Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 25: 6/13 - 6/20
Happy Thursday!Still trying to survive summer library programs, and coping with the crazy by rewatching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure for the umpteenth time. I swear this has become my comfort show... and even better I forced my sister to watch with me. Her reactions to some of the show's crazier bits are priceless.
Books read this week:
Willa and the Whale -- a cute and surprisingly emotional read about a girl grieving her mom and finding an unlikely friendship with a humpback whale.
Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain -- campy, weird, and fun. Feels like a throwback to old sci-fi B movies.
Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil -- cute graphic novel about heroes, necromancers, and destiny
PopSugar Challenge -- FINISHED
Robot Librarian Challenge -- FINISHED
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge -- 46/50
Extreme Book Nerd Advanced Challenge -- 10/10
Extreme Book Nerd Non-Fiction Challenge -- 10/10
DNF:
Throne of Glass -- how is this book so popular? Five chapters in and I can’t stand the main character at all.
Currently reading:
Project Hail Mary (reread)
Olivetti
Snowglobe
Mammoths at the Gates
QOTW:
I work at a library, so I often discover new titles just by processing check-ins and browsing what's on the shelves in the back room to be put in our system next. Goodreads is also helpful in this regard.
Happy Thursday! 2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 223 books so far this year (and 20.1% of my ever-growing TBR) with an average length of 335 pages and an average rating of 3.73.
52 Book Club: 44/52 (Summer Challenge 5/8)
ATY: 34/52 (Summer Challenge 8/12)
Booklist Queen: 42/52
Diverse Baseline: 18/36
Popsugar: 38/50
Robot Librarian: 41/52
ICYMI Backlist: 6/12
Recently Completed:
The Rithmatist (Booklist Queen #35 – three books by the same author/Popsugar #49 – an author’s 24th book) ★★★★★
Before We Were Innocent (52 Books Summer #6b – features a group of friends/ATY Summer #11b – author’s name found in SCRABBLE) ★★★★
The Darkness Outside Us (ATY Summer #6a – set in space) ★★★
Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (52 Books Summer #6c – related to endurance) ★★★★
Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets (52 Books Summer #3b – a heavy read) ★★★★
The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy (ATY Summer #12b – a nonfiction book) ★★★★
Middlemarch (ATY Summer #2b – more than 400 pages/Booklist Queen #41 – a pseudonym/Popsugar #13 – a pen name) ★★★
A Woman Of Endurance (52 Books Summer #6a – set in an era without modern transportation/ATY Summer #5c – a Black main character) ★★★
Fangirl Down (52 Books Summer #5a – a sports romance novel/ATY Summer #5b – featuring a sport) ★★★★
The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield (ATY Summer #12c – character in an educational setting) ★★
Currently Reading:
I Take You (52 Books Summer #4c – jewelry on cover/ATY Summer #3a – author’s initials found in BLOCKBUSTER FILM)
Listen for the Lie (52 Books Summer #3a – a strong opening hook/ATY Summer #9b – red on the cover)
The Rom-Commers (52 Books Summer #8a – at least four Olympic ring colors on the cover)
The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial (52 Books Summer #2B – an audiobook that is 15+ hours long)
Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy (52 Book Club #18 – an apostrophe in the title/Booklist Queen #51 – a place in the title)
Twelfth Knight (ATY Summer #8c – purple on the cover)
Perestroika in Paris (52 Book Club Summer #1a – set in Paris/ATY Summer #8a – a dog on the cover)
Dirty Dancing at Devil's Leap (Popsugar #1 - leap in the title)
The Buccaneers (ATY Summer #3b – adapted into a movie or series/Robot Librarian Advanced #7 – published posthumously)
QOTW: I get a number of book-related emails that advertise new releases, but I think that most of the time I use the “New Releases” tab on Goodreads to find new books.
Happy Thursday, everyone!This has been quite a week! My air conditioner stopped working on Tuesday afternoon, just in time for us to experience a heat wave. Fortunately, my heating and air conditioning company was able to make time to come out and take a look at everything yesterday afternoon. It turns out that the blower motor was overworking itself and just shut down when it got too hot. I was able to get the motor replaced the same day, and the house is back to a comfortable living temperature. I’m really relieved that it wasn’t anything more serious. Living in a 20+ year-old house, you’re never quite sure what will quit working next.
In other news, I’ve continued to make some progress on my household project list. It’s been so nice to be able to cross some things off my list this week!
Although it has been a busy week, I’ve managed to do a tremendous amount of reading. I’m especially pleased with the number of titles I was able to check off my “New” Books list.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 321/200 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 92/150
📚Physical TBR: 52
📱Ebook TBR: 40
🎧Audiobook TBR: 0
TBR Checklist Total: 92
I have officially finished all of the new manga, graphic novels, and comic collections that I purchased during the past couple of months!
Of course, now that my book buying ban has officially ended, I have picked up several new books… I got copies of Destination Unknown and Endless Night, by Agatha Christie; Slayers 13-15, by Hajime Kanzaka; Dreadful, by Caitlin Rozakis; When the Moon Hatched, by Sarah A. Parker; Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, by Rebecca Thorne; and the Ember in the Ashes quartet, by Sabaa Tahir. I’m really looking forward to reading all of these books as soon as possible.
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 232
“New” Books Read in 2024: 213
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~The Sudarshana — This is the fourth book in the 80AD series. I thought it was a great continuation of the series. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sword of Destiny — This is the second book in The Witcher series. While this was a re-read for me, it was my first time listening to the audiobook edition. I really enjoyed listening to it before bed each night. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Guncle — I picked this book up at my local library following the recommendation of one of my fellow book club members, and I am so glad I did! This was a fabulous book about family, grief, and living life to the fullest. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~K-Pop Style: Fashion, Skin-Care, Make-Up, Lifestyle, and More — This was a quick, interesting read about K-Pop inspired fashions. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
This week I had a chance to read the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga. I’ve seen the anime a couple of times, but this was my first time reading the manga. While there are some differences between the anime and manga, including a condensing of the storyline, I thought the manga was very well done. I ended up reading most of the series in a single day, because I had a really hard time putting the books down. The artwork was fabulous! Content Alert: (view spoiler) The volumes I read this week include…
~Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 3 — This book lost one star from me because (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 4 — This book lost one star because of a flashback to the same event that lost volume 3 its 5-star rating. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Neon Genesis Evangelion 2-in-1 Edition, Vol. 5: Includes vols. 13 & 14 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also read the Nana manga series. I remember reading several chapters of this series back when the Shojo Beat magazine was being published, and I was very excited to finally have a chance to read the whole series. The series was a lot more angsty than I thought it was going to be, but I did enjoy the story and characters. The artwork was fabulous! Unfortunately, the mangaka became ill in 2009 and the manga was put on a permanent hiatus as a result, so the story remains unfinished. Content Alert: This series is rated M, and it definitely earns its rating. (view spoiler) The volumes I read this week include…
~Nana, Vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 7 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 8 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 9 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 10 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 11 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 12 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 13 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 14 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 15— 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 16 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 17 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 18 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 19 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 20 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Nana, Vol. 21 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finally, I was able to get completely caught up on Garfield! I had so much fun reading these comics! The collections I read this week include…
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #19 — This collection includes books 55-57 (Garfield Sings for His Supper, Garfield Wide Load, and Garfield Souped Up). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #20 — This collection includes books 58-60 (Garfield Goes to His Happy Place, Garfield the Big Cheese, and Garfield Cleans His Plate). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #21 — This collection includes books 61-63 (Garfield Chickens Out, Garfield Listens to His Gut, and Garfield Cooks Up Trouble). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #22 — This collection includes books 64-66 (Garfield Feeds His Face, Garfield Eats and Runs, and Garfield Nutty as a Fruitcake). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #23 — This collection includes books 67-69 (Garfield Slurps and Burps, Garfield Belly Laughs, and Garfield Easy as Pie). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack #24 — This collection includes books 70-72 (Garfield Goes Hog Wild, Garfield What Leftovers?, and Garfield Livin’ the Sweet Life). 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Road Pizza: His 73rd Book — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Home Cookin': His 74th Book — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Garfield Fully Caffeinated: His 75th Book — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
~The House That Horror Built — I ended up taking this book back to the library before I could finish it. I may borrow it from the library again at some point, but I didn’t get far enough into it to know if I really want to spend my time reading it. 📚
Currently Reading:
~The Yu Dragon — This is the fifth (and final) book in the 80AD series. I’m currently just over one-fifth of the way through the book, and it’s been a good read so far. I will probably finish it over the weekend. 📱
~A Trace of Poison: A Phyllida Bright Mystery, Book 2 — This is the second book in the Phyllida Bright mystery series. This story has been pretty good, but I have to admit that I’m not super impressed with the audiobook’s narrator. 🎧
~One Perfect Couple — I was able to get Ruth Ware’s newest book from my library much earlier than I expected. I started reading it last night, and I’m really enjoying it. 📚
QOTW:
I follow several bookish content creators on YouTube, who have been great resources for new and upcoming releases. Two of my favorite channels are Gavin Reads it All and Alexandra Roselyn.
I also check Amazon for upcoming releases. I usually search for specific authors, but sometimes I just browse the “Coming Soon” section.
But it seems like nine times out of ten, I’m at the bookstore and just happen across something new.
Mod
LOL that book wasn't bad, I think I gave it 3 stars, but the series got progressively worse and worse before I finally gave up on it. I am mystified by the author's immense popularity. Maas & CoHo are sort of birds of a feather and I would guess they appeal to the same reader, and that reader is not me (although there are many MANY readers who love them).
Mod
Yikes! I definitely do not remember that happening in the anime series I've been watching!!!
(This show is confusing though, because there are two different translations, plus there are movies, and they aren't all continuous, and I have no idea if I'm watching the definitive series or not.)
It has actually felt like summer today! Hoping the weather holds up for the weekend so we can make outdoor pizza again, because pizza oven pizza is amazing. I don't really know where the has gone to this week. I thought I'd read more, but alas not.Finished The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton for set in space. This was fun, although the characters came across way younger than they were and the romance was a bit on the weird side. Starts if quite sciencey but quickly descends into science-fantasy.
Currently reading This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter and listening to Private Rites by Julia Armfield.
QOTW:
I am still on a lot of publicity mailing lists for my blog so I get announcements and details of books to review that way. I also browse NetGalley to see what's coming up. I do a new release round-up each month, so I keep a spreadsheet with details, and I will go seek out publisher catalogues a couple of times a year to populate that. Of course I hear about books on social media, though this is becoming less useful since the Twitter exodus, but I follow a lot of other blogs too, so generally I hear about more than I'll ever read.
Like Nadine said, keeping up with books is a hobby! I have no idea what's going on with football but I can reel off a bunch of books coming out this month.
Nadine in NY wrote: "I'd say I'm planning to read everything Kingfisher has published, but she's publishing so many books each year, I can't keep up. I'm going to try though!! ..."Discovering T. Kingfisher is the best! She has so many books but it's not like they're this one big series that you feel behind on. Have you done the 24th book of an author yet? Because someone in this group confirmed that Bryony and Rose is Kingfisher's 24th.
Heat wave here in the Midwest, too, but not record temperatures (at least where I'm at) like the news has been reporting for other regions. I think temperatures are supposed to peak here tomorrow (and maybe Saturday), so am planning to stay in all day playing video games, reading, watching all the soccer, and crafting.Completed
Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World's Biggest Sports Scandal
The Paris Apartment
Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy
Currently Reading
The Canterbury Tales - my last book for ATY!
Villette
The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky
QOTW
I primarily learn about new books through BookPage (which I get through my library) and Goodreads suggestions/conversations. Honestly, if it weren't for doing reading challenges like this one and often having prompts like "a book published in [the year of this challenge]" I don't know that I'd pay as much attention to what's truly new and what's just new to me.
Just finished:The Road to Roswell (3/5, read for a sci-fi/fantasy book club)
This is one of those books that you can just enjoy the ride and not get stressed about. It's got sci-fi, Western, and romance trappings, and it does not ask much of the reader. It's the reading equivalent of a comfort food meal, and sometimes, that's what a person wants, especially in the summer.
DNF:
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
I DNF'd at 2 pages, which may seem extreme, but this text and I were adversaries from the very beginning. The cover copy is an intriguing premise, but it does not hint at how crude and violent the material is. The language and ideas are gratuitous and gross, and I recommend that people steer clear of this one.
Currently reading:
An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 (about 800 pages in)
Fall of the Dragons: The Dragon's Apprentice; The Dragons of Winter; The First Dragon (on Chapter 6 of the 3rd book in this omnibus)
The Rules of Supervillainy (for the same book club as The Road to Roswell)
Question of the Week:
I get recommendations from all over: Amazon, Goodreads discussions, message boards, bookstores, blogs and websites, etc.
Thanks for highlighting the New Releases part of the Browse header on Goodreads. I did not know that they had personalized release lists based on authors I've logged.
Super Summer City Challenge: 24/24Super Summer County Challenge: 30/30
ATY Summer Challenge: 4/12
It's actually cooled off nicely here, at least for a few days.
Finished: How to Protect Bookstores and Why: The Present and Future of Bookselling for ATY Summer prompt about a writer, bookseller, or librarian.
Wonka used for aty blockbuster prompt. I don't usually like or read novelizations of movies, but I enjoyed this one. What I particularly noticed was how the author turned visual content of the movie into text, including details I hadn't noticed while watching the movie!
Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness used for ATY Summer prompt has at least 4 colors on cover
Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America This book was funny in places, but mostly depressing. Could be used for many of the author initials included in: Curveball or Scrabble in ATY Summer Challenge.
Started: This Is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More I learned about this one because the author is part of a brain health master class.
The Inevitable: Contemporary Writers Confront Death DNF
The End of Your Life Book Club using for ATY summer prompt prune: written by someone 60 or older.
QotW: I used to subscribe to School Library Journal that told me about new kids books and before that some other subscription whose name escapes me now. But I decided that I have enough book acquisition addiction that I didn't need that support anymore. I still get Book Riot New Books every Tuesday and Powells new releases. But sometimes I am surprised when an author I like releases a book that I didn't know about!
Mod
How is that? I listened to her first book as an audiobook and I really really liked it, I loved how weird it was, so I'm definitely going to read this one, too. I just can't decide if I want to get on the audiobook waitlist or seek out a hardcopy.
Mod
The Road to Roswell (3/5, read for a sci-fi/fantasy book club)
This is one of those books that you can just enjoy the ride and not get stressed about. It's got sci-fi, Western, and romance trappings, and it does not ask much of the reader. It's the reading equivalent of a comfort food meal, and sometimes, that's what a person wants, especially in the summer...."
Sounds perfect! I'll be sure to set my expectations to "mid-level entertaining" when I pick this one up, and I bet I'll love it. I actually have never read anything by Willis. It's shameful.
Slowly but surely reading again. Finished one book for the prompt A book where someone dies in the first chapter The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. This is a collection of The Witcher short stories. Given the love for this series (by female friends) I was surprised by the misogynyAlso, congrats to your graduate, Nadine, that's great.
And the heat wave here is sapping my everything
QOTW
Oh a lot of ways. Social media, my book clubs and the library. But mostly these days it's Goodreads Giveaways and Netgalley.
Happy Thursday everyone!So glad to have a relief from the heatwave. It's going to be in the 80s(F) today so that's nice. A bit warm, but tolerable and it's fresh which is really good. But then sadly it's going to end up picking back up into the 100s.
Then I'm near some wildfires (not too close thankfully). I ended up going to the store and got some stuff that I plan on donating to them because so many people have lost everything (for personal reasons I won't say which wildfire I'm located near). It's just so tragic though especially since I have so many memories from heading out there.
School starts up in a couple of weeks so I'm looking forward to it.
*****
Onto my book news.
I have had such an excellent reading month. I'm glad to be out of my reading slump. Checking my stats on Storygraph and I'm very pleased.
Currently Reading:
LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority (576 pgs.)
Currently on page 49 of this book and I am loving it. Latino culture has always fascinated me. While I'm Indigenous, I'm also Hispanic and Latino. There is no one way to label us as much as the U.S. tries to.
*****
All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women's Bodies and Why It Matters Today (448 pgs)
This book is slightly out of my wheelhouse. In ch. 1 I learned more about cosmetic medicine than I would have ever thought I would. It's a good book though and certainly interesting.
******
I figure given the length of both these books, they'll tie me over until the end of the month which is fine.
******
QOTW:
How do you learn about new books?
A lot of times it's just random google searches or see what people are talking about on social media. Though as a nonfiction reader, I often have to dig deep because so many book recs I come across are within the fiction genre so I always have to tighten my searches.
Happy Thursday!I went to the doctor as a follow up from the hospital stay and she said things are looking a lot better, and put me on more antibiotics, so fun. At least it is getting better.
Finished:
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell - 4 stars - for Robot Librarian's Nonfiction: 400s. - An entertaining look at language from a feminist perspective.
Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire - 4.5 stars - for neurodivergent character prompt in both Popsugar and Robot Librarian. There was a lot more of the characters from Middlegame in this, and it was nice to spend some more time with them.
Comics and manga:
Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 26
Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Manga, Vol. 1
I am currently at 41/50 prompts for Popsugar (36/45 and 5/5).
Currently reading:
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse - not currently for a prompt
Upcoming/Planned:
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty - for a book about pirates. It's time to take a break from the urgent library reads *fingers crossed* and start reading my already owned books for Popsugar.
QOTW:
Mostly, I learn about new books from publisher blogs, such as Tor's Reactor, or reviewer blogs; from author social media or newsletters; from emails from publishers and local bookstores; and from Goodreads.
Nadine in NY wrote: "How is that? I listened to her first book as an audiobook and I really really liked it, I loved how weird it was, so I'm definitely going to read this one, too. I just can't decide if I want to get on the audiobook waitlist or seek out a hardcopy..."I listen to Our Wives too and I'd say the audio narration is similar. So far less weird, but still lovely writing and a sense that everything is wet.
