Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 30: 7/19 - 7/25
Happy Thursday, everyone!The first half of this week was great! My best friend was in town through Monday evening before heading home, and we had a great time together.
The second half of the week has been less than stellar. I have once again upped the dosage on my antidepressant medication, and it is keeping me in an almost constant state of sleepiness. I know I’ll get used to it, but right now I feel almost incapable of getting things done.
I am really looking forward to the Olympic opening ceremonies tomorrow, and the games themselves. I’ve already been watching some of the rugby and soccer matches on Peacock, which has been fun. I’m really looking forward to the start of swimming and beach volleyball though.
While I haven’t gotten much done in the way of reading this week, I have enjoyed everything I’ve read.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 354/200 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 93/150
📚Physical TBR: 52
📱Ebook TBR: 41
🎧Audiobook TBR: 0
TBR Checklist Total: 93
While my friend was in town last week, we spent some time visiting some of my local used bookstores. Despite my plans to not go overboard with the book buying, I did pick up some new books, including: An Enchanting Case of Spirits, by Melissa Holtz; Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places, by Claire Kann; and Raiders of the Lost Heart, by Jo Segura.
Then my dad and I went to Barnes & Noble, and I picked up a couple more books, including The Man in the Brown Suit, by Agatha Christie; and Sphere, by Michael Crichton.
So much for finishing all of the books on my “New” Books list before the end of the month…
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 265
“New” Books Read in 2024: 239
“New” Books DNFed in 2024: 1
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~A Torch Against the Night — This is the second book in the Ember in the Ashes series. I am continuing to thoroughly enjoy this series! The characters are fantastic, and the story just keeps getting better. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Jane Austen at Home — I picked up a copy of this audiobook on Libby, and really enjoyed it. It was a very interesting look at Jane Austen’s life. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~The Shark Handbook: The Essential Guide for Understanding the Sharks of the World — I’m currently on the 8th chapter of this book, and I’m continuing to enjoy it. The information is really interesting. 📚
~A Reaper at the Gates — This is the third book in the Ember in the Ashes series. I started this book last night, so I’m only a few chapters in, but I’m already enjoying it. 📚
QOTW:
I have a really hard time choosing a favorite book for the whole year, especially since I’ve had so many 5-star reads this year. But if I absolutely had to choose one, I’d probably go with Emma, by Jane Austen.
Thanks for the link to authors' fave books! I have a challenge asking to read a fave author's fave book as a prompt! I'm going to read A Doll's House soon and it is one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's faves. I've already Little Women, Arabian Nights, Huck Finn and starting Catcher in the Rye w/o knowing they fit the prompt10 days to back to work grrrrr. So need to finish some reading up this week....
I finished 4 books:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson:
PS: Genre usually avoided (self-help)
ATY: N/A
52: N/A
Robot Librarian: book from the 100's (self help)
The Annotated Arabian Nights translated by Yasmine Seale:
PS: N/A
ATY: Touch of magic
52: N/A
Robot Librarian: Flower on the cover
Never Whistle At Night by Shane Hawk:
PS: BIPOC horror
ATY: Book related to night
52: N/A
Robot Librarian: Mythology other than Greek or Roman
Why We Love Baseball by Joe Posnanski:
PS: Travel destination (visit all 30 parks)
ATY: Related to land (played on land)
52: Picked without reading the blurb
Robot Librarian: 700's (sports/leisure)
Currently reading/hoping to finish before work starts:
-Born To Run
-Identity
-Consider the Fork
-The Iliad
-Anne of Green Gables
-the Mystery of the Blue Train
-Erasure
QOTW:
I can't do just one.
There, There by Tommy Orange
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Why We Love Baseball by Joe Posnanski
Happy Thursday!Finished:
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren - 4 stars - for a book with an enemies to lovers plot. This was very cute and sweet. I loved the best friend character, Fizzy, and am pleased to see she stars in the second book, which I will probably read soon.
Comics and manga:
Cinderella Closet Vol. 6
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 2
Tamon's B-Side, Vol. 2
I am currently at 44/50 prompts for Popsugar (39/45 and 5/5).
Currently reading:
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal - for a book written during NaNoWriMo. I'm enjoying it so far.
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 3 - still loving this series.
Upcoming/Planned:
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton - not currently for a prompt.
Dying with Her Cheer Pants On by Seanan McGuire - for a book about women's sports.
QOTW:
Although my top reads are likely to change again before the end of the year, my favorites of the year so far have been:
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - I did not expect to like this as much as I did. I found the poetry beautiful and powerful.
Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire - I loved returning to the world of Middlegame from yet another angle, and getting some more of some old favorite characters as well.
Happy Thursday! 2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 274 books so far this year (and 25.0% of my ever-growing TBR) with an average length of 336 pages and an average rating of 3.71.
52 Book Club: 45/52 (Summer Challenge 19/24)
ATY: 40/52 (Summer Challenge 28/36)
Booklist Queen: 45/52
Diverse Baseline: 21/36
Popsugar: 38/50
Robot Librarian: 45/52
ICYMI Backlist: 6/12
Recently Completed:
My Lady Jane: Well, that was so much fun! For more fun, watch the streaming series on Amazon Prime. I hope we get a Season 2! (52 Books Summer #3c – featuring witty banter/Robot Librarian #23 – adapted into a TV show or streamed series) ★★★★★
The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America ★★★
An Education in Malice: Thin adaptation of Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Read the original. (ATY #26 – author known by their initials) ★★★
Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture: NPR 2023 Books We Love. ★★★★
Rivers of London: Very “Dr. Who”-ish. (Not surprising… When I read the author’s bio I discovered that he wrote for Dr. Who years ago!) Fast paced and clever. I’m definitely going to read more in this series! Adventures Underground Book Club. (ATY August #4c – a book in a series) ★★★★★
A Short Walk Through a Wide World (ATY July #4c – an author’s first book) ★★★★
William Shakespeare's Get Thee Back to the Future! (Robot Librarian #19 – a play or screenplay) ★★★★
Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point (ATY #9 – fewer than 2024 ratings on Goodreads) ★★★★★
Brooklyn Crime Novel: NPR 2023 Books We Love. ★★★
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club (Robot Librarian #29 – a car, plane, train, motorcycle, or bicycle on the cover or in the title) ★★★
Lore Olympus: Volume Six ★★★★
Currently Reading:
Every Summer After (52 Books #22 – two books with similar plots: Book 1/Popsugar #43 – a second chance romance)
Weyward: NPR 2023 Books We Love. (ATY August #4a – multiple POVs/Booklist Queen #2 – a Goodreads Award winner)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (52 Books #16 – an omniscient narrator)
Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump (ATY #25 – involving a crime other than murder/Popsugar #36 – written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person)
The Girl in the Tower (52 Books Summer #4c – in a series with an uneven number of books/Robot Librarian #31 – a building on the cover or the word house, castle, tower, etc. in the title)
Love and Other Words (52 Books #23 – two books with similar plots: Book 2/ATY June #1b – written under a pen name)
The Broken Girls (ATY August #2a – a book you’ve been meaning to read/ICYMI #7 – published in 2018)
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1
Just Add Water: My Swimming Life (52 Books Summer #4c – related to going for gold)
Very Bad Company (ATY July #1a – author’s initials appear in CURVEBALL/Robot Librarian #29 - a car, plane, train, motorcycle, or bicycle on the cover or in the title)
The Villain Edit
QOTW: I have to pick one??? I think I’ll pick The Frozen River...
Historical Fiction: The Frozen River
Romance: Funny Story
Science Fiction: Annie Bot
Contemporary Fiction: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
Fantasy: My Lady Jane: The Not Entirely True Story
Mystery/Thriller: Listen for the Lie
Memoir: Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out
Literary Fiction: James
Poetry: Above Ground
Happy Thursday!We've had thunder and lightning for the last three nights and a sprinkling of rain. JUST enough to make it humid here. Normal humidity is around 15%. 34% humidity is a lot for swamp coolers to do their job right. Many people here have them instead of central air.
Thankfully, our house is central. So it actually cools down.
It's been fluctuating between the 100s and 90s for the last two weeks.
I've gone through my list of read books to update aty and ps. I was shocked at the list of aty i filled.
Light Novel:
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash (Light Novel) Vol. 7
Romance:
The Secret Virgin
Never Been Kissed: A Forbidden First Time Age Gap Short
The Boss’s Revenge
Her Three Bodyguards
Stranded With An Insatiable Shifter
Never Date the Boss
Temptation Next Door: Age Gap Older Man Younger Woman Story
Sarah and the Chef
Out on a Limb
Boss's Princess: A Dad's Best Friend Age Gap Short
Pastor's Princess: A Forbidden First Time Age Gap Short
Daddy's Virgin Valentine
Reading:
Forbidden Surrender: An age gap instalove romance
QOTW:
I will go with series.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Volume 1 Many of the 14 novels I read made me laugh out loud. I don't do that often.
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 1 This appeals because it's darker than what i normally read and the unhinged adversity against Penelope is mind boggling.
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash (Light Novel) Vol. 1 I like this series because we never get to see the character's before life and because it's cute.
I could go on, but I will say those three for now.
So... I'm starting to cut back on how much I read. I know, blasphemy...I have been pushing myself to finish four books a week -- for some reason that seemed to be an unalterable goal for me. But I'm starting to realize that it's okay to have other hobbies outside of reading, that reading isn't supposed to be a race, and that I can read at my own pace and not feel obligated to finish a book in a week. I'll still continue to read, just not as obsessively as before.
Books read this week:
Off to Be the Wizard -- fun premise (reality is just a computer program, and people with the knowledge to edit it are wizards), but drags in the middle. Still fun.
Without a Trace: 1881-1968 -- fascinating stories about various planes and aircraft that have gone missing without explanation. Might have to pick up volume 2, since this one only covers incidents up to the 1960s.
DNF:
Normal Rules Don't Apply: Stories -- this is reminding me why I don’t generally like modern short stories. The first two stories feel like they end just as they’re starting to get interesting, and read more like uninteresting character studies than anything else. I don’t see this improving as it goes on.
Currently reading:
The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook for Unapologetic Living
The Cold Moons
QOTW:
Favorite read this year so far would have to be Paladin's Faith. Hoping this series continues!
Wow - I came here thinking I'd have a ton of posts to go through as I just now remembered it is actually Thursday. Lynn - so glad you were otherwise absorbed! Frankly, I have too - after spending months avoiding the news. Definitely interesting times and great new energy. Personally I think it time to pull out my pink pussy hat and repurpose it. PS- 44/50! Getting there....
Finished - funny how when you have multiple books being read at more or less the same time, you finish them all more or less at the same time.
Uncommon Type
The Good Thief's Guide to Christmas - short story in series set in London with Charlie getting a gift for Victoria, his agent. There are even carol singers!
The Hobbit - I have DNF'd this so many times - just never could get past the trolls - and I'm a huge fan of LOTR having read it at least 3 times. But somehow I got it this time and enjoyed it, though not as much as LOTR. My copy was also a special 75th Anniversary edition with all the illustrations that I picked up at the amazing Bodleian Tolkien exhibit when it came to NYC. PS Prompt: recommended by a bookseller - one at the Astoria Book Shop in NYC.
Currently reading: I've got 3 all moving along at about the same pace - 2 are quite serious, one pure fluff.
Stoner
Black Boy Out of Time - for PS - Memoir of being queer
The Highland Dragon's Lady - yes this is the fluff and great fun.
QOTW: Fiction - All the Sinners Bleed and Nonfiction (which is unusual for me - I've read far more NF than normal this year) - The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper.
Hey everyone, hope you all are doing well. I'm still on the mend. Going on week 2 with the dreaded 'C' virus. Still dealing with a bad cough and other effects. Last time I had it like this it lasted 4 months so we'll see how long this goes. 5 of 7 of my family members have had it now so that's a total drag.
On a lighter note, crazy that the month is almost over! This month went by quick.
Still keeping up with school work so that's been nice to have something else to do.
******
Book News:
I doubt I'm going to read anything new by the month's end so here are my stats:
- 14 books read.
- 100% nonfiction.
- My top 3 genres were Education, Science, History.
- Of the 14 I read, these were my top 3:
The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean's Most Fearsome Predators
5-stars
This book really reminded me of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World. The shark book did not disappoint and I was floored by the science. It was done in a way that you could understand if you're not one for science or marine biology.
The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History
5-stars
Read this for a second time as I read it when it was released last year. Absolutely got more out of it this second go-around.
Fandom, Second Edition
4-stars
It was surprising that I placed this in my top 3 of the month, but it was enjoyable even if it was from a research perspective.
*****
Question of the Week:
What is your favorite read in 2024 thus far? Why?
Woah, what a question. It seems so simple and yet it's not. I found a template on Discord that breaks it down by month, kind of like you do with those NBA Draft brackets.
To answer this question, I'm gonna list them in order of my top 3.
1.)
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
- I tried reading this before, but it was too complex for me and I had a hard time understanding it. This year the movie adaptation, Origin, came out, and so I read the book after seeing the movie. That really helped. I was able to understand a lot of the concepts better and it made more sense.
2.)
LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority
- This book was surprising. I'm always trying to find books on Mexican/Latino/etc., culture and this one did not disappoint. It really gave a great history and background on Latino culture while not being a dry read.
3.)
The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean's Most Fearsome Predators
As I mentioned, this book reminded me of 'The Rise & Fall of the Dinosaurs'. It was along similar lines and written in a way that you could understand the science even if you're not good with science. It made the history of sharks very intriguing. I used to read shark books all the time as a kid, so I'm glad that this was the book that got me back into it.
Happy Thursday!I finished a book and want to know what is up with disappointing mystery/thriller books about writers. The Writing Retreat started out so well. It so accurately described the writing process that I was hooked before the murder happened. But the solution, although good, tipped its hat too early and it devolved into a survival story of trying to get away from the murderer.
The Mystery writer started off well. Good characters, an intriguing murder, but there weren't any good suspects. The conspiracy theory aspect I thought was dumb and then, also survival chapters.
I am so close to finishing so many books that I feel like next week could be a 3-4 book week, which never happens.
Finished:
The Mystery Writer
ATY prompt: A book with a chilling atmosphere
Popsugar prompt: A book about a writer
(I moved "The Writing Retreat" to "A book set in the snow")
Summer Prompt: A book about a writer, bookseller, or librarian
Series - 6/12
Nobel laureates - 4/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 7/13
ATY - 26/45
PS - 17/30
Summer - 7/12
Currently reading:
Heartfire - 95% done
The Birthday Girl - 75% done
Buddy Reads:
This Present Darkness - 90% done
Hollow City - 60% done
QOTW: That's a good question!
Probably The Darkest Road - it was the third book in a trilogy, but it ended well.
I also liked:
The Canterville Ghost (charming short story)
First Among Sequels
And about 1/2 of the mystery/thrillers I've read.
Mod
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal - for a book written during NaNoWriMo. I'm enjoying it so far."
Thank you so much for mentioning this! I had totally overlooked this book as a way to fulfill prompt #37! Whoo! Whoo!
Mod
I have a really hard time choosing a favorite book for the whole year, especially since I’ve had so many 5-star reads this year. But if I absolutely had to choose one, I’d probably go with Emma, by Jane Austen."
But at least you were able to name just one! Good for you!
Mod
Glad someone got some value from one of those lists!
We've gotten a reprieve from the heat these past few days, but the trade-off was some pretty gloomy weather. At least the olympics are finally starting! The genre-fication project is nearly over, with all the JF books that were on the shelves classified, even the ones that seemed to defy classification. Now we just need to catch all the returning books, and that will be that.
Finished:
Reynard's Tale: A Story of Love and Mischief - A quick, fun story. I mostly picked it up because I like the author's other work.
The Smurfs #11: The Smurf Olympics - I watched the cartoon growing up, but only had a couple of the comics, so it's a little surprising how different the two can be.
Crying in H Mart - I've been meaning to read this for years, and it being this month's discussion book finally gave me the incentive I needed. And it did not disappoint! Though now I really want some korean food....
Currently reading:
The Memory Thieves
He Must Go Walk the Woods So Wild
To Strip the Flesh
The Book of Love
QOTW: A hard choice to make, as I've read some pretty good books this year, but conversely I've also read some stinkers. But if I have to pick just one, I think I'll go with Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City.
Mod
I have been pushing myself to finish four books a week -- for some reason that seemed to be an unalterable goal for me. But I'm starting to realize that it's okay to have other hobbies outside of reading, that reading isn't supposed to be a race, and that I can read at my own pace and not feel obligated to finish a book in a week. I'll still continue to read, just not as obsessively as before"
Balance is a good thing!!
Mod
I'm just jealous you have one! 👍😁
Hi all! I've had a cough all month, I finally decided to get it checked out. Nothing really conclusive, so my doctor decided to try antibiotics. I don't feel sick, I just wish I could stop coughing!!Kiddo started swimming lessons this week. She seems terrified, but Mama is more terrified of her not knowing how to swim. She's only got to make it through next week.
She's going to my dad's this weekend for a sleepover with out of town cousins- we're ALL excited! ;)
I finished American Girl from audible. Really liked it! I couldn't figure out the mystery because (view spoiler) but I figured out parts of it. I used it for neurodivergent character. It would also work for unreliable narrator (and she's NOT unreliable because she has autism, she's unreliable because she chooses not to tell the reader-and other characters in the book- the truth she knows about the murder) or someone dies in the first chapter.
I haven't even made it out of the prologue of The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism. The wife of the author has already asked, "what the hell is wrong with people?" and I suspect that will be a recurring question in my mind as I read.
I just picked up The Frozen River for a buddy read, I plan to start it this weekend (when I have a quiet house!).
QOTW: My 3 five star books so far this year have been Schindler’s List, Proxy and The Woman in the White Kimono. Probably White Kimono would be my favorite of all of them. I really enjoyed how the author wove fact and fiction together so well.
Mod
Romance: Funny Story
Science Fiction: Annie Bot
Contemporary Fiction: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
Fantasy: My Lady Jane: The Not Entirely True Story
Mystery/Thriller: Listen for the Lie
Memoir: Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out
Literary Fiction: James
Poetry: Above Ground"
I love how you separated by genre!
Mod
Going on week 2 with the dreaded 'C' virus. Still dealing with a bad cough and other effects. Last time I had it like this it las..."
One of my fellow book club members is seriously ill with COVID right now. I'm thrilled you are on the mend!
Been reading to help hide from existential dread.I finished Cinderwichby Cherie Priest (PS15. A book recommended by a librarian). this came recced by everyone, librarians, friends, other authors. I enjoyed this southern gothic novella a lot.
I also finished Wintertide by Megan Sybil Baker (Linnea Sinclair) (PS 25. A book that was published 24 years ago). this was not what I had planned. I had a huge suspense book from Mom over 500 pages that I wasn't looking forward to. While I was digging around in the physical TBR pile for my many Native American books for another prompt, this literally fell off the shelf. I must have gotten it at a Florida renn fest since it's signed. It was a decent fantasy but kinda gross romance.
QOTW It is probably a tie between two of the cozy fantasy books I read this year. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree and A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R.K. Ashwick
Happy Thursday! It felt like I didn't get much time to read this week, but managed to finish the books I've been slowly reading for the last few weeks. None of them were for prompt though. Right now I'm at 37/50 for the challenge, which feels like a good place to be at.Has anyone been watching My Sweet Mobster on Viki? I'm enjoying it so much- I'm a few episodes behind, but I'm loving the cast!
Finished:
Motheater- read this through netgalley. It's a really interesting concept- witchcraft in Appalachian mining town, very interesting magic. But I wish the characters and their relationships had been fleshed out more. A little disappointing
-no prompt
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk- after a month, my loan finally came up again, so I could listen to the last two hours of the audiobook. I thought this was a really good memoir- manages to cover a lot of ground, but feels focused and authentic.
Bikini Kills is touring next month, and I'm trying to save money, but maybe...
-no prompt
Crying in H Mart- another really great memoir- this was really sad and affecting. I feel like I need to read a bunch of romcoms now
-no prompt
Currently reading:
Water Moon- another netgalley book, about a pawn shop that buys regrets. The concept is great, and I'm really enjoying it. But my download is up in 2 days, and I don't know if I can finish it in time...
QotW:
I've had a really good reading year this year, already more 5-stars than I normally have in a whole year. Maybe I'm just easier to please this year, but I'm having a good time. But that makes picking a favorite difficult. I think the one that's had the most lasting impact is Memorial, really loved the writing and was really moved by it.
But then there's my favorite memoir which was Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, favorite fantasy- A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, favorite graphic novel-Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam and favorite romance-Funny Story. I think...even those have a lot of competition!
ATY Summer Challenge: 11/12Finished: Guys! I finally finished Conscious Mind, Resonant Brain: How Each Brain Makes a Mind It took me three weeks to finish it. It usually takes me three DAYS to finish a book. At a whopping 640 pages, I can't say understood a lot of it. A lot of diagrams that didn't make any sense to me. But I just treated it as brain candy and let myself enjoy it.
Also finished The Cave and the Light: Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul For ATY Summer prompt: Vacation time: been meaning to read and set somewhere you would like to visit. I was glad I got this one. I thought it might not provide any new material since I've already read Plato and Aristotle. But it threads its way through their influence on subsequent intellectual movements. Very enjoyable.
[book:Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate This one way okay. It did get to some analysis of biblical verses for or against homosexuality, but it was too much memoir for me. I've just been reading too many memoirs lately...
We Should Have Seen It Coming: From Reagan to Trump--A Front-Row Seat to a Political Revolution This one was good too. Helped me respect some conservative leaders better. (Not Trump.)
And my docket is clean for the Dewey Readathon!!
QotW: I hope by this you mean favorite book I've read in 2024, not necessarily one that was PUBLISHED in 2024... I would have to go with If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers. I already wanted to start a letter-writing campaign, but this inspired me even more.
Kenya wrote: "But I'm starting to realize that it's okay to have other hobbies outside of reading, that reading isn't supposed to be a race, and that I can read at my own pace and not feel obligated to finish a book in a week. I'll still continue to read, just not as obsessively as before."Good for you, Kenya! This is something I need to work on as well.
Happy Thursday! I went to see the free Shakespeare show in Boston Common over the weekend. This year they did The Winter's Tale. I could definitely see why this was considered one of Shakespeare's "problem" plays. It's as if he wrote the first part as a tragedy and then decided half way through that it was getting too depressing. Let's just finish it out as a comedy! The actors and the production were amazing though. Finished:
Rememberings (PS autobiography woman in rock and roll) 3 stars. I'm not a big music follower so I was dreading this prompt. It was a bit meandering but it was interesting enough because Sinéad was an interesting person.
Currently reading:
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (ATY going for the gold)
Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop (PS K-pop)
It's One of Us (no prompt)
Upcoming:
Anxious People (PS 24 hours)
QOTW: My favorite fiction so far was Fourth Wing. My favorite nonfiction was The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder.
Erin wrote: "Water Moon- another netgalley book, about a pawn shop that buys regrets. The concept is great, and I'm really enjoying it. But my download is up in 2 days, and I don't know if I can finish it in time..."Depending on how you read your NetGalleys, there are ways to get more time, providing the book isn't archived already. The NetGalley app should have a renew button which will give you another 55 days, or if you use Digital Editions you can just download it again and it usually resets the timer (but you might lose your place). Send to Kindle ones never expire once they're on your Kindle.
Happy Friday! The weather is all over the place at the moment. The person that does blood draws at my GP isn't very good at getting blood out of me so I wanted to go to the local hospital. Thought I'd combine it with a litte outing, but no it absolutely poured down all of yesterday. Fortunately I could rebook, so I'll try again next week. Today, it's beautiful weather and once I've looked at all the non-existent job listings, I'm going to go sit outside and read.I finished watching My Lady Jane. It's so much fun, the supporting cast was brilliant, and the soundtrack excellent. Highly recommend if you have Amazon Prime. I understand the books are all about different historical figures, so not sure how they'll approach a second series, but they did end it in a way that you expect one.
I'm starting to feel like I want to reduce my Popsugar goal to 40. I'm having enough trouble concentrating on books I want to read, without forcing myself to read for some of the more difficult prompts.
Finished:
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson for about a writer and ATY (Australian author). I picked this up because I belatedly realised the book about mystery writers on a train is part of a series. This was fine to listen to while doing other things, but I didn't care much about the mystery. I'll probably still give the other book a chance, because the premise just sounds better.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center for published in a year ending in 24. Entertaining romance about a pair of scriptwriters fixing a romcom script, one hates romcoms, the other loves them. While the main character does abandon her carer duties for most of the book, it was actually nice to see a book show how much pressure being a carer can be on a person's life.
Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher for ATY (prompt that didn't make it - horse on cover). Not as fun as I was expecting it to be. For some reason the Merry Men are a militia who do no robbing from the rich to give to the poor. I mean that's the whole point of them. Instead they go round getting people killed, and kidnapping innocent healers, who for some unknown reason fall for their very grumpy kidnapper.
QOTW:
I've only given for books 5 stars so far this year, so that makes this a bit easier. I am going to pick Someone You Can Build a Nest In in by John Wiswell just because I've never seen anyone attempt a cosy horror before, and I loved the monster so much.
I’m still reading to finish up the 2023 challenge. I’m at 36/50 completed, and I have books picked out for most of the remaining prompts. It’s interesting how, even with months left and only 14 books to go, I’m still leaving the re-reading prompts for last. I used to re-read books all the time, but now it’s just a few series I want to re-read every couple of years.Finished
You Should Be So Lucky. Remember how I whined and complained about not being able to find books set in 1960? Now that I’m finished with the 2024 challenge, naturally, I stumbled upon one. This was a really good queer, historical, serious romance. The author took “slow burn” seriously, but it was hard to put down anyway.
Kali's Wrath. This was a good Stargate story. The pacing and action/adventure were great, and I liked learning more about a Goa’uld we didn’t hear much about in the show. I liked having so many favorite characters, like Jacob and Bra’tac, a part of the action. I think Jack’s voice sounded off though.
Empire of Ivory. This book was so good! I’ve had mixed feelings about this series as I’ve been reading. I didn’t care for the second book, but I’ve decided that was just an unusual low point because I liked the third book and loved this one. There was a lot more in this book about how the presence of dragons impacted colonialism and the slave trade, which I’d been hoping for ever since Laurence mentioned Mayans in an earlier book.
Reading
What the River Knows
Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories
QOTW
It’s so hard to choose one book! I have a lot of 5-star books this year too. Since I have to choose, I think I’ll go with In an Absent Dream.
Finished (2 week check-in):Children of the Storm (4/5, reread)
The Eye of Darkness (3/5)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (3/5)
Unworthy (4/5, reread)
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (4/5)
Currently Reading:
Over a Torrent Sea (reread)
Escape from Valo
The Heiress Effect
The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia
It's great to see someone else enjoying William Shakespeare's Get Thee Back to the Future!. My son just saw the first two movies last week, and it's fun to revisit that universe.
Question of the Week:
Full Circle (for a reread)
Marvel Year By Year A Visual History New Edition (for a first time read)
I don't have a 2024 book to recommend yet.
Happy Friday, y’all. Well, all my dog sitting duties are done. My friend has had her knee surgery and is home, recovering. And, as dog friendly as I am, I find that I am not at the point in my life where I want a dog to care for. I am enjoying being free of care duties and focusing on my own growth and development.
I didn’t read a lot this week, especially if you take into account that two of the three books I read were graphic novels. However, I did make a start in Walden even if it took all week to get through that long first chapter.
I have been trying to get a top dressing done on my yard since last year. It was scheduled to be done then, and, somehow I dropped the nagging ball, and it never happened. This year I checked on my position upon my return from Scotland (end of May) and was told I was #1 for June. Do I need to tell you that it didn’t happen? In the meantime my yard is looking more and more like a sandpit.
So, after July 4th and my trip to TN, I called, and it got done Tuesday…only to have the storm of the century come through. Most of the soil is still in place…most of it. It did rain again last night but seems to have been a gentle rain. I am hoping that the seed in the soil will germinate quickly and root the soil in place. And that no more hard storms come through until that happens. Otherwise my $1K investment will be washed away!
Finished:
Black Powder War – ATY #29, PS #23 (dragons). 4*. It’s been a long while since I last read one of the Temeraire books, so it took me awhile to figure out where in the story this book was picking up. Still, I did enjoy the story.
Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood – PAS. GN. 3*. Another book that I had to figure out what had happened before in order to know where the story was picking up. It was OK. I may try another volume, but I am not in love with the story line.
Adulthood Is a Myth – PAS. GN. 2.5*. Too simple for me. Some right on parts comparing early life with current life, but overall I think the author missed it for me.
Ghost Roast - No challenge. GN. 4*. The story centers on a young woman who is punished by having to help her embarrassing father with his business for the summer. Fun story with some romance and paranormal elements.
Fatality in F– Audiobook. No challenge. 4*. Continuation of a series.
Currently Reading:
The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin – Kindle. ALCM. 35%. Nonfiction. My goal this next week was to get this one to 51%. Didn’t achieve. Same goal for next week.
Walden – PAS. 30%.
The Cartographers – PAS. 50%
Love & Gelato – ATY #30. 52%
Hourglass – PAS. 28%
On Deck:
A Dangerous Place - ALCM
A Tale of the Secret Saint (Light Novel) Vol. 1
PS 26/50
ATY 29/52
GR 117/200
QotW: Favorite Books this year?
I seldom give 5*. Yet this year, I seem to be more liberal or more books are impacting my life.
Memoir:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe
Tears of the Silenced: An Amish True Crime Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal Betrayal, and Ultimate Survival
Fiction:
The Friday Night Knitting Club
Once There Were Wolves
Poetry:
Milk and Honey
Happy Friday!Finished
The Master of Go Brought this book as it was small for a quick plane read when I went for a weekend trip last weekend. Did not fulfil the requirement as I still found it a bit of a slog and it took me most of the weekend. I think I just needed so much more context - about Go, and about Japanese culture. No prompt.
Small Game Had a lot of fun with this, though the ending was definitely rushed - but I figure the fact that it made me want more was a good sign. Decided to use it for the female athlete prompt as she's a dog sled racer and has done the Iditarod.
Death at La Fenice Intriguing enough although the cover blurb was about how many suspects there could be, and, not really - there were a lot of people who disliked the deceased, but not that many who hated him enough / had the opportunity to murder. I also called part of the result based on a line, and I'm not sure if it was intended to be a clue or not (view spoiler) Oh man, I was planning to say no prompt, but I realized I should double check if the death happened in chapter one!
Red Rising So my goodreads review described it as the boy-iest book I ever read, and I stand by that, even though I enjoyed it for what it was. I do think of YA as a largely female-directed genre, and this just felt so much like someone looking at that and saying "lets get boys in on it too!" Which is fine - great, even to get more readers. There were a lot of things I disliked or questioned (view spoiler), but still got caught up in it overall. I wasn't that intrigued by what seems to be coming next, but I did request the second book from the library. Used for ATY's "Going for the Gold" prompt.
Celestia I sorted my TBR by rating the other day, to see if I could cull anything from the bottom. Even though this was fairly low, something about it intrigued me enough that I requested it from the library. Well, the rating was accurate. I loved the art, and some of the bones of the story, but it was so hard in places to follow what was happening panel to panel, and the ending really came out of nowhere. No prompt.
Currently Reading
The Big Book of Modern Fantasy
A Fine Balance
Love, Clancy: Diary of a Good Dog
QotW
So interestingly, I had some higher rated books along the way, but going with what sticks out in my mind now.
Fiction: Some Desperate Glory
Non-fiction: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World
Poetry: The Poet X
Mod
Good lord I forgot how awkward it is to use GR on my phone. The app is hopeless, so I’m using the browser mode, which is awkward and clunky on my phone. Ugh!!!
I like to track the genres that I read each year, and I always hope that the four main genres for me (lit fic or gen fic, romance, SFF, and mystery/thriller) will be about even, but each year one or two genres pull ahead and dominate. But not this year! By complete coincidence, I have read an almost equal number from each of my four main genres! Lit fic is in a slight lead right now, but the other three are right behind it, with 21 books, 20 books, 18 books, and 18 books read from each, respectively.
This week I finished 3 books, 1 for this Challenge.
Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger - this was the last book in the Parasol Protectorate series, and I'm so sad to be finished with it, but so happy to know I've still got three more series left to read in this world! I checked off "character in education" in AtY, since this book takes place within a spy school.
The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi - I loved the first novella in this series, and this one is getting rave reviews, but it confused me and I felt stupid. I have no idea what really happened in this book. Maybe I should have re-read the first book to refresh my memory first. Maybe I’m just an idiot because I don’t get it.
Not a Sound by Heather Gudenkauf - this was my "hard of hearing author" book for Popsugar, it's a murder mystery with a profoundly deaf protagonist. I liked the twist of the protagonist being deaf, and I loved her service dog, but the book itself was very so-so. (Only one more book left for my Popsugar challenge!)
Popsugar 98% 49 /50
Must Reads 60% 6 /10
AtY 94% 49 /52
2024 pub 52% 26 /50
NetGalley ratio 50%
I have had two NetGalley books declined (not a big surprise there as they'd already been published, and I've noticed if the publication date passes, the publisher generally declines any remaining requests, eventually), and two more approved. I've now got NINE books waiting for me to read, three of them to release on Aug 6th (includingA Sorceress Comes to Call, which I am currently reading and loving and will finish in another day or two) so I better get moving!! But that's IT. I haven't requested any more in a while so now I can just make good positive progress reading what I've got. No more Sisyphus, just successful mountain climbing.
NATURALLY I just woke up to an email telling me I’m pre-approved to download yet ANOTHER NetGalley book. Noooo!!! Let me catch up first!!!!
QotW
Funny you should ask when I’m away from home!! I track my best book of the month/quarter/half/year in my spreadsheet, but I can’t access that right now to check.
I believe the answer is:
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
Closely followed by: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I also got fired up by the NYT list of the 100 Best Books of this Century (so far), I disagreed with it strongly (both the judge's list and the reader's list) so I decided to make my own list. Basically, I added all my five star reads that have been published this century, including fiction & nonfiction but excluding tween & YA books, picture books, graphic novels,and short stories, eliminated multiple books from the same author (this was hard!), and then kept deleting books from the shelf until I got down to 100. It's hardly definitive, but it made me feel better. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Perhaps ironically, Gift of Rain does not show up on my Best of the Century list, due to my “no multiples from the same author” rule, it got bumped byThe Garden of Evening Mists. Margo is on there though! (I have not read anything else by Thorpe …. YET! I will definitely be reading her entire back catalog!!)
Mod
… My Lady Jane
: ..."
OMG we are watching this and LOVING it on Prime right now!!! We have three episodes left. It’s funny, I watched it one night just as a lark, out of curiosity, since I knew it was based on a book (which I have not read), and my kids were annoyed until they both got sucked into the story. Now we all love it and hope for a S2.
I haven’t read the books. Do the characters from book 1 show up in book2?
Mod
We've had thunder and lightning for the last three nights and a sprinkling of rain. JUST enough to make it humid here. Normal humidity is around 15%. 34% humidity is a lot for swam..."
Wow!! A “low humidity” day (imo) where I live is anything under 70%!
Mod
LOL yes why does it work that way so often????
I really loved All the Sinners, too.
Nadine in NY wrote: "I am visiting my mother for two & a half weeks, and hopefully I will have lots of beach reading time here! My dogs are very upset because my mom isn’t here yet, they keep looking for her. She is a ..."This makes me so happy every time I see you talk about it, Nadine. The Gift of Rain is one of my favorite books.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Finished - funny how when you have multiple books being read at more or less the same time, you finish them all more or less at the same time..."LOL yes why does it work that way..."
I also loved All the Sinners Bleed.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!We've had thunder and lightning for the last three nights and a sprinkling of rain. JUST enough to make it humid here. Normal humidity is around 15%. 34% humidity is ..."
Desert life at it's best. You have to moisturize multiple times a day or get sand-papery skin that cracks or looks like it comes from an alligator.
Mod
I’ve been wondering about that!!! I wondered if my NetGalley kindle books would go “poof!” after a certain date. So, no?
Happy Friday! It is finally a gorgeous day here in New York. I stepped into the back yard this morning and it was refreshing. I haven't used that word in weeks.Work has been insane. My hospital purchased a new medical record system. This is about as big a deal as one can imagine for a hospital. It's not going live until February, but we have already been preparing for all of 2024. I can't imagine what January is going to be like if it's so hectic now. As a result, I am not reading nearly as much.
Finished:
XOXO for book beginning with X. It was cute. I've only read 2 YA books this year.
A Visit from the Goon Squad I had to scramble to read this for book club on Monday. I was into this book until it all of a sudden got dystopian. I don't mind dystopian lit fic, I loved Station Eleven. I guess I just prefer when the whole book is like that, not when it all of a sudden becomes so 80% into the book from out of nowhere.
Currently reading:
Kolyma Stories
Same Bed Different Dreams
The Hunter on audio
QOTW:
I am really going to stick to just one, so I have to pick The Night Circus. Somehow I have avoided reading this book everyone has read until this year.
Ellie wrote: "Erin wrote: "Water Moon- another netgalley book, about a pawn shop that buys regrets. The concept is great, and I'm really enjoying it. But my download is up in 2 days, and I don't know if I can fi..."Ok perfect- I just started using the app, so I'm still figuring it out. Thanks!
Nadine in NY wrote: "OMG we are watching this and LOVING it on Prime right now!!! We have three episodes left. It’s funny, I watched it one night just as a lark, out of curiosity, since I knew it was based on a book (which I have not read), and my kids were annoyed until they both got sucked into the story. Now we all love it and hope for a S2. I haven’t read the books. Do the characters from book 1 show up in book2?"The Prime series and the book don't align exactly at the end, so there's plenty of room for a S2. There are a lot of changes actually, but that didn't mess with my enjoyment of either the book or the streaming series.
I haven't read anything else in the series, but I think the characters are totally new each time. Book 2 is My Plain Jane based on Jane Eyre. I'm certain I'll read it soon. Jane Eyre is my favorite book!
I finished another book: Heartfire
ATY prompt: A book with a single word title
Popsugar prompt: A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary
Summer Prompt: Author's initials can be found in BLOCKBUSTER FILM (OSC)
ATY - 27/45
PS - 18/30
Summer - 8/12
I thought since I was starting vacation and since I'm almost done all the books I'm reading, that I should get another book from the library. I had put my name on the list for the new Lucy Foley book before it was even purchased. Of course, it is my turn. So, now I have TWO new books to start, plus everything I'm finishing.
Much like the weather here, it never rains unless it pours.
Happy check-in! I was looking forward to the Olympic soccer... Now it's an embarrassing mess. I guess I'll just have to read. ;)Finished Reading:
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This graphic novel was a great surprise. Set in India, we follow Death as she is fired from godhood and sent to Earth as a human.
The Darkness Within Us ⭐⭐⭐
Mindless ya fantasy sequel.
So This is Love ⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to the QOTW last check-in I went through my Cinderella shelf and picked one to read. It was cute, but a retelling of the movie without Gus Gus was not quite right.
The Cull Volume 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gorgeous gorgeous artwork in this sci-fi graphic novel. A bunch of teenagers go out late at night to film a movie and discover something. :)
Nothing But Blackened Teeth ⭐⭐ (ATY chilling)
I listened to the audio and it was well narrated. It was fairly creepy but it was a confusing and quick ending.
PS 40/50
ATY 47/52
ATY Summer 29/36
Diverse Baseline 27/36
Goodreads 176/250
Currently Reading:
Tangled Up in You
QOTW:
Out of my 176 books reads 55 were 5 star reads. Though there are two that really jump out at me: Homegoing and A Fate Inked in Blood.
Well, it's been 3 weeks since I last checked in, sorry.Stats
PS: 38/50
ATY: 44/52
ATY Rejects: 16/25
ATY Rewind: 21/25
DBC: 28/36
GR Choice: 19/30
TBR: 10/10🥳
Books I Finished
The Kamogawa Food Detectives ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATY Rewind: A book with a title beginning with the 1st letter of your name.
This was a cozy mystery I actually liked! I mean, it went a bit too heavy on the food descriptions, but otherwise it was lovely.
The Summer Escape ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book that came out in a year that ends with "24". (2024)
I had a very negative reaction to the first chapter, so I put it to the side. When I finally came back, I couldn't figure out what my problem had been. It was a nice solid Shalvis romance.
The Fox Maidens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATY: A book published in 2024.
The artwork was gorgeous, but the pacing was off.
Xeni ⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book that starts with the letter "X".
This was a marriage of convenience romance, so I was bound to enjoy it, even if it was a bit more explicit than I usually prefer.
Seasonal Fears ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tidal Creatures ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved Tidal Creatures so much, I had to reread the series, which meant rereading Tidal Creatures less than a month after I read it the first time.
Carrie Soto Is Back ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book about women's sports and/or by a woman athlete.
My sister has been after me to read a TJR book for a while now and I'm so glad I finally did. I now know what all the hype is for, and I agree.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book with 24 letters in the title. (It doesn't say it has to be EXACTLY 24)
So it mad me cry, but it was so sweet.
Ghost Roast ⭐⭐⭐
ATY Rewind: A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name.
I was hoping for a teen Ghostbusters, but it couldn't quite commit to a single story and ended up dragging.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book set in space.
I meant to read this with the group in June, but my library hold didn't come in till this week. I loved it. It reminded me of a good scifi TV show.
Clockwork Boys ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: A book written during NaNoWriMo.
So Kingfisher has been hit or miss for me (I always enjoy her writing, even if the story isn't my cup of tea) but this might be my favorite of all.
DNF
The Library of the Dead I wanted to like this, but I just wasn't enjoying it at all.
In Progress:
Twilight Territory
Twilight
The Wonder Engine
QotW
I usually can't narrow it down to just 1 best book of the month, let alone year. At best I can give you my top 5, in no particular order:
Six Scorched Roses
Me: Moth
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
Clockwork Boys
Before We Say Goodbye
Nadine in NY wrote: "I’ve been wondering about that!!! I wondered if my NetGalley kindle books would go “poof!” after a certain date. So, no?..."I have never had one go poof, I don't think the way they get sent handles DRM at all.
My TBR is set for August:The Apache Wars: The Hunt for Geronimo, the Apache Kid, and the Captive Boy Who Started the Longest War in American History
Habsburgs on the Rio Grande: The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire
Why Do I Have to Read This?
I Read It, but I Don't Get It
Poetry Pauses: Teaching With Poems to Elevate Student Writing in All Genres
Building Critical Literacy and Empathy with Graphic Novels
Happy Saturday! Bit late, yesterday was a busy day. I survived the hot and moisty weekend. I was a bit lost this week because of no Tour de France and the Olympics still having to start. I missed the opening yesterday, so I’m going to rewatch it today. And then enjoying the sports.
PS: 17/50
FNL: 30/40
Total: 41/52
Finished
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte⭐⭐⭐⭐
A pleasant surprise. I avoid books on bones and fossiles and stuff like that. B O R I N G. Steve Brusatte tells about fossiles and bones and it was so interesting!
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS #3
I just love Quinn’s books. Especially when you read about her research at the end.
Currently reading
Duidelijkheid by Tom-Jan Meeus
The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
QOTW
I enjoyed both Kate Quinn books best this year, think The Rose Code was a bit more absorbing.
Harmke wrote:Finished
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte⭐⭐⭐⭐
A pleasant surprise. I avoid books on bones and fossiles and stuff like that. B O R I N G. Steve Brusatte tells about fossiles and bones and it was so interesting!
This one is on my reading list. I read his other book, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World which was incredible!
Mod
I’ve got an audiobook in progress and one more ready and waiting to go, so maybe after that ….
I'm sure you both will like this one, Ron and Nadine. Brussate's writing is great, he's such a great storyteller.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive (other topics)Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond (other topics)
The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries (other topics)
True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between (other topics)
I Let You Go (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nicola Barber (other topics)Stacy T. Sims (other topics)
Steven Crossley (other topics)
Stephanie Land (other topics)
Lori Gottlieb (other topics)
More...
I attended an author event with Meg Shaffer and Andrew Shaffer at my favorite local used bookstore on Sunday and all I can say is, “WOW!!” If you ever get a chance to attend an event with both of them, do yourself a favor and just go! I had read and enjoyed Hope Never Dies and Hope Rides Again in 2018 and 2020 respectively. But now that I have read Feel the Bern, that book is now my favorite of the three! Our book club discussed Meg’s The Wishing Game. All of us enjoyed it and had much to say regarding the characters we most connected with, etc. One member stated that some reviewers were doubtful of Lucy’s devotion to Christopher and her wish to be his adoptive (or even just foster) mother! WTH?!? None of us understood that interpretation, but each reader has their own unique take on any one book! Having just begun The Lost Story at the time on Sunday, all I could say was that it certainly started off with a bang in the Prologue! I honestly don’t know how long the Shaffers spoke to us and then answered questions, etc., but it seemed like only 10 minutes and I think we all would have happily stayed another 30 minutes to an hour beyond the event’s ending! So very glad I took advantage of this opportunity!
Here is a listing of 18 recent and upcoming titles of books to read during this South Asian Heritage month which began July 18! These books are by and/or about people with roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
https://harperstacks.com/blogs/blog/s...
Book Riot’s “Which Queer Book Should I Read Next?” listing:
https://bookriot.com/?p=573481
26 Favorite Authors’ Favorite Books:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainme...
I am always up for learning what authors are reading!
Kids’ Book with Cats:
https://twitter.com/BookRiot/status/1...
ADMIN STUFF:
THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson!!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #6 A book about pirates. Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19! John Baur and Mark Summers created this international day in 1995.
One of you must be the ”vivacious volunteer” needed to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or myself to secure your spot!! Having never read this classic, I'm pumped to do so this year!
THE OCTOBER MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #8 A book written by a blind or visually impaired author.
October is White Cane Awareness Month! White Cane Awareness Day is October 15!
The two top vote-getters are:
The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1)
From Blood and Ash
VOTE FOR ONE OF THESE HERE!! This poll is only available through Tuesday, July 30!
THE AUGUST MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon #1) by Kay O'Neill!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #23 A book that features dragons. National Lizard Day is August 14! And who might be the "official organizer" willing to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! My copy arrived and I somehow missed that this is actually a graphic novel! Very cute illustrations, etc.!
THE JULY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner!! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #44 An autobiography written by a woman in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Erin is the “savvy superstar” who has graciously volunteered to lead July’s group read!! Thank you for the interesting questions you've already posted, Erin! 😊 Join the discussion HERE! I had no expectations, but really enjoyed this book, as well as Zauner's writing style!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
What is your favorite read in 2024 thus far? Why?
I can’t believe I am asking this question! You all know how difficult it is for me to select just ONE book!!
Honestly, as I scroll through my list of books read this year, there are only one in every 3-4 books that I simply could NOT justify as a “best of” pick!
But I will simply state that the two books I am currently focusing on finishing, *The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer and *Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey are bound to be favorites for me when I finish them!!
I know the rest of you are much better at this than me, so let’s hear your favorite(s)! 😊
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 33/50
Around the Year (AtY): 50/52
Read Harder: 16/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
FINISHED:
*The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐for an IRL book club meeting this Sunday was amazing, IMO! A would classify this as a “modern-day fairy tale”! I has a feel-good ending and just so much love, trepidation, and poignancy!! We had an amazing turnout for book club and everyone agreed they truly enjoyed this book!
POPSUGAR: #2, #11-Romance, #14, #35, #17, #23
ATY: #3-A book about or featuring a landmark, #24-Orange, Green, Purple, #27, #28, #33, #36, #44, #49
RHC: #20, #24-2017: prompt #3 A book about books
52 Book Club: #4, #5, #9, #14, #24, #30, #31, #43
*Feel the Bern by Andrew Shaffer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐for an author event this Sunday. I enjoyed this a bit more than I did the Obama/Biden mystery books. Perhaps because I feel as if I don’t “know” Bernie Sanders nearly as well as I “know” Obama and Biden? I connected with the humor in this book so very well! It was very enjoyable! And especially now that I “know” the author! Well, have met him in person at least!!
POPSUGAR: #2
ATY: #3-A book related to X marks the spot, #9-1,876 ratings, #17, #23, #24-Orange and Green, #27, #28, #29, #31-Doc’s “golden” maple syrup, #33, #34-Doc, #37. #40-Champ, #48, #49, #52
RHC: #14, #16, #23, #24-2015: prompt #6 A book written by a person whose gender is different from your own
52 Book Club: #9, #30, #32, #43
CONTINUING:
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer for an author event this Sunday
*Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking has me thinking so very much that I have delayed reviewing it until I can finalize my thoughts…
*The Birthing House by Kathy Taylor
*All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely starts with a bang! Just as I would expect!
*Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey for the July meeting of the IRL book club I facilitate Oh, my! This book is sooooo good!!
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*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