Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 40: 9/26 - 10/3
date
newest »
newest »
Happy Thursday!Only one more week of my film class to go! I'm on the home stretch! Still have two more classes, but at least this'll mark the halfway point of the semester.
Also, bought tickets to see Weird Al in concert next summer. I've seen him in concert before, but that was a smaller show where he mostly performed some of his lesser-known songs. I'm looking forward to one of his big shows.
Books read this week:
The Cat Who Went to Paris - non-fiction book about a writer and his pet cat who goes everywhere with him, even overseas. The cat was adorable… the writer was an obnoxious neurotic who I was thoroughly tired of by the end of the book.
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird -- weird and unsettling collection of short stories by the author of Tender is the Flesh. Good start to “spooky season.”
The Serpent's Fury -- another fun read in the “Royal Guide to Monster Slaying” books. I’m enjoying this series quite a bit!
DNF:
Alien Clay -- I loved Children of Time, so I was so excited to see the author had written a new book. But I wanted the freaking aliens, not having it hammered in how terrible the dystopian government is over and over and over…
Currently reading:
3 mph: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World
Phoenix Without Ashes
The Final Trial
The Old Woman with the Knife
QOTW:
Either Schmendrick the Magician from The Last Unicorn or Mark Watney from The Martian. Both of those would be fun characters to talk to, albeit for different reasons.
I got lucky. My power was only out three days and the water was under my apartment not in it (OH got off lightly in comparison) I did manged to finish a few things though. Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney was a netgalley arc I finished. It was a fun mystery. Speaking of netgalley I was nearly caught up and then they had two more YA horrors, one a sequel to one I read last year and since they were both read nows....
I also finished a lot of graphic novels
Night Club, Vol. 1by Mark Millar a new take on the vampire trope. It was good
Boston Metaphysical Society Vol. 1 by Madeleine Holly-Rosing an alt history/steampunk paranormal that I enjoyed except for one character
A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll a gothic horror that I enjoyed.
QOTW
This is so hard because there are so many, Nancy Drew, Hercule Poirot, Legolas, Sebastian St Cyr, Harry Dresden, Dr. Watson, Carrie, Roy Mustang, Cho Hakkai just to name a few
Happy Thursday!First week back to work since my vacation and I'm so tired....
Finished:
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - 4 stars - for Robot Librarian's book set in Africa. It mostly just made me sad and angry for Vivek.
The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning - 3 stars - no prompt. After Vivek, I needed something fluffy. Two teenage sisters are hired to pose as a woman's granddaughters for a party, and wind up in a locked room murder mystery with magic and a bunch of witchy teens and their parents/grandparents. Except it's pretty obvious from the start whodunnit. It's also very YA in feeling, complete with instalove.
Comics/manga:
Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 2
Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 3
Chihayafuru, Vol. 8
Chihayafuru, Vol. 9
Currently reading:
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo - no prompt. I'm just starting this today. So far, it's interesting.
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 9 by Natsu Hyuuga - no prompt. Things are getting crazy.
Upcoming/Planned:
Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro - no prompt. Looking forward to some fun middle grade for spooky season.
QOTW:
I never have a good answer for this question, because there's just so many favorite characters I think it would be fun to sit down and talk with.
Hello from a sunny and warm Columbus, I guess Ohio is just desperately clinging to summer this year. Nothing to really add this week, I’m kind of stressing about how full my weekends are this month and how it’s impacting my schedule at work. Like I want to do fun family fall activities but now I have no where to book certain clients lol.Finished:
A WEBTOON manga/comic called Where Tangents Meet by an artist going by instantmiso. This was for a read harder prompt, I had previous read another instantmiso comic called Siren’s Lament. She has a really beautiful artistic style, in fact my phone’s backgrounds have been screenshots of scenery panels from that series. WTM was a pretty short and simple story about an unlikely couple overcoming social hurdles. Nothing groundbreaking but it was fun.
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies for a book with a 42 year old character. This book was fun! I liked it a lot more than I anticipated. As someone in her late 30s, it made me giggle a bit how 42 years made a woman an old hag, an old maid, beyond her prime, a lost cause. I really enjoyed these characters and their desire to bring justice to women who don’t receive it from society. I’ll eagerly read the second book when it’s released.
Currently Reading:
Starry Eyes
House of Leaves
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Challenges:
Popsugar - 29/45; 3/5
Read Harder - 16/24
Classics - 9/12
European Tour - 9/10
12 Friends - 12/12
Yearly Goal - 124/150
QOTW:
Off the top of my head, Blue from Special Topics in Calamity Physics and most of the characters from Night Film. Blue especially because when the book was released, she was the same age as me so I’d wonder how things went for her and how life is now that she’s in her late 30s. Same with Ruby from The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver. I think about the characters I related to as a teen, I always want to ask the authors if they think about their teen characters as adults living adult lives.
