Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 45: 10/31 - 11/7
Hi all. Another grumpy New Yorker here. I'm also going to contain myself, but I am ENRAGED. Last time, I was sad and scared, this time, I am ANGRY. I'm giving myself today to sulk and feel the feelings, and then I am turning it into ACTION. Joining groups that will speak up, finding marches, whatever I can do. Also, if you are scared, sad, angry or whatever, I'm here for you. Drop me a line if you need. In normal news, tomorrow is my boyfriend's birthday! We're going car shopping for him! He's already sick of the process, so I think we'll buy whatever we find! lol
I read very little this week. I started Pointe that I will use for a female athlete, as the MC is a ballerina. Her male best friend was kidnapped years ago and suddenly returns. She knows more than she's telling. I found it on a list of books by African American authors that you must read. It was listed along with Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, etc. I don't think it's up there, but so far, it is entertaining.
QOTW: I can't think of a specific prompt I want. I'd like some challenging, but not 'pull your hair out trying to think of things you actually want to read' prompts. lol Maybe they'll comb through some of the ATY rejects, cause there were a lot of good choices over there that didn't make it.
I'd say happy Thursday, but I'm still recovering soooHello!
I am still absolutely sickened and worn down by the US election result. I stayed up all night and went to bed at around 9am because I couldn't stand it anymore. I'm in Europe, and I am terrified. For all of my USian friends, especially since most of them are queer and/or of color and/or disabled and/or female. For the entire country. I am also terrified for us over here, because this is gonna have far reaching consequences and may end up in a war.
I've found some good resources and tips to help for over the next few months, like renew your passport, get your birth certificate if you don't have it, get your vaccins, etc. One of my trans friends is already on it, to make sure his actual name will be on his passport for the next 10 years.
I just really hope his plan to demolish the constitution won't work out, because then at least we'll be rid of him in 4 years.
I wish I could be angry, and I'm sure I'll get to that point, but right now I need to let the hangover pass. I'm already doing better than yesterday, so who knows, anger might be just around the corner.
In an attempt to distract myself, my family & I spent last night watching videos of our top choice WDW restaurants (and I am steadfastly refusing to think too much about heading into Florida and the US in general under his rule) and we finalized our picks and we are so excited!!
Read
Wendy, Darling
I really enjoyed this. I do feel it was quite repetitive in the way Wendy kept circling around in her head, but the book was quick and short enough for it to not be too much of a bother.
Currently Reading
Nothing; I had hoped to start Hooked right after, but with everything going on I've been focused more on watching things. Finally watched the latest season of Heartstopper, finished Royals, am currently finally watching the last season of Atypical.
QOTW
The Discord server for this challenge I set up a couple years ago have put together our own challenge for 2025, for which I am also really excited. It'll be 25 prompts, and has its own challenge page on Storygraph (Server Reading Challenge 2025). It even has a pretty graphic for the list!
One of my own suggestions that made it on the list is 'a book you've been putting off', and I'm looking forward to that. It prompts me to pick up the books that I've left because they're too big, or too hyped, or have been on my shelves for 15 years never getting chosen. Or a sequel I've been scared won't live up to the book(s) that came before!
Someone else suggested 'a book that needs a little love' and I love that one too!
So this isn't really an answer to the actual question, but close enough I think, haha!
ETA - I finished one of my currently readings so updated. Greetings from NYC. I've had a miserable week and not just on the political front. I came down with a severe cold (it was definitely a cold, not COVID), something I haven't had in years, possibly more than a decade. Still a bit sidelined by it. Also it's just too warm her in NYC. I keep thinking about turning on the AC and thinking that's ridiculous.
Still have that book of poetry to finish for PS. I did work on it a bit yesterday. I've moved it from bathroom reading to kitchen reading. So far working well -- read a poem or 2 while waiting for water to boil or dinner to reheat in the microwave.
Finished - it's been light easy reads -
Clean Sweep
Magic Burns
Around the World: A Graphic Novel
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder
Women Talking
Currently Reading:
Everland
A Perilous Undertaking
Murder in the Sentier
QOTW: I don't really have any I am specifically looking to see on the PS list for 2025. I have a short list of ones I don't want to see, LOL.
I can't really say it's a happy Thursday, but I'm muddling through. I am so glad I took this week off of work, though. I wouldn't be able to deal with my rage if I had to work on top of all of this....Finished:
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn - 3 stars - for Robot Librarian's book mentioned in a film, TV show, or streamed series. It was okay, but kind of not what I needed to read right now, I guess.
Magic for Nothing by Seanan McGuire - 4 stars - for Robot Librarian's book that takes place at an amusement park, theme park, fair, or carnival. Lots of fun, looking forward to continuing the series.
Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks ("Anonymous") - 1 star - for Robot Librarian's book that was revealed to be a literary hoax or forgery. If not for this prompt and the fact that it was short, I wouldn't have bothered. I listened to the audio on 2x just to get through it. What absolute garbage.
Comics/manga:
Given, Vol. 8
Given, Vol. 9
Daily Report About My Witch Senpai Vol. 3
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 2 (Volume 2)
Currently reading:
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau - for Robot Librarian's book set in the 1970s.
Upcoming/Planned:
The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones - for Robot Librarian's book published posthumously. This was finished by the author's sister and published after her death.
QOTW:
Mostly I want to see the good old standbys come back, like published this year, favorite previous prompt, etc.
I haven't been active on the Discord, Carmen, but if this year's list is disappointing again, I might try the Discord group's list as a supplement. :)
Happy Thursday, but is it really? I don't know what to feel. As a woman, and as a woman of color to top that off it makes me sad that this is the world we live in. It's 2024, soon to be 2025 for crying out loud!I had my Nonfiction November books all planned out, but now I don't want to deal with them sadly because a lot of what I read are heavy themes. I had some feminist books, books about the mistreatment of certain minority groups- now after the results of said thing which I will not mention, I don't want to focus on those. I'm tired of the hate, tired of the conflict, and just downright tired of all the fighting. I know the fight will continue, but for now, I need a break from it. We're in for a rough road ahead, that much is clear, but damn give me a chance to catch my breath for a second, you know?
So with my Nonfiction November plans out the window, I'm going to still focus on some nonfiction but in a way that is helpful to me. That means no heavy topics. I managed to find some books that are lighter in tone that I'll be starting this weekend.
Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs
The Allure of the Multiverse: Extra Dimensions, Other Worlds, and Parallel Universes
The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America
Skywalker: A Family at War
*****
The only heavy topic I plan to read is the conflict in the Republic via the Star Wars novel adaptations. Though George Lucas predicted our future it would seem so maybe that's not fiction that much anymore, but Star Wars brings me comfort at least. I'm planning to read the original trilogy first then the prequels, and maybe I'll get the sequels later.
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy
Star Wars: Original Trilogy
*****
Question of the Week
What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?
I just hope there is more room for nonfiction books in regard to the prompts. So many of the prompts this year were geared toward fiction so I had a hard time making nonfiction books work.
I'll be going over the 2024 list to see if the books I read this year will fit them, but I'm not optimistic. I do hope it's better come 2025.
Also disgusted and enraged here. I tried to lose myself in reading but that didn't go well. I did manage a few books though. I've been reading a lot of horror lately, gee I wonder why.The Night House by Jo Nesbø was deeply strange. I'm still not sure I know what to make of this horror
This Place of Silence: Ohio's Cemeteries and Burial Grounds by Ian Adams, Randall Lee Schieber, & Robin L. Smith I'm a taphophile and I love history and they came together in this book nicely.
I can't remember if I mentioned this one or not Lackadaisy: Volume #1 by Tracy J. Butler, the first bound version of the popular Webtoon about rumrunners in Prohibition era St Louis (but they're cats). Really enjoyed it.
QOTW
You know what, I'm not sure I'm good at thinking up prompts (I know what I don't want, more memoirs or books about age of the characters/the authors). I'd like to see something science oriented and I'm always up for a good ghost story. And some easy ones like published in 2025 or something you meant to read last year but ran out of time or the redo your favorite prompt from last year (yes I know we've done those before but those are repeats I don't mind so much as they give us a bit of easy breathing)
Actually I'd like a graphic novel prompt (they have a lot of non fiction version these days too for those who prefer that) or maybe something about high adventure or maybe a historical one not set in the Victorian era or WWII (since those are so commonplace)
Carmen wrote:The Discord server for this challenge I set up a couple years ago have put together our own challenge for 2025, for which I am also really excited. It'll be 25 prompts, and has its own challenge page on Storygraph (Server Reading Challenge 2025). It even has a pretty graphic for the list!
There's a Discord for it? Where can I find it/what's the name of it?
I'm glad I started my new job this week and am too tired to worry about the state of the world. I forgot to check in last week, but I still only have one book finished. I've just found it easier to play games than concentrate on reading lately.Falling by T.J. Newman for ATY (air). The strength was clearly in the author's real-life knowledge of being cabin crew and the sort of things they can do in emergencies, but the characters were pretty shallow. It was a quick read though so I might try one of her others next year.
QOTW:
I'm hoping they
Happy Thursday??? I’m not watching the news. I'm so angry. There are ~8 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 who didn't vote for Harris in 2024. Do Americans really hate women that much?2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 421 books and completed 34.8% of my ever-growing TBR.
52 Book Club: 51/52 (November Mini-Challenge: 1/4)
ATY: 50/52 (Fall Challenge 42/45)
Booklist Queen: 52/52 – Yay!!!
Diverse Baseline: 31/36
Popsugar: 50/50 – Yay!!!
Robot Librarian: 52/52 – Yay!!!
ICYMI Backlist: 11/12
Recently Completed: Last week was almost all 3-star reads. This week was MUCH better. And I finished some prompts!
Laziness Does Not Exist (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Devon Price) ★★★★
Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope: Reasonable Doubt Book Club. (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Humanly) ★★★★★
Everything I Never Told You: Celeste Ng is such a talented writer. (Diverse Baseline #31 – literary fiction by a BIPOC author) ★★★★
Owner of a Lonely Heart: A Memoir: 2023 NPR Books We Love. ★★★★
Remarkably Bright Creatures (ICYMI Backlist – published in 2022) ★★★★★
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West: I gave this 5 stars when I first read it many, many years ago, but I think the musical ruined the book for me. (Booklist Queen #8 – becoming a movie in 2024/Popsugar #26 – turned into a musical) ★★★★
Prep (Booklist Queen #26 – from the bottom of your TBR) ★★★★
The Mountain in the Sea (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Ray Nayler) ★★★
Translation State: 2023 NPR Books We Love. (52 Books November Mini-Challenge #1 – related to the word intergalactic) ★★★
An American Dreamer: Life in a Divided Country: Well written and engaging but super-depressing in light of this week’s election results. ★★★★
The Fiction Writer: Rebecca inside Rebecca inside Rebecca. Twisty fun! ★★★★
Currently Reading:
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society
Gold Diggers (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Gold/Diverse Baseline #32 – surrealism, fabulism, or magical realism by a BIPOC author)
Playground
The In Crowd
How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice: 2023 NPR Books We Love.
The Great Transition: Adventures Underground Book Club. (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Nick Fuller Googins)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: Can I possibly finish this by the end of the month? (52 Books November Mini-Challenge #4 – 800-900 pages long)
The Wild Robot (ATY #4 – related to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”)
Our Infinite Fates: Goodreads Giveaway.
QOTW: I'd love to see some prompts that involve nonfiction or graphic novels. I want prompts that actually challenge me... I kinda hate it when people twist the prompt completely out of shape to fit their preferred genre. (I know, I know. "Your challenge, your rules.") I do NOT want a prompt that once again forces me to read a book set in Paris or during WWII or both. But I'll do it if required to do so.
I checked the 2024 PS Reading Challenge. I've only read 14 books from the prompts this year. Kind of a bummer. So many of the prompts are geared toward fiction and it was hard placing nonfiction books in some of them. Really hope the 2025 one allows for more leeway in that regard otherwise I'll end up with the same problem.
Happy Thursday, y’all. Like a lot of you, I am in a bit of dark place post election, but I am determined to find a way out. Thankfully, I am surrounded by many people who think like I do...and some that will be impacted largely by negative legislation featuring LGBTQ and women's issues.
My area finally got some rain with more to come. It is a bit of a relief since we only had a trace for October. Temps are still in the 70s generally with night time lows in 50-60s. This is the time of year that selecting something to wear varies during the day. Cool in the morning, hot by the afternoon.
The guy came out to look at my solar on my trailer. Basically nothing has changed, and I owe him for the call. I will not use him again…he frustrated me so much. Our communication styles are very different, and his comment that he did not have time to teach me when I was simply verifying what I understood he had said represented the lack of it.
This week has been my chance to read graphic novels since my group PAS has that genre as the monthly focus.
DNF
The Gray House (Kindle) – BIG book of over 700 pages. Owned. 36%. I read over a third of this book, and it never got my attention. I did not care about any of the characters nor understood much about them. I seldom DNF a book…only 5 since I joined GR. Still, for such a big book, I think I have given it a good try, and it just isn’t happening. Nor do I think I will return for another try.
Finished:
Birthright – PS #43, PAS. One of my favorite authors. 4*. This is a stand alone book (unlike her trilogies) about an archaeologist uncovering old bones, an old relationship, and old unknown personal history. Great read.
Artificial Condition - PS #19. 4*. A continuation of Murderbot series.
The Sprite and the Gardener – PAS. GN. 4*. Sprites used to work to grow gardens and then humans came along. This story is of one sprite, her discovery of her talent for growing, a would-be gardener who wanted to grow a garden for her mother, and then need for community.
Kind – PAS. GN. 4*. Unbeknownst to me, the book I received was book #3 of the trilogy rather than the composite book I thought I was getting. I did enjoy the story and found it creative, although the illustrations were a bit confusing. Still, now that I know the ending, I might not read books #1 and #2.
We Are Not Strangers: A Graphic Novel – PAS. GN. 5*. Fantastic historical story of one man who personally worked to save and restore property to those Japanese in Seattle that were interred. Highly recommend.
James Earl Jones: Voices and Silences – ATY #42, PAS. 3*. Memoir. I learned a lot about a man with a voice that I admired but did not know.
Currently Reading:
Winter Cottage – ALCM. 11%
Just Starting:
A Walk on the Beach: Tales of Wisdom from an Unconventional Woman – ATY #45
Parable of the Talents - PAS
A Young Wife - PAS
The Once and Future King - PAS
On Deck:
Kate: The Journal of A Confederate Nurse – PAS.
One Good Turn – ALCM, PAS
PS 37/50
ATY 44/52
GR 185/200
QotW: What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?
Any that would be a bit more open to fulfillment than the 2024 list. I am a mood reader and so, often, I check my list several times during the year to see if I can fill in with other books I am reading for other challenges rather than what I planned. This year was too hard to do that for most prompts.
I do like Carmen's and Cornerofmadness' suggestions.
Ron wrote: "Carmen wrote:The Discord server for this challenge I set up a couple years ago have put together our own challenge for 2025, for which I am also really excited. It'll be 25 prompts, and has its o..."
"Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge"
https: //discord. gg/ MpUYCjGMxD
(no spaces ofc)
I feel like you joined before but left quite quickly, but maybe it was someone else, haha! It's not an official server by any means, but it's become a nice little place!
Bea wrote: "Happy Thursday, y’all. Like a lot of you, I am in a bit of dark place post election, but I am determined to find a way out. Thankfully, I am surrounded by many people who think like I do...and so..."
Thanks and yeah I used to not DNF either but as I got older I realized it just wasn't worth it to power through something I'm not enjoying. It sort of defeats the purpose of reading to me.
My feelings on current events have been reflected here already, so I'm going to skip ahead to lighter news: my library got a new pet, a bearded dragon! She's appropriately named Bookmark, and I've already gotten to feed her live worms. She hasn't made her official library debut (we're waiting on a table large enough to hold her tank), but hopefully we'll be able to introduce her to the public soon.Finished:
Her Frankenstein - I chose this as a spooky read for Halloween, and while it didn't really pay off on the chills, it was a quick but intense read.
The Monster of Elendhaven - Another book I read for Halloween, but it just didn't do it for me.
When I Became a Commoner, They Broke Off Our Engagement!, Vol. 1 - My library has a demo of Comics Plus, so I read this to try it out. The story was cute, but I'm not sure I'll continue the series.
Continental Drifter - I enjoyed this, but it did follow the format that a lot of graphic memoirs, especially ones aimed at younger audiences, tend to follow.
A Cat from Our World and the Forgotten Witch Vol. 1 - Another cute (and very quick) read. I'll probably check out the next volume.
Currently reading:
Danse Macabre by Stephen King
Luminous Beings: A Graphic Novel
The Monkey's Wrench
QOTW: It's easier to say what I don't want (no more romance prompts, please!), but I think that A Book Mentioned in Another Book You Read would be a fun one.
Hi all, hope you're doing alright. It's been a rough couple of days. Still wrapping my head around everything. Met up with a friend yesterday to go see a singer we'd both liked in our college days. It was good to get out and be surrounded by people who largely all feel the same. It easy to isolate myself when I'm feeling down, working to not do that this time aroundFinished:
Shubeik Lubeik- really interesting graphic novel about an alternate world where wishes are a commodity, and a shop keeper in Egypt trying to sell his final three wishes
-no prompt
The White Book- my third book from Han Kang, and I think my favorite so far. Short vignettes, very lyrical, about the narrator's older sister who died young. I'm planning to pick up Han Kang's other two books that have been translated to English in the next months
-no prompt
Currently reading:
Interstellar MegaChef- described as great british bake off in space, so I picked it up from Netgalley. Now my loan is about to be up and I've made little progress... but it's fun so far
QotW:
I'd like a prompt about "books written in unconventional formats"- letters, text messages, interviews etc
Or "books about transformation"- that could be interpreted pretty broadly
Just no more nanowrimo prompt please. Or books from the year/decade we were born.
I'm relatively new to the group, so I'm not going to post anything yet here. But I did want to thank you all for bringing a little bit of "hope for humanity" back to me today.
Two week check-in! Another disappointing election but this one I couldn't vote in. This is not a good outcome for Canadian trade with our biggest trade partner among many other things.Anyway I'm still fighting a cold that I thought I was over great times. Next week will be better.
In book news I've actually made progress on popsugar. Has there been any mention of the new challenge in FB Nadine? Also I'm ready for the Goodreads Choice Awards to start.
Finished:
A Reign of Rose ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good ending to the series.
The Diary of a Young Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS incarcerated author)
Finally got to this. She would have been a good writer as an adult. I see why it gets banned and thus it's more important for people to read.
Since I Could Die Tomorrow, Volume 1 ⭐⭐ (PS 42 mc)
Depressing and ridiculous. A manga following a 42 year old who has a mid life crisis.
Neon Gods ⭐
Not even my love of all things Greek Mythology could make this enjoyable.
The Break-Up Pact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great rom-com. Two old friends are publicly dumped and play into fake dating for instagram. Be prepared to need scones.
Oshi No Ko , Vol. 1 ⭐⭐
Such a long wait for this library hold and it majorly disappointed me. The synopsis does not explain this book at all. For those that don't like Kpop and have that prompt left this would be perfect because it comments on the dark side of Kpop.
Flamer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS queer memoir)
This is the closest I'm getting for this prompt. I just don't read a lot of nonfiction and I'm ready to be done the challenge. Upsetting subject matter but it does end hopeful. I loved the author's use of colour in the book.
PS 48/50
ATY 52/52 Summer 36/36
ATY rejects lists 10/11
DB 30/36
Goodreads 250/275
QOTW:
I do enjoy a theme specific to 2025. I don't need all the prompts to fit but some would be nice.
Oops! I put this week's update in the wrong week originally.November Purchased TBR: 2/8 (Shhh.... those of you who are judging that I've bought 8 books in the first 7 days of November. Who am I kidding? You understand!)
Library TBR: 0/7
I was devastated yesterday. But I attended a candlelight vigil and got hugs from random strangers while I was sobbing. That helped. Then I colored with a guy who didn't vote, but pretty sure would have voted for Trump had he. That helped too. I want to understand and work with people, not villianize anybody. (Well, except for Trump. I don't mind villianizing him.)
Finished: Leading a Life with God: The Practice of Spiritual Leadership
Lectio Divina as Contemplative Pedagogy: Re-appropriating Monastic Practice for the Humanities Very amateurishly written.
Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility Left a lot out of its framework.
Started: The Forbidden Book Oh my God, guys! This is such a beautiful book and so well-written! I'm loving it.
Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI
Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson
World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music
QotW: I really like Nadine's idea of reading something positive and inspiring. We could all use that right now. I also like the idea of exploring some of the little known "holidays" like Nadine and Lynn do to pick some of the month themes for our collective reading, things like Talk like a pirate day (though we've already had the pirate theme in one of these challenges) and world translation day.
Erin wrote: "Just no more nanowrimo prompt please. Or books from the year/decade we were born."Oh, I agree! The NaNoWriMo prompt just feels tired, and I'm running out of books published in my birth year!
Hey there, Thursday. The exhaustion is real. Also deeply angry here in Ohio, but not surprised in the least. I can't pretend I have answers, but between all I've read and seen in the past decade, I have a lot of thoughts. I worry for so many people, friends and loved ones and strangers alike. Love to you all. Books finished this week:
A Year of Ravens - 4.5 stars. I've never read a multi-authored book by more than 2 people before, so this was very cool. Everyone wrote from a different character's POV and then they all came together in the end. Makes me very excited for more like this!
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII - 5 stars. Chester’s story is fascinating and so well told. I especially liked the bit where he explained how they devised the code itself. There was an interview tacked onto the end, and while I know Judith is the scholar, I would’ve loved to hear more from Chester himself.
Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1 - 5 stars. This is the kind of escapism I need. Pure delight.
My Cross to Bear - 5 stars. Another excellent memoir. Will Patton’s narration is so natural.
Banned Book Club - 5 stars. I picked this up yesterday amid the fog and anger and it helped, a little. I was amazed to get through anything at all. I highly recommend this graphic novel.
PS 44/50
ATY 50/52
Mount TBR 28/48
Currently:
A History of the Arab Peoples - current audio, although I'm on the fence about having Wanda McCaddon narrate. I love her work on the Jane Austen books, but I don't think she would've been my first choice for this.
Snake Oil Bullet - wrapping this up soon, if I don't get too sucked into Attica
Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy - it's 500+ pages but I can already tell this is gonna FLY
QOTW: What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?
Given how the past few years have gone, I feel like multiple 2025-specific categories are a given. I don't often find that I have preferences *for* categories as much as *against* ones where I can't find a book to fill it, lol
What a insert-expletive-here week this has been. I've about given up any hope in humanity or the US political system. And at the moment all I want to do is binge-watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure for the fourth time and eat ice cream, because it won't solve anything but it sure as hell can't make things worse, can it?Books read this week:
Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story -- a somewhat biased but eye-opening look at the creation of one of the most controversial and popular cartoons of the 1990s… and the volatile personality behind it. Unfortunately came out before said creator’s real fall from grace (SA allegations), so it’s a little incomplete.
Lunar Boy -- graphic novel about identity, belonging, and queer and trans people and how they’re trying to fit back into Indonesian culture after colonizers’ influence.
Currently reading:
The Halcyon Fairy Book
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes
Pest Control
QOTW:
I enjoy prompts that encourage me to seek out authors from other countries, or non-fiction books.
Hello from Columbus! We’re finally starting to get consistent cooler weather which is exciting but I’m also really hating the time change. I missed last weeks check-in because we had a busy trick or treat day and then a busy weekend. So this’ll be two weeks worth of books. Finished:
The Carnivorous Carnival not for a challenge, a book I listened to with my son. I can’t believe we’re almost at the end of this series!
Night Film also not for the challenge I just reread my favorite book every Halloween season. Still love this book so much, and I can’t wait for Marisha Pessl new book coming out this month.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood for a read harder prompt. This graphic novel has been on my radar for years and years, I’m glad I finally got a chance to sit down with it. It makes me really happy my kids have had the privilege to grow up in a mostly safe, conflict free area.
The Running Grave for a book published under a pen name. I love this series so much, and with how it ended I literally cannot wait for the next book in the series to be released. This book especially hit home for me because there’s a pretty prominent cult in Columbus that I’ve lost a few friends to over the years. There were parts of this book that had me so anxious I had to remind myself that it’s fiction and I’m not in danger.
Racial Justice and the Catholic Church for the read harder challenge. This is probably one of the most compelling books I’ve read about racial justice, specifically in terms of the USA.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Challenges:
Popsugar - 34/45; 3/5
Read Harder - 20/24
Classics - 10/12
European Tour - 10/10
12 Friends - 12/12
Yearly Goal - 135/150
QOTW:
I always like prompts involving the cover, like the color or something included in the cover art. I always suggest books the truly get us out of our bubbles, like a book about a religion you’re not familiar with or a book by someone you disagree with politically or philosophically.
As an American, it’s difficult to believe we’re here again. And I don’t mean Thursday. I’ve put a lot of effort into my mental health post-election. It’s been a struggle at times. I told a friend that it feels overwrought to say this, but I’m glad I read Lord of the Rings again before the election. There are so many wonderful quotes about hope as an act of defiance and enduring even when it feels futile that I’m holding onto now.
Finished
The Return of the King
Reading
Hell Is Empty
QOTW
I’ll be disappointed if we don’t have a prompt about a “quarter” something. I always like “a book published this year” and “a book you meant to read last year” prompts.
Happy Thursday!I got my book. Last week, I mentioned that I went to pick up an interlibrary loan. It wasn't there and the librarian was confounded. Since it was Halloween, I blamed a library ghost. It was in fact another patron. How even if you took the wrong book, it takes a week to realize it and bring it back I don't know.
I've started my mystery/thriller of the month and my book to honour the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
I am a Canadian, so I have no comment on the American election as I don't appreciate it when non-Canadians have uninformed opinions on our politics.
Series - 10/12
Nobel laureates - 5/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 11/13
ATY - 46/45 - finished!
PS - 30/30 - finished!
Summer - 12/12 - Finished!
Currently reading:
Jane of Lantern Hill - 10%
The Chateau - 10%
Buddy Reads:
none at present
QOTW: Like Nadine, I hope for more 25 connections. (Otherwise, I will lobby for a mini-challenge)
- quarter centuries
- money (quarters)
- drugs or trippy books (LSD-25)
- something silver on cover (silver wedding)
- manga for manganese
Still recovering from feeling all the stages of grief all at once all day yesterday but moving towards channeling all the feels into something productive. And that's all I'll say on that. I finished one book (didn't fit an open prompt) and started one of my book club's picks for November, which happens to be a cozy read - perfect! I'm at 22/45 and 3/5 for this challenge and 81/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.
Finished:
* Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power by Lisa Mosconi
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* The Change written by Kirsten Miller and narrated by January LaVoy, which is one of my book clubs' picks for November and seems to be a good pick for my general mood; and,
* The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai and translated by Jesse Kirkwood, which is my other book clubs' pick for November and is just the cozy read I need.
QotW:
What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list? I like Nadine's suggestion about having something hopeful or "how to" books to help navigate 2025. Maybe a prompt to read a classic children's book or a nostalgic read? And I hope there's some sort of a banned book prompt. I also really like prompts that encourage reading books in translation or from a particular region.
@Ashley Marie Banned Book Club looks really interesting thanks for adding to my tbr. :)
I just want to talk about books so lets get straight to ....Finished:
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
I read it for my book club and it didn't fit any prompts of any of my main four challenges.
Currently reading:
Say You're One Of Them (which will fit a prompt for all 4 challenges)
The Only Way Is the Steady Way
A Hitch in Time
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat
All The Light We Cannot See (re-read)
QOTW:
I too would like to see prompts that can at least accommodate non-fiction. It's seems the non-fiction prompts are too restrictive, for example autobiography/woman/rock and roll. I call that triple restrictive, and I want no more triple restrictive prompts. If it had only two restrictions...autobiography by a woman, autobiography by a PERSON in rock n roll, BOOK about a woman in rock n roll...it would have achieved the goal of pushing people out of their comfort zone but allowed so many more book options to read. No more NaNoWriMo. I believe it is already being used but published in a quarter century would be cool: years ending in 25, 50, 75, 00.
I am interested in such a wide variety of books that I mostly don't mind most prompts except as indicated above.
I am a big supporter of reading banned books so I would like to have a banned book prompt every year
Speaking of banned books, the book community is recommending buying them to own in physical form because they foresee a widespread bookban coming next year. I hope it won't come to that, but better safe than sorry I suppose.
Carmen wrote: "Speaking of banned books, the book community is recommending buying them to own in physical form because they foresee a widespread bookban coming next year. I hope it won't come to that, but better..."This wouldn't surprise me. the American Library Association reported record book challenges this year alone and now given the current state of things I would imagine it's only gonna get worse.
Gotta stock up on books while we still can. Everything is on the table for those people: LGBTQ+ books, books about diversity, feminism, etc.
If anyone is interested, I'm part of a GR group that focuses on banned books. We're kinda quiet, but those of us that do chat are friendly and passionate!https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
And I suspect my nieces and nephews are going to be getting banned books for Christmas (whether they want them or not!).
Mod
Popsugar is soliciting feedback for the 2025 challenge!!
They are accepting input through Facebook. I can't seem to figure out how to link to their post, but go to the PS group and find the post from Taylor Michelle Andrews
https://www.facebook.com/groups/42747...
AND She is also soliciting ideas HERE in our group!!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
(I edited this post once I figured out that she posted here, so you don't NEED to go to Facebook)
Mod
so they just took it and walked out with it?
In my library system, you cannot check out a book that is on the hold shelf for someone else. This has tripped me up now and then when I used to put picture books on hold under both mine and my daugthers' cards, sometimes I would use the wrong card and OOPS doesn't work!
Mod
Happy Friday! I just got back from a 2-day conference. Full of new ideas and now tired of all the impressions.When I got home, I read about the despicable antisemitic terrorist 'hunt' on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam last night. 80 years after the Second World War and again Jews are not safe in my country. I have no words.
FNL: 39/40
PS: 20/40
Total: 62/52
DNF: 1
Finished
De omwenteling by Suzanna Jansen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The century of the woman. About the position of Dutch women in the 1900s. Which was much worse than other European countries: it wasn’t until 1980 that women had equal rights in society and economy. It made me mad and grateful: mad because women weren’t able to live their lives they way they wanted for so long. And grateful, because I can. Because I never could be a housewife. My brain would suffocate.
Watch Us Dance by Leïla Slimani⭐⭐⭐
Intriguing and at the same time boring portrait of a bi-cultural family in Morocco in the 1960s and 1970s. A bit like the Elena Ferrante series.
Currently reading
Zeiten des Aufbruchs by Carmen Korn
QOTW
I only hope categories are a bit less specific than this year’s list. And more diverse topics (as in not all identity, robots or year).
Ron wrote: "Gotta stock up on books while we still can. Everything is on the table for those people: LGBTQ+ books, books about diversity, feminism, etc."Only have to look at Project 2025 that this is exactly what they'll be targeting. I've seen some terrifying stuff today in regards to education (specifically Oklahoma) and my US trans friends.
And then here in Amsterdam Israeli football fans spouted horrible things about arabs/Palestinians and took down a Palestinian flag, and then antisemites hunted them down.
The world is awful right now.
Nadine in NY wrote: "so they just took it and walked out with it?In my library system, you cannot check out a book that is on the hold shelf for someone else. This has tripped me up now and then when I used to put picture books on hold under both mine and my daugthers' cards, sometimes I would use the wrong card and OOPS doesn't work!
At least at my community library, the hold/interlibrary loan shelf is a physical shelf sort of between the door and the main desk. They sign the books out to your account and you just pick them up without showing a card or ID. My husband and kids have both grabbed my books. In 3 years of using this for about 2 books a month, this is the first time it went wrong.
Happy Friday. Stats:
PS: 48/50
ATY: Done
ATY Rejects: 24/25
ATY Rewind: 24/25
DBC: 31/36
GR Choice: 27/30
Books I Finished:
Cat + Gamer, Volume 3 ⭐⭐⭐
The Girl Who Was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy ⭐⭐⭐
Ink Blood Sister Scribe ⭐⭐⭐
This was a disappointment. I really struggled to get into it. And then I finally did, and then it was over.
In Progress:
Bitter Medicine
Fate's Edge
Sweep in Peace Dramatized Adaptation
QotW
I don't have any I really want, just ones I don't want: No NaNoWriMo, no 24 hours, no specific ages for characters or authors,
Nadine in NY wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "I got my book. Last week, I mentioned that I went to pick up an interlibrary loan. It wasn't there and the librarian was confounded. Since it was Halloween, I blamed a library ghos..."Nadine, Dubhease: I think this could be done for regular holds in my local library as it is self-checkout. For interlibrary loans, it must be checked out through a librarian.
Carmen wrote:Only have to look at Project 2025 that this is exactly what they'll be targeting. I've seen some terrifying stuff today in regards to education (specifically Oklahoma) and my US trans friends.
I've been following the stuff in Oklahoma too.
I am so worried for the future of education both in terms of the country and my state of Texas. It's gonna get messy and ugly. I am so glad I didn't live through what the future holds because I had access to all kinds of books without fail.
Mod
In my library system, you cannot check out a book that is on the hold shelf for someone else. This has tripped me up now and then ..."
Ohhh that's interesting. In my library, they are literally on hold for a particular account, and you have a period of time (usually 7 days) to come get them and actually check them out.
Mod
My mind has been so distracted over these past 3+ months that I just haven’t been able to focus to read nearly as much as usual. At first I was scared I would never regain focused concentration enough to read for long periods. But I feel that is returning. Slowly but surely. I’ve allowed myself to just watch humorous shows and/or play games on my phone. Mindless stuff. Perhaps I have completed enough “rehab” of my emotional state to continue on with my normal activities to a much greater degree. I sure hope so… Teaching at the gym has been such a good thing for me right now. So many people I know who are just as upset as I am and we all listen and talk and try to calm each other down. Basically, keeping "community" alive in your life in whatever way you can is one of the basic defenses for now. Developing and participating in community. I must reread Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen, with a much more personal attention this time around.
ADMIN STUFF:
THE NOVEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #39 A fiction book written by a trans or nonbinary author
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! Dubhease is the "End-of-Year Innovator" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! YAY Dubhease! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 And I had no idea that this book can be classified as "horror" to some degree. I already have a copy, so I'll definitely at least start reading it. I just hope I won't have to DNF it!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?
From a listing of possible prompts I had...
A book that has won a diversity award in the 21st Century
(I have a list of such awards.)
A book involving “human rights” or “civil rights”
A simple definition is that “human rights” are the rights you have simply for being a human being. Comparatively, “civil rights” are contextual, meaning you are entitled to specific civil rights through being a citizen of a particular country, nation, or state. Civil rights are proclaimed by the government for the citizens of that country, while human rights are derived from natural law and are universally protected and applied.
There are Goodreads listopias!
A book released in a year ending with “00” or “25” or “50” or “75”
(due to “25” at the end of “2025”! A quarter-century!)
A book with a character who is non-cisgender
A book related to the 2025 Winter World University Games to be held in Turin, Italy
On January 13, 2025, the 2025 Winter World University Games will be held in Turin, Italy
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Wi...)
The 2025 FISU Winter World University Games will be the first World University Games event to feature para-athletes and para-sport events, alongside the existing able-bodied events as part of FISU’s long-term strategy of inclusiveness and social sustainability.
The 11 events historically included:
Alpine Skiing
Biathlon
Cross-Country Skiing
Curling
Figure Skating
Freestyle Skating
Ice Hockey
Short Track Speed Skating
Ski Orienteering
Ski Mountaineering
Snowboarding
This could include books about:
Any of these sports and/or people who participate in these sports
Para-athletes/para-sporting events
Snowy/cold settings
Orienteering (being lost, following directions, etc.)
Climbing mountains
Books with “snow,” “cold,” “ice,” “ski,” “skiing,” “shooting,” “climb,” or “climbing” in the title
A book related to National DNA Day—April 25, 2025
(https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...)
Any science-related book regarding DNA: it’s discovery, it’s usefulness in investigations/solving crimes, our ability to map biological relations (23 and Me, etc.)
Any book regarding genetically caused diseases/afflictions or a character dealing with one:
Cleveland Clinic--https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...
A book with related people finding each other
Read a book with a “supernatural” element
Read a book set in the “real world”
A book set in an urban environment
A book set in “nature”
A book with a totally selfish self-absorbed character
A book with a character who helps others
A book with a character who is ultra-rich
A book with a character living in “poverty”
A book with a character who betrays another character
A book with a character who is loyal to another character
A book with a character who is “forgiven”
A book with a character who “forgives” someone else
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 38/50
Around the Year (AtY): 51/52
Read Harder: 17/24
52 Book Club: 46/52
FINISHED:
*Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ hit rather close to home for me. I have worked as a social worker and can relate so closely with her seeming obsession with her clients. I was the same as Ellen in that I was very conscientious about being ‘on call’ for emergency situations, etc., always working hard to protect and help clients and their families. I can easily imagine her predicament. My advantage is that when I was working in this profession, my children were already grown and out of the house, so I wasn’t juggling my own small children at the same time. This was an excellently written book, IMO. I would recommend it if you are interested. Having met Gudenkauf, I am happy to encourage people to read her books! She is such a sweetie!
POPSUGAR: #2, NEW #9
ATY: #3-A book that has a character with a non-traditional name-Maudene, #12, #17, #18, #24, #25, #36, #48
RHC: #12, #23, #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman
52 Book Club: #3, #4, #12, #14
CONTINUING:
*One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston for the November Monthly Group Read
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse *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:
*21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club #21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club #22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club #23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23 1/2 Lies (Women’s Murder Club #23.5) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*The 24th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #24) 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
I am anxious for a final vote count so I know exactly how many uninformed easily manipulated voters to hold accountable!
This is a good time to pull out one of those comfort reads we had been talking about.
DEFINITELY! I am finding One Last Stop to be a good one to distract me...
"I JUST started a cozy fantasy that is so sweet and cute that I have to recommend it here: The Teller of Small Fortunes. I just got it from NetGalley, but the publication date was Nov 5, so you all can read it now too. I don't usually like cozy fantasy because they often have no plot and no plot tension, but this one has a plot! It's giving "Princess Bride as written by Nghi Vo" vibes because a misfit group of travellers is forming, and they are going to search for the one man's missing daughter. One of the travellers is a fortune teller, of course (and she has a cute mule too!) and I assume she will be key in finding the daughter."
Ooohhh...added that to my TBR listing! Sounds like an excellent escape from reality!
"*** FRIDAY UPDATE: Popsugar is soliciting ideas from us for the 2025 list right here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
I think this is so very smart! And we have listed so many amazing suggestions already!! Whoo! Whoo! SUGGESTIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11! (Though perhaps that is just a "suggested" cutoff?)
"*** SECOND FRIDAY UPDATE: New list will drop Monday, Dec 2nd!!"
When do you want to begin creating placeholders for the prompts, Nadine? Honestly, I still have 12 books remaining to finish this year's challenge and I have no idea if I will get those read by year's end, but it's okay. I'm being very gentle with myself right now...
"The Favorites by Layne Fargo - YOU GUYS!!! This was a NetGalley book, it comes out in January, I encourage you all to read it if you have any interest at all in: Wuthering Heights, retellings of classics, badass women, juicy passionate burn-it-all-down partnerships ... or ice dancing (that was like a hindrance for me, not at all an appeal - but if you love ice dancing or pairs figure skating, there is a LOT of ice skating in this book). Everyone in my real life (which honestly isn't really that many people) is sick of hearing me talk about this "ice dancing retelling of Wuthering Heights." Because I would not shut up. It was SO GOOD. FIVE STARS. All time favorite!! This was one small spark of happiness in my dreary week. I kind of want to just sit down and re-read it, but ... I have so many other books waiting for me, and a lot of them are NG books since I went and requested a bunch more two weeks ago, so I feel the pressure to review them in a timely fashion."
OMG! I adore figure skating and ice dancing! Looks like one I would enjoy!!
"Question of the Week
What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?"
So glad they have solicited suggestions!!
Mod
Good for you! I don't have that kind of freedom right now, but will be with others who are out there in spirit at least! It is important to protest as much as possible and attempt to apply public pressure, especially in these beginning stages to (hopefully) restrict the offenses to our democracy and help protect all people.
"In normal news, tomorrow is my boyfriend's birthday! We're going car shopping for him! He's already sick of the process, so I think we'll buy whatever we find! lol"
That does seem so "normal"!
"I read very little this week. I started Pointe that I will use for a female athlete, as the MC is a ballerina. Her male best friend was kidnapped years ago and suddenly returns. She knows more than she's telling. I found it on a list of books by African American authors that you must read. It was listed along with Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, etc. I don't think it's up there, but so far, it is entertaining."
Huh. Interesting to see what you think of this one!
"QOTW: I can't think of a specific prompt I want. I'd like some challenging, but not 'pull your hair out trying to think of things you actually want to read' prompts. lol Maybe they'll comb through some of the ATY rejects, cause there were a lot of good choices over there that didn't make it.."
Duh! Yes!
Hi everyone! It has been quite a long time since I've been on here. This year hasn't been my favorite for many reasons - one of which is that reading has often been difficult for me. I've had to reduce my reading goals by half, and barring any upcoming crises, it looks like I'll make it.Like many of you, this week has been full of emotional trauma. I was terribly upset on Wednesday, but by Thursday I determined I had to find a better way to cope. So here it is - my motto in life is "One Day at a Time" because my life has been so unpredictable for years. And it has become my motto for the political landscape as well. Instead of worrying about what might happen, I'm going to deal with each thing as it actually happens. Not sure how well that will work - I'll tell you on January 21.
I'm not going to bore you with an extensive list of what I've read, but for any that remember that I was reading all of Agatha Christie's novels in publication order, I finished that project in September. I haven't yet decided on what is going to take its place, but I'm giving myself until January to figure it out.
This was a good week for me to drop in so I could find out about the 2025 list drop. I hope I can stay involved more next year. Hopefully I'll stop in again before the end of the year.
Goodreads: 43/50 (originally 100)
Popsugar: 25/50 (we'll see where this ends up - I was hoping to get to 25 so goal met)
QOTW:
I like many of you would like a few prompts around "25" and favorites over the years like something you meant to read last year and published this year. And I always like prompts with something in the title, something on the cover, etc.
I pick a word every year to focus on, and this year my word was "JOY" (as in finding moments of joy). So perhaps a prompt about something that brings you joy. Next year's word looks like it will be HOPE, so I agree with those types of prompts mentioned by others.
I am finishing up Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. It was published in 1989, which is amazing because it is about an autocratic president that is mixing church and state. Set in early 2030s dystopian USA. Ms. Butler even used the phrase "making America great again" in regard to this man.This book was published 35 years ago!
Mod
Welcome back!! I'm sorry you've been struggling to read.
Mod
I read Parable of the Sower years ago, and I keep thinking I should finally finish the series and read the second book ... maybe this is just the push I need.
L Y N N wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Another grumpy New Yorker here. I'm also going to contain myself, but I am ENRAGED. Last time, I was sad and scared, this time, I am ANGRY. I'm giving myself today to sul..."Thanks Lynn. My physical health limits my ability to get out and around, but I'm going to do what I can. Maybe find some at home volunteer options. Maybe I've moved through the stages of grief, or maybe some of the anger has lifted, but it finally occurred to me yesterday that half the country is with us! We are not alone!
As for normal... like "normal" (for me), nothing is smooth! Lol, we found a car he likes, we put money down, but there's a problem with the bank. I have to go there, and with it being a holiday weekend.... I can't go until tomorrow. So we still don't have the car!
I'm finding it weirdly reassuring that other people are as horrified and worried as I am by the election results. Community is important, now more than ever.Currently alternating between cheerful romances like Courtney Milan's The Brothers Sinister: The Complete Boxed Set #.5-4.5, and nonfiction reminding me that we've been in dark places before, like Unequal: A Story of America, by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau. It's extra important to listen to writers of color about how to survive and make changes. Though listening sooner would have been better.
Definitely think "a banned book" should be a regular part of the challenge. Though these days, that's pretty much any book.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Gatsby (other topics)The Diary of a Young Girl (other topics)
Parable of the Talents (other topics)
Parable of the Talents (other topics)
Unequal: A Story of America (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
Liu Cixin (other topics)
More...
I JUST started a cozy fantasy that is so sweet and cute that I have to recommend it here: The Teller of Small Fortunes. I just got it from NetGalley, but the publication date was Nov 5, so you all can read it now too. I don't usually like cozy fantasy because they often have no plot and no plot tension, but this one has a plot! It's giving "Princess Bride as written by Nghi Vo" vibes because a misfit group of travellers is forming, and they are going to search for the one man's missing daughter. One of the travellers is a fortune teller, of course (and she has a cute mule too!) and I assume she will be key in finding the daughter.
Admin stuff
The November group read of One Last Stop is happening here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
*** FRIDAY UPDATE: Popsugar is soliciting ideas from us for the 2025 list right here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
*** SECOND FRIDAY UPDATE: New list will drop Monday, Dec 2nd!!
This week I finished 2 books.
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett - this was a good solid fantasy and I enjoyed it but it was a bit longer than it needed to be and I'm not sure if I'll finish the trilogy.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo - YOU GUYS!!! This was a NetGalley book, it comes out in January, I encourage you all to read it if you have any interest at all in: Wuthering Heights, retellings of classics, badass women, juicy passionate burn-it-all-down partnerships ... or ice dancing (that was like a hindrance for me, not at all an appeal - but if you love ice dancing or pairs figure skating, there is a LOT of ice skating in this book). Everyone in my real life (which honestly isn't really that many people) is sick of hearing me talk about this "ice dancing retelling of Wuthering Heights." Because I would not shut up. It was SO GOOD. FIVE STARS. All time favorite!! This was one small spark of happiness in my dreary week. I kind of want to just sit down and re-read it, but ... I have so many other books waiting for me, and a lot of them are NG books since I went and requested a bunch more two weeks ago, so I feel the pressure to review them in a timely fashion.
Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 80% 8 /10
AtY 100% 52 /52
2024 pub 114% 57 /50
NetGalley ratio 75%
Question of the Week
What category are you hoping to see in the 2025 list?
We usually see the new list in early December, so we've got a few weeks ahead of us to dream about it. I always like to see the "published this year" category, and I'm also looking for a few categories that acknowledge "25" ... maybe something about the quarter century, or quarters (money), or milestone anniversaries.
And it would be nice to see a category that helps us find a book that gives us hope and guidance on the path forward. Not self-help, because I hate that genre, but something ..., perhaps a book on how to deal with anger, or how to become an activist. Rebecca Solnit's Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power would be perfect here (and I have not read it yet).