Brandon wrote: "Thanks for highlighting the New Releases part of the Browse header on Goodreads. I did not know that they had personalized release lists based on authors I've logged."Wow! I just looked at that and lots of new books for those I have read. So glad you mentioned this, Brandon.
Mod
Good to know! This is one of the books that I requested on NetGalley - if I don't get it, I'll wait for audio. It does not release in the USA until Dec.
Mod
Wow! I just ..."
I foolishly assumed that you all were familiar with the "New Books" list on GR. I should have included a link!!
You can look at popular new releases (based on how many GRers are shelving it), new releases by authors you've read before, or new released in the genres you've listed as your favorites. Just go to Browse > New Releases on the desktop. (If you're using the app, it's in the "Discover" menu, but I don't know if it's got the same functionality - I think all you can see is a list of popular new books for each month)
I'm not sure if this link works for everyone: https://www.goodreads.com/new_release...
Happy Thursday! Last Friday, my sister and I took my mum to Palace 'Het Loo' for her 70th birthday. She's a huge fan of the House of Orange, so we couldn't go wrong with it. Het Loo used to be a royal palace, built by William and Mary in the late 1600s (yes, William was King of England too, and yes this is why there are Orange marches in Northern Ireland). Until WW2, it was home for our royals. It's a museum now since last year and it shows our national royal history. Quite interesting actually. And most important, my mom had a great day.PS: 13/50
FNL: 25/40
Total: 33/52
Finished
Phoenix: De memoires van Abel Sikkink by Bert Wagendorp⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fictional memoires of a Dutch immigrant in the US, 1847-1935. This is part 1 of 3, so we're now at Bull's Run Massacre.
Currently reading
Onderdak by Elisabeth van Nimwegen
QOTW
Bookplatforms, Goodreads and newspapers and magazines (especially nonfiction).
Mod
That sounds like a really interesting visit!!! In the US, we have a William and Mary University
https://www.wm.edu/
Nadine in NY wrote: "Harmke wrote: "Happy Thursday! Last Friday, my sister and I took my mum to Palace 'Het Loo' for her 70th birthday. She's a huge fan of the House of Orange, so we couldn't go wrong with it. Het Loo ..."Here's the website for a sneak peak: https://paleishetloo.nl/en
O, and this William was ugly btw
Mod
Seriously though, I've got two requests still pending from June 1st. How long are they going to make me wait before they decide yea or nay???
My reading is slowing up as I am now reading books that either take time to digest or reading less hours. I am not really sure. Probably a bit of both.]I think that I am having a bit of a reaction to my Scotland trip. I was so busy everyday for five weeks...and my prior life at home was so sedentary...and now the heat/humidity has me housebound. I am a bit stir crazy.
I am trying to walk daily...and my goal is 2 miles a day, but, if I do not get out early enough in the day, it is too hot too long in the daytime for me to get a walk accomplished...and I have only achieved my goal 6 times. My secondary goal is at least a mile which I am more likely to accomplish in my neighborhood...but still not daily.
Finished:
Gift of a Letter: Giving the Gift of Ourselves-- Add Richness and Grace to Your Life Through the Art of Letter-writing – ATY Seasonal. 4*. I enjoyed this little book and was left wanting to write and receive letters again. (I once enjoyed that activity.) My difficulty now is that most people I know are online friends...no address or sometimes even last name! And, there are no pen pal groups anymore.
The Friday Night Knitting Club – PAS. 5*. I seldom give a book 5 stars unless it impacts my life somehow. This time the writing left me emotionally wracked. The story was intense and the friendships developed were so satisfying...I wanted that group of people for my own friends.
The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose – ATY #25 (crime other than murder). The crime was embezzlement. Cozy mystery. 4*.
Currently Reading:
The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin – Kindle. No challenge. 27%. Nonfiction. I had started this in Scotland for ATY but found an easier read for the same prompt. Now to finish this one as a personal goal is to finish already started books…or DNF.
Heaven and Earth (Bk #2) – Audible. 81%. Reading this on my daily walk. This book is hard to read in the sexy parts while walking!
An Excellent Mystery – ALCM, PAS. 51%. This is a continuing segment in the Brother Cadfael series. Slowly working my way through this series.
Just Starting:
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born – no challenge. Was on the plan for the African author, but I read another for that prompt. 5%
Walden - PAS
On Deck:
Suspect – PS #12 (animal POV), PAS
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle. 12%
Under the Whispering Door – ATY #26
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life – ATY #27. This is a second attempt at reading.
PS 14/50
ATY 25/52
GR 90/200
QotW: How do you learn about new books?
Most often through the various GR groups to which I belong!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!! We are having a heat wave in NY again. AND It's a big day in my household. Tomorrow my youngest will graduate from high school!! It's been a long hard road for her, and I'm s..."
WOOT! Congratulations! You all have every reason to be proud - and a little tearful as your youngest takes the next big step.
And... you too will have that big step of being an empty nester... soon.
Happy Thursday!I was not in the head space to post last Thursday. I got some crap-tastic news when I went to the vet. Poor Zigs has a level 4 heart murmur and some fluid on the lungs. Not what i wanted to hear. So unless I got up to 5k to pay for all the test they need to do to find out why he has fluid, I'm sort of stuck as what to do. The pet hospital doesn't do pay plans either.
But I will find a way.
Other than that, not much else is going on. I'm just coasting by.
Popsugar:19/50
Finished:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country ps 19 (could fit 18)
Reading:
Aty: 26/52
Finished:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country aty 35
Reading: none
Goodreads Challenge 40/400
Finished:
Novel:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country
Graphic Novel:
Third Shift Society Volume Two: A Webtoon Unscrolled Graphic Novel
Manga:
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 1
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 2
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 3
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 4
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 5
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 6
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 7
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 8
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 9
Even Given the Worthless "Appraiser" Class, I'm Actually the Strongest, Vol. 1
Even Given the Worthless "Appraiser" Class, I'm Actually the Strongest, Vol. 2
Even Given the Worthless "Appraiser" Class, I'm Actually the Strongest, Vol. 3
Light Novel:
Black Summoner: Volume 1
Black Summoner: Volume 2
Black Summoner: Volume 3
Black Summoner: Volume 4
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells (Light Novel) Vol. 1
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells (Light Novel) Vol. 2
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells (Light Novel) Vol. 3
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 1
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 2
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 3
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 4
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 5
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 6
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 7
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 8
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 9
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 10
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 11
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 12
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 13
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 14
Romance:
Unlikely Match
Reading:
Black Summoner: Volume 5
Close to the Edge
QOTW:
I have a ton of publisher and author newsletters that come into my work and personal emails. I have access to prepub book lists through my distributor. I get some through Facebook. I also stalk the Crunchyroll store (manga/light novels) for future book carts at work.
*Sigh* - the long spring is over and NYC is reaching for 90F, hazy, hot & humid. I'd really hoped this wouldn't happen until August, LOL. I hoped - but knew better. I may start my reading Christmas in July early just to get some nice snowy scenes in front of me.
BIG NEWS: I finished Around the Year! 52/52 books!
PS - 38/50 - a ways to go but picking away at it.
Finished:
First Lie Wins - PS - year ending 24 and ATY - published in 2024 - excellent thriller.
The Princess Diarist
Last Seen in Lapaz - Last ATY book! Fit author born in Africa.
Borrower of the Night
Morality Play
The Rabbit Factor
Yes, I have thrown myself into mystery reads once I finished the Carrie Fisher. I needed that fun and genre indulgence. I've got to start a chunkster from my Feminerdy Book Club this weekend so decided to play this week.
Currently Reading:
Killers of a Certain Age
Winds of the Steppe: Walking the Great Silk Road from Central Asia to China
This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland
Up Next:
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam
The Man Who Died Twice
QOTW: Once upon a time, I learned about new books from reading reviews in newspapers and magazines and things like the New York Times weekly book review. I also multiple times a week visited favorite local indie bookstores - there were many on my regular routes around work and home in Manhattan. That was before internet. Slowly that all stopped especially indie bookstores disappeared and were replaced by B&N superstores - which I routinely visited looking for new books.
With rise of social media sites like Good Reads, it all shifted away from print reviews. Now I get emails from favorite publishers and authors, follow authors and blogs on FB, and of course groups on GR like this. I don't even visit real bookstores much anymore -- primarily due to pandemic changing my habits. Also, since about 2016, I started paying more attention to and reading the treasures in my TBR Towers than those I haven't acquired yet. Plus ebooks ... so many of the books I used to buy in mass market paperback as soon as they came out - favorite authors and series - I now put on a wishlist and either acquire when a Deal of the Day or borrow through Libby.
Happy Thursday!Today is Ezra's birthday! He turns 7 today, and I still remember him being our youngest bunbun back when he was 2 like it was yesterday. It's been a while, but I was home for his birthday! To celebrate he and the others got to go to the vet for their yearly shots and check ups, hahah! Poor fella. He'll get his birthday treat tomorrow when's over the stress of it all <3
Last Friday morning I fell down the stairs and busted up my knee (yes, the same knee I busted back in January) so that's been fun. Got a massive bruise on my lower back and butt xD
Despite all that, my appointment today with my food/weight lady, went well! I lost some more weight and am closer to my next goal! Compared to my highest ever weight (my third appointment with her) I've lost about 8 kilos! It's taken a long time (autism + chronic fatigue + fibromyalgia + depression makes this very hard!), but it's staying off and going well! I've got a lot left to go, but that's why I make small goals. Every 5 kilo is a new goal, to keep it manageable and to keep my motivation up. Hopefully next appointment I've hit that next one!
Haven't been puzzling much, I bought Assassin's Creed Black Flag on the Switch. It's my first ever 'proper' game, and I've not been sucking as much as I thought I was going to! So that was a nice surprise. Been having a lot of fun with it, even if sometimes I have to take breaks cuz my hands are shaking too much from the adrenaline xD I've currently done 33% of the main story line, and 30% overall, so I'm feeling pretty good about myself. Even if I did not need a new hyperfocus right before going on holiday xD
Reading
Still no books, but almost finished with Cooperative gameplay, which is 422k of words! When they reference the beginning of the fic (I'm at the two epilogue chapters) it makes me want to start all over again, haha! It's so good!
QOTW
Currently I am completely out of the loop, so unless someone specifically tells me, I won't know. Before this weird non-reading mood however, I'd find out a lot on this forum, and osmosis. Before THAT I was subscribed to a bunch of book boxes and that was the most in-the-know I've ever been, haha! I don't really miss that, though, it was way too stressful.
Good afternoon from an excruciatingly hot Columbus 🫠Our pool just opened up yesterday so I think I’m going to swim when I get home from this much needed pedicure appointment.
Finished:
The Austere Academy not for the challenge but me and my son are still making our way through the audiobooks. These poor kids, somethings this series really stresses me out.
The Familiar also not for a challenge but I just really like this author. Another fantastic novel that sucks me in with secrets, magic, plots and twists.
The Anthropocene Reviewed I thought this was for a challenge but I’m not seeing it on my list. Oh well, I love John Green and this was a really delightful collection of essays.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
The Ersatz Elevator
Atalanta
Challenges:
Popsugar - 12/45; 1/5
Read Harder - 13/24
Classics - 5/12
European Tour - 5/10
12 Friends - 12/12
Yearly Goal - 85/150
Happy check-in! I've been enjoying the Euro Cup and reading things off Hoopla. I've managed to finish off some series so that's been nice.Finished Reading:
A Symphony of Starlight ⭐⭐⭐
Book three ended with some loose ends so I was glad that the author returned to the series in 2019. I got into this urban fantasy series somehow but kept disliking the main characters choices.
Phantom Kiss ⭐⭐⭐
A little novella from a fave urban fantasy series.
The Summer Escape ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY x connection)
New Jill Shalvis nothing special rom com.
Firefly: Watch How I Soar ⭐⭐
A bunch of short stories about Wash, but only a couple were to my liking.
Volatile Bonds ⭐⭐⭐
Well this urban fantasy series seems left open for more sequels but it doesn't look like the author is going back to it.
Proposal ⭐⭐⭐
I loved this series when I was a kid. Cabot went back to the characters as adults for this novella.
