

I was also pretty satisfied with the Star Wars: The High Republic Phase 2 books I read this year.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Have you listened to Choice by Jodi Picoult? It's been on my audible list for a while, it's short (45 minutes) and since I knew I didn't have time for anything longer, I listened to it. Such an interesting twist. I just loved it. It's dystopian and in this future, men wake up one morning to a strange situation... they are pregnant! Picoult wrote this after Roe was overturned and proceeds of this book go to abortion rights causes. I thought it was entertaining and thought-provoking. (Not trying to start a political debate, just was wanting to share this audible novella/short story.)

For some reason the book store I ordered Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman from, didn't get their shipment in on December 19, which was the release day in US. Here it is December 21 and I'm trying not to "storm the castle" and stage a sit-in at the book store until that book is in my hands. I'm optimistic it will happen today and I will be happily finished with this challenge by tonight.

QotW: Favorite books of the year!!
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman and the whole Osemanverse series that I've read so far
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Maid by Nita Prose (so excited for The Mystery Guest too!)
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover (I've been enjoying my Hoover obsession- thanks to this challenge)
Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney (Thanks to this challenge another new favorite author)
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

An early Merry Christmas to all! I can't believe it's only a few days away. I did get my Christmas presents shipped and it looks like most will arrive before. I'm still scrambling to finish up work projects, year end invoicing, and writing/sending Christmas cards.

It's funny but when I was wrapping then packaging for shipping all the gifts, I had a book I'd put aside months ago to gift to someone on my list - and dang if I can remember who! I do keep a list on my phone -- but it wasn't on there. In the end, I decided it's going to a friend I will be seeing on Saturday. I also realized last night that a bag of stocking stuffers never surfaced as I was packing up the gifts... That just means a head start on next year - or everyone will get a New Year's present or Epiphany present instead.

Ah the joys of this time of year.

Finished:
The Paris Diversion
Secrets of a Summer Night

Currently Reading - I'm still finishing other challenges:
Bruno, Chief of Police
In a Holidaze

QOTW: Just happened to have posted my top 10 reads for the year in another group - I had 18 on the list to start with but these are the ones that pop into mind when asked to recommend a book - all were 5 star reads:

Girl in Hyacinth Blue - Susan Vreeland
A Free Man of Color - Barbara Hambly
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Kafka on the Shore - Haruko Murikami
A Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
The Summer Before the War - Helen Simonson
The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s - Maggie Doherty
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

To add to the discussion - my worst read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I am really forgiving about crime fiction/thriller but this only got 2 stars from me and a scathing review. I concluded that those who don't typically read crime fiction/thriller were the ones who were enthralled by it.

As for my best - I want to say that all were books that not just got 5 stars from me - and I had a really strong 5 star reading year - but each of these is still living with me. Perhaps the most surprising one was the JK Rowling - A Casual Vacancy - which has more negative reviews than positive from when it was published. For me it was just brilliant, demonstrating just what a storytelling gift Rowling has. It was as far removed from HP as you could get as a writer or a reader - and I am sure that is one reason it was so poorly received - everyone expected an HP type read. Pays to wait years to read a book -- let it age a bit in the TBR Tower.

Happy Thursday!

Finished:
Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher - 5 stars - T. Kingfisher never lets me down. This was a sweet romance and a great adventure story with fun characters.

Comics & manga:
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 1 - I've been watching this anime and it's very good. It's almost like the anime version of a cozy fantasy, except that there are higher stakes battles.

Currently reading:
A Little Too Familiar - this is a really fun urban fantasy/paranormal romance so far.

Upcoming/Planned:
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman for a book featuring a 42-year-old character
I'm trying to time this to be my first book for the 2024 challenge, so I will probably start reading it next.

QOTW:
My top 10 books this year:

I reread Little Thieves before reading the sequel Painted Devils by Margaret Owen
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Witch King and System Collapse, two very different books by Martha Wells but both great
Paladin's Faith and Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Theresa wrote: "To add to the discussion - my worst read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I am really forgiving about crime fiction/thriller but this only got 2 stars from me and a scathing review. I concluded that those who don't typically read crime fiction/thriller were the ones who were enthralled by it..."

I gave it 3 stars. I did like the Guest List and I thought the Paris Apartment was even better. I swear this happens to me when I try to read people's backlists. Writer's evolve. The Hunting Party was the weakest of her three "mystery/thriller" books. Who the murder victim was was way too obvious. It was much easier to discount certain suspects than it was in her subsequent books.