Got sucked into playing Tiny Glade this week. It's such a relaxing game with no goals other than to make a little scene and I love it. I also got through to the second stage of interviewing for a job, so fingers crossed.So that means I only read one book:
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy. This took far too long to get going and one of the characters just wasn't that well developed because they barely said anything to the first person narrator. Once they got into the forest, I liked all the monsters.
QOTW:
I think I have to steal Nadine's answer! I loved Miles, but generally I don't want to meet characters. Maybe their pets...
Purchased TBR: 23/33Library TBR: 0/10
Read: Transgender Justice in Schools
The Windeby Puzzle
The Museum of Human History I bought a bunch of fiction because I had specific interests that weren't readily available. But what I'm learning is that I prefer non-fiction.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
The Extraordinaries
Don't Go Back to School: A Handbook for Learning Anything
Started: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain Doing this as part of Scott Young's Foundation Class. I'm regretting joining.
QotW: Stargirl
Mod
Yes!! Meeting with dogs would be a different story entirely! I want to meet All the Dogs
It's been a pretty quiet week over here, which was good for getting caught up on some projects at work. I've also been trying to catch up on my yarn projects, but everything seems to take longer than I think they should.Finished:
The Golden Frog Games - (RH a middle grade book with an LGBTQIA main character) Unlike the first book, I didn't remember a lot of the details of this one, so I didn't get as much out of the reread, but it was still an enjoyable read. The audiobook had the same narrator, and I continue to be unimpressed with their performance, especially when she gave bears high-pitched voices! I'll be going back to the print version for the third book, even though that means I have to wait a little longer to get my hands on it.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 14 - Finally finished this series. The ending was a smidge anticlimactic, but that might just be my reluctance for it to be over.
The Night Circus - (A book written during Nanowrimo) I really don't understand all the hype around this book. It was okay, but I realized about halfway through that I didn't really care about any of the characters, and I probably wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't been reading it for the challenge. Listening to the audiobook read by Jim Dale helped, but only a little. I really wanted the book to stick the landing, but sadly it did not.
The Book of Delights: Essays - (A book with a main character who's 42) I'll be honest, I skimmed the last 30 or so pages. Maybe half a year would have been better.
Currently reading:
How to Survive a Killer Musical: Agony and Ecstasy on the Road to Broadway
Thunder Song: Essays
My Picture Diary
Odd Blood
QOTW: None are coming to mind.
I would like to speak with any character in the know from the book The Secret Keeper because I was left with a couple of burning questions that i would like answered.
Since I have a free moment, I'm checking in a little earlier than I normally do. Keeping everyone who's still dealing with Helene's aftermath in my thoughts.I haven't finished anything since last week but should finish at least one of my in progress books up over the weekend. I don't know that any of them work for any of my open prompts, but maybe I'll luck out. I'm at 21/45 and 2/5 for this challenge, and 71/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.
Finished:
* nada
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, which is my latest Goodreads Giveaways win;
* Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke, which is one of my book clubs' picks for October. I'm doing a lot of skimming, so we'll see how this discussion goes; and,
* A Dream in the Dark written by Robert Justice and narrated by J. D. Jackson, which I pre-ordered because I loved the first book in the series (also narrated by J.D. Jackson!) and have been eagerly awaiting book two. Really enjoying it so far and looking forward to listening to the last 2 hours soon.
QotW:
What character would you like to meet and speak with? The character who came to mind first was Myrna Landers, a resident of Three Pines in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny. As long as murder was not afoot in the village, that is! I think it would be fun to spend an afternoon with her in her bookstore, sharing tasty hot beverages, and having deep and wide-ranging conversations. She just seems like someone I'd connect with in person. I think it would also be fun to meet Ramona Quimby (Age 8, preferably 🤓) and her sister Beezus since I think I'd enjoy spending time with both of them -- Ramona for the entertainment factor and our shared love of Sustained Silent Reading (#IYKYK); Beezus because we'd bound over what it's like to be an older sister (though, my younger brother was nowhere near as high-spirited as Ramona). I'm sure there are others, but they would be my top three choices.
Happy Thursday! I recently won a Goodreads Giveaway, and it just arrived in this morning’s mail: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven. The blurb: “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose the Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries. They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.” Well, I loved both those books so I’m really looking forward to this one.
2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 373 books and completed 31.4% of my ever-growing TBR.
52 Book Club: 51/52 (October Mini-Challenge: 0/3… The prompts in this challenge feel a month too early. They're all cozy instead of spooky. I had to trade out some of my planned reading to accommodate them.)
ATY: 49/52 (Fall Challenge 27/45)
Booklist Queen: 48/52
Diverse Baseline: 27/36
Popsugar: 46/50
Robot Librarian: 50/52
ICYMI Backlist: 9/12
Recently Completed:
This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving (52 Books #46 – featuring Indigenous culture/ATY #27 – related to land/Popsugar #42 – nonfiction about Indigenous people) ★★★★
Lady Susan / The Watsons / Sanditon: I loved Lady Susan. She’s just so manipulative and yet socially adept. The Watsons is barely a start to a novel, and Sanditon shows promise but its unfinished nature was unsatisfying. Jane Austen Book Club. ★★★
Road Home (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Road) ★★★★
I Was Told It Would Get Easier (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: I Was Told) ★★★★
Orbital: Short-listed for the 2024 Booker Prize. ★★★
The Honey-Don't List: Many people didn’t love this book as much as I did (and that’s okay), but the Rusty and Melly Tripp characters were absolutely hilarious and the parallels to Chip and Joanna Gaines (I’m not a fan. I think they’re completely phony.) simply could not be ignored. (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Christina Lauren) ★★★★★
The Silence Factory ★★★
Autocracy, Inc. ★★★★
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (52 Books #29 – published in a Year of the Dragon/Popsugar #25 – published 24 years ago) ★★★★
Again and Again (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Again/Booklist Queen #7 – unreliable narrator/Popsugar #33 – unreliable narrator) ★★★★
Middle of the Night: My hold came in just in time for spooky season! ★★★★
Currently Reading:
All You Have to Do Is Call: NPR 2023 Books We Love. (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: All You Have)
Red Side Story (ATY #51 – published in 2024/Booklist Queen #11 – an author you love)
Where Sleeping Girls Lie (ATY #34 – related to one of Snow White’s Seven Dwarves)
The Charm Offensive (ICYMI Backlist #10 – published in 2021)
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Eric Jay Dolin/Robot Librarian #30 – set during a war that’s not WWI or WWII)
Jackal (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Erin E. Adams/Diverse Baseline #28 – horror, mystery, or thriller by a BIPOC author/Popsugar #40 – horror by a BIPOC author)
Sea of Tranquility (ATY #28 – related to sea)
Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter: Reasonable Doubt Book Club. (ATY #40 – involving a wild animal or endangered species)
I Was a Teenage Slasher (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: I Was)
The Long Game (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Long)
QOTW: I really can't think of any... One of the best things about books is that they're absolutely separate from my real life.
Greetings from NYC on a fine early autumn evening! I start vacation tomorrow - though technically I am still around most of the day - heading to Big Sky, MT and visiting Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons. I can't wait!GR - still holding at 49/50 - that damn book of poetry - is going with me to Montana - I'll pick away at the poems 2 or 3 at a time as I travel there and back.
Finished:
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau - liked this a lot though I think overall Mexican Gothic better. Some of same themes explored and a really good creepy gothic for October. This is the Feminerdy Book Club pick to discuss in October.
Angel in a Devil's Arms
Currently Reading - can you guess which one is getting most attention at the moment?:
Selected Poems
This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland
Undead Girl Gang
QOTW: BRUNO! Chief of Police - from Martin Walker's series set in the Perigord region of France - think the Lascaux Caves region. In fact, Tuesday night I essentially DID meeting Bruno -- I went to the author's signing/promotion for the new book and had a chance to really have a lovely chat one on one with him. The author shares many things with Bruno and is charming, engaging, loves to cook, loves history, loves the Perigord region (lives there - he's a Brit but has been full time in France for some years). He's BRUNO!
Happy ThursdayNadine - I also love Mona Awad, but I haven't read Rouge yet.
I finished a book and I am tickled that I got a quarter through a book in 2 working days. I think October will be a better reading month than September.
Finished:
Midnight Sun
ATY prompt: A book related to night
Popsugar prompt: A book with an enemies to lovers plot
Series - 9/12
Nobel laureates - 4/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 9/13
ATY - 40/45
PS - 26/30
Summer - 12/12 - Finished!
Currently reading:
Windows and Stones: Selected Poems - 20%
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing - on hold
Not a Happy Family - 25% done
Buddy Reads:
none at present
QOTW: It's so hard to pick one. Since, I just finished Midnight Sun, I always found it weird that Bella was meeting vampires who lived through so much history and she had zero questions for them.
I'd love to talk to Anne of Green Gables, Aslan, Gandalf, Tim Kavanaugh (from the Mitford books), and maybe Nancy Drew or Miss Marple.
This year has gone by too fast.School closed today so I almost forgot its Thursday.
I finished no books this week. I neglected paper grading and chores to do a 10 day readathon so I had to curb reading and do some work this week
Currently reading:
All the Light We Cannot See (re-read)
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
The Lost Bookshop
Consider the Fork
Men Without Women
The Truants
Anne of Avonlea
The Remains of the Day
A Hitch in Time
QOTW:
I would go back to meet characters from classics I love to re-read, many from childhood:
Elizabeth Bennett
Jo March
Anne Shirley
Catherine Earnshaw
Laura Ingalls (Wilder)
Margaret Simon (Are You There...Margaret)
and possibly Juliet Capulet
Happy Thursday! Baby niece made her entrance to the world in the wee hours last Friday morning and I’ve never been so obsessed with anything in my LIFE. My birthday was this past Monday? I have no idea what you’re talking about, the baby was 3 days old that day. Sister and BIL are doing well and already taking things in shifts so they can get some sleep. My mom is due to join them in a little over a week, and I’ll get to see them in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. I’m not here to wish away time, but it can’t come soon enough.Otherwise my closest friends were over this past weekend as a pre-birthday get-together, which was nice. We see each other often enough but we’re always *doing things*, and this time we were able to just chill and eat and watch a movie and basically do nothing, which we haven’t done in eons. It was lovely.
Not much in the way of reading this week, I've been distracted with Netflix and we finally started watching Downton Abbey. So my currently-reading pile hasn't shifted nearly as much as I'd like lolz
Finished this week:
Speak - 5 stars. This is one of those “Everyone-Read-It-In-School-But-Me” books, and I have to say, if I had read it then I think it would’ve been one of my favorites. First-person present tense is difficult and Laurie nailed it. Another one I’ve owned for probably a decade off the backlog TBR pile, yay! The film was also very good but I think this definitely benefits from being read, as so much of it is internal monologue.
Redwall - 5 stars, reread! I loveeee the old-fashioned fantasy vibe, and I’m determined to tackle the rest of the series this time. I first read this over a decade ago and never got back to the other books, so we’re starting over again. The weather is perfect for this book just now - mid-70s (F) and sun-drenched, sitting out in the yard while the cats roam about. I’m curious why I only gave it 4 stars the first time, but never mind! Off to Mossflower soon!
PS 41/50
ATY 49/52
Mount TBR 26/48
Currently:
That Ain’t Witchcraft
The Kaiju Preservation Society
The Republic of Thieves - audio reread! I love Michael Page on this series.
Defy or Defend
QOTW: What character would you like to meet and speak with?
Agh I'm horrible with this question too, but I think I'd love to pick the brains of the If We Were Villains kids.
Happy Thursday/Friday, y’all. [By the time I finished posting it was after midnight.]Well, the big news of this past week in my area has been Helene. She surely took out her feelings on the Carolinas! I was without power for 6 full days. This experience tried out my coping skills and brought neighbors a bit closer. My power came on about 8p last night. I am very grateful.
Mostly what we experienced was trees falling…everywhere. On houses, fences, and power lines. They fell across roads, too. Making it difficult for power companies to get in and for people to get needed supplies like gasoline and food. We still have a lot of outage…and the one that affects my life most directly is that the library will not re-open until all 13 branches have power. Praying for quick restore of electricity!
My first full day of electricity was filled with washing clothes, dishes and my first warm shower in a week. I cleaned my kitchen counters and shopped for bread and milk. (I also got a couple of treats – muffins and IRN BRU.) [I also read and continued to burn debris.]
Tomorrow will be a run to the recycling and trash center and cleaning out the refrigerator. And cleaning floors. It is amazing how much dirt light reveals!
Finished:
The Vintage Teacup Club – ATY #39. 4* An enjoyable story of friendship.
Thornhedge – PAS, PS (character who sleeps more than 24h). 4* An interesting take on Sleeping Beauty. Loved the twist.
A-List – PAS. 4* This book took me by surprise. I did not expect a mystery nor the humor of the writing. Fun.
Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions - Library Discussion. 3* This discussion group views the movie and reads the book and then discusses both. The movie will be this coming week. I felt the book was a bit disjointed and am looking forward to seeing how it comes out as a movie. However that is the library that is not yet open, so who knows if all this will happen.
Currently Reading:
The Gray House (Kindle) – BIG book of over 700 pages. Owned. When there is no light, a Kindle makes a good way to read since it has its own built-in light. 30%
Lovesong: Becoming a Jew – PAS. 27% A memoir.
Just Starting:
Heaven Has No Favorites – PAS. 6%
On Deck:
West with Giraffes – ATY #40. CD Audio.
Skin – PAS
East Wind: West Wind – PAS
Parable of the Talents - PAS
PS 32/50
ATY 39/52
GR 166/200
QotW: What character would you like to meet and speak with?
Can't think of any right now, although my real life is so very different from my reading world as others have said.
Hi all. Worked a full day with pre-k kids yesterday. It was fun, but totally exhausting. I made some big meals Wednesday so I wouldn't have to cook yesterday, but now I have to tackle Wednesday's dishes, and I'm not sure I'll be able to.Prior to working, I was getting some decent reading done. Made some good progress on MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus, very interesting.
Read some more in Hanging Mary and The Fox Wife, liking both of those as well.
Oh, and earlier in the week I made a stop at the library to pick up 2 books... yeah, I'm sure you know the end of that story! I also put 2 books on hold, and they are now both waiting for me. Curse these grabby hands!!
QOTW: I have the opposite problem, I would probably like to meet at least one character in almost every book I read! The most recent example, I would probably move right in with the characters in We Deserve Monuments!
Hi all, happy Friday. My thoughts are with those still dealing with the aftermath of Helene.Finished
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories For one of my book clubs. I think I was on the only one that finished it though. I really admire the ideas and talent, but it was a tough read, just because it was such a downer. I know the stories are fictional, but for some reason when I was done, my main thought was 'wow, Carmen Maria Machado has been through some stuff.' No prompt.
The Master of the Mill I wasn't that enthused by the premise here - it's the story of three generations of Canadian mill owners, and the effect of industrialization on the mill. It didn't sound that intriguing. I really picked it up just to be able to clear something off my TBR piles. And yet it sucked me in way more than I thought, to the point where I'm debating keeping it and revisiting later (I still put it on the donate pile, but we'll see if I rethink that when it's actually time to take them in). No prompt.
The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One Picked this up for ATY readathon, but then it was too short. Still read it though and really got into it, enough that I ordered another of hers from the library. No prompt as I've already filled poetry.
The Librarianist It's really three separate parts, each of which I liked independently, but it didn't really seem to make a cohesive whole. And it kind of fizzled out. No prompt again.
Wow, I have not been good at getting to prompt fill books this week! I think the issue is I've requested everything I need from the library, but they're just coming in and I have a bunch of other books that are older checkouts so I need to read those first before they're due back. And I have a few more to get through so next week probably won't be any better.
Currently Reading
Capture the Sun
Morning Star
Qotw
Hmm, my initial instinct answer to this was Thursday Next from The Eyre Affair and the whole crew of the Wayfarer from The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.
But both of those are reads from awhile ago, so I should probably reread to confirm if that's really good idea - Thursday Next in particular I feel like might be a little more frantic than amusing to hang with!
Lost track of time yesterday, hope everyone's doing well!Finished:
Toward Eternity- I really liked this. Explores what it is to be human, what it is to love. Covers many narrators and many centuries
-no prompt
Ephemera- a graphic novel memoir from a local artist, that almost feels like a silent movie, or a Terrence Malick film. Covers loss and grief, and the ways memories from our childhood can be elusive.
-no prompt
Treasure Island- Never would have read it if it weren't for the group read, but glad I did. I listened to it, and felt like a bedtime story I'd have listened to as a kid
-26 A book that was turned into a musical
Back in a Spell- I liked the first two books in this series better. This was nice, but something felt missing
-no prompt
Currently reading:
Monstrilio- I like the writing, but it might be to sad to read at the moment
Under the Oak Tree: The Comic volume 1- a graphic novel that is pretty and a little silly
QotW:
I'm kind of stealing Ellie's answer- I'd want to talk to all the pets, and all the magical animals
TGIF. What a week of work. We've had a bunch of people out this week so it's been insanely busy. I'm so tired. On the other hand, I'm back on in my Sims era and enjoying building houses I could never afford. Finished
Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems, 1961-2023: this is a just a LOT of poetry and I've discovered I don't like a lot of her early work
QOTW
I would want to have a chat with almost all the characters of books. Sometimes that chat might just be, "Hey so what exactly is wrong with you?" But I've got questions for all of them haha.
Happy Friday! I have a lot of muscle knots in my back again, so I went to the masseur last night. He did a very thorough job, so I was awake all night because my body was busy healing itself. Massive headache because of dehydration (stupid me, I was too tired to think of drinking in the middle of the night). At least all the muscle knots are gone now.I haven't read much this week. I did watch the first Downton Abbey movie (Downton Abbey Motion Picture). One more movie and then I'll have finished Downton Abbey. I'm home alone tonight, so guess what I am about to do...
FNL: 37/40
Total: 55/52
DNF: 1
Finished
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears⭐⭐
PS #36. It reads like she’s written it herself, so +1 star for that. Otherwise: I just can’t believe someone’s that naive.
Currently reading
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
QOTW
In my current book: Liv. Just to tell her she’s so annoying I wish she would jump off through her glass roof.
Mod
I recently won a Goodreads Giveaway, and it just arrived in this morning’s mail: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven. The blurb: “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose the Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries. They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.”..."
Wow that's a lot for any one book to live up to. Fated to fall in love and kill each other in every lifetime? SAY NO MORE SIGN ME UP. I violated my "no new books on NetGalley until you've read all your current NG books" rule for this one, it turns out it was available to download and read now ... I'm sure it will be a fast read and I can get my ratio back up in no time!!!
Mod
very exciting!!! I've never been to MT and someday i hope to get there
Mod
Nadine - I also love Mona Awad, but I haven't read Rouge yet. ..."
You will like it!! On the Awad Scale of Insanity, it's more insane than All's Well but less insane than Bunny. (Can anything be MORE insane than Bunny?? i'd guess not)
Mod
I've never read this! (Perhaps obviously, since this book didn't even exist when I was in school.)
Mod
Well, the big news of this past week in my area has been Helene. She surely took out her feelings on the Carolinas! I was without power for 6 full days. This experience tried out my coping skills and brought neighbors a bit closer. My power came on about 8p last night. I am very grateful..."
I'm glad you're fine, and congrats on the power!!
Many years ago (before the Internet was a big thing) we had a Labor Day storm here that took out power for several days. I still remember that time, it was so unsettling. At work they had backup power, so I would get in my car and have a/c and drive to work and have electric lights and a/c and computers and brewed coffee, and then come back home to the weird twilight existence.
the thing I missed most was my coffee maker. I was so glad we had a gas range!! I don't remember what we did for hot water, maybe my ex figured out a way to light the water heater - once it was lit, it was gas-fired and would run fine.
Mod
That's how I felt too!! I liked the part where he was a librarian, and I liked the part where he was a kid at the resort, and I liked the part where he was retired and working at the senior home ... but I didn't think it made a cohesive whole.
Happy Friday and Happy 30th Birthday to me!I completely forgot it was Thursday yesterday so here I am now! We went to see a musical last night. For the Dutch speaking folk on here, it was 40-45, originally from Belgium.
As the title suggests, it's set in WW2 and it was stunning. The seat blocks moved around so you got right up close and around, there was a plane flying over, a plane crashing, several cars, a train... and none of it took away from the story. It merely added to the realism of it. It was stunning! And we all had headphones so everyone could hear everything perfectly always!
If this is the future of theater, I'm here for it. We wish we could go again, but we were spoiled being on the third row so we can't go further up/back :P And we can't afford to go Premium again. Oh woe is us :P
Read
Beneath the Twisted Trees
Loved this one so much! 4/6 done!
Currently Reading
When Jackals Storm the Walls
Not reading much since my best friend got here, but that's okay! I'll get back to reading 50 pages a day instead of 1 chapter once she goes back home. Time with friends you don't see often is more important!
QOTW
I am so exhausted I don't even know, ahaha! But I would like to meet all the cats! and most other animals, haha!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Joanna wrote: "The Librarianist It's really three separate parts, each of which I liked independently, but it didn't really seem to make a cohesive whole. And it kind of fizzled out. No prompt agai..."Yes! Each was great, I loved the writing, but it didn't go together. And it almost made me annoyed because each could have been a full story on it's own - that I would have loved to know more about, but including all of them didn't give me enough of any of them. I 4 starred it on completion, but the more I think about it, I think I'm going to downgrade it to 3. Oh Goodreads, why won't you let me rate in half star increments?
Unfortunately, life is kicking me hard this week. And then to top it off I got some bad news that I'm worried will just make things much worse for those involved. I hope not, but given the track record, I fear things are going to spiral. Enough about that drama though, I'm trying to focus on other things right now despite the changes that will soon be happening.
Book News:
Started my reads for this month. So far it's seems like it will be a month for fiction, but I do want to get in some nonfiction at some point.
I have these three books I'm reading so far:
Girl in Pieces Deluxe Edition: Includes a Guided Journal for Reflection
- I have tried reading this book 3 times before, but it's so difficult because of how triggering it is. I've never had a book trigger me this much, but that's because I've experienced the behaviors that the main character goes through.
I got the Deluxe Edition of this book and it has been incredible! There's space for annotating/note taking which has been fun. There are also journal prompts at the back of the book which I can't wait to get to.
Pride and Prejudice
- It's been a while since I read P&P. It's one of my favorite classics, but now I don't understand why. I'm annotating/note taking this time around and I am so baffled by what's going on in the story and my own thoughts. I need to research why marriage and beauty was such a huge thing back in society back in that time period. It baffles me.
Dreamland
- Finally getting to this. It's okay so far.
******
QOTW:
What character would you like to meet and speak with?
Man, this is a tough question to answer. I've read so many books over the years so it's hard to choose between the fiction characters and the non-fiction/RL people that I read about.
As much as I love these books: Speak , Fangirl , Girl in Pieces, Eliza and Her Monsters, Twilight- many of these characters are so much like myself so I would not want to meet them.
I'd want to meet characters completely different from me. Someone I think I could connect with even if I am an introvert and don't connect well with others.
Happy check-in! Beautiful day here so I got to spray painting old rusted furniture. It did not go well lol. The furniture looks better because it's all the same white colour now. Finished Reading:
The Moth Keeper ⭐⭐⭐
This was a much more interesting story than their last book I read. Although I didn't enjoy the artwork as much. It was also rather depressing for a middle grade.
An Ember in the Ashes ⭐⭐⭐
This felt really similar to Gideon the Ninth without the space travel.
When We Were Alone ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read this on National Truth and Reconciliation Day. I really liked the artwork.
Two Can Play ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ali Hazelwood has a new book with Spotify, but my library got an audiobook copy. It seems it's only audio so far. This works for the videogame prompt fyi.
Blood Hunt ⭐⭐⭐
The last book of the series. It didn't end like it was intended to be a done series but the author hasn't seemed to publish anything recently.
PS 45/50
ATY 52/52
ATY Summer 36/36
Diverse Baseline 29/36
Goodreads 231/250
QOTW:
I like Jackie's answer about meeting characters to ask them what was wrong with them. Hagar from The Stone Angelcomes to mind.
Laura Z wrote: "Happy Thursday! I recently won a Goodreads Giveaway, and it just arrived in this morning’s mail: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven. The blurb: “The Invisible Life of Addie La Ru..."
Ooh that's added to the tbr. Thanks!
I took a half day off work last Friday to do all the things - cleaning, grocery shopping, errands. I actually remembered to get my winter coat dry-cleaned before it’s cold enough to need it. All of that freed up my weekend for reading, which is exactly what I wanted. Starting this week, my weekends are booked up. Between birthdays, concerts, plays, and a vacation, I won’t have a lot of free time for reading. I’m looking forward to all of those things! But I also like a weekend where I stay home and read every once in a while.
Finished
Infiltration. SG-1 are taken prisoner by a “very, very minor Goa’uld,” in Jack’s words, which makes for endlessly sarcastic jokes from the Colonel. The premise that the Entity is reading and analyzing this SG-1 mission report to decide how best to survive - ultimately, by taking over Carter because her survival is important to Jack - was a fun and interesting storytelling device.
Reading
The River We Remember
QOTW
Susan Pevensie. I need to make sure my beloved Queen Susan the Gentle knows that she did NOTHING WRONG and she DID NOT DESERVE the fate CS Lewis’s moralizing gave her.
Laura Z wrote: "I recently won a Goodreads Giveaway, and it just arrived in this morning’s mail: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven. The blurb: “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose the Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries."I might have broken my mouse by clicking Want to Read too hard.
It's been a weird week and a really slow week for reading. I only finished one book and that was last weekend. I haven't read much this week, not just not finishing books but just plain not reading. I been having a tv kind of week.2024 Challenges:
Popsugar: 44/50
ATY: 52/52
Robot Librarian: 47/52
Booklist Queen: 50/52
A to Z: 26/26
Physical TBR: 2/99
Kindle TBR: 3/122
Goodreads: 185/100
Book Clubs:
PS Monthly: 23/56
Reese: 32/100
Oprah: 13/103
Jenna: 9/70
OSS: 7/39
Finished:
1 finished, 0 Completed Popsugar
Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock
-------
Currently Reading
While We Were Dating
40 Men and 12 Rifles: Indochina 1954
Red, White & Royal Blue
Treasure Island
Leslie F*cking Jones
On the Backburner
Libby
Physical Library Rentals
Modelland
Queen B
The Enchanted Hacienda
Wicked as You Wish
An Unreliable Magic
Lo & Behold
Break
This Is Not The Jess Show
Amulet 3
Amulet 4
Amulet 5
Amulet 6
Amulet 7
Amulet 8
Click
Act
Magazines: (13/150)
Read since last check-in: 0
Question of the Week:
I've never really thought about it.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "You will like it!! On the Awad Scale of Insanity, it's more insane than All's Well but less insane than Bunny. (Can anything be MORE insane than Bunny?? i'd guess not)."I love the idea of the Awad Scale of Insanity being the scale not just by which we rate her books, but all books that read like a fever dream.
We're 1 month away from November which means two thing: 1.) Native American Heritage Month. and 2.) Nonfiction November.I am so stoked for both. I follow Olive (abookolive) on social media and I am so glad she is doing NF November again this year. I can't wait to see what the prompts will be.
I've also started planning my books for Native American Heritage Month. I have 5 and I think I might leave it there, so I can fit in the NFN prompts.
Wow! Yesterday, I found A Discovery of Witches on Acorn TV. I have binge watched Season 1 and am now starting the next. What a great stress reliever from Helene!
Hope things are getting back to normal for you, Bea.
LeahS wrote: "Hope things are getting back to normal for you, Bea."For me, personally, yes. For my area and the greater area, it will be a long time of recovery.
Mod
I think I have to steal Nadine's answer! I loved Miles, but generally I don't want to meet characters. Maybe their pets..."
Ooohhh...I think that might make a good QotW!
Mod
Okay, gotta ask. What is "Scott Young's Foundation Class"?
"QotW: Stargirl."
Ooohhh...I would like to speak with her as well!
Mod
A huge thank-you to Nadine for starting this week’s discussion off. I subbed for two classes again this week at the gym and helped some friends with things, and just totally spaced THURSDAY’s posting! And that after I had thought about it throughout Wednesday! Ugh! I hope not to be so spacey next time!
ADMIN STUFF:
THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ was 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.
Jennifer W is the ”vivacious volunteer who graciously led this discussion! Thank you!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
THE OCTOBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman!
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 NOVEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #39 A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
And who is the "vivacious volunteer" willing to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!!
THE DECEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #36 A Book Written By an Incarcerated Or Formerly Incarcerated Person
National Mudd Day is December 20! What is National Mudd Day, you may ask? It references a fascinating bit of history I doubt many of us know. Dr. Samuel Mudd was a doctor who helped John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirator David Herold immediately following Lincoln’s assassination on the night of April 14, 1865. Mudd performed surgery on Booth and allowed them to spend the night. He didn’t report the men’s visit for another 24 hours, though it was assumed he would have heard of the assassination well before that time. Mudd was arrested 12 days later and eventually convicted to a life sentence by a military commission for the crime of aiding and conspiring in a murder, missing the death penalty by only one vote!
I know virtually nothing about this book, so I will probably join in the monthly read discussion! I'm certain there is an "End-of-Year Innovator" to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
What character would you like to meet and speak with?
I ask because I would love to meet Jane from Sarah Manguso’s newest novel Liars! She endured such similar behaviors from her spouse as I did within the 22 years of my first marriage that I feel as if we are so very similar! I would love to be able to give her a hug and congratulate her on not only surviving but thriving and creating a life of her own in the aftermath of her ex’s betrayal and the divorce!
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 36/50
Around the Year (AtY): 51/52
Read Harder: 17/24
52 Book Club: 45/52
FINISHED:
*17th Suspect (Women’s Murder Club #17) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was another solid installment in this series, though this perp is one extremely psycho human. Ugh! I do admire Lindsay’s tenacity and integrity! Though I am anxious to see what happens with her and Jacobi in the next book…
POPSUGAR: #27
ATY: #1, #2, #3-A book with a pet in the story—Lindsay’s collie, #5, #12, #14, #15, #17. #32, #33, #37, #43
RHC: #23, #24-2023: prompt #23 Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel
52 Book Club: #3, #6, #14, #20, #30
*The 18th Abduction (Women’s Murder Club #18) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ⭐⭐⭐⭐ was just a bit much for me. I do not enjoy reading about entrapment, kidnapping, and torture. I realize this is probably so mild as not to bother most readers, but for me it was a bit too much… I did appreciate the interconnectedness of the story lines/cases, however. And now to find out about Lindsay and Jacobi, hopefully in the 18th book!
ATY: #2, #3-A book with a main character who is mad, bad, or dangerous, #5, #11, #12, #14, #15, #17, #25, #27, #29, #32, #33, #36, #37, #41, #43, #48
RHC: #23, #24-2023: prompt #23 Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel
52 Book Club: #3, #10, #14, #24, #30
*All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders ⭐⭐⭐ was quite disappointing to me. I really really really wanted to at least enjoy this one, but as one of the other book club members stated, “It just kinda fell flat for me.” I think it is the writing style, but not sure. I had to make myself finish it… I was just so sure I would love it! But I will give Anders another try just to be sure…
POPSUGAR: #2, #19, NEW #39
ATY: #1, #3-A book by an author born between 1965-1980 (Generation X)-1969, #6, #12, #15, #17, #21, #25, #33, #35-Science Fiction, #40, #44, #48
RHC: #24-2019: prompt #18 A novel written by a trans or nonbinary author
52 Book Club: #6, #24, #26, #36, #43
CONTINUING:
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
*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
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse for the BBC World Book Club interview with the author October 23, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release! This is my first Mosse book!
*The 19th Christmas (Women’s Murder Club #19) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*20th Victim (Women’s Murder Club #20) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Mod
That's a new series for me! I'll have to check it out!
Be safe and have fun as you travel!
Mod
Ooohhh...that sounds ominous! I have yet to read that one!
L Y N N wrote: "Big Boy, our indoor male feline furbaby, was stressed out and depressed in the wake of our Mini’s ‘disappearance’—he refused to eat and was meowing and pacing through the house. I bought a few new ..."I feel for Big Boy and so glad he seems to have recovered....when I lost the most recent kitty her bestie was miserable for a long time, and even though it's been 6 years she still hasn't completely recovered, including never bonding with the 3 young ones I obtained after the back to back deaths
Been planning my Nonfiction November and Native American Heritage Month reads. So far i have 14 books with both projects. Doubt I'll get to them all, but I look forward to seeing how many I can do.
Mod
If I could afford it I would get a third kitty, but honestly, caring for only two is much more doable financially!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Three-Body Problem (other topics)Treasure Island (other topics)
Liars (other topics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (other topics)
The Thursday Murder Club (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Louis Stevenson (other topics)Casey McQuiston (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
Liu Cixin (other topics)
Sarah Manguso (other topics)
More...
Sorry today's check-in is so late, we had a bit of a kerfuffle earlier today!!
I hope everyone has stayed safe during the hurricane - it didn't touch us up here. It's always a little surreal to experience serene weather days with everything normal and ho-hum and know that just a few thousand miles away everything has gone upside down.
Admin stuff
October group read of The Thursday Murder Club is still needing a discussion leader!! No one has posted anything - it's not too late to start it!!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This week I finished 2 books
A Life in the Garden: Tales and Tips for Growing Food in Every Season by Barbara Damrosch - just published!! if you like gardening books, you're probably already familiar with Damrosch - this is her latest, and it was a NetGalley read for me, so I finally bumped my NG ratio up over 80%!!
Rouge - by Mona Awad super weird and I loved it!! I love her style and this would have been five stars except it sagged a bit in the middle.
What other authors should I read who are like Awad??
Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 70% 7 /10
AtY 100% 52 /52
2024 pub 108% 54 /50
NetGalley ratio 83%
Question of the Week
What character would you like to meet and speak with?
I never really have an answer for this sort of question, I think I don't want my real world and my book worlds to merge. I seem to remember saying that Miles in "Funny Story" could be my book boyfriend, so I guess I'll say Miles.