Bad Blood ⭐⭐⭐
Urban fantasy series that has the Greek gods in Hollywood with diminished powers. The mc is a gorgon descendant and works as a pi. I'll be continuing this one.
PS 38/50
ATY 42/52
ATY Summer 11/36
Goodreads 153/200
QOTW:
I use the New Releases tab in Goodreads all the time. I also look through what's new on overdrive/libby. My next book I actually learned about from this check-in a few weeks ago. I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks
Nadine in NY wrote: "Yikes! I definitely do not remember that happening in the anime series I've been watching!!!(This show is confusing though, because there are two different translations, plus there are movies, and they aren't all continuous, and I have no idea if I'm watching the definitive series or not.)"
Neon Genesis Evangelion is an interesting series. The first time I ever watched it was with my anime club in college. We marathoned the entire series, plus the two movies. And when we got done with End of Evangelion, most of us were just sitting there in a daze going "What did I just watch?"
The manga felt more cohesive to me, but it still has some very weird moments toward the end.
The anime is confusing because of where the movies take place, but the place to start is definitely with the original 26-episode series.
The first movie, Death and Rebirth, is basically a recap of the first 24 episodes of the original series, which goes into what became the first part of End of Evangelion. If you just want the experience of watching the series, you can totally skip Death and Rebirth.
But here's where things get really weird...
The second movie, End of Evangelion, is supposed to be an alternative version of episodes 25-26 of the original series. So the movie actually begins right after episode 24. However, everyone I've ever talked to suggests that the best way to watch the series is to watch all 26 episodes, followed by End of Evangelion. So I don't suppose the order really matters so much. ^_^'
Of course, it is worth noting that both the series and movies totally earn their Mature ratings.
I haven't seen the newest series of movies, which starts with Evangelion 1.11, so I don't really know very much about them. I think it's a very different version of the story though.
Dani wrote: "Good afternoon from an excruciatingly hot Columbus 🫠Our pool just opened up yesterday so I think I’m going to swim when I get home from this much needed pedicure appointment."
I am so jealous of your access to a pool. The heat has been horrible here this week!
Mod
Well that's good, because that's where I am! I've seen the first 20 episodes, so I guess I've got six left. College-kid-home-for-the-summer is not a big anime fan, so she hasn't seen it, so we won't watch it again until she goes back to school. It's kind of exciting to think I'll finally finish - we've been watching it in fits and starts for years now!
Mod
yeah THAT will be weird!! I haven't lived alone since I was a newcomer to this area back in my 20s!!!
But lucky for me, younger kid will be going to community college for two years, so she will still be living at home. No empty nest yet!!!
We are having a heat wave too. We went from it being 10-12 (and everyone in the house having to dig an extra blanket out for their bed) to highs in the 30s, feeling like the 40s. (If you don't do Celsius, human body temperature is 37, so humidity of 43 is disgusting) .However, I had a good book week. I finished 2 books and both had PS prompts.
Finished:
Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas
ATY prompt: none
Popsugar prompt: A book about pirates
Legends & Lattes
ATY prompt: A book connected in some way to any of the flavors of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz)
Popsugar prompt: A book written during NaNoWriMo
Summer Prompt: An author's first book
Series - 5/12
Nobel laureates - 3/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 6/13
ATY - 21/45
PS - 14/30
Summer - 3/12
Currently reading:
Brisingr - 95% done
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story - 60% done
A Death at the Party - 65% done
Buddy Reads:
This Present Darkness - 60% done
Hollow City - 30% done
QOTW: Multiple sources - sometimes, when everyone seems to be reading a book, it keeps getting added to multiple listopias and upvoted. But sometimes real life recommendations from friends.
Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday!Still trying to survive summer library programs, and coping with the crazy by rewatching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure for the umpteenth time. I swear this has become my comfort show......"
My kids love that show! One dressed up as a character for Halloween last year. (My kids are 21 and 18 BTW )
Happy Thursday! Another heat wave here this week too. I was worried about the cat yesterday because she disappeared for the majority of the day, but she came home around 9pm and was fine lol. We're kicking things into gear prepping for my sister's baby shower in two weeks - my mother especially isn't as efficient as I would like, and freaks out over tiny things, but we're making it work. Slowly. Send books and whiskey, please. But books have been good this week! Finished:
Lumberjanes, Vol. 18:-20 - 3.5/4 stars across the board. It definitely felt like the writers forgot a few plot points they had introduced ages ago and were flailing to wrap those up, but overall this series was so much fun and I love the characters to bits.
Neverwhere - 5 stars. This was absolutely magical and I hope hope hope Neil gets back for a sequel sooner rather than later! I can see so many through-lines from this book inspiring others, most notably perhaps HP, Schwab's Shades of Magic series, and Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow (which I need to reread). Neil's narration was lovely as always.
HHhH - early DNF. This wasn't what I expected and I may revisit it at some point, but right now I don't have the patience for the mixture of fiction and memoir/fourth wall-breaking.
PS 27/50
ATY 34/52
Mount TBR 15/48
Currently:
Pocket Apocalypse - I'm already exhausted with Shelby's family lol
Project Hail Mary - Finally getting around to this after snagging an audio copy years ago and it's fun! Ray Porter does an excellent job narrating.
QOTW: How do you learn about new books?
Well... you know, I'm not actually sure lol. Probably because I follow a BUNCH of authors so I know when they have new stuff in the works, but then they'll also post on their social media about other authors' stuff that they enjoyed, plus recommendations from friends, etc.
Kenya wrote: "Throne of Glass -- how is this book so popular? Five chapters in and I can’t stand the main character at all."YES thank you! If I'd known better I would've DNF'd this when I read it years ago. As it stands, I haven't picked up another of SJM's books because of it lol.
Dubhease wrote: "Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday!Still trying to survive summer library programs, and coping with the crazy by rewatching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure for the umpteenth time. I swear this has become my c..."
Okay now I gotta know what characters your kids dressed up as. (I'm hoping to throw together a Jotaro costume before next year's anime convention season...)
Mod
Jen wrote: "Happy Thursday!I went to the doctor as a follow up from the hospital stay and she said things are looking a lot better, and put me on more antibiotics, so fun. At least it is getting better..."
Glad you're feeling better, but ugh. Antibiotics always screw me up, I hope you don't have the same problems.
Carmen wrote: "Last Friday morning I fell down the stairs and busted up my knee (yes, the same knee I busted back in January) so that's been fun..."Oh man! Hope it heals up better than it did before! Congrats on losing weight, though! I have the same problem with fatigue getting in the way of exercising and making healthy food... Keep at it!!
Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!I was not in the head space to post last Thursday. I got some crap-tastic news when I went to the vet. Poor Zigs has a level 4 heart murmur and some fluid on the lungs. Not what i ..."
Aww, poor fur baby! :(
Hi all! My little one caught a cold at daycare, and naturally gave it to me too. He's been mostly fine other than being stuffed up. Finished
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter: Marie Kondo but a Swedish old lady, would recommend
Mauve: How One Man Invented a Colour That Changed the World: I was expecting more of a biography but this was actually more of a history of synthetic dyes as a whole with a bit of a focus on one scientist. I suspect because there really isn't *that* much to say about his life. It was published in 2020 and does show its age in moments where it discusses the then-current state of dye fabrication and calls printer ink a "niche industry", which is cute.
Bloodlust & Bonnets: a fun graphic novel that is a send up of gothic lit and lord byron in particular. for fans of Kate Beaton's comics
The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures: this is a memoir for people who are already fans; if you don't already know her work and a bit about her life, I expect you would be pretty confused. with that caveat, I thought it was an interesting presentation
Thornhedge: T. Kingfisher delivers again
Currently Reading
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 2: the long awaited part 2! so glad the author was able to complete the project!
QOTW
I watch some book-focused youtube channels, listen to book podcasts, and read articles on goodreads and bookriot. I admit to basically never looking at Popsugar's book articles outside of the challenge announcement. I'll check the goodreads 'new releases' tool on occasion to see if any of my author's have come out with new books.
Mod
I was not in the head space to post last Thursday. I got some crap-tastic news when I went to the vet. Poor Zigs has a level 4 heart murmur and some fluid on the lungs. Not what i ..."
aww I'm so sorry. That can really weigh on you.
My younger dog is sick right now, I need to take her to the vet again, I'm hoping a course of antibiotics and she'll be all better. She's got some sort of skin condition that he cannot figure out, and it gets infected. Poor baby has been sleeping almost all day, she clearly feels like crap.
Happy Thursday! I'm taking a long weekend starting tomorrow and taking my first trip in a long while. I haven't been on a plane in 5 years, and I'm remembering now what an anxious traveler I am. I've already been having stress dreams of sleeping through my alarm and missing my flight, so I'll probably set an extra alarm or an extra ten. But that means I'll have a 4-day weekend where I plan to get a lot of reading in!Finished:
Spy x Family, Vol. 9- this series is always so much fun!
-no prompt
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King- another fantasy romance series that I really enjoyed, and didn't really expect too
-no prompt
In the Dream House- a memoir about abuse in a queer relationship, told in an experimental way, in small fragments. -no prompt
Currently reading:
Memorial- I really like this so far. Really love the writing style
QotW:
I feel like I have too many ways to find books, that's why my tbr is always growing. A lot of books I hear about here on Goodreads, either in this group or from friends- everyone has such different tastes, I keep hear about new authors and books. I also follow a good selection of youtubers- some who only read weirder literary books, or romance, or mainly fantasy, or mainly books that have been translated. I like to follow people with their own niche so there's not a lot of overlap.
And then the new books section at the library. I always browse and find some random book I know nothing about. They aren't always winners, but it keeps things interesting!
Thanks to Nadine, I'm reading again. Her idea of scheduled reading made a difference. I increased my reading amount each day, and by the 3rd day I didn't stop at a scheduled time. And now I'm reading quite a bit. That was an easy way for me to break a slump. My life is better when I'm reading.Finished
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng - 4 stars; PS #19 set in the future
This is a great dystopian novel set in a future that doesn't seem too out of reach of some of today's sensibilities about protesting, LGBTQ people, immigrants, etc.
XOXO by Axie Oh - 3 stars; PS #50 title starts with X
Cute enough story about a girl who falls for a K-Pop star. Way too many coincidences for me, and not really a favorite genre. I'll be reading the sequel for the K-Pop prompt.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson - 4 stars; PS #41 memoir exploring queerness
While this could have used some tighter editing, it was well worth reading about someone whose life experiences have been so different from my own white cis life.
Goodreads: 22/50
Popsugar: 17/50
QOTW: I get most of my new book information from Goodreads New Releases tab, the discussions in this group, plus some from Amazon and general internet.
A quick check-in for me (though I am just now seeing how long this is, so maybe it's not-so-quick after all?! 🤣)...I finished two books since the last check-in and found open prompts for both of them (woo-hoo!). I'm now at 16/45 and 2/5 for this challenge, and 49/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge (which includes a DNF title and the NetGalley Reading Journal that wasn't really a read).
Finished:
* Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby, which I used for "a book recommended by a librarian" (since it was a Read with Pride title curated by librarians for Libby). This is the third essay collection I've read by her and I'm officially a fan, though I do wonder if there is any place she isn't willing to go and offer her very unfiltered take on things. What can I say but I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!
* One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole, which I used for "a horror book by a BIPOC author." It was a NetGalley backlist title and I'm glad to check it off. I didn't like it as much as her previous thriller and probably would've DNFed it if it hadn't been a NetGalley title. It was an ambitious concept and I applaud the author for going for it. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it, or maybe it just wasn't for me. Other reviews I read after finishing it sounds like it landed better for others, so I'll chalk it up to timing.
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall, which is my latest Goodreads Giveaways win 🥳 It is a Kindle version, so I had instant gratification in receiving it;
* Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown; and,
* Real Life and Other Fictions written by Susan Coll and narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, which is one of my book clubs' picks for July. I started listening to it yesterday on my drive home from a short visit with my parents. It was a little unsettling listening to a book with a first chapter titled "The Incident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge" when your driving route involves driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (in the same direction of the fictional incident!). While my drive was incident-free (phew!), there had been a bad overnight accident that shut down the Bridge for a few hours that morning. I probably would've picked a different book if I'd realized the book opened on the same span of the Bay Bridge that I was heading towards, but switched to a podcast for the drive over and then was fine listening to it on the drive home.
QotW:
How do you learn about new books? So. Many. Ways! I...
* subscribe to a bunch of bookish newsletters (my public library, BookRiot, publishers, authors, NetGalley, indie bookstores);
* listen to a bunch of bookish podcasts (What Should I Read Next?, Read or Dead, The Red Hot Chili Writers, Crime Writers of Color, and Just the Right Podcast! are my primaries);
* listen to author interviews on non-bookish podcasts (mainly Fresh Air);
* get recommendations from my two book clubs;
* get recommendations from my Mom;
* get recommendations from bookish friends at work;
* read reviews in The Washington Post (Ron Charles is my go-to!) and New York Times;
* random emails from Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org, libro.fm, etc.;
* browse on Libby;
* attend the National Book Festival and conferences with author panels, like Malice Domestic;
* hear about new (or new-to-me) books in the PS discussion threads; and,
* follow authors and publishers on various social media platform.
How is it Thursday again already? We're having a bit of a heatwave over here, too, so I took some time today and went to the waterpark section of a local theme park (and rode some of the rides in the regular part, too). Summer Reading has official begun, though the programs don't start until next week.
Finished reading:
Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 9 and Vol. 10 - Things are getting heavy, and weird, and I am almost caught up with the English release OTL
The Honor of Your Presence - I like this trend of short stories published on their own (see also The English Understand Wool). That said, this one was just okay.
A Very Punchable Face - I read this because I saw it recommended in the reviews for The City We Became as a look at someone who actually grew up in Staten Island. And as someone who doesn't watch SNL or knew anything else this guy had done, I still found it pretty enjoyable, though the self-deprecating humor was a bit much at the beginning (it evens out later on). Also, I listened to the audio book, which was narrated by the author, and he had a tendency to kind of chuckle into the end of a word he was saying. It didn't happen a lot, but enough to be annoying. (Also also every time there was a relevant photo in the written version, he would make a joke about how you should buy a second copy to see it -_-)
Currently reading:
He Must Go Walk the Woods So Wild
Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City
Deephaven
Wandering Stars
QOTW: To begin with, I'm a librarian, so finding out about new books is just part of the job. But I've also ended up on *so* many publishers' mailing lists, that I almost don't have to do any work to find new books at all. I also subscribe to a few Book Riot mailing lists, but that's for my own reading pleasure ^_~
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Full Speed to a Crash Landing (other topics)Illuminae (other topics)
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Leap (other topics)
Mooncakes (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Paula Hawkins (other topics)Robert Goolrick (other topics)
Elle Cosimano (other topics)
Lee Smith (other topics)
Elle Kennedy (other topics)
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We are having a heat wave in NY again. AND It's a big day in my household. Tomorrow my youngest will graduate from high school!! It's been a long hard road for her, and I'm so proud of her for never giving up and I'm thrilled that she made it.
Admin stuff
We still have a mini poll open about whether we should change our name to match Popsugar's change.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
And the final poll for the group read of a book with pirates is here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2....
As always, we have no discussion leaders for our upcoming months, and we would like some. Let us know if you'd like to volunteer.
This week I finished 4 books and DNFed a few more.
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher - I chose this for my "cozy fantasy" and I think it fit perfectly (based on my murky understanding of the sub genre, at any rate) and the book was an absolute DELIGHT! I'd say I'm planning to read everything Kingfisher has published, but she's publishing so many books each year, I can't keep up. I'm going to try though!! I also checked off "author who goes by initials" in AtY.
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams - this was my first NetGalley book (it publishes next week) and I LOVED it. It's one of my favorites from Williams. No challenge category, but it counts towards my goal to read 50 books published in 2024.
Dog on It by Spencer Quinn - I adored this book!! thank you to those of you who recommended this for the "animal POV" category - I'd never heard of this series, I never would have found it without you, and I loved it, and I'll be reading more.
Thirsty Mermaids written & drawn by Kat Leyh - I did not enjoy this at all. It's not my kind of art, not my kind of humor, and there wasn't much of a story. I sort of skim-read it so fast that maybe I should be counting it as a DNF.
My DNF list is long this week. (Well, it's three books, which is a lot for me to DNF all in one week.) I was just not in the mood for dealing with books I did not like.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke - this was dreadful - she is sooooo judgy about everything, including (especially) working mothers, but also there's fat shaming and stay at home mom shaming as well as working mom shaming and it was all just UGH. This was going to be my book published in 2000, but I'm sure I can find something better.
Shame Is an Ocean I Swim Across poems by Mary Lambert & Hanging On Our Own Bones poems by Judy Grahn - I've been having bad luck with poetry lately and I'm no longer forcing myself to read it if I don't like it, and I didn't like either of these collections.
Popsugar 94% 47 /50
Must Reads 60% 6 /10
AtY 79% 41 /52
2024 pub 30% 15 /50
Question of the Week
How do you learn about new books?
I see this question asked now and then on various social media platforms, and it always stumps me, because how can you NOT know about new books?! My life is structured around learning about new books the way other people's lives are structured around following sports or politics or top 40 music. I'm constantly learning about new books. And maybe some of you have some handy methods I don't know about, that I should add to my arsenal!
I scan news outlets occasionally - this used to be my primary method, but now we have the Internet so I don't need NPR and NYT as much. (LOL in the REALLY old days I would just walk into a bookstore every chance I got and check their shelves to see if there was something new.) Every month I spend some happy time going through the lists Goodreads publishes of new books coming this month (and I always jump ahead to the next month and the next month and the next month until I run out of months). This is probably my primary method now. I also pay attention to all of you, and I occasionally just google my favorite authors to see if they've announced anything new coming in the pipeline.
And now I've got NetGalley to browse, too! But I mostly already know about the new book and I seek it out on NetGalley intentionally. (I currently have TEN books requested - am I going to be in trouble??? Every few days I add another book but it's been like two weeks since they approved or declined a request, so my request lists grooooows. I need to stop. I have stopped. But when are they going to approve me again???? Why does it take so long sometimes???)