Laura wrote: "Happy Thursday and Happy Solstice! We do a big dinner for the solstice every year instead of Christmas. There's so much going on at Christmas it's nice to keep the meals simple. This year's solstic..."

I am in LOVE with this idea! Keeping it in mind for next year. Happy Solstice, Laura!

PS '24: 5/50
Robot: 13/52

Finished: The Human Age: The World Shaped By Us Diane Ackerman is such an incredible writer and this book pleasantly surprised me by its optimism. It included a whole ton of stuff I had never heard of.

The Maniac This was one of those books where you can't tell where the fact leaves off and the fiction begins. In other words, it was very skilffully done. About John von Neumann and AI.

Eleutheria for Prompt single word that you have to look up. This was supposed to be a utopian novel, but everything went sideways. I would only give it three stars.

Started: He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters for prompt LGBTQIA memoir.

QotW: The best book I read this year was Simon Sort of Says which deals with a difficult topic (school shootings) with grace and humor.
Others include:
The Amber Spyglass (re-read)
Evil and the God of Love (read twice)
A Philosophy of Madness: The Experience of Psychotic Thinking
The Black Book of Colors intended for someone who is blind, but we got quite a lot out of it in philosophy club
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question Funny philosophy book
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (re-read)
Before The Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe and What Lies Beyond part physics/part memoir, all wonderful
Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways a treasure trove of interesting ideas
The Heart of Philosophy

And that covers all of my 5 stars!

Argh, the Christmas lurgy has come to our household, thankfully not covid but it's put a dampener on holiday plans. We did manage to go ice skating before illness struck, although I am terrible at it. I couldn't make myself go forwards so my partner pretty much dragged me round. Then we went and ate festive loaded fries instead.

Finished:
Network Effect by Martha Wells. Loved this one, I liked the storyline with ART and Murderbot 2.0 and Three, and yeah, more AIs please! Did Murderbot fans see the announcement about the Apple TV series? Alexander Skarsgård fits quite well with my internal image of Murderbot but I know some of you pictured it as fem.

Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Osman. I hadn't realised she'd decided to extend the series so this isn't the last one. Adorable as always but this seemed a bit light on story.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura. I keep forgetting enemies to lovers in a professional setting ends up irritating me. I liked the not very realistic archaeological adventure though.

QOTW:
I have a shelf!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Highlights are:
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Bridge by Lauren Beukes
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Dubhease wrote: "Theresa wrote: "To add to the discussion - my worst read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I am really forgiving about crime fiction/thriller but this only got 2 stars from me and a scathing review. I..."

Here's the concluding sentence in my review: This was just a poor effort at modernizing a classic murder mystery format by setting it at a fancy celebrity destination wedding in an isolated location ravaged by a storm. *Yawn.* Pare of what bothered me was that it could have been really good but it was a weak confusing mess.

You want to read modernizations of classic mystery/thrillers, read Ruth Ware. Even her first was better than The Guest List was, and each book Ware has published gets better and better.

I do have The Paris Apartment and unless the author really screws up the setting in Paris, I'll likely give it a better rating given I love Paris and can be very forgiving.

Laura wrote: "Happy Thursday and Happy Solstice! We do a big dinner for the solstice every year instead of Christmas. There's so much going on at Christmas it's nice to keep the meals simple. This year's solstic..."




that sounds like a wonderful tradition!!!

Ellie wrote: "Did Murderbot fans see the announcement about the Apple TV series? Alexander Skarsgård fits quite well with my internal image of Murderbot but I know some of you pictured it as fem. ..."



YASSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! I don't have Apple TV so I won't be able to watch this, but I am thrilled to hear about the casting. Skarsgard has the PERFECT deadpan face for this role - I never would have thought of casting someone so masculine in the role, but the instant I saw the news, I knew he was perfect. And someday when the series is released on DVDs, I can watch it ...

Theresa wrote: "To add to the discussion - my worst read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I am really forgiving about crime fiction/thriller but this only got 2 stars from me and a scathing review. I concluded that those who don't typically read crime fiction/thriller were the ones who were enthralled by it. ...

... You want to read modernizations of classic mystery/thrillers, read Ruth Ware. Even her first was better than The Guest List was, and each book Ware has published gets better and better.

I do have The Paris Apartment and unless the author really screws up the setting in Paris, I'll likely give it a better rating given I love Paris and can be very forgiving. "



LOL at this because I hated The Guest List SO MUCH, and I hated Paris Apartment EVEN MORE (I was in a book club that chose this or I never would have read it - this book was part of the reason that I finally left that book club, because they kept choosing popular books that I hated). I wanted every character in the book to just FLING themselves off the roof of the Paris apartment and end it all.

I also hated The Woman in Cabin 10 and I will never read another book by Ruth Ware. I class Foley and Ware as identical, so it's interesting that you think one is great and one is awful. They are both equally awful for me. (I also include Catherine Steadman in that list - ugh I am so sorry I wasted my time reading Something in the Water. There's NOTHING interesting in the water.)

Ellie wrote: "QOTW:
I have a shelf!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Highlights are ... Bridge by Lauren Beukes ..."



I'm about to finish Bridge today!! And it's shaping up to probably be my "best book read in December" - I need to go through your shelf and add all your books to my TBR.

Ellie wrote: "Did Murderbot fans see the announcement about the Apple TV series? Alexander Skarsgård fits quite well with my internal image of Murderbot but I know some of you pictured it as fem."

This is so exciting! I currently don't have Apple TV, but will definitely have to get it when the series comes out. I love the idea of Alexander Skarsgård playing Murderbot.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I'm about to finish Bridge today!! And it's shaping up to probably be my "best book read in December" - I need to go through your shelf and add all your books to my TBR..."

Hah well I think you hated the Ashley Poston book, so proceed with caution!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "To add to the discussion - my worst read: The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I am really forgiving about crime fiction/thriller but this only got 2 stars from me and a scathing review. I..."

Oh Nadine - you make me laugh! I was hoping they would ALL fling themselves off the cliff into the Irish Sea or whatever it was in The Guest List!

Ware's first 2 books were for sure flawed - that included Woman in Cabin 10 whose ending I thought was all wrong. In a Dark, Dark Wood I thought had a rather week protagonist but was definitely a good twist on the isolated country house mystery. Ware does take classic mystery tropes and stands them on their head.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read -- playing off gothic a la Rebecca but so very contemporary. The Turn of the Key is taking the classic haunted house of Henry James into the tech world. I'm still debating the ending of that one with a couple of friends. Ware is definitely more and more gothic even borderline horror than whodunit or classic mystery. If that gothic style isn't your cup of tea - you will hate these.

Can't say I ever read Steadman... or even have on my TBR.

Bottom line is that I NEVER can predict whether you will like a book or not!

Happy Thursday and Happy Holidays!! I didn't complete anything this week. I'm still in this reading slump. I put a few things on my "Paused" shelf to come back to later. I used my Audible credit on Vampires of El Norte but it's not gripping my attention like I thought it would.
Question of the Week - It’s time for our annual poll of favorites!!!

What are your favorite books that you read this year?
My Top fav's in no particular order:
Yellow Wife
You or Someone You Love: Reflections from an Abortion Doula
Take My Hand
Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul
There's Something Wrong in MorringtonCounty
GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty
The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir
The Gilded Ones
Finding Me
The Book of Night Women

I finished nothing this week (honestly the last couple weeks of December is usually my catching up with friends' fanfic time) but I did want to answer the question of the week. Here were my favorite reads

Mysteries:
Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji
A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge

Urban Fantasy/Horror
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
Liar City by Allie Therin
Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt (one of my favorite reads all year)

Sci-Fi

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Nettle & Boneby T. Kingfisher (these two are my other top reads)

Nadine in NY wrote: "LOL at this because I hated The Guest List SO MUCH, and I hated Paris Apartment EVEN MORE (I was in a book club that chose this or I never would have read it - this book was part of the reason that I finally left that book club, because they kept choosing popular books that I hated). I wanted every character in the book to just FLING themselves off the roof of the Paris apartment and end it all.

I also hated The Woman in Cabin 10 and I will never read another book by Ruth Ware. I class Foley and Ware as identical, so it's interesting that you think one is great and one is awful. They are both equally awful for me. (I also include Catherine Steadman in that list - ugh I am so sorry I wasted my time reading Something in the Water. There's NOTHING interesting in the water.)..."

Ruth Ware is probably my favourite living author (a friend once teased me by saying that all my favourite authors are dead). I found that she improved with every book, until Zero Days which I didn't enjoy as much. The It Girl and The Turn of the Key are my favourites (and I suffered through Turn of the Screw since I thought I had to read it to make Turn of the Key make sense - which I didn't need to do).

Lucy Foley seems to have a few tropes (as all writers do) - 5 points of view and the identity of the deceased not revealed at the start. I'm going to read her 2024 release and see if she's still holding to this.

I love how diverse our groups are. I know Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, Karen Mc Manus, and Shari Lapena aren't everyone's cup of tea. On the other hand, there are a couple of super popular novelists who I consider trash and yet I see others listing their books on their favourite books of the year. As long as we're all reading what we love, it's all good.

Dubhease wrote: "I love how diverse our groups are. I know Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, Karen Mc Manus, and Shari Lapena aren't everyone's cup of tea. On the other hand, there are a couple of super popular novelists who I consider trash and yet I see others listing their books on their favourite books of the year. As long as we're all reading what we love, it's all good...."



Oh yes, I agree completely!!! No two readers will agree on EVERY book, and most readers won't agree on most books! I may hate certain writers' styles, but I don't consider any book to be trash.

I like Karen McManus, and I have been meaning to read Shari LaPena and Alice Feeney (maybe 2024 is my year! finally!)

Theresa wrote: "Bottom line is that I NEVER can predict whether you will like a book or not!..."


LOL I can't either, which is why I end up reading books I hate so often. They all SOUNDED good when I started them! And sometimes I LOVE them. I can't know until I read it.

Ellie wrote: "Hah well I think you hated the Ashley Poston book, so proceed with caution!..."


I never read Ashley Poston, (and I will now, just to see what's what!!) but I WILL proceed with caution! For example, I think I'll skip the Leigh Bardugo and Seanan McGuire titles, because I have not had good luck with those authors in the past. I know, I KNOW, they are so beloved, and they write exactly the sort of book I love, but ... it just doesn't work for me.


CORRECTION: I DID read Poston, she wrote The Dead Romantics, which I gave two stars. That was entertaining, but it had a lot of plot holes that annoyed me - I'm willing to give her another chance.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Hah well I think you hated the Ashley Poston book, so proceed with caution!..."

I never read Ashley Poston, (and I will now, just to see what's what!!) but I WILL proceed with cauti..."

I feel this way about Leigh Bardugo! My friends are all aghast that I can't get into her stuff; I liked Six of Crows but on paper I should've *loved* it. And it took me a try or two to find a Seanan McGuire book I liked lol

Ashley Marie wrote: "I feel this way about Leigh Bardugo! My friends are all aghast that I can't get into her stuff; I liked Six of Crows but on paper I should've *loved* it. And it took me a try or two to find a Seanan McGuire book I liked lol..."


Oh that's really interesting!! There's just something about their books that doesn't work for me. It SHOULD work.

Woah, totally forgot today was Thursday, but then I keep thinking today is Dec. 20th, so I'm starting to lose track of my days.

The week went okay for me. Finished up with school and got all A's which is excellent since it's what I need to get into the program I want to get into.

Weatherwise it's been a bit warm. I'm sick of the warm and hot temps. Here we are in December and it's still too hot.

Lately I've been doing some reading as well as writing fanfiction. I'm glad to get back into it. I've missed it.

Also preparing ideas for my next books next year so I'm excited for those.

*****

Book wise, I've got 3 that I've got going on.

Currently Reading:

1.) We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation

2.) Writers in the Secret Garden: Fanfiction, Youth, and New Forms of Mentoring

3.) Canon Fanfiction: Reading, Writing, and Teaching with Adaptations of Premodern and Early Modern Literature

*****

QOTW:

What are your favorite books that you read this year?

Surprisingly I was able to list my favorites from my number one through ninety-five which is how many I read.

That said, here are my top 5:

1.) Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

2.) Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning

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

4.) Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears

5.) UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government's Search for Alien Life Here―and Out There

Hellooo!

My best friend is flying in tomorrow and I am So Busy trying to get everything ready and I completely missed that it was Thursday by being so wrapped up in it Being The Day Before Friday.

I finished my 5th part of the massive puzzle today! I'm officially halfway done and about 20 hours ahead of Ravensburger's schedule! Sorted the 6th part today. It's the part I like the least (I might even say dislike oops) so let's hope I'll still enjoy putting it together.

I ALSO READ A BOOK YESTERDAY

I reread Heartstopper vol 4 to prepare for vol 5. I'd hoped to read that tonight but I've been too exhausted and Songpop insisted on their Christmas event happening right now. But, the year has over a week left so I believe in me. I have less faith in me watching the 3 remaining Handmaid's Tale episodes, because I simply don't want to beyond 'finish it this year'. Wish me luck!

PERCY JACKSON'S FIRST TWO EPISODES ARE AMAZING BY THE WAY

My bingo has hit 35 sign ups!!! Tomorrow is the last day people can sign up to get a personalized bingo card (in February you can sign up to get a premade card), so I'm curious if there'll be any people truly signing up in the nick of time. I'm having a lot of fun putting bingo cards together for people; the anxiety over getting it right has become manageable to non-existent, but square changes are still such a huge responsiblity, haha!

It's 1:25am and I should sleep but uughh. Tomorrow I gotta go get a new board for the next puzzle part, make the bingo card for the person who just signed up and anyone who might sign up while I'm asleep, clean Mickey's cage, shower, do some same-day-grocery shopping for dinner tomorrow night (gourmetten; my friend has dubbed it The Danger Plate because it's a scalding hot cooking plate set in the middle of the table xD), prepare food for dinner (she gets in at 5:45pm so no time after!), send a parcel (all ready to go save for a card to pop in), hopefully find some time for Dreamlight Valley and mozzarella sticks, and of course pick up my best friend from the airport. I think that's about it. Given I'll have about 6 hours to do all of the above, I'm screwed, and therefore not going to bed kdsjhfldasg

QOTW
I am too tired and lazy to link but here goes:

I'm Glad My Mom Died
The Oddmire trilogy
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
Norse Mythology
Good Omens (full cast audio)
The Chalice of the Gods (Percy Jackson)
Daughter of the Deep

And I read many, many amazing fics. Maybe I'll do the math soon for how many fic words I've read this year!

Ashley Marie wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Hah well I think you hated the Ashley Poston book, so proceed with caution!..."

I never read Ashley Poston, (and I will now, just to see what's what!!) but I WIL..."

You and me both with Six of Crows. That was my exact reaction shocking my friends who loved it (Granted me and my friends should love the same things based on our tastes but we do often varying on reading books within our shared genres)

Hi all! I'm glad Christmas will be here this weekend, I'm so drained. My birthday was this past week and I was too busy and tired to even think of things I wanted or something to do! I told my boyfriend we'll go out for dinner in the new year. Tomorrow is cookie making day with kiddo's grandmas. Saturday is dinner prep for Christmas Eve, which we host boyfriend's family. Christmas morning for the kiddo and then I can finally collapse! I hate being this worn out cause I love this time of year, but I just can't...

I hope the rest of you are able to enjoy the holidays as you see fit! And if you can't enjoy, may you have some measures of peace! <3

I finished Alison Larkin Presents: A Christmas Carol for a retelling. Though it really wasn't, it was just the same story with Scrooge as a woman. Fortunately, it's a great story (of course), so it wasn't a bummer to listen to.

Almost done with Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. I wanted to finish it before posting, but I'm not sure when I will get to it, so maybe next week. Really incredible book. I look forward to seeing the movie on streaming or from the library when it comes out.

QOTW: I had 3- 5 star reads this year (though Flower Moon may join them, it's close).
Flamer was my favorite read of the year.
The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner fascinating history.
The Complete Maus a reread, just as powerful as the first time.

Happy Thursday! And happy holidays!

At my sister's house this weekend for Christmas. Not sure how much reading I'll get done, but it'll be fun hanging out with family and playing games. :)

Books read this week:

Pie in the Sky -- I picked this up expecting a cute middle-grade book about making cakes. I didn’t expect such an emotional read about being a young new immigrant in a strange company and about coping with grief… but dang, this was good.

Chlorine -- an aquatic athlete believes she’s actually a mermaid. Not as cute as it sounds -- it’s actually rather dark and disturbing.

The Purgatorium -- do NOT read if you are struggling with your mental health. Basically a weak copy of Shutter Island with a teenage female protagonist.

Gravity Falls: Lost Legends -- great graphic novel adaptation of a favorite TV show. Give us a season 3, people…

Currently reading:

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi
Tinder Box: The Iroquois Theatre Disaster 1903
The Easy Life in Kamusari

QOTW:

This is a HARD one! I read a lot of good books this year. Here's a list of ones I consider the best:

Illuminae
Gemina
Obsidio
Legends & Lattes
Bookshops & Bonedust
One to Watch
Paladin's Grace
Clockwork Boys
The Wonder Engine
Swordheart
Thornhedge
No-No Boy
The Goblin Emperor
Magical Boy Volume 1: A Graphic Novel
Magical Boy Volume 2: A Graphic Novel
Pet Sematary
Nala's World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe
George Lucas: A Life
Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir
How the Penguins Saved Veronica
Slaughterhouse-Five
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Dear Mothman
Hell Followed With Us
Camp Damascus
Mister Magic
Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
Time's Mouth
Desdemona and the Deep
Even Though I Knew the End
Fourth Wing
Yellowface

Happy Thursday yet once again! One of the last Thursdays in this year! Weather has been a bit cooler and now we’re back in the 50s during the daytime. I admit I hate the colder weather any more. My old arthritis-riddled body just can’t take it. I came home Tuesday after spending most of the day running errands and at book club, etc., informing my husband that until the highs were back in the 50s he was in charge and could do all the grocery shopping, errand running, etc! He laughed… 😒

I survived 3 IRL book club meetings within 7 days! Whew! I’m kinda book clubbed out for now and glad I won’t have another until January 9! And the January meetings are spaced out much more than they were in December! 🤗

ADMIN STUFF:
First and foremost, the December Monthly Group Read of Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree is HERE! This book could be used to fulfill 2023 prompt #32 A book published in the last half of 2023. And the thread to list a book you have read that fulfills prompt #32 is HERE!

And we have the results of the final selection poll for the January 2024 Monthly Group Read! It is… Drum roll, please! It is…Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah! This is one I’ve been wanting to read, more out of curiosity than anything else! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #19 "A book set in the future." Surely there is a “rambunctious wrangler” just waiting to volunteer to facilitate this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

And, for your voting pleasure, we have two more polls!

Poll #1 is a nomination poll for the March Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems. World Poetry Day is on March 21!
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, simply write it in. But please check that book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2022-present) are eligible. Please remember to consult the listing of these books that are NOT eligible for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing for your reading enjoyment! 😉 (Though I don’t recall any poetry books selected as Monthly Group Reads since I joined!)
There are three listed to start us off:
Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare
milk and honey by Rupi Kaur
VOTE HERE!

Poll #2 is a FINAL SELECTION poll for the February Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #1 "A book with the word "leap" in the title." (Since “Leap Day”/February 29 does occur in February!) 😊
There are just three titles from which you may select one:
Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow #4) by Donna Andrews
Lemmings Don't Leap: 180 Myths, Misconceptions, and Urban Legends Exploded by Edwin Moore
All three of these look like books I would enjoy! I’m rather fascinated by that last one!
PLEASE VOTE HERE!

Both polls are scheduled to be open through next Tuesday, December 26!

The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!

Question of the Week:
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge)
Oh my! Sheesh! So many!
In reverse chronological order…
...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer I realize I have not yet finished this one, but I will! And it is a reread some 35 years later! I know I'm gonna love it again!
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
To Shape a Dragon's Breath (Nampeshiweisit #1) by Moniquill Blackgoose
Next Year in Havana (Perez Family #1) by Chanel Cleeton
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
Longbourn by Jo Baker
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
Delilah Green Doesn't Care (Bright Falls #1) by Ashley Herring Blake
Greenglass House (Greenglass House #1) by Kate Milford
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The Storyteller's Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan by Hildi Kang
The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
The London House by Katherine Reay
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink

Favorite Series:
(Those from which I read at least one book in 2023 and are ongoing for me!)
The Rescuers by Margery Sharp
Finlay Donovan by Elle Cosimano
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
Wrexford & Sloane by Andrea Penrose
Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Track by Jason Reynolds
Two Rivers by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope by Ann Cleeves
Shetland Island by Ann Cleeves
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
The Harwood Spellbook by Stephanie Burgis
The Darling Dahlias by Susan Wittig Albert
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Fractured Fables by Alix Harrow

Popsugar: 48/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 14/24

FINISHED
*West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was such an excellent reading experience! All book club members proclaimed it to be a favorite read! I can be so dense sometimes! Reading this book made me realize that I had never actually put it together that both the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl occurred in the 1930s. Basically simultaneously. It’s not as if either one occurred in a vacuum. I’m sure each influenced the other, but to have both economic tragedies strike at once! Horrid! Unemployment over 20%. Unbelievable. This book was complex yet compulsively readable! Highly recommended! And now we are all obsessed with giraffes!!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale ⭐⭐⭐ was definitely way too “romance-y” for me. If this had not been a book club read I would have DNFd it. Too many sexual details to suit me, and although there was much snarky banter and some entertaining dialogue, as well as a fully developed background for the male protagonist, I get bored when the two main characters are seemingly obsessed with each other so that every thought is consumed with the other person. This book just wasn’t for me, particularly on the heels of such an excellent read as was The Great Believers. I think I was still suffering from a book hangover!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

The Audition (Seraphina #0.5) by Rachel Hartman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a surprisingly clever read! I so enjoyed the characters and will plan to proceed with the series! Not counting for any challenge. (I admit I only read this because I was rather bored with Wrapped with a Beau last Thursday afternoon and starting planning for the 2024 Popsugar challenge! LOL 😊)

CONTINUING:
I finished these first two, but have yet to review them! Yes, STILL!! LOL
*White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
I have decided to reread this every year or two. I need reminders of just how invasive our culture is for those who are NOT white-skinned.
*Next Year in Havana (Perez Family #1) by Chanel Cleeton
Though I made considerable progress in both of these two books below needed to finish 2023 Popsugar, I still have a significant number of pages to read in order to complete them both…but I am determined to do so by 12MIDNIGHT on December 31, 2021, if not before! 😊
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
*Watership Down (Watership Down #1) by Richard Adams
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
This one will definitely need to wait until 2024!

PLANNED:
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich

Happy Thursday! Was meant to finish my christmas shopping today, and wound up being very lazy and did absolutely nothing instead... so tomorrow will be very very busy!

Finished:
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 1 (Volume 1)- this is such a wholesome manga about two women living alone and bond over a shared love of food.
-no prompt

Currently reading:
I am on page 500 of The Count of Monte Cristo. 700 to go. I am not overly confident I'll finish it by the end of the year. That 100 pages following Franz killed me- he was so dull, I did not care. I like the section I'm at now, so hopefully it'll be less of a slog.

QotW:
I read some really good books this year, but I definitely read more 5-stars last year... Some of my faves!
Nonfiction:
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick
Beautiful Country
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

Fiction:
Here the Whole Time
This is How You Lose the Time War
Foster

Dubhease wrote: "I love how diverse our groups are. I know Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, Karen Mc Manus, and Shari Lapena aren't everyone's cup of tea. On the other hand, there are a couple of super popular novelists who I consider trash and yet I see others listing their books on their favourite books of the year. As long as we're all reading what we love, it's all good."

I was just thinking this too! I love how some peoples favorites are nowhere near other peoples favorites.

And I will second you on...As long as we're all reading what we love, it's all good.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I may hate certain writers' styles, but I don't consider any book to be trash.."

This! I don't believe anyone's favourite books are objectively badly written. Whenever I see a review that says something like "I don't understand why everyone loves this", it always sounds like they're insinuating that all the praise is fake. I can totally understand why some books are popular despite me not liking them. People like different things!

Ellie wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "I may hate certain writers' styles, but I don't consider any book to be trash.."

This! I don't believe anyone's favourite books are objectively badly written. Whenever I see a review that says something like "I don't understand why everyone loves this", it always sounds like they're insinuating that all the praise is fake..."

That's interesting. When I use that phrase, I'm wondering "what did I miss??". A lot of the times I can reason out why people loved a book that I didn't, but sometimes, I truly am baffled! lol

Lynn, were you previously reading Riders of the Purple Sage? Did you finish it? It's one of those books that I'm trying to read, but it keeps getting set to the side for other books! I was liking what I read and was wondering what you thought?

Happy Friday! Another week full of Christmas events. Tonight, I’m performing in a Festival of Lessons and Carols in our church. Safely in a choir, but I’m afraid they’ll put me on the front row. Don’t know why, it always happens to me.

I just came home from the library with a pile of books for the holidays. Next week I’m only working half a day. I wish you all nice and cozy days with your loved ones!

PS: 39/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 63/52

Finished
Das mangelnde Licht by Nino Haratischwili⭐⭐⭐⭐
#15, a book with a song lyric as its title
What does growing up in a collapsed state with you? It’s a coming-of-age set in Georgia right after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mobs ran the neighbourhood, a civil war tore the country apart and in the middle of all that Keto and her friends grew up. The book is set on a vernissage of photographs of one of the 4 friends. They’re meeting there and looking back on those days. Well written, I love Haratischwili’s writing. There’s so much in it and she really pushes you into the 1990s in Georgia.

Currently reading
The Boy Between Worlds by Annejet van der Zijl

QOTW
I had 2 favorites, one fiction and one nonfiction:
The Winners by Fredrik Backman. I loved this book and my heart broke down in 1000 pieces as I finished it. And of course there has to be a Backman in my list.
De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje by René van Stipriaan. Very well written national (Dutch) history. Our ‘father of the nation’ already knew the benefits of marketing in the 16th century.

I also read a whole bunch of 4-stars, too many to write them all down. I pick the ones that are still staying with me:
The Time in Between by María Dueñas. A sweeping adventure of a Spanish girl dropped in the espionage world in the Spanish Civil War and World War 2.
De eigenzinnige erfdochter van Middachten: Ursula Philippota van Raesfelt by Hermine Manschot-Tijdink. Very well written local history, this one is on the lady who built the castle in my home town.
About People by Juli Zeh. Covid literature and a very good picture of our time with all the social bubbles.

Christmas gifts are ordered and delivered to out-of-state family. Gifts for friends are wrapped and also delivered. Done with Christmas. (Hanukkah is my holiday, and it is finished also.)

Now it is time to reflect, plan and just enjoy my books and home.

It has turned cold here in SC. Lows in upper 20s. Invigorating time! But, also a time to enjoy my home...and maybe a fire.

It looks like I will finish ATY, but I will be surprised if I get PS done. Only a handful of books to go, but I am reading for lots of challenges. Oh, well. If not by 12/31, then in January for sure.

Finished
A Psalm for the Wild-Built – Other challenge. 5*. A thoughtful book about what life is about…science fiction. Human vs. robot.
All Systems Red – ATY #49. 4*. OK…new series for me, and one I will continue. Loved the story!
Killing in C Sharp – Other challenge. 4*. I enjoy this POC mystery writer who writes books about musicians and ghosts.
Stealing Home – PS #20. 4*. This was so much better than I expected. Romance, divorce, and sports all rolled into one.
When Life Gives You Vampires – PS #10. 5*. Another surprise. Debut author. Paranormal. Body image vs. immortal life! Loved!
Magic Shifts - ATY #50. 4*. Continuation of a favorite series.

Currently Reading:
Garden Disruptors: The Rebel Misfits Who Turned Southern Horticulture On Its Head – PS #44. 11%
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life – Other challenges. Starting today
An American in Scotland – Audiobook. 45%
Golf Dreams: Writings on Golf – ATY Seasonal.
Hush Now, Don't You Cry – Other challenge. 23%

On Deck:
Firekeeper's Daughter – PS #30
Midnight Sun – PS #2
Suddenly a Murder - ATY #51

On Back Burner for now
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 27%.
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 14%.

PS 45/50 (90%)* and 9/10 (90%) for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 51/52 (98%) and Fall Challenge 12/15 (80%), Winter Challenge 5/14 (36%)
GR 246/200
*5 yet to read, but all are planned. (1 in progress, 2 on desk to start, 1 on hold and ready for pickup, 1 still on indeterminate hold.)

QotW:

At first, I thought I would skip this question, but then I got intrigued. I give 5* sparingly. The book has to address an issue that I think is important or teach me something. Good writing is a must but not the definitive reason for a 5* to me.

Here is my 2023 5* list:

Nonfiction
Zen in the Art of Writing
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII

Fiction
Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly
The Kitchen House
Every Note Played
So Lucky
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
When Life Gives You Vampires

Poetry
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country

P.S. I have read and enjoyed Ruth Ware and have Catherine Steadman on my TBR to dip a toe into.

Because my own reading is mine...what moves me or entertains me or works for me, I seldom like to read really hyped books. I don't trust the reviewers to know what will work for me. Oh, well. It is wonderful that we are all different; otherwise the world would be incredibly boring!

I'd never call a book trash; I find it insulting to the people who loved it. Even if I severely dislike a book for whatever reason, I'd never call it 'trash'. As for authors, if I were to use the word 'trash', it'd be about their real life behavior, still not their books.

I hated Addie LaRue and A Curse So Dark and Lonely and they're beloved by so many, I've had people get angry and defensive at me. Like. Stop. If you love it, that's great. Doesn't mean I have to. And me not loving it takes nothing away from your love for it???

Why can't people just be kind :(

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! I'm glad Christmas will be here this weekend, I'm so drained. My birthday was this past week and I was too busy and tired to even think of things I wanted or something to do! I told my boyf..."



Happy birthday!!


Your comment made me realize that MY birthday is coming up soon, too! holy cow it snuck up on me! How is it already the 22nd??? I have to wrap all my xmas presents! We still haven't even decorated the dumb tree!!

L Y N N wrote: "The Audition (Seraphina #0.5) by Rachel Hartman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a surprisingly clever read! I so enjoyed the characters and will plan to proceed with the series! Not counting for any challenge. (I admit I only read this because I was rather bored with Wrapped with a Beau last Thursday afternoon and starting planning for the 2024 Popsugar challenge! LOL 😊)..."


haha! so I guess you found your "dragons" book for 2024? I really liked Seraphina - maybe this will be that rare book that we both love!

Erin wrote: "I am on page 500 of The Count of Monte Cristo. 700 to go. I am not overly confident I'll finish it by the end of the year. That 100 pages following Franz killed me- he was so dull, I did not care. I like the section I'm at now, so hopefully it'll be less of a slog...."



Franz is the worst! Everyone stalls when they get to Franz. I think this is that rare book that really would be stronger if abridged.

I think i set the book down for like 3 months at Franz haha. It got much better once you're through that bit!