Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 4: 1/19 - 1/25
Happy Thursday! It's been a bit rainy and dreary this week in the Pacific Northwest. Things have been pretty quiet for me.Finished:
Herc - 3 stars - for a book with at least 3 POVs. As I said in last week's check in, I do appreciate that the author really did her research, but ultimately I didn't completely vibe with it. One interesting thing the author does is tell the story through all the people around Heracles/Hercules, but she never gives us his POV.
Most Ardently - 4 stars - for an LGBTQ+ romance novel. This would also work for a fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author. A retelling of Austen's Pride & Prejudice reimagining Lizzie Bennet as a trans boy named Oliver, and Darcy as a gay man who falls in love with him.
So Let Them Burn - 4 stars - for a book that features dragons. This just came out, so this could count for a year ending in '24 also. This is YA fantasy with an anti-colonization message, about the aftermath of a war in a fantasy world in which a smaller country rebelled against the empire that tried to dominate them with its dragons. The main character is the "chosen one" who was given the power of the gods to free her country, and now that the war is over, she isn't sure what to do with her powers. I quite liked this one, and I really need the sequel,
Lupin Leaps In: A Breaking Cat News Adventure - 4 stars - for "leap" in the title. A cute collection of comics from one of my favorite comic strips, Breaking Cat News. If you've ever had cats, they will probably be relatable.
I am currently at 7/50 prompts filled for PopSugar (7/45 and 0/5).
Currently reading:
Killers of a Certain Age - for a book where someone dies in the first chapter. I skimmed the first chapter to make sure at least one person died (lol) and now I'm going to start it properly.
Upcoming/Planned:
XOXO - reread for a book starting with 'X'
Seven Days in June for a second-chance romance
Call Us What We Carry: Poems for a collection of at least 24 poems
I'm hoping I can line the last two up with Black History Month in February.
QOTW:
I only buy a special physical edition if a book is a particular favorite that I know I want to own in hardcover. For example, I have brought the Illumicrate editions of a few books by favorite authors, and I also have some other collector's edition hardcovers. These are usually also the editions that I get signed by the authors if I get a chance.
It's gone very mild here too. Keep forgetting I don't need to wrap up for walking the dog and ending up hot and bothered half way through the walk!Didn't read much this week because my other half started playing Palworld, and even though we couldn't get multiplayer to work, we have just been sharing the same save instead. The designs are very Pokémon like people say, but the gameplay is much more engaging. I never really got into the Pokémon games other than Pokémon Go.
Finished:
Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner for ATY (connected to something read last year). Great second book, love all the small gods, though I was sad the characters were separated for most the book. I loved the found family aspect in Godkiller. I could use this for character sleeps for over 24 hours, but it wasn't super relevant to the plot and I reckon if I've stumbled across it so early in the year already, I can find another.
Currently listening to X Marks the Spot: The Story of Archaeology in Eight Extraordinary Discoveries.
PS: 4/50 | ATY: 5/52 | GR: 8/100
QOTW:
Occasionally, if it's a fancy edition of an all time favourite book. Sometimes I have bought finished copies of books I received for review and really loved, to support the author. But I'm not in work at the moment, so no extra book purchases for me!
Working from home due to freezing rain.I finished a book, but I'm behind for January. Two books finished, one 30% done and one not even received from the library. Hopefully, I'll get caught up in February. Canadian winter sucks in so many ways, but it should be good reading time since there is nothing to do but stay home, curl up, and read.
Finished:
The Wife Between Us
ATY prompt: A book involving a crime other than a murder
Popsugar prompt: A book with an unreliable narrator
Series - 0/12
Nobel laureates - 0/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 2/13
ATY - 2/45
PS - 2/30
Currently reading:
The Fisher Maiden - 30% done
The Name of the Rose - 30% done
Buddy Reads:
This Present Darkness - 35% done
QOTW: Almost never. But I did start buying Ravenclaw editions of Harry Potter.
I'm still working on Suite Française. I've been sick and coughing since last Tuesday. I start mynew job next Monday. think I'll be OK by then.QOTW: Nope. I only buy books from tag sales and used book stores for the most part. No pricey books for me.
Weather has turned very mild here too with storms and rain and double digit temperatures. Can’t imagine it was freezing cold last week… Not much to share this week. Work is crazy, so not much time left for fun stuff like reading. I still managed to finished the Putin book, so progress!
PS: 2/50
FNL: 1/40
Total: 3/52
Finished
The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin by Steven Lee Myers⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not for PS
Poetin is a mobster, conspiracy theorist and he has turned himself into Russia. This man has no feelings: after a car accident he sent his secretary to take care of his daughter who was in that car accident while her mother was in hospital… lovely father. But also: no surprise, just look at Chechnya, Syria and Ukrain. The book is easy to read and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know how Putin became what he is right now.
Currently reading
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante- going to finish it tonight
QOTW
Nope, never. Plus our bookcase is in our corridor upstairs, not a very good place for special editions being pretty.
Popsugar: 24/50Robot Librarian: 25/52
Teacher: 24/26
Finished: Good Different for prompt neurodiverse character. This was a book in verse and though I don't usually like that genre, I quite enjoyed this book.
All These Things I've Done for book set in the future. I enjoy Gabrielle Zevin, but I'm not chomping at the bit to read the next in the series, which is telling.
The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World This was much more about the nature of science than the nature of God.
The Connected Parent: An Expert Guide to Parenting in a Digital World for 000 in Robot Librarian challenge. Pretty even-handed treatment of subject.
Started: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi for prompt about a pirate
QotW: Hardly ever. The only exceptions are I wanted to get The Dark is Rising series as one book which I found in Canada, and I wanted to get a copy of The Amber Spyglass to match the other ones in His Dark Materials. But it was a mass market paperback, so it's not like I'm getting expensive collectible copies. Which is good. I already spend enough money on books as is!
Happy Thursday!We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certain has been lurking in the neighborhood for the past few weeks. The neighbor behind us had just warned me about the situation a few days ago because apparently someone had gotten into his house and taken a few small things in the middle of the night, and then kept coming around and showing up on home security cameras. How’s that for early morning excitement?
Like Lynn, our weather has also gone from deep-freeze a week or so ago to downright wet and balmy this week - my car thermometer said 54* last night! I will definitely take the rain over the icy roads we had earlier in the week, though. Ice is the absolute Worst.
I haven’t gotten much done in the way of reading this week. Lots of planning for my Arizona trip as Mom and I hammer out what we want to do/where to go/what to see, and I’ve turned her onto HipCamp and AirBnB. I think we may still get a hotel for a night in Phoenix but we found an adorable AirBnB in Flagstaff that I can’t wait to visit.
Past that, I’ve finally caved and started listening to New Heights, the Kelce brothers’ podcast. I could’ve definitely started with summer 2023 but I wanted to hear the lead-up to last year’s Super Bowl so I started at the beginning. They have an excellent dynamic and their hometown love for Cleveland is a bonus.
We also took the cat to the vet out of an abundance of caution on my part; she’s had stinky breath lately which I thought meant tooth issues, but the vet said she looks okay and her blood work came back excellent. I’m not sure if a cleaning/x-ray is in budget in the next month, but it’s definitely on the priority list.
Read this week:
The Mysteries - 4 stars. A bizarre little fable-esque story with artwork in the vein of Henry Selick and Tim Burton. Definitely not what any of us expected from Bill Watterson, I don’t think! Fun and weird and sufficiently odd.
Age of Myth - The text can sometimes strike me as anachronistic to the world Sullivan has built, but for the most part I’m enjoying this.
PS 4/50
ATY 4/52
Mount TBR 2/48
Currently:
If We Were Villains - my Libby hold finally came through! This is another of those books that’s been out for years and is still insanely popular, so I’ve had to be patient to get ahold of a copy. So far I’m loving every minute of it.
Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman - on the back burner thanks to Villains, but I haven’t forgotten it!
The Ninth Rain - also on the back burner but anxious to return to it, especially after Age of Myth.
I also got a soft start on Elatsoe on Monday, before the podcast invaded my life. It seems like a faster-paced sort of book so I’m excited to get back to it too!
QOTW: Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
Not so much anymore, I don't have nearly enough disposable income for this hahaha.
However, in the past I've done this with the HP books a few times (1. I fell in love with the British cover art, 2. I updated my main series to the newer paperback set so as not to continue destroying my original much-loved copies, 3. French editions, 4. a few of the illustrated editions)
...and I bought the alternate (possibly UK version?) Hunger Games set where the covers are black with just the logo in color, because I thought those were awesome. (Not awesome enough, apparently, as I no longer have them.)
And a few different LOTR editions.
A friend of mine has a gazillion copies of Pride and Prejudice, so I live vicariously through her collection.
Jen wrote: "Killers of a Certain Age - for a book where someone dies in the first chapter. I skimmed the first chapter to make sure at least one person died (lol) and now I'm going to start it properly."I had a lot of fun with this one last year, Jen! Enjoy!
Today the weather has turned pretty mild, and once again all the snow we got early has been completely obliterated by two days of rain, with more rain on the way tonight. I don't know about anyone else, but even when the temperatures are below freezing, it just doesn't feel like winter unless there's snow on the ground.I had my last learn-to-crochet session last week, and I had more people who picked it up faster than the past two, but also a few who just couldn't get it at all. Ah well. And squares for the community blanket have already started to come in, so that's a good sign.
Finished:
The Fox & Little Tanuki, Volume 4: This is a cute little series, but the stuff with Senzou's past in this volume was a little confusing.
Blackouts: The style of storytelling was interesting at first, but by the end I just wanted to finish it.
Currently reading:
The Librarianist
Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths
The Bee Sting
Dayswork
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians
QOTW: I very rarely buy books these days, but I have backed a couple of graphic novels on Kickstarter and gone for the higher tiers to get the extra content/swag.
Good morning from Columbus! The weather has been a touch unhinged this last week, it’s certainly kept me on my toes. Saturday I took my 9 year old to Cleveland to see their natural history museum, the things they had out on display were really cool (they have Balto!) but I guess I didn’t realize when the website said they were renovating so some things were off display that it actually meant basically only the lobby was open. We ended up at my favorite place, the art museum for the rest of the day so overall the trip was well spent. Finished:
Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood this was for a 2023 prompt, and I actually read this on mlk day but forgot to add it on goodreads until this week. This was a short one day read about six black americans who are currently on the path to being canonized saints. I love finding stuff like this because the more attention brought to the cases of individuals who are under consideration for sainthood, the quicker that process can be.
Winnie-the-Pooh not for a challenge. I’ve been listening audiobook (I love all the kids books included in the audible membership!) to this at night with my 9 year old. A story or two every night. It was really fun, the narration was great, it had fun but not distracting sound effects, and the music accompaniment was very enjoyable.
Wintersong for a read harder prompt. This also was added to my European reading challenge since takes place in now Germany. This has a lot of labyrinth parallels but without any David Bowie charm. Idk, this wasn’t a terrible book but I was having a hard time keeping the goblin rules and how they impacted the plot straight. I might read the second one because it held my attention enough that I’m interested in knowing what else happens and maybe it’ll clear up some of the confusion I had.
Call Us What We Carry: Poems for a 2023 prompt. I don’t like poetry. It doesn’t hold my attention and while I can recognize that this is probably, for some people, really impactful and resonates with them… but it’s just not for me. Not the worst poetry I’ve ever had to trudge through at least.
Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World another prompt from last year that finishing up. This author is a podcaster and Instagram account I’ve really enjoyed and I found this book delightful. I don’t always see eye to eye with her on everything, but I think she wrote beautifully about what it means to have a servants heart and now important it is to put in the work.
Favorite Sons I swear I’m almost done with last years prompts lol, after this one I only have one left. I love myself a good private detective, investigative journalist, noir, suspense mystery vibe and this really hit the spot for me. This takes place in the north eastern and Ohio river valley parts of Ohio, and centers around a crime that took place as the characters were teens and how that had a ripple effect that followed them well into adulthood. There’s some really frank discussions of crimes against very vulnerable people, and some uncomfortable period-appropriate language that made this difficult at points but overall I was very happy with the book. I was actually about halfway through this book when my son’s grandpa pointed out that I’ve met the author on several occasions (said grandpa’s neighbor’s son and his former co-worker at the newspaper). Small world, and I’ll most definitely be reading more of his books.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
The World of Winnie-the-Pooh
The Book of Hidden Things
QOTW:
Sometimes, yeah. I like pretty cloth cover editions, and I like to get visually appealing vintage books so if I see one I like the look of I’ll get even if I’ve read it or have a newer paperback.
Challenges:
Popsugar - 1/45; 0/5
Read Harder - 5/24
Classics - 0/12
European Tour - 3/10
12 Friends - 0/12
Yearly Goal - 16/150
Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday!We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certain has been lurking in..."
That’s wild because we had a weird thing last week where the police arrested a guy around 4am who was trying to break in to various apartments. I called because I heard someone banging on my door and when I went to check out the peephole, my door unlocked and someone pushed it open! Thankfully I had my top latch locked so he just wandered off. By the time the police got there like 5 minutes later (I guess someone else had called before me), they found my upstairs neighbors’ door wide open and he was just standing there in their living room with everyone up there still asleep completely unaware someone had broken in. It’s still unclear how this guy was just unlocking people’s doors but property management came out to change our locks. Its scary out there sometimes 😵💫
Mod
LOL I thought about it!! When I was out walking the dogs I decided I'd contact you when I got back. But by then you had posted :-)
Happy Thursday!It rained Monday, which sucked, but Tuesday morning made up for it with another awesome fog bank. This one was in patches so you could see fog banks farther away. I love when there are trees and fog because it gives places a mystical vibe.
Wednesday was sorta trying to drizzle, but it was barely there. Sadly, the forecast calls for 50 degrees and 60 degree weather on Sunday and Monday! NOOOOOO. I want cold weather! Sigh.
Today it rained around 6 am but is pretty sunny now.
Ziggy was being a dork last night. He was trying to playfully charge at mom's back scratcher. All she did was hold it down so he could smell it. He thought she had food. It was so funny.
Popsugar: 6/50
Finished:
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Manga ps 1 – I wanted to read the novel, but I didn’t want to pay for it, and I could not get it through the library because it is not on overdrive/libby. I thought it was good. It does get confusing sometimes. I think my favorite part was the end with the aunt. I watched the movie a couple of years ago. ⭐⭐⭐
Thornhedge – ps 46 – This was a good book. I liked how the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale was turned on its head. It was a fun short read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too, Vol. 4 (light novel) ps 31—This is a continuation of the last arc in book 3. Yuuya is roped into a political assassination attempt, a deity rabbit, and a foe that wants to destroy the world.⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rebel Skies ps 23 – This is a debut novel I received from NetGalley. It’s a YA fantasy that has a focus on paper magic. It’s full of intrigue, betrayal, and a cool plot twist that I didn’t see coming. Happily, I received the second book from NetGalley as well. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reading:
The Book of Doors ps 27. This is a NetGalley book that comes out in February. It's about a bookseller named Cassie and a book given to her.
Aty: 7/52
Finished:
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too, Vol. 4 (light novel) aty 7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thornhedge aty 45 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rebel Skies aty 4 (I see skies of blue and clouds of white) or aty 29 – I used it for Louis Armstrong. I will probably use book 2 for air.⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reading: None that I’m aware of
Goodreads Challenge 51/400
Finished:
Sabrina Sue Loves the Moon: Ready-to-Read Level 1
Thornhedge
Rebel Skies
Skeleton Knight in Another World Manga Vol. 1
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Manga
His Majesty the Demon King's Housekeeper Vol. 1
His Majesty the Demon King's Housekeeper Vol. 2
Stray Cat & Wolf, Vol. 1 (Volume 1)
Stray Cat & Wolf Vol. 2
Maiden of the Needle Vol. 1
Maiden of the Needle Vol. 2
The Fake Princess and the Obsessive Prince: A Decade of Hidden Desires Behind the Ice Mask Vol.1
The Marshall Emperor and His Sacrificial Bride
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too, Vol. 4 (light novel)
Loyal Soldier, Lustful Beast
Bred by the Villain
Christmas with the Mountain Man (can be used for ps 20, but I will wait and see if I read something else for this. I have a few options I’m looking at.
Reading:
Spinning
The Book of Doors
Faking It with her Crush
QOTW:
I do, but it depends on certain criteria. If I like the cover better, or if the book comes with extras that I want, or if it has exclusive bonus chapters not found in the original. Some of the covers are better than the original covers. The special edition of Nightmare Before Christmas from Barnes & Noble had a purple cover with a black design. The original is black with a purple design. I got my sister the purple and I got myself the black from my library book distributor.
Happy Thursday! After basically doing nothing all of December and the start of January, this week has been non-stop. At work there's been a bunch of group events- I did my first escape room yesterday, we should have lost but the lady incharge let us hang out extra time. And gave a LOT of hints. And tonight I'm going to a show and helping work one of the info booths. And this weekend I'm finally catching up with some friends I haven't seen in a while. It's like one week to make up for all those weeks I was doing nothing but sending out resumes and curling up on the couch. I'm very tired though, I'm not used to doing things lolFinished:
The Yakuza's Bias, Volume 1- this was absurd and I loved it! A manga about a yakuza boss who starts stanning a kpop group. It's great, so ridiculous, can't wait to read Vol 2
-5 A book about K-pop
Exhalation- finally finished this short story collection I started last March. A lot of the stories I thought were really well written and covered interesting topics, but more appreciated them then really liked them.But I loved the first and last story. I'll probably be checking out his other collections
-no prompt for me
The Woman in Me- fully picked this up because of the hype. Definitely worth the read to see the ways conservatorships can be misused. It was interesting to read this so soon afterthe sinead O'connor memoir, because they are such different singers, but were both really mistreated by the media
-no prompt for me
Currently reading:
Nothing now- jut finished Woman in Me this morning. So potentially up next:
The Cat Who Saved Books
Fourth Wing
The Bruising of Qilwa
QotW:
Nope, no picking up special editions of books I already own. If I know I'm going to buy a book and there's a special edition available, I might pick it up. A few years ago I went through a phase of wanting all pretty editions coming out, but it's all too expensive, and in general, I'm trying to curb my spending. And I actually prefer paperbacks.
I do have a friend who is very into special editions right now, so I've been teasing her about it. (If she's lurking on this page-hi! Those books are very pretty, I hope you love them!)
Mod
We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certain has been lurking in..."
OMG now that is one way to wake up FAST - how scary!!!
Mod
yiiiiikes even MORE terrifying. Sounds like this guy got hold of a master key or something. I'm sure management tried to hush it up.
Happy Thursday!Think I've settled into the groove of school. I always panic my first week, going "how am I going to juggle school and work and life?" Then I settle into a routine and everything works out, heh... Now if I could just remind myself of this next semester.
Books read this week:
I'll Be the One -- for “a book about K-Pop.” A cute read that also addresses body positivity, queerness, and the pressures of reality TV and the music world.
Dragon Champion -- for “a book recommended by a bookseller.” The clerk at a used book store convinced me to buy this, and it was an interesting twist on the usual high-fantasy tropes, though gets kind of slow at times.
Autonomous -- for “fiction book by a trans or non-binary author.” Interesting premise, story is all over the place, and for being by a trans author its trans representation is AWFUL. (Also does it count as having a transgender character when the trans character in question is a robot who flat-out states they don’t recognize pronouns?)
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known -- for “a book with three or more POVs.” Still loving this series, and I’m glad to see a continuation of Antsy’s story. She deserved some closure.
Bambi -- for “a book from an animal’s perspective.” Not as good as the movie, in my opinion, but still charming.
The Thief Lord -- for “a book published 24 years ago.” Not as good as Inkheart, but still a fun magical-realism romp through Venice.
PopSugar Challenge -- 15/45
PopSugar Advanced Challenge -- 0/5
Robot Librarian Challenge -- 7/32
Robot Librarian Advanced Challenge -- 3/10
Robot Librarian Non-Fiction Challenge -- 0/10
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge -- 9/50
Extreme Book Nerd Advanced Challenge -- 1/10
Extreme Book Nerd Non-Fiction Challenge -- 0/10
DNF:
Half a Soul -- for “cozy fantasy.” Just wasn’t doing it for me. It’s hard to get into a book when the protagonist isn’t feeling any emotions… and yes, I get that there’s a plot reason for that, it’s still hard to get invested.
Currently reading:
Witchmark -- for “an LGBTQ romance”
XOM-B -- for “book whose title begins with X”
One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon -- for “book with the word leap in the title”
Sweet Bean Paste -- for “book recommended by a librarian”
QOTW: I rarely buy books of any kind, let alone special editions. The perks of working at a library, heh...
Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday!We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certain has been lurking in..."
Wow! That sounds like the plot of a book. Glad you and your neighbors are safer.
Mod
My informal walking program has already shown results, I can walk faster and more easily now than I could a month ago! I still have age-related aches and pains, but they are improved. I did not expect to see results in only one month! Now I'm motivated! (and my dogs are also MOTIVATED - I thought walking at a different time every day would throw them off and they would not have expectations ... hahahaha NOT SO!! They have expectations!) so that got increased to 6 days a week, but of course the weather is the final decider in how many "rest days" I take. My goal is to be walking 3 or more miles each day by June. Based on my achievement so far, this should be no problem. I like to set goals I know I can reach!
Today is unexpectedly warm: 40F!! And it's supposed to rain all today tomorrow, Ugh! the backyard will be a mudpit. I hope the temps drop back to normal winter below-freezing soon.
This week I read 4 books, 2 for this Challenge, and I DNF'ed one book.
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt - this quiet little book is on the Tournament of Books shortlist. It was good, but ... a little disappointing. There were a lot of flashbacks, not always clear WHY there were extended flashbacks, and there was no real conclusion. I did not find a Popsugar category for this book, but I did check off "senior citizen character" in AtY.
Boys Weekend written & drawn by Mattie Lubchansky - another ToB shortlist, and I was so excited to see a graphic novel on the ToB list this year, but, sadly, this was a dreadful reading experience for me. I checked off "fiction by a trans or nonbinary author" with this one.
Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory - this is one of the books on my list of "must reads" in 2024, and I LOVED it! I decided it's a Bildungsroman, so I checked that category off for Popsugar, and "book that's been on my TBR for more than a year" in AtY. This is the second time I've been surprised by how much I loved a book by Daryl Gregory. Clearly I need to go read everything he's published, and I will no longer be surprised when I love it.
The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun - this is another book on my "must read in 2024" list. It was weird and somewhat atmospheric, and I guess I'm glad I read it since I satisfied my curiosity about it, but I can't say I was terribly impressed. It was just weird. I checked off "two word title" in AtY.
And I DNFed
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due- the dog dies in chapter one (and it's kind of gruesome), and the protagonist didn't even care, and then I learned (view spoiler) so this is clearly not the book for me. I wish more reviews made it clear that the dog dies, if I had known, I never would have picked this up. I really hate the way Due handled that, and I wasn't super impressed with the writing, so I may not ever pick up another book by her.
Popsugar 16% 8 /50
My 2024 Must Reads 50% 5 /10
AtY 21% 11 /52
QotW
No, not really. Two or three times, I have purchased box sets of books I had previously borrowed from the library and read and loved, and I sometimes purchased copies of books (often used) when I want them for my kids and I can't find my old copy, but that's about it.
Hello! My husband and I are home from our week and a half trip to Texas/Arkansas. We were both ahead and behind all the bad weather driving, managing to miss most everything by a day or so. It's been an adjustment to get back in a work mindset, especially once I realized this is the last vacation time I'll have until late April. February to April is my super busy season and it's starting to ramp up already, but I just want to go back to sleep.Reading wise, I didn't get as much read on the trip as I thought, but I did finish the library ebooks before they were due. Now to finish all the physical versions.
I've also spent the past week going through the library catalogs of all seven counties in the Twin Cities to see if someone has a copy of Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI available now. They don't. I'm #16 for physical in one county, #355 for physical in my own county, and #619 for the ebook (shared among all counties). I have resisted (so far) trying to find old library cards for other places I lived to see if their libraries have a shorter wait list for the ebook.
Finished This Week:
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson. I got an advance ARC from NetGalley because I had loved the author's first book, but this one didn't connect as well. It's ten years after the first book, and from a different POV, so the parts that I loved from that one simply didn't exist in the world any longer. It was also harder to follow because the author didn't explain a lot. I had to stop partway through and reread the first book (The Space Between Worlds) to simply remember who everyone was. I gave it four stars on NetGalley, but it's really 3.5. Using for PS #21, as it comes out in March.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi. And now for something completely different. This was shorter, more clear and loads more fun. The lighter subject matter certainly helped. I very much enjoyed this. I started following the author on social media and should probably read his older stuff. Using for PS #27, as his uncle dies in the first or second sentence.
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo. I found myself rereading this series last summer as part of my Hugo reading, so I put the newest one on hold. The hold finally came in. It was nice to see Cleric Chih back "home" and learn more about the birds and the order. Not for PS prompt.
Where the Drowned Girls Go / Lost in the Moment and Found / Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire. My physical copy of the newest Wayward Children book arrived yesterday, so I had to read the book immediately before it to remember Antsy's story. And then I had to reread the book before that to orient myself in the present world of the school. Then I could finally read the new one, which I very much enjoyed. I just wish the books were longer. Didn't find a PS prompt for them.
PS: 3/50 RH: 0/24 ATY: 6/52 GR: 11/125
Currently Reading:
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher. Restarted the first Saint of Steel book in ebook.
Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo by Grant Faulkner. Three to go!
Let's Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano. Have reached the part where we're actually starting to get recipes, not just explanations and ingredients.
The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe. A Nordic Noir book from a 2023 challenge that I've realized could work for some challenges this year, such as a book in translation for a country I haven't visited (Read Harder #8). Still early, only in chapter 3.
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley. Made it to chapter 8 in the audiobook. They've just met Friar Tuck. For a book I've adored since I was young, I'm amazed at how much book is left when it's already spring, but then we haven't met Cecil yet, so I guess that makes sense.
QotW: Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
Yes, absolutely, when they're for books I loved or authors I want to support. I had my sister buy me the Canadian paperback versions of HP a decade ago. I bought the hardcover version of Rosemary and Rue when it came out a few years ago. I bought the anniversary edition of Magic Bites when they released it (physical and ebook, although I gave away the physical one). I found out last fall Arcane Society was releasing a fancy hardcover of Blood Heir and had to get it, because I love that book so much. Which reminds me, I think that comes out in March. But at the same time, I'm not buying the trade editions of Hidden Legacy later this year, even though they're by the same author as those others, since I didn't love Hidden Legacy the same way.
Mod
The Mysteries - 4 stars. A bizarre little fable-esque story with artwork in the vein of Henry Selick and Tim Burton. Definitely not what any of us expected from Bill Watterson, I don’t think! Fun and weird and sufficiently odd...."
I never heard of it!! But I immediately checked my library catalog - and, yes! they have it! - and put it on hold. 6 people ahead of me in line ...
Dani wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday!We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certai..."
Oh that's terrifying! I'm glad you're safe!
Happy Thursday! Well, the bitter cold is gone, but now we're left with a fog that never lifts. However, I’m catching a red-eye to Key West this evening. It'll be a nice change from the gloom of the PNW. Looking forward to warm breezes and sunshine!2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 36 books so far this year with an average length of 309 pages.
52 Book Club: 11/52
ATY: 6/52 (Winter Challenge - 9/14)
Booklist Queen: 8/52
Diverse Baseline: 3/36
Popsugar: 9/50
Robot Librarian: 12/52
ICYMI Backlist: 1/12
Recently Completed:
Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America (Robot Librarian Nonfiction #3 – the 200s) ★★★★
Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo (Robot Librarian Nonfiction #6 – the 500s) ★★★★★
The Seed Keeper (52 Books #46 – featuring an Indigenous culture) ★★★★
The World We Found (52 Books #29 – published in a Year of the Dragon/ICYMI #1 – published in 2012) ★★★
The Writing Retreat (52 Books #1 – a locked-room mystery/ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW) ★★★
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega (ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW/Diverse Baseline #3 – by a BIPOC author featuring a fat main character) ★★★★
Violeta (Diverse Baseline #2 – a Latinx author/Robot Librarian #11 – an author from Central or South America) ★★★
Heartstopper: Volume FiveHeartstopper, Vol. 5 ★★★★
Maame (Booklist Queen #19 – one-word title/Popsugar #30 – title word looked up in a dictionary)
Currently Reading:
30 Things I Love About Myself (ATY #32 – a number in the title)
Under the Influence (52 Books #4 – lowercase letters on spine/ATY #24 – secondary color on cover)
Is Rape a Crime?: A Memoir, an Investigation, and a Manifesto (ATY - ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW)
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven (ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW)
Goldilocks (52 Books #6 – women in STEM/ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW/Popsugar #18 – set in space)
The Night Shift(ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW)
Once an Heiress (ATY – DREAMING OF SNOW)
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock (Booklist Queen #31 – an ugly cover/Popsugar #14 – recommended by a bookseller)
Silver Alert: A Novel (ATY #49 – senior citizen character/Robot Librarian #16 – main character over 60 years old)
Hold Fast (Goodreads Giveaway)
QOTW: Yes, we have an unconscionable number of copies of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (including the graphic novels). We also have a beautiful leather-bound collection of "The Sandman." I absolutely admit to buying books just because they're beautiful.
Happy Thursday, everyone!It has been a ridiculously busy week, but the floor installation is finally done, and I am in the process of putting my house back in order. The library was my first priority, so all my books are back on their shelves and looking really good.
I’ve managed to get most of the rest of the house cleaned and organized as well, but the kitchen is still a disaster. That’s going to be my next project, and I am dreading it. I feel like I haven’t even finished getting the kitchen in order from when I moved in, and now I’m having to start completely over. It will get done, but I will complain about it the entire time.
As far as this week’s reading is concerned, my reading has slowed down somewhat since the installers finished their work. Since I need to be actively working on the house, I haven’t had as much time to just sit and read as I had during the past few weeks.
That’s okay though.
I’ve managed to read a lot more during January than I’d originally planned, so I’m actually a little bit ahead of where I need to be going into the month of February to meet my TBR goal for 2024.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 46/400 (11.5% complete)
Mount TBR Challenge: 31/150 (20.6% complete)
📚Physical TBR: 17/402
📱Ebook TBR: 14/233
🎧Audiobook TBR: 0/0
TBR Checklist Total: 31/635 (4.8% complete)
Total Progress Toward 50% TBR List Completion: 31/318 (9.7% complete)
Although I was not planning to buy any books this week, I discovered that Genevieve Cogman (who wrote The Invisible Library series that I’ve been so enjoying) has also written a fantasy/paranormal retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I absolutely love that story, so I had to pick up a copy of her book, which is called Scarlet. I’m looking forward to reading it as soon as I finish the last few Invisible Library books.
While I was at the bookstore, I also picked up a copy of The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi. I saw this book on a librarian-recommended reading list, and thought it looked great. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 19
“New” Books Read in 2024: 14/19 (73.6% complete)
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Mislaid in Parts Half-Known — This is the ninth book in the Wayward Children series. This book follows Antsy, who was also the protagonist in the previous book. I really enjoyed this story, and loved the characters. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes next. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Lucas — This is the eight book in the Cold Fury Hockey series. I really enjoyed this book, and liked the characters. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Van — This is the ninth book in the Cold Fury Hockey series, which takes place around the same span of time as Lucas. While I did find this story interesting, I have to confess that it’s not one of my favorites. Van is very emotionally unavailable, and while the reasons for that completely make sense once they’re revealed in the book, that did make it very hard for me to fully invest in his relationship with Simone until the last third of the book. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Reed — This is the tenth book in the Cold Fury Hockey series. I really enjoyed this story, and loved the relationship that developed between the main characters. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Marek — This is the eleventh (and final) book in the Cold Fury Hockey series. While second-chance romance is not a trope I usually enjoy, I actually liked this story a lot, and I was fully invested in the two main characters’ relationship from the very beginning. This story is introduced toward the end of Reed, so I would recommend reading that book first to avoid missing a very important (and dramatic) moment that precedes this book. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Mortal Word — I thoroughly enjoyed the fifth book in The Invisible Library series! I thought the story was really interesting, full of mystery and intrigue. This series just keeps getting better and better! Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Darker Shade of Magic — This is the first book in the Shades of Magic trilogy. I really enjoyed the story and characters, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the trilogy goes from here. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~XXXHolic, Omnibus 1 — I’ve been a huge fan of the xxxHolic anime adaptation for years, so it isn’t surprising that I loved this manga! The art is beautiful, the characters are great, and the story is fantastic! I also love how this series includes references to CLAMP’s other manga. I can’t wait to pick up the next volume! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1 — I am continuing to make really good progress on this book. I’m still reading an average of 10 pages per night, and I’ve been enjoying the stories. 📚
~Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 3 — I am currently about 60% of the way through this comic book collection, and it has been really good so far. I’m hoping to finish it over the weekend, so I can start the fourth (and final) collection before my next update. 📚
~The Complete Works of William Shakespeare — I have read and taught quite a few of Shakespeare’s plays, but this is the first time that I’ve taken the opportunity to read his complete works (both plays and poetry). I’m really glad that I decided to finally do this, because I’m having a great time so far. Whenever possible, I am listening to full-cast audio dramatizations as I read. (There are quite a few of these available on Libby.) I especially enjoyed having a chance to hear Sir Ian McKellen in the role of Prospero when I was reading The Tempest. So far I have finished The Tempest, and I am currently three-fifths of the way through Two Gentlemen of Verona. I’ve also read the following poems: “Venus and Adonis,” “Rape of Lucrece,” and sonnets 1-15. I am planning to stretch this book out over most of the year, so I’ll only be reading a handful of plays and poems each week. 📚
~A Gathering of Shadows — This is the second book in the Shades of Magic trilogy. I’ve only just started this book, but I think I’m going to enjoy it as much as the first one. 📚
~From Russia With Love — I just started this book earlier today, and I'm already about a quarter of the way into the story. What's interesting is that Bond has not made an appearance yet. 📚
~Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine — I started this book just a little while ago, so I don't really have an opinion of it yet. 📚
QOTW:
I do occasionally buy special editions of books that I already own, but the books have to be really special for me to go out of my way to get them. I’m more likely to get them if they are illustrated editions, rather than just alternate covers, but it depends on the book.
Hi all, We're also having a foggy warm up, almost 40 here as well. Much better, even if I'm not rushing outside. Mini split is keeping up with the temps much better!
This week I finished:
The Brothers Hawthorne - This was just fun. I like the series, glad she's spinning off a new one. I like a good mystery/puzzle but i'm not a huge fan of just straight up murder. So it's fun having some non-murder based mysteries to get into.
River Sing Me Home - my next books & brew read for February. This was good, but wasn't really what I was in the mood for so struggled with it a bit. But I was happy that it was not as depressing as I feared. Really well written, think it'll give a good discussion. I think i might use if for my book title that is a sentence. I think that can be considered a command. It's not what i was GOING to read for the prompt, but it makes this work for something. (and this is what I was griping about last week. This is a book that feels like it SHOULD check lots of prompts, but instead checks only one superficial title one.)
All Systems Red - was reading this as my bedtime book, because I didn't want to read about slavery right before going to bed.
Currently reading:
Womb City - this was on some book list as an upcoming sci fi book to look out for, and my hold came up on it so checking it out. It's a bit grim so far. But also interesting. As of yet I haven't quite figured out if it's set in the real world in the future, or if it's totally speculative alternate world. So it'll either fit as set in the future or came out in a year ending in 24. (it came out on the 23rd)
The Chronology of Water - still doing the audio book for this. I kinda wish i got the ebook for this, but hoopla only had audiobook. There's a lot of kind of graphic stuff in here that i'd rather read so I could skim rather than listen to it. Not even just sex scenes, although I do find those awkward on audio (I often just listen to my speaker since i work from home and husband always has his door closed, and i feel awkward if he walks in even though I know he doesn't actually care). But there's a lot of talk of abuse or descriptions of her stillbirth and I'd rather just NOT listen to those out loud. The narrator is good, it's just a personal preference. I just don't really want to listen to the grimmer details out loud.
QOTW:
I bought a special edition of Neuromancer that was the cloth-foil edition a few years back that they did of some sci-fi classics, even though I had the mass market paperback already. But it was pretty, I was at Powell's City of Books on vacation, and I splurged. I also went and bought the special edition of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue that was just for indie book shops (the cover was blue with sparkly gold lettering). But that one I think i only had a digital copy of at that point. I might do something similar if i see other special editions at indie book stores while I'm traveling. I basically always buy something at an indie book store, on the basis of supporting them. So if I found an extra pretty version of a book, even if I had it already, I might cave. Also when I'm traveling I tend to splurge a bit anyhow. But I don't sign up for the book boxes for fancy special editions or anything like that.
Hi all! Yes, super foggy here, too. It cleared for a while, but has rolled back in in the last hour. There are woods behind my house and it looks like Lord of the Rings. Or Stephen King.... I'm leaning towards mystical and whimsy, but if I have nightmares tonight, we'll know the reason why! I simply cannot get myself to read more than a few pages at a time this whole month. When I have time, I don't have the energy. Today I had my med infusion, which is normally a great time for me to get a chapter or 2 read, but I woke up with a headache and didn't even open the book I took with me. Ugh.
I've been trying to read Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism. It's good so far, but I'm waiting for it to get gripping. And it might come due at the library before I get there!
Also read another chapter The Brothers Karamazov, also waiting for that to get interesting. These philosophical conversations are making my head spin.
QOTW: Nope. I have 3 rules for buying books at this stage in my life: 1) the library doesn't have it 2) the library has it, but it's massive and I'll never finish it before it's due 3) I've read it and loved it and want a copy of my own to reread someday. So nope, pretty covers aren't a reason. Plus, my bookshelves are so crammed full that I can't even see all of the spines of my books, so pretty covers would just be buried!
Dani wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday!We were awakened at 3am by the local police running up the driveway and yelling to each other. They appeared to have apprehended someone who we’re pretty certai..."
Oh my goodness! I'm glad both of you are safe!! That's so scary!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!My informal walking program has already shown results, I can walk faster and more easily now than I could a month ago! I still have age-related aches and pains, but they are impro..."
Good for you!! As for mud, I currently have multiple ponds in my yard and a stream that shouldn't be there....
I haven't finished anything since our last check-in and started two more books because why not? 🙃 I should finish at least one book over the weekend though. I still haven't completed any prompts yet...it may be slow going this year since I'm focusing on reading books I own and don't know how many will fit this year's prompts. I'm at 0/45 and 0/5 for the challenge, and remain at 4/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.Finished:
* none
Currently Reading:
* The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill, which is a NetGalley read. I should finish this one up this weekend;
* Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, which I should get close to finishing this weekend;
* The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim, which was a Giveaways win;
* Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella and narrated by Karissa Vacker, which I used an Audible credit for last year and figured it was a good place to start as I start making my way through my audiobook backlist; and,
* Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which is one of my book clubs' picks for February (actually, I think *both* of them are going to read it for February -- the other book club is meeting this weekend, so I'll know for sure after we meet).
QotW:
This question came from Theresa and echoes last week’s question a bit… Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read? Nope. I have received special editions of books as gifts, but they weren't titles I already owned or had read previously.
L Y N N wrote: "*Big Tree by Brian Selznick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was just as AMAZING as I expected it to be! This man… Such talent! Do yourself a favor and read this one! "OK...you have moved me from "I will never read middle grade" to "perhaps I will try this one"!
I hope I don’t jinx anything by saying this, but I feel like the 2024 challenge is going really well for me. After a rocky couple of years, I was worried I’d lost my enthusiasm for reading challenges. Not so! I just need to find the right books. For a couple years, I had been reading one Agatha Christie and one Stargate novel a month. I guess I’ve decided to go back to that this year because I read one of each this month. Since I’ve read all the Poirot novels, I’m reading Miss Marple now. It makes me excited for future months!
Stargate novels aren’t something a lot of libraries are interested in purchasing so I’ve been buying the ebooks. I have a Kindle, so my new trick is to choose “no-rush shipping” on all of my Amazon purchases so I get digital credits for my ebook purchases. It’s usually $1 per order, but around Christmas they were offering $2 or $3 at times.
Finished
The Cutting Season (a horror novel by a BIPOC author). I think this would count as social horror. Sadly, I didn’t like the book. The main character made a lot of dumb decisions while investigating the crime, especially for a lawyer, and there was a lot of nonchalance about cheating.
A Murder Is Announced (a book with a title that is a full sentence). I’ve watched the Miss Marple TV series so I already knew about one of the twists (involving Pip), but I had genuinely forgotten who the murderer was so it was fun picking up clues along with the characters.
In an Absent Dream (a book set in a travel destination on your bucket list). This series keeps getting better and better! I loved this book. I read it in one sitting, and I hardly ever have the attention span for that. No one said the travel destination on my bucket list had to be real, and I’ve been wanting to find a magical world behind a wardrobe since I was 7 years old way more than I’ve ever wanted to travel anywhere in this world. The Goblin Market sounds like the best kind of fantasy world to find myself in.
Reading
Resistance: A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change, and Courage (an autobiography by a woman in rock n roll). Written by Tori Amos.
The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights (a book set in the snow). I’m assuming there will be snow in at least one of these stories.
All the Bad Apples (a book with leap in the title). All the Bad Apples.
QOTW
For the most part, the answer is no - I don’t buy many books period - but I have made exceptions in the past. I replaced my old copies of The Lord of the Rings with a really beautiful set of paperbacks because I have a whole shelf on my bookcase devoted to Middle-earth. It’s a pretty rare instance for me though.
Did my last check in late last week, so really don't have that much of an update. But I'm doing one anyways!Finished
Moby-Dick or, The Whale Enjoyable, but less story than I expected. Some of the descriptions of whaling techniques and aftermath turned my stomach, and I'm not normally a queasy reader. Didn't use for Popsugar, but did fill it in for ATY's endangered species/wild animal prompt.
Currently Reading
Stories for Chip: A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany Still trucking along, with varying levels of enjoyment. Just read an essay about defining sci-fi, and naming the relationships between various authors of the genre which I quite enjoyed.
The Murder of Mr. WickhamA lot of light frothy fun, for a book about a murder, but I'm getting more and more concerned about which of my beloved Austen characters will turn out to be the culprit.
QotW
So, funnily enough I was catsitting for a friend recently. And slightly beforehand, she mentioned that she'd just bought a nice special edition of Fourth Wing. So I asked her to leave it out, so I could read it during my visits to her kitties. Well, she was appalled! Apparently it was a copy not to be read. And of course, I had the opposite reaction and was appalled at the thought of owing books that one didn't plan to eventually read... Anyways, I accepted it was her book and her choice - and then she bought me my own copy as a Christmas gift, so it all worked out.
All of which to say, I wouldn't buy another edition of a book I already owned only because it was a prettier one. I do have multiple versions of a few books, but generally there's something substantive that's different (for instance I have a regular Pride and Prejudice, own it as part of a complete Austen set that was gifted to me, and have an annotated version, also multiple translations of The Divine Comedy).
And yet despite that, it's one of my life goals to eventually own a version of a book from The Folio Society. And that will have to be something I've read already because there's no way I'm paying that much for a book then finding out I don't really enjoy it!
Late to report - busy day and I was attending an Alumnae event at Barnard College - private screening of Barbie after reception, 2nd time seeing and picked up so many little bits and messaging. Great movie and a fun evening.I am 6/50 PS and 11/52 ATY
Finished:
The Hound of the Baskervilles - ATY - 7 dwarves - there are 2 Docs in the bool
A Conspiracy in Belgravia - ATY title ends in A
Even Though I Knew the End - ATY author Canadian
Galatea - ATY - single word title
Currently reading:
The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.
Intrigue in Istanbul
QOTW: I am tickled it is one of mine. I do buy special and limited editions of books I love or admire. Not just the 'pretty' ones with illustrations added and fancier bindings. I particularly like special anniversary editions like the trade paperbacks of Lolita and Rebecca a few years ago as they had added essays and forwards that are illuminating, the 10th Anniversary of Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle even had added essays filling in what had happened during the 10 years since book first published.
It isn't just about 'pretty' but also new material offering new insight.
Bit late posting this week, but I finally finished something so I'm excited!PopSugar 1/50
Finished
Pearls, Poison & Park Avenue for a book about someone who is 24. It was a good book to get back into reading. Not too heavy and quick to finish, but still enjoyable.
Currently Reading
Don’t Swipe Right for the proper sentence prompt. I'm pretty sure... grammar was never my strong suit.
I picked up the following at the library on Wednesday:
Pageboy
Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero
Dark Emu
I'm pretty sure the loan on Pageboy can't be extended, so that will be next.
QOTW
I don't buy special editions, but sometimes I see them and wish I could. Alas, I can't afford it, so I stick with the library and the second hand bookstore for the most part.
I feel you, Lynn. It was 9 last week and 60 today and the arthritis is having a pout about it.It's been a hard three months so I've been hiding in my books. Got a few more read this week
For A bildungsroman book (which I was annoyed we were seeing again and basically grabbed the first YA book that might fulfill it and call it done) I read The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander. This one didn't age as well as the rest of the series as it's meant to be Eilonwy's story (the only female in the main cast) and it really did her dirty
At the Ohioana book festival I picked up Whereabouts Unknown by Meredith Doench after a rec from the book sellers of the Book Loft in Columbus and this is for A book recommended by a bookseller.
And easily the best book so far Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree for A cozy fantasy book (could maybe be stretched to LGBT romance, though that's a sub plot). I loved this.
Also read Hellboy, Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola. GR had it set in what would be 24 years before I was born. Yeah like 2 pages of it. The rest was 1990s but it was still a fun read.
I was less thrilled with Alice in Borderland, Vol. 1 by Haro Aso. Too dystopic/grimdark. I'm just not the market for violent games where you win or die.
QOTW Honestly, not very often. At this point in my life with as many books weighing down my apt, I only keep autographed books so I'm unlikely to buy/keep special editions. I have bought a few and I'm more likely to do it with comic books (I think I have like 4 versions of J O'Barr's The Crow: Special Edition by J. O'Barr along with some of the original art)
Happy check-in! I missed last week's so two weeks of reading to mention.Finished Reading:
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 17 Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 18 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Number 24 of this series will be my 24th book by an author.
Six Scorched Roses ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS sleep 24h)
Good novella but I wished for an actual book. ;) Still waiting for book 2 of this series to come in at the library.
A House with Good Bones ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY author known by initials)
First Kingfisher of the year, her books fit so many prompts between PS and ATY.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS cozy fantasy)
A dreaded prompt but I loved the book. I enjoyed this more than the first, probably because I listened to the audiobook on this one. The mc of this series is a book dragon for those annoyed with the dragon prompt.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS magical realism)
Loved the book hate the prompt. Antsy's door world was definitely my favourite of all the worlds, and then this has dinosaurs for fun too.
The Bright Spot ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY ends in A, T, or Y)
This was going so well and then the author copied and pasted a couple paragraphs from within the same book. Anyways this author makes me laugh.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐ (PS video games)
I kept seeing this on the bookstore staff recommends shelf and has picked this out for that prompt, but it fits video games or the dictonary prompts better. Anyway there were great things and irksome things in this manga. I borrowed volume two as well but I don't know if I'll need to read the whole series.
The Sea of Monsters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS neurodivergent)
Why did I wait so long to finally get back to this series. I love Greek mythology. The two main characters are both dyslexic.
Arch-Conspirator ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS Future)
So so so good. A sci-fi dystopian retelling of Antigone. It's just over a 100 pages so the plot moves.
PS 11/50
ATY 7/52
Goodreads 24/150
QOTW:
Generally no. If I buy a copy of a book I already own it means I forgot I have it.
I wish I could read as many books per week as some of you do!We got some much needed rain in LA. I got some much needed book time.
Finished:
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
PS: A character who's 42
ATY: Author from Canada
52: Buddy read
Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
PS: Set in the snow
ATY: Connected to a book last year (I read a Hercule Poirot last year)
52: locked-room mystery
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
PS: recommended by a bookseller (it was actually for a book club and I got it from the library but I saw it at Target on a display that said "recommended")
ATY: book that ends it A, T, or Y
52: Includes a wedding
Currently reading:
++Dear California
++The Echo of Old Books
++The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
++Before We Were Yours
++The Mists of Avalon
++The Girl Who Reads on the Metro
++Beowulf
QOTW:
No, I do not buy special editions of books I already own. I do have fancy collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and Shakespeare, I had read several of the works but did not own them
Hello everyone! I am so proud of myself I made it on here on a Thursday!!I got a couple more read this week and am still chugging along on a couple more.
Still no rain here. Can some of you send me some? We are in that don't waste water mode over here. Just so we don't run out.
My guy actually has to haul water tomorrow.
2024 Challenges:
Popsugar: 5/50
ATY: 9/52
Robot Librarian: 9/52
A to Z: 6/26
Physical TBR: 0/92
Kindle TBR: 0/111
Goodreads: 13/50
Book Clubs: (No progress here this week.)
PS Monthly: 18/50
Reese: 27/91
Oprah: 11/100
Jenna: 6/61
OSS: 6/39
Finished:
2 finished, 1 Completed Popsugar
The Heiress
PS#21, ATY#47, RL#11 (2024 Pub)
This was alright. I was a little surprised about the Josie twist at the end. All I’ll say is this family is F*’d up.
Wildfire
AtoZ, ’23 50 States, ATY#20, RL#35 (house on cover)
A cute graphic novel about a family (mostly the older daughter) who loses their house and then has to cope with the emotions and moving on after.
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Currently Reading
VenCo
Pillow Thoughts
Silent Spring
On the Backburner
Libby
Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales
Physical Library Rentals
That Left Turn at Albuquerque
This Might Hurt
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai
Family Lore
Immortal
Chain-Gang All-Stars
Magazines: (0/147)
Read since last check-in: 0
Question of the Week:
No I do not. Especially now since I barely make enough for essentials. I only use the library.
A quiet week as I tested positive for Covid on Sunday. Just a cold, so I had plenty of reading time. A negative test today, so I can go out and about again - hooray.Finished : The Overstory for 34. Book with at least 3 points of view and To the Bright Edge of the World for ATY 34. A book with a touch of magic
Read this week :
The Moon And Sixpence for ATY 3. A suggestion that didn't make the final list ; SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome for 30. One word title you had to look up and The Last Devil to Die for ATY 52. A cosy mystery.
I'm trying to downsize so I mainly use the library. I have some special edition books by Kipling from my mother's house, but I wouldn't buy any. I'm quite tough on books.
Yikes, so much to catch up on around here! Totally forgot to check in. Just didn't think about it which is fine.Things for me are going okay. Not much to report in terms of my life so no big deal.
Onto my book stuff.
*****
Did not finish anything last week, but I can't finish books in a week so that's okay. No big deal. As someone who annotates their books, it makes it difficult finishing a book in a week. And I annotate every single book from nonfiction to fiction so that can take some time.
I did pre-order the new Nicholas Sparks book which comes out in September. Got it for a good deal at BN.
Also ordered a pack of 100 book stickers for my book cart so I'm looking forward to turning those into magnets.
*****
Now moving on to my current reads:
Girl in Pieces - This is my 3rd attempt at this book. It hits too close for me. And though I normally ignore trigger warnings (I just never grew up with them so not having them is no big deal), but with this book in particular I can relate to it a little too much so it makes it for a difficult read.
You'd Be Home Now- Tried reading this once before, but like GIP this one is hard to get through for personal reasons.
My main reason for reading these two Kathleen Glasgow books now is because while her books are difficult for me to read, she's got a new one coming out near the end of the year that I'm much looking forward to.
Another book I'm currently reading:
Midnight Sun- I got this on release day back in 2020, but could never bring myself to finish it because it's a little over 800 pages. Breaking Dawn was around 700 so an addition 100 or so is a bit much. Still though I have wanted to read this one for a very long time.
*****
QOTW:
This question came from Theresa and echoes last week’s question a bit… Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
Yes to this question. But only sometimes. One of the first special editions I got was the white cover of 'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Recently I got the 10th anniversary edition of 'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell which has sprayed edges and art inside. Both of these editions however I do not read. They are only for display.
Happy Friday!Yesterday, I looked several times for this thread, but it didn't appear. Then I got busy. When I came back from the author event at the library, there it was with a list of 30+ posts. I did read through it all, but, by the end, I was just too tired to post. So here I am bright and early on Friday.
Speaking of author event...a local author wrote a biography of her father and shared her discovery of biographical materials and her journey to piece together her father's life. It was fascinating!
However, it did nothing to help me figure out how to get started with my own writing. Still, it was the first author event that I have ever attended. And, I will read the book.
I did meet another local author whose own book sounds fascinating. It is about the displacement of the people (local history) when the Savannah River Site was built. She interviewed several of the persons who were affected by that move. Another book that I will read. Even better that straight history, it is fiction....but based on real history!
Like everyone else, our weather in lower SC is quite variable. Temps have ranged from the 10s and 20s to a high of 76° yesterday!
My trip of a lifetime to Scotland is planned! And, costing me an arm at least. Good thing that I have been saving for a year and will have most of it covered, so debt should be limited. Six weeks of traveling!
It is a dream becoming true, and I am almost holding my breath that nothing happens to interfere with the reality of it!
Regarding reading, I did better this week than last week, finishing six books! And, I have one more that will be finished by Saturday (the due date).
But, all that reading and still none for PS. Really disappointing. I think I will really try to stretch some of the prompts and see if I can at least get one of the 17 already read to fit, but, as several of you have mentioned, it is a harder task to accomplish with this year's prompts.
Finished
Hangman Blind – Other challenge. 4*. I enjoyed this multi-layered historical mystery. There was the hanging and murder in the first chapter, then later murders, the attempted poisoning, the burnt mill, the missing midwife…so much going on as well as the threat by a true villain to the main protagonist. Loved it!
The Day the Music Died – ATY #4 (day – found in lyrics of Wonderful World). 3.5*. This seemed like a first attempt at writing. Not particularly engaging to me.
The Millionaire Baby – Other challenge. 4* Loved this and the twist at the end. I kinda, sorta, had a bit figured out, but not really! LOL.
The Awakening – ATY #3 (banned – prompt that didn’t make list). 3.5* There is something about short stories that I shy away from. I would rather have a full book. And, some of these, for me, suffered in the place names and French words that are common to the Louisiana creole/cajun culture. Still I did like the twists that many of the stories had and the subject matter of each story was universal in a way. Set in the early 19th century.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe – other challenge. 5* By the end of this book, I was full of admiration for the determination of such young women not only to survive a rigid society but to do it with such faith in both their religion and in their country.
The Library of the Dead – ATY #5 (Edinburgh – one of beautiful cities). 4* This book is set in a future dystopian Edinburgh and the protagonist is a feisty girl who is trying to survive and protect those she loves. I rooted for her the whole time while trying not to despair over whether or not she would survive her adventures!
Currently Reading:
Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World – PS #42. 6%. I own this book, and thus it is often put aside. I will read at least one chapter a week.
Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies' Table Our Journey Through the Middle East – Other challenge. 0%. Expect to start today.
The Big Gold Dream: The Classic Crime Thriller– Mini other challenge. 5%
7th Heaven – This will finish a 2023 challenge. 28%
On Deck:
The Revolt of the Animals – No challenge. I have no idea why I got this book on inter-library loan, but it is short...so...
The Rosie Project
Start Shooting
The Book of Names
The Wife Between Us
Those last four books are all published in January. I have a task in another group to read 12 books published in January. So far I have only read 1, so I want to, at least start each of those 4 in the next week.
On Back Burner for now
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – 27%.
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 14%.
PS 0/50
ATY 5/52
GR 17/200
QotW: Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
No. With my retirement level of income, I opt to get my books from libraries. And, at my current age level, I am trying to rid my home of books...so I seldom buy.
The only books that I was tempted to buy were the Sandman series. So far it has not occurred.
As to already owning books, sometimes I end up with a book that is already on my shelf just because I forgot I had it.
Hello!This week, due to work demands, I wasn't able to finish any book (because I came home too tired everday), so I am still reading The Girl on the Train (90%) and listening to Recollections of Things to Come (9%).
Challenges:
GR: 2/33
PS: 1/14
EHRBM: 1/7
Question of the Week:
Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
I do not buy special editions of books that I already had in my home, but I if find a beautiful edition of a book I really loved reading, but do not own, I'll maybe consider saving some money to buy it.
How is it Friday again kadssdgHelloooo
Quick update (I hope) as I've got packing to do and the one thing I wanted to do before starting is proving more time consuming than I expected (come on Apple, please just use airdrop even if my laptop needs an update, I updated recently *sobs*)
So yeah. It's been A Week. Sis back in contact with mentally abusive ex, mom cried over being stuck with me longer (she may say that's not what she meant but usually when you're emotional you don't get to filter your words sooo) and I'm just exhausted.
This upcoming 1,5 day at Disney went from 'I'm so tired but I know it'll be worth it' to 'ohmygod I can't wait to get out of here for a bit'. And it's looking more and more likely the pop up surprise meets are gonna work out in my favor (Toulouse and Berlioz instead of one of them and Marie) so fingers crossed! I'm excited to get back out there, see my friend, have a good time.
No reading, but since some mentioned liking seeing what people have watched to, I get to update there at least, haha!
Parents and I finished House season 6 and started season 7!
Movie wise in the last week I've seen the concert registration of Queen Rock Montreal and went to the Pathé Film Festival where I saw:
Scrapper
Ferrari
Io Capitano
Dream Scenario
Io Capitano was a horrifying look into the journey people from Africa to Europe make. It was uncomfortable to watch, because you know that none of it is going to be worth it. It was the best of the day for me.
Ferrari was good, too, but I hate what's happening now. It used to be that movies set in non English speaking countries were still fully English. Like you know it was set in Italy for example, but you couldn't tell. It was horrible. This? This had everything in Italian, overhead announcements, newspapers, one line 'characters'! Everything, except the main characters. They all spoke English with terrible Italian accents (Penelope Cruz always speaks with an accent so she's excluded here). It completely pulled me out of the movie! I'd rather have had no accents, honestly. Content wise, however, I am baffled how this sport was allowed to exist back then. If you have to write a goodbye letter to your partner/family before every single race, you should be realizing this is a bad idea, but that might be just me, haha!
Dream Scenario was fun, and I didn't hate Nicolas Cage in it for a change so that was nice. I was let down by the ending, though. I loved it showing the side of a cancelled person who has done nothing wrong, however. Being completely ostracized for something you didn't do is terrifying and happens more and more often these days. Going viral isn't always a good thing, guys.
Scrapper wasn't my thing, so I can't say if it was objectively good or not. It's just not my kind of film. It reminded me of The Florida Project, in terms of style.
The week before that I watched LEO on Netflix and that I adored! Sometimes movies that don't try so hard work better. Like with books!
QOTW
I used to. I have several copies of one of my absolute favorite books and was going to get another one when I found out the author has views I personally can't support. I also used to be subscribed to several book boxes, but I cancelled them all last year in prep for our WDW trip. This month I am buying two special editions because they're the sequels to the ones I already have, and this way they match, but other than that I don't care anymore. TJ Klune's books I've gotten as an exception because I adore them so much, but yeah. I can spend my money on better things! To see so many people buy these books to not read because they were too expensive, or spending fortunes on resale prices (which, yes, is because people buy these books just to sell on)- it takes the fun out of it. I'm glad I got out!
Happy Friday! I went into the office yesterday for the first time since having Covid over New Year's. I was too tired to post when I got home yesterday. I am right there with those of you that want the cold back. It was weirdly warm in NYC yesterday and made dressing appropriately for commuting and being in the office tricky.Finished;
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies for book about a 42 year old. It's about 42 year old twin sisters set in 1812. I enjoyed it.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store I liked this book a lot, but something kept me from fully loving it enough to give it 5 stars. Lots of people are predicting it will win the Tournament of Books. I don't know, I personally connected to The Bee Sting more. Is it weird that being Jewish I didn't connect as much to the book that focused a lot on a Jewish community as to a book set in Ireland? There's just no way of predicting what will speak to us.
Currently reading:
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
Land of Milk and Honey
David Copperfield
The Complete Essays of Michel de Montaigne
Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years
I watched the second episode of this season's True Detective. I saw that Killers of the Flower Moon is now available for free on streaming. But I really need to feel up to that as it is very long.
QOTW:
I don't generally buy books at all, unless it's at a garage sale or something. I own lots of books, but they're all free or cheap used copies.
Happy Friday! Normally I'm taking today to get ready for my vacation, but due to the lack of snow, our vacation has been canceled. Boo. Usually that is when I get most of my reading done, so I'm more than a little disappointed.QOTW: The only special additions I have copies of are the Harry Potter. They were advertised as having “additional scenes”. I wouldn’t know, because I don’t want to sully them.
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
GoodReads 46/365
Popsugar: 5/50
Around the Year (AtY): 2/52
Read Harder: 1/24
52 Book Club: 1/52
Bookish Bistro: 12/48
Robot: 2/52
Currently Reading:
The Betrayed
Never Ever Getting Back Together
The Bad Guys in Look Who's Talking
The Witches: The Graphic Novel
Finished:
The 101 Dalmatians
California Dreaming: Cass Eliot Before the Mamas and Papas
This Time Tomorrow
The Dragonet Prophecy
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat
Every Day I Fight
Assistant to the Villain
Stolen Tongues
The Watchers
Mod
I kept seeing this on the bookstore staff recommends shelf and has picked this out for that prompt, but it fits video games or the dictonary prompts better. Anyway there were great things and irksome things in this manga. I borrowed volume two as well but I don't know if I'll need to read the whole series. .."
Oh I watched some of this anime show! It's cute! It never occurred to me that it's also a book. Is there any anime that is NOT also a manga?
Mod
what? your mom is stuck with you? was she planning to go somewhere?
I've been sick this week and not had much of an attention span for reading. I did finish a couple books that I had already started, but neither of them was for a challenge. (I made zero challenge progress this past week.)I've (very) slowly been reading The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the World, which is for this challenge.
I'm over my physical symptoms for the most part and am hopeful that a few more days of taking things slowly this weekend will get me and my attention span the rest of the way back to normal.
edit: Oh, as for the QOTW, no, I do not buy special editions, although I've occasionally been gifted one over the years.
I am 17/50.This week I finished:
Blackout: 24 hours: I liked this one a lot more than I expected to. It was quick and sweet.
The Block Party: Not for the challenge: I really liked this one too. It wasn't amazing, but it was definitely one of the better books I've read over the last 2 weeks.
Night Will Find You: complete sentence: I was really looking forward to this one, but it just didn't do anything for me.
The Girls in the Snow: Not for the challenge: This was readable but nothing special. I've been reading a lot of books lately that are just fine.
The Silent Dolls: Not for the challenge: This one has really excellent ratings and reviews and I'm just not seeing why. It tried to do way too much. It was basically a trope fest and I was flabbergasted that so many people thought it was great.
Currently reading:
Low Pressure: writer: I've never read a Sandra Brown book, so I don't know if they are all like this, but this one is a super slow starter. I'm not disliking it, but I need a little more context for what's going on.
West with Giraffes: genre you avoid: My book club picked this one and I saw it was an audiobook on KU, so I was on board, but the narrator's voice is basically intolerable for me, so I'm going to have to try to read it by Wednesday.
QOTW:
Not usually.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Auburn Conference (other topics)Tribal Affairs (other topics)
The Island of Dr. Libris (other topics)
Thieves' Gambit (other topics)
The Smartest Kid in the Universe (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stacy Willingham (other topics)Francesca Serritella (other topics)
Uzma Jalaluddin (other topics)
Crystal Hana Kim (other topics)
Sulari Gentill (other topics)
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Our weather went from deep-freeze COLD to rather mellow-into the 40s and 50s. And my arthritic body is so confused it has just decided to give up and ache!! LOL 😒
I have not had much time to read this past week but the coming week should provide much more “me” time! YAY!!
***
ADMIN STUFF:
The January 2024 Monthly Group Read of Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah has begun! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #19 "A book set in the future." Discussion of this book is ongoing HERE! It’s amazing to see some first-time monthly group read participants in this first 2024 discussion! You will also find the thread to list a book you have read to fulfill this specific prompt HERE!
The February Monthly Group Read is Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker!! 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!) 😊 Hooray for Kimberly Barker, the “leaping literary luminar” who has volunteered to lead this discussion! Standing ovation!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
The March Monthly Group Read is Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman! YAY! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems. World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21!
The search is on for a "marvelous manager" to lead the discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
ONGOING NOMINATION POLL!
Nadine has posted the nomination poll for our April Monthly Group Read HERE! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #29 A book with a neurodivergent main character. April is Autism Awareness Month!
Just one word of caution, before writing in a nomination, please check out the listing of books that are NOT eligible (those selected and discussed within the past two years-2022 and 2023) HERE! (Though I am pretty sure we've not had a poetry book selected before...) This is the nomination round, which is step one.
These are the books currently being considered:
Convergence of Desire by Felicity Niven
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) by Helen Hoang
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown Sisters #3) by Talia Hibbert
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Quite a variety of titles and genres! But if there is one you wish to add via write-in and it is not on the ineligible listing, go for it! I admit I had no idea the Percy Jackson series included a neurodivergent main character! I have yet to read the third book in the Don Tillman series, but that trilogy is on my list for this year! I loved the first two installments… This poll will be open through Tuesday, January 30! Thanks for your help with these selections!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
This question came from Theresa and echoes last week’s question a bit… Do you ever buy special editions of books you already own or have read?
Easy answer for me. No. I do not have the money to spend on such extras. I’m just thrilled to own a used copy of a book! 😊
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 11/50
Around the Year (AtY): 29/52
Read Harder: 6/24
52 Book Club: 15/52
FINISHED:
*Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ is another reread for an IRL book club! I adore this series and am waiting with bated breath for the fourth installment to release March 5th!
POPSUGAR: NEW #4, NEW #15, #31, NEW #47-EXACTLY 24!
ATY: #1, #2, #3-A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book, NEW #7, #25, #33, #37, #49
RHC: NEW #9, #23, #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman
52 Book Club: #33, #40-Halloween
*Big Tree by Brian Selznick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was just as AMAZING as I expected it to be! This man… Such talent! Do yourself a favor and read this one! I would strongly encourage reading it to and/or with children. I can only guess just how it might spark their imaginations!
ATY: #3-A book that is between 400-600 pages (528), #15, #24-Orange, NEW #27
RHC: #16, #24-2015: prompt #20 Read a graphic novel, a graphic memoir, or a collection of comics of any kind
52 Book Club: #24, #30
CONTINUING:
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
Interestingly, I am still somewhat angry about this one and haven't overcome that to pick it back up. But I will... 😃
*Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin for a Buddy Read and Popsugar prompt #22 A book that centers on video games
This one is right up my alley! Character-driven!
Emily Climbs (Emily of New Moon #2) by L.M. Montgomery
I just couldn’t resist picking this one up to read 10-20 pages each night just before bedtime. I love this series!
PLANNED:
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin