Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday!!!


It's still very much WINTER here, this week we've gotten snow, snow, more snow, and then some wintery mix followed by additional snow!

My younger kid has started the spring semester at our local college, so we are on a new schedule and still adjusting. She's learning to drive, and we've already had a few dicey drives back and forth in the snow. She's going to be the most CHILL driver after getting through all this LOL!!



Admin stuff
** The nomination poll for our April group read, for healing fiction, is now open here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

In case anyone is feeling confused about what "healing fiction" is, I included a definition:

Healing fiction describes stories about ordinary people, set in ordinary places (such as cafes, bookshops, laundromats, and convenience stores), who are struggling with real, common problems like heartbreak or loneliness.. These books often feature a dose of magical realism and the characters, ultimately, learn an inspiring lesson that improves their lives—and offers them a path to healing.

** The final poll for our March group read (for "music") is now complete. It was a close race!! March's group read will be: Station Eleven. Let us know if you'd like to lead the discussion in March.

** The February group read ("non traditional education") will be A Deadly Education, discussion will be here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

February starts on Saturday and we still do not have a discussion leader for this book - let us know if you're interested. Otherwise, ANARCHY AWAITS!!!

** January's group read of Out of My Mind is happening here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thank you to Jennifer for leading the discussion!!






This week I finished 3 books, 3 for this Challenge, so I am now 11/50


Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo - this was a NetGalley read, but they approved me so late that I could not help reading it after the pub date. My ARC had some formatting issues that made the story confusing sometimes, but once I worked my way past that, I ended up LOVING this quiet little story about four families living in a new government-sponsored apartment complex. It's not at all my usual kind of book! I found I was able to identify with each of the four women who had POVs. Two thumbs up! I had not originally picked this up for the Challenge, but it does fit several 2015 categories, so I checked that off (and it perfectly fits "a translated novel from Asia" in AtY).

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall - another NetGalley book! I'm feeling so good about finally knocking out a few from my NG shelf!! This was an audiobook, and I REALLY did not like the woman who read it (Eunice Wong), her style was monotonous. I might have liked this just fine if I'd read it with my eyes, I don't know. The writing style wasn't really my thing either, but it might have bothered me less if I had not been listening to it. This is a cli-fi litfic adventure story with a group battling to survive and escape a flooded NYC, so I checked off "nature as the antagonist" (and "Cityscape on the cover" in AtY, which is kind of funny because it's a DROWNED city, but it's still clearly Manhattan).

NOTE: this is now the third book I've read in the last few months about drowned cities: first I read a book set in flooded London, then I read a book set in flooded San Francisco, and now this one is flooded NYC.


The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord - this was well written but it was just too sad for a romance. I like a good slow burn angsty romance, but this went beyond angst, and I just wanted to give the main character a big hug and tell her it will be okay. The main characters were all on the high school track team together and they continue to jog regularly, sometimes together ... not exactly a "run club" but close enough for me to check the box!! (and I checked off "sunset vibes" for AtY)


Popsugar 22% 11 /50
Must Reads 0% 0 /10
AtY 17% 9 /52
AtY bonus 0% 0 /10
2025 pub 4% 2 /50
NetGalley ratio 74%



Question of the Week

Do you follow authors on social media?


I USED to! I used to be a lot more active on Twitter and Facebook. But times have changed, I'm never on Twitter, and very rarely on FB, so now the only author I actively see updates from is Mary Balogh because she posts funny puns on FB.

Wow, Nadine, you uploaded this early today! Love it.'

Things are going well here. Not as cold anymore which is a bummer. Temps are gonna be getting into the high 70s°/80s°F this coming week which will be a total bummer. I never look forward to the heat.

School is boring. Not much going on there.

Book News:

- Well I was supposed to have a book come in next week but the release date got pushed back from February to March which is a total drag. I was really looking forward to it so I have to change up my TBR for February a bit. Don't know if I want to add a Nicholas Sparks book because of the whole Valentine's/romance stuff or if I want to add a book by a Black author since it's going to be Black History Month.

- I did pre-order my copy of Sunrise on the Reaping though. My BN is having a release party in March which I'm excited for. I never do release parties because the books I get excited over rarely do those kinds of events. Even ordered a Hunger Games shirt so I could wear that night.

January Reading Wrap Up:

January was off to an excellent start. Read 11 books. 6 were fiction which I found very surprising given that I'm a nonfiction reader, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying them. A fiction book even made my favorite book for the month which was also surprising.

These are all the books I read for the month of January:

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire - My favorite book of January. It was like reading a history book set in the Star Wars universe. Very cool.

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist

The Hunger Games

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story- I liked this one way more than I thought I would.

Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future - This was a reread for me. The paperback was released. It's not for a lot of people since it has a lot of data and stats and research but that's one of the main reasons I loved this book so much.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage - This was my favorite nonfiction book I read. I was very impressed with the writing style. I felt like I was going through the ordeal with these men that it gave me whiplash when I stopped reading and had to get back into my reality. His descriptions, personifications, were all done beautifully.

Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything - Depressing as heck. I stuck around for the nostalgia factor, but yikes!

The Underdogs- Thought I was going to like this but I didn't care for it too much. Just don't have the patience for classics like I used to.

60 Songs That Explain the '90s - This book was awesome. As a millennial it was cool to recognize a lot of the songs that were mentioned and think back on my own musical journey.

Myths and Legends of the Sioux - An unexpected read but I enjoyed it.

The Day After Tomorrow - I was hoping I would like this book better but sadly it ended up being a 3 star. It was the entire movie in book format which was fine, but I was hoping for more.

*****

Now time for my February TBR. I do need to add another book since I have to replace one. Just not sure which one yet.

Priority Reads:

The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America - The paperback has finally been released for this book. The author flat out states in the introduction that he doesn't believe they were abducted by aliens so I look forward to seeing where he goes with this.

More Than a Doll: How Creating a Sports Doll Turned into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes

The Coming Global Superstorm - An outdated climate change book (pub. 1999), but it's the book that the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' was based on so I'm curious.

*****

Everything Else:

Strange Visitors

The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with our Wild Neighbors

Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens

The Northern Lights: The True Story of the Man Who Unlocked the Secrets of the Aurora Borealis

*****


QOTW:

Do you follow authors on social media?

At this point in time I only have my Instagram. There's only one author I really follow on there, Nicholas Sparks. I just no longer have a use for social media as much like I used to (outside of GoodReads and Discord).

I feel like we've had nothing but stormy weather this year. Endless wind and rain. At least the sun has come out today, but where we walk the dog is a quagmire now. So then we have to spend ages getting the mud off and drying her feet so they don't get yeasty.

Finished:
Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill. Loved it. I haven't read anything else about Jenny Greenteeth before and I loved all the British mythology and that the places on their faerie quest were all familiar. Wild places that remain some of the last wildish places in Britain. And it's narrated by the monster, who isn't really a monster even though occasionally she has eaten people, but mostly she prefers a smaller meal. I did think it might work for happily single woman but I couldn't make my mind up if Jenny counted as a woman, with her not being human.

ATY: 30. A monster book
Popsugar: 28. A book that features an unlikely friendship
Read Harder: 6. A standalone fantasy book
Cover Lover: 1. your favorite color

Currently reading The Strange Case of Jane O. and listening to Death of the Author.

QOTW:
While I haven't deleted all my accounts, Bluesky is the only social media I check out on a regular basis now. There are a few authors I follow there either because we've just been mutuals forever on various platforms, or I like what they post about. I don't necessarily have to be a fan of their books, and I don't tend to follow authors that only post their own book news, even if I like them. Some active Blueskiers I follow are T. Kingfisher, John Scalzi, Stephanie Burgis, Premee Mohamed, Seanan McGuire, Louie Stowell, Tade Thompson and Nick Harkaway.

Black History Month is coming up in February. I couldn't decide if I wanted a book related to that or Valentine's/romance. Decided on BHM. Not into the whole love stuff so that can wait.

Someone recommended this book to me:

The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

Looked into it and thought it was cool. There aren't a lot of BIPOC physicists let alone female BIPOC physicists so I thought this was interesting.

Also found this one. I'm not big on memoirs but the subject got me interested. It's something along the lines I've considered writing about so I'll see what I can learn from it.

Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me

Happy Thursday, y'all.

A bit of exciting news -- I have an opportunity to travel to Italy for two weeks this May, in a study-abroad opportunity offered by my college. I've never traveled further outside the US than Canada before, so this will be a new experience. But hopefully a fun one! (Maybe don't admit to my cultural anthropology teacher that my main reason for wanting to go to Italy is because of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, haha...)

Books read this week:

The Witch King -- for “a prompt you want to try/retry from the 2024 challenge (a fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author).” Fantastic queer romantasy about prejudice, coming out, and recovering from trauma.

The Wood Wife -- for “book an AI chatbot recommends based on your favorite book.” Beautifully written, but very slow-paced.

Heavenly Tyrant -- for “book about a politician.” I loved Iron Widow, but this book was NOT a good sequel. All the characters I loved from the first book got either sidelined or character-assassinated, and the plot screeches to a halt every few pages for a political lecture.

Currently reading:

Alligators Eat Marshmallows (And Other Things I Learned On My 10,000 Mile Road Trip Around The USA!): A Comedy Memoir -- for “a book featuring an activity on your bucket list”
Britt-Marie Was Here - for “book about soccer”
Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family -- for “two books with the same title (2)”
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races -- for “book with silver on the cover or the word ‘silver’ in the title”

QOTW:

The main authors I follow on social media are Catherynne M. Valente, Andy Weir, and Tony James Slater.

Kenya wrote: "A bit of exciting news -- I have an opportunity to travel to Italy for two weeks this May, in a study-abroad opportunity offered by my college. I've never traveled further o..."

How exciting! I loved Florence when I visited and really want to see the rest of the country. My partner suggested we go to Naples for a weekend to eat authentic pizza, so I'm hoping he was serious!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

The temperature has risen a little over the past week, but it’s still cold enough that I have zero desire to spend time outside. I don’t have a choice tomorrow, since I’ve got someone coming out to take a look at a few trees, but today I am staying in my nice, warm house.

It’s been a pretty decent week. I haven’t accomplished very much on the “To Do” list, but I’ve had a chance to relax and hang out with a family friend, which was really nice. I’ll get caught up on all the chores eventually…right?

I’ve spent most of this week’s reading time getting caught up on the books I’ve purchased since the beginning of the year, and I’m feeling really good about what I’ve been able to accomplish. I only have 3 new books left to read before I’m 100% caught up, so I should be able to get those books read before the end of February without any problems.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 063/250
Mount TBR Challenge: 052/150

📚Physical TBR: 47/731
📱Ebook TBR: 3/218
🎧Audiobook TBR: 2/15
TBR Checklist Total: 52/964

TBR Books DNFed in 2025: 1

I did purchase a couple of new books this week, including Barbarian's Heart, by Ruby Dixon; and Otaku Elf Vol. 8, by Akihiko Higuchi.

“New” Books Bought in 2024: 14
“New” Books Read in 2024: 11
“New” Books DNFed in 2024: 0

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Four Ruined Realms — This is the sequel to Five Broken Blades. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m going to have a really hard time waiting for the next book in the series to be released. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ The author provides a list of content warnings at the beginning of the novel, so I won’t repeat them here. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Dating and Dragons — This was a super cute book! I enjoyed it so much that I read it in a single afternoon. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Teller of Small Fortunes — I bought this book on impulse the last time I was at Barnes and Noble, and I am so glad I did! It was such a warm, cosy read, and I absolutely loved the story and characters! It’s definitely my favorite book that I’ve read so far this year! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Seven Dials Mystery — I thought this was a very interesting story, and one of Christie’s more twisted mysteries! I ended up reading the entire book in a single evening, because I just could not put it down. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of the Author — This was an incredible book! I’m so glad I had a chance to read it! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Barbarian's Heart — While I did consider giving up on this series after the previous book, I decided to give the newest one a try, and I’m really glad I did. It ended up being one of my favorite installments in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Fellowship of the Ring — I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book before bed each night! Andy Serkis is a fantastic narrator, and I really enjoyed the voices he used for all of the characters. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger, Vol. 2 — I really enjoyed this comic book collection. All of the stories were interesting, and I thought the artwork was well done. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ One of the stories includes an animal that is killed. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 8 — This was a good continuation of the series! I’m already looking forward to the next volume. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
~Witch King — Sadly, this book turned out to be my first DNF of 2025. While I’m a massive fan of Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries series, I just could not get into this book. 📚

Currently Reading:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2 — I’m going to be taking a temporary break from this book until I’m in more of a mood to read it. There are just too many other titles vying for my attention right now. 📚
~The Two Towers — I’m continuing to enjoy listening to Andy Serkis read The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I finished the first book last night, and have officially started the second. 🎧
~The Tigress of Forlì: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici — I’m currently five chapters into this book, and I’m finding it very interesting. 📚
~Boudicca — I started reading this book last night, and I’m having a hard time getting into it. I’m going to give it a few more chapters before I decide to finish or DNF, so we’ll see how I’m feeling about it later today. 📚

QOTW:
I follow a few authors on Instagram, including: Elizabeth Wheatley, Seanan McGuire, Laura Weymouth, and Brandon Sanderson. My favorite to follow is Elizabeth Wheatley, because her Book Goblin videos are hilarious.

Heyy! Even though I´ve been a member of this group for like three years, not once had I posted my progress until today (hope you´ll forgive me, also nice meeting you all:))

I can happily announce that where I live, it looks like the spring has already come. So it´s a really weird feeling to go on a ski trip tommorow, but I look forward to it! I´m in the middle of packing right now. Also all the exams are behind me, so the school´s kinda fun.

Books I read this January:

Mockingjay - 4/5
I really loved the previous two books from The Hunger Games series. However, I feel like that this one drags a little or I don´t know, it just wasn´t as fulfilling for me. Maybe my expectations were too high. But still a good book.

Five Ripe Pears - 5/5
Love a simple enjoyable read with a pint od nostalgia. Can´t have enough of Saroyan.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1-Apr-2010) Paperback - 3/5
I mean... It was a good read, but I got lost a couple of times in the retrospective parts. I liked the Ishiguro´s style in Never let me go and hoped for something similar here, which there wasn´t. But I also read in exams season, so there´s a chance that it influenced my ability to focus hah.

Closely Watched Trains - 4/5
I really liked this. It was swift and kinda simple, but still containing bits of humor and references of various kinds. Recommend the movie, too!

I´ll try to stick to the monthly challenge and some of the promps next month. Apart from that, my February tbr list contains these titles:
The Catcher in the Rye (I´ve already started and it looks like something I´ll enjoy)
Part of Your World (because I´m going on a vacation and it´s not a vacation without a rom-com book)

I´ll also be continuing with my school reading Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood and a library find In Search of Van Gogh: Capturing the Life of the Artist through Photographs and Paintings.

Otherwise, I have no idea. The books usually find me, so we´ll see what I´ll stumble upon!

QOTW:
I don´t really follow any. I´m trying to cut back on Instagram, as it is kinda the only social media I use.

Happy Thursday everyone
This is my first check in this year, so HNY! Started new year on a flight so here's hoping to more travelling in 2025. *fingers crossed*
Went home for 3 weeks after two whole years! Enjoyed my time there.. no laundry, no dirty dishes in sink, no meal planning. I just miss being home pampered, eating my mom's meals.. its honestly a vibe! Although, they are worried that I'm 25 and jobless but its okay! I missed playing stupid pranks on my brother. He's graduating this year.. Ah.. how time flies!

Coming to book news, I did not read so many books this month. I only finished 6 books so far and half of them were audiobooks. Honestly it feels like January started only a couple of weeks back but here we are!

Read:

Carrie Soto Is Back (PS #20, 52BC #29) {audio} Absolutely loved it! 10/10 would recommend. I used this for 2024 re-do prompt. I initially planned on listening to this book last year for book about women sports but I ended up reading some other book cuz of a tiktok recommendation. So I started this year with a redemption. And the theme of the book was so on brand with my 2025 goals. (I need to go back out there and get a job. I need to put myself out there!) The vibe of book really pushed me to do something about that. If Carrie Soto can do it, I'm sure I can polish my resume and do it too!

Geekerella (PS#1, 52BC#20) Cute read. I think I saw it on the listopia and my brother had this book (somebody gifted him). So I just read it. A solid 3/5.

Low and behold, I found my old harrypotter books and started reading them. I only read 3.. but I bought my books back from my home.. so I'm gonna reread them this year.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PS#14, 52BC#27)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PS#30, 52BC#42)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PS#18, 52BC#38)


The Things We Leave Unfinished (PS#10, 52BC#50) {audio} Audible recommended me this book based on my interests. I love Rebecca Yarros and her books. So this was right up my alley. And it matches a prompt in 52book club.
Technically this was included in my plus membership, so it is a free book! So I'm counting it in.

Currently Reading:

The Next Girl

Golden Son {audio}

Question of the Week

Do you follow authors on social media?

Yes. I follow quite a few on Instagram Rebecca Yarros, Christina Lauren,Emily Henry,John Green. I love Vlogbrothers YT channel. I am an OG nerdfighter! #iykyk

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, y'all.

A bit of exciting news -- I have an opportunity to travel to Italy for two weeks this May, in a study-abroad opportunity offered by my college. I've never traveled further o..."

AHHH!! So happy for you! Hope you enjoy it! Carry your student id everywhere, there are tons of museums you can visit for free or a discounted price. And same with the touristy places, you can get the tickets for free or at a disc. price.

Happy Thursday! We still haven't had any snow in eastern Washington, but it has been colder than I like. Heading to Key West tomorrow... I'm really looking forward to a few days in the sun!

2025 Reading Challenges:

52 Book Club: 11/52 (Lunar New Year Mini-Challenge: 0/3)
ATY: 6/52 (ATY Anniversary Challenge: 1/10, ATY Winter Challenge: 12/15)
The Book Girls’ Guide: 7/74
Booklist Queen: 5/52
Cover Lovers: 10/50
Popsugar: 10/50

My Ever-Growing TBR: 10/217 – 4.6% (My goal is 33.3%. I’m making progress, but I bought eight new books this week.)

Recently Completed:

Incidents Around the House (52 Books #4 – set in autumn: horror/Cover Lovers #43 – cover shows something you might find in a child’s bedroom) ★★★
Oye: YA novel recommended by a local librarian that is written as a series of one-sided phone conversations. (ATY Winter Challenge #12 – features family drama/Booklist Queen #50 – a YA novel) ★★★
City of Night Birds (52 Books #10 – author’s last name is also a first name/ATY #20 – animal, vegetable, or mineral in the title) ★★★
The Moonflowers (ATY #46 – title related to a traditional full moon name: Flower Moon) ★★★★
The Three Lives of Cate Kay (52 Books #31 – multiple narrators/Popsugar #19 – a highly anticipated read) ★★★★
Mercury (ATY #7 – author uses three names: Amy Jo Burns) ★★★★
All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way ★★★
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History: 2024 NPR Books We Love. (Booklist Queen #44 – an animal in the title) ★★★★
Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir: 2024 NPR Books We Love. ★★★
You Could Make This Place Beautiful: 2023 NPR Books We Love. (52 Books #19 – short chapters/Popsugar #42 – title starts with Y) ★★★★



Currently Reading:

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History (52 Books #5 – features a heist/BGG Read Around the World #2 – takes place in Western Europe)
Toto (Cover Lovers #41 – cover features eyewear of some kind/Popsugar #20 – a 2024 do-over: told from an animal’s POV)
An Academy for Liars (Popsugar #14 – nontraditional education)
The Seventh Veil of Salome (ATY #23 – involves art, music, dancing, or acting/Booklist Queen #32 – audiobook has multiple narrators)
Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV: 2024 NPR Books We Love. ATY #3 – connected to the Do Re Mi song)
The Life We Bury (ATY #9 – set in winter: mystery/BGG ICYMI Backlist #2 – published in 2014)
The Favorites (Booklist Queen #48 – a book everyone is talking about)
Tangled Up in You (Popsugar #34 – direction in title)
When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach (Booklist Queen #40 – chapters have titles/Popsugar #3 – space tourism)
Epitaph (BGG Read Around the USA #2 – Southwest/Booklist Queen #20 – took a while to read)
The Wise Women (52 Books Lunar New Year Mini-Challenge #2 – a wise character)



QOTW: I don't actively follow any authors on social media.

Happy Thursday!

It's been a good week so far. Not much has happened at work. It's been relatively routine.

My eldest brother has gone back to work so my mom is alone during the day. My other brother should be down next week, but I'm not sure.

She's doing well, she just a little weak, which is a worry. She has to to take things super slow, but she's capable of most things except long time on her feet. Her arthritis is bad in joints.

My sister has decided to move back to our little berg, which means giving up the convenience of being close to just about any type of urban life. All things shopping will now be an hour or more drive away. I can see why though. All the grands are here and she won't have to deal with wild horses hanging out in the streets.

I did have a 20 minutes to start going through my books read and place them in the challenges. Sadly only ATY and not PS.

ATY 8/52
Hack – aty 1 – Tattoos
A God Killed Me By Mistake, But I Reincarnated As The 4th Son Of The Marquis: Volume 1 – aty 7
Silver Saints MC Volume 1 – aty 13 – Motorcycle Club
Fox– aty 20
Since I Was Abandoned After Reincarnating, I Will Cook With My Fluffy Friends Volume 2 – aty 22
Breaker – aty 23 – The fmc is in a band that plays the bar where the mmc goes to get at drink.
Cash – aty 27
Dance With Me, Baby – aty 34

ATY Anniversary 4/10
2016 -- Trapped By His Love: The Duke's Unexpected Bride, Volume 1
2017 -- Nova
2022 -- Since I Was Abandoned After Reincarnating, I Will Cook With My Fluffy Friends Volume 3
2025 -- Echo

Goodreads Challenge 68/400

Kids Books:
Penguin in Love

Light Novel:
How I Swapped Places with the Villainess, Beat Up Her Fiancé, and Found True Love Vol.1

Manga XXX:
My Hot Boss is Secretly a BL Voice Actor and a Virgin?! -- It was . . . interesting. And boy does the fmc have some moves! I was like Holy S#!t!

Romance:
Claimed by the Sailor
Owned by the Officer: A Line of Duty/Black Ops Crossover
Wizard
Silver Saints MC: Volume 6
Cash
Knight
Doc
Patch
Bear
Dash
Viper
Deviant
Stolen by the Master Chief
Ice
Rider
Breaker
Nova
Pursued by the Club Owner: An Age Gap Romance
Seized by the Mafia King
Dirty Deal

Currently Reading:
Not a thing. I will find something when I get home probably. I was reading Immortal and Lawbreaker but I got distracted by the Silver Saints MC and by Fiona Davenport in general. Now I am finished with all the MC books except for her preorders that come out later! So I can move on to other things.

QOTW:

I do follow a few on Facebook and newsletter. It's mostly passive following though. I'm not a stalker, sheesh! 🤣🤣

Most of the romance author newsletters I keep for free book listings. Why pay when you can get it for free, right?

Happy Thursday! I'm proud of myself for updating "on time" this week. I'm in the middle of junior high and high school solo/ensemble music contests, so my schedule is a bit crazy.

Completed
The Cat Who Saved Books
Artemis
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
The Natural Menopause Plan: Overcome the Symptoms with Diet, Supplements, Exercise and More Than 90 Recipes
Nemesis
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

PS Progress: 11/50

Currently Reading
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 1 of 6
The 9th Judgment
A Certain Justice
The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team

Hi all,

I've personally had an ok week, aside from headaches, but it's been a rough week for everyone around me and feeling kind of battered from emotional fallout and just dealing with the world at large. Looking forward to the weekend.

this week I finished:

The Ghost Bride - This was interesting over all, but the main character did kind of annoy me. Another off the tbr list.

Compulsory - just needed something to read while I had insomnia that wasn't going to keep me up all night. so a little 8 page Murderbot was perfect.

Currently reading:

A Market of Dreams and Destiny - another tbr pick. I like goblin market books, it's fun so far.

Just Like Home - listening to audio book. I saw Sarah Gailey had a new book out soon, and it reminded me that I never got around to this one. So I grabbed the audio and it's pretty good so far. I like the narrator.

QOTW:

I follow some, Cherie Priest, Kim Harrison, Seanan McGuire, John Scalzi, Sarah Gailey. I recently un-followed one who proved to be a monster.

The world is falling apart at the seams, but it seems like for most people, it's business as usual. Where can we grieve? Where can we agitate? It's gotten to the point where each day, I try to take care of one thing. That's about all I can handle.

Meanwhile...

January Purchased TBR: 2/6
January Library TBR: 8/18
PS: 29/50

Finished: The Black Joy Project for prompt POC joy.

Crushing It for book about soccer. This was great! I recommend it.

Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls

Fuck Happiness: How Women are Ditching the Cult of Positivity and Choosing Radical Joy

The Dark Prophecy for prompt book about magical creatures other than dragons

Started: Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge
I liked where it started out, but I don't like where it's going.

Worth Fighting For: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty is Trending

QotW: What is this social media of which you speak? I occasionally get updates on GR from Naomi Klein. That's about it.

Doni wrote: "The world is falling apart at the seams, but it seems like for most people, it's business as usual. Where can we grieve? Where can we agitate? It's gotten to the point where each day, I try to take..."

I'm with you. I'm horrified/outraged at least 5 times a day (and usually at that point, even *I* turn it off), but I don't see any outlets. I tried contacting my local Democratic party to join, but no one has responded since before Thanksgiving (and I got the sense that it was only like 2 or 3 people as it was). I've decided to write nasty angry, but polite emails to my representatives...

Happy Thursday!

Well, I bought tickets to the concert last Saturday, and then discovered that it was scheduled for 8p! It is COLD once the sun goes down and is the time of the year that I head for bed with the sun. Whatever was I thinking? (Wrong. I got there about 7:30 only to find out that it had started at 7!)

However, the concert was great. I heard 2 of the 3 musical compositions – one by Mendelsshon and the other by Bruch (who introduced me to violin music years ago). And the featured violinist played on the Bruch piece only as well as doing an impromptu piece of jigs with her daughter afterwards. So thoroughly enjoyed it all!

I finally gave in and ordered one of those meal plans…Hungryroot. I chose this one to try as if seemed the most flexible. However, I realized that I did not need prepped breakfast (I eat cereal or toast or pastries most days) nor lunch (sandwiches or salads or leftovers suffice) nor snacks (Dollar General, cheese, pickles) nor desserts (again pastries, muffins). Then since meals are at least for two, I figured that one would do for two days…and so I got only some meals (4-5 rather than all or none, the other choices). The first shipment of Vegetarian meals starts on Monday (1/27).

Well, the shipment came. Five recipes that are quick and simple. I have eaten only two with a third planned for today. One was a total bust. It should have been for a breakfast as it was an egg meal of 70 calories! Definitely not a dinner. The other was a salmon meal with jasmine rice. Very delicious! Today will be burgers – veggie.

Finished:
The Coal Tattoo – PAS. 4*. An Appalachian story.

Wash Day Diaries – PS #1 (joy not trauma). GN. 4* Black women lives. Fun.

Deerskin – Kindle. PS #23 (healing fiction). 5*. Fantastic! A princess experiences such physical and emotional trauma that she loses her memory. She escapes…and wanders…and heals. In the end, she faces her traumatic memories and find love.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul 1789-1794 – PAS. 3* I learned a lot about William Blake and his works.

The Secret of the Old Clock – PS #30 (childhood). 3* Nancy Drew. A mystery series that I loved as a child but that feels unrealistic now.

Face the Fire – PAS, PS. 4* The end of a trilogy by an author I enjoy.

Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 – No prompt. GN. 4*. Really enjoyed. I will continue with this series.

Currently Reading:
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – 27%.

Shaman – PS #38 (same title). 10%

God Is in the Small Stuff and It All Matters: Stop Worrying and Invite God into the Details of Your Life – ATY sea. sonal (nonfiction). 13%

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street – No prompt. 33%. Kindle. A prime read that has been on my TBR since 2019.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics – PS 2024. 18%. Audible.

The Grass Harp, Including A Tree of Night and Other Stories – Book Club selection. 68%. Not sure that I would call any of these stories enjoyable.

Prairie County Fair – ATY #8 (novellas), PAS. 52%

Just Starting:
Before Your Memory Fades – ATY #49 (time travel), PS #47 (interconnected stories).
The Devil's Feather - PAS
A Year on Ladybug Farm - PAS

On Deck: (owned)
Kate: The Journal of A Confederate Nurse – PAS.
The Pony Wife – PAS
Moving Target – PAS

PS 8/50
ATY 4/52, Anniversary 3/10, Winter 7/15
GR 24/200

QotW:
I don’t follow any authors on social media.

It's been bitter cold over here, though things are going to warm up soon. Not soon enough, as I'm pretty sure the constant chill is what caused my car battery to be flaky this week. It's currently waiting to be diagnosed, and I'm hoping it's just the battery and not anything else...

Finished:
The White Cat's Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King's Lap, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, , Vol. 3 - A very bingeable series! Despite the title, there isn't much actual revenge plotting going on, but it's an enjoyable series nonetheless.
The Ghostkeeper: A Graphic Novel - (PS Left-handed character) Not bad, but not really my cup of tea.
Hakumei & Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods, Vol. 4 - This series continues to be lowkey and very cozy.

Currently Reading:
The Wedding People
Headshot
The First State of Being

QOTW:
I follow a few, but as I don't use social media very much these days, that doesn't mean too much.

Doni wrote: "The world is falling apart at the seams, but it seems like for most people, it's business as usual. Where can we grieve? Where can we agitate? It's gotten to the point where each day, I try to take..."

I'm in a similar state. I feel stymied and frustrated. Borderline depression that has resorted to reading and burrowing in my little house. Creativity has been drained. BUT I am a survivor and I will find my way out.

Hi all. Not much going on here. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so what little snow we have, will probably be gone. Can't believe this weekend is February.

This morning I finished The Fox Wife on audio. Loved it! I was meh on her book The Ghost Bride, but this was fabulous. For now, I'm going to use it for married couple who doesn't live together, but I could move it to magical creatures if needed later.

Also been reading The Dew Breaker for interconnected stories. Really liking that as well. It's funny, I loathe short stories, but I love connected short stories.

QOTW: GR is my only social media, and I intentionally don't follow authors here. I worry they would "bug" me, and if you want to know who I like, either ask me or check out my shelves. Yeah, I'm a curmudgeon. :)

Every time I think about joining some other social media site, they do something stupid like sell it to Elon or eliminate fact checking or have no real privacy controls....

Happy Thursday! It's been a few weeks since I checked in, but rehearsal absolutely takes it out of me - routinely awake til midnight and then up at 6am for work, and hyperfocused on all things show-related. I've felt awful neglecting my Kindle because I know I'm still not even halfway through Rosemary and Rue yet, but I just don't have the mental bandwidth for print reading.

So, audiobooks! I've gotten through a good handful so far this month:
Tigana - 4.5 stars. The world-building is so intricate and I can't wait to reread and also delve into more GGK! Book you've always avoided reading

The Scarlet Letter - 3.5 stars. Hawthorne's overuse of "ignominy" bugged the hell out of me. Deeply glad I read Hester in December as they feel like companion books, enriching the experience on either side. A classic you've never read

Inferno - 5 stars. I have the Longfellow translation in print but listened to the Pinsky, and they work well together. I didn't realize how many people Dante name-dropped in this! How fun and fascinating! I've been spinning Hozier's Unreal Unearth album again because all the references finally make perfect sense (he drew album inspiration from the book)!

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States - 4 stars. Overall highly recommended, I had a few nitpicky things I was surprised Immerwahr skipped over but those are easily found in other books. A clear and concise indictment of white supremacy for everyone wanting a better glimpse into "how we got here". Fills your favorite prompt from the 2015 PS challenge - nonfiction book

I also read The Shark is Broken, the next play I'm working on once R&J opens :D it's the story of the making of Jaws! 4 stars here too. Some of the dialogue is a little clunky but it's so funny and the three personalities shine. Book under 250 pages

Oh and the first book I actively disliked this year, Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets - 1 star. Incredibly shoddy, inconsistent, surface-level drivel. Truly not sure which demographic the audience is supposed to be.

PS 4/50
ATY 6/52
Read Harder 4/24
Mount TBR 4/24

Currently:
Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy
Rosemary and Rue
Internment

Do you follow authors on social media?
I do! Especially Instagram and BlueSky.

Marketa wrote: "Heyy! Even though I´ve been a member of this group for like three years, not once had I posted my progress until today (hope you´ll forgive me, also nice meeting you all:))

I can happily announce..."



Welcome!!

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, y'all.

A bit of exciting news -- I have an opportunity to travel to Italy for two weeks this May, in a study-abroad opportunity offered by my college. I've never traveled further o..."




That is super exciting!!! I visited Florence and Milan once when I was younger, the food was phenomenal. That was the first time I'd ever heard of or had mascarpone - a revelation!

Two five star books this week - and I don't give them out that often - I think last year I had 4 or 5 the whole year.

Finished
The Guncle Loved this. A lot of fun, while still being grounded and moving. I thought this would be much more lighthearted then it was, but it had a real seriousness about grief to it, but I still thought it was lovely. I counted it for healing fiction, even though it's not on the listopia for that, because it felt right with what the characters go through.

The Justice of Kings Just meh. I don't know if it was my fault - it was my night-table read so I only read about a chapter at a time, and I never got into it that much. Don't think I will continue with the series. Also the conceit of the older woman recounting events from her past takes a lot of the suspense out of it, since she clearly survives. Not used for a PS prompt.

The Book Censor's Library Not the other five star, but I still really loved this tale of a man who falls in love with literature through his censoring job. Felt so topical for the present moment. Used for want to read based on the last line thanks to a suggestion in the thread. And I now plan to use Alice in Wonderland as my book mentioned in another book since it got a lot of mention here!

Watch Out for Her The first I've read from the Canada Reads shortlist, and not the best start. It just felt completely overwrought, and the final reveal of the "bad guy" just made me roll my eyes (and on reflection, really wasn't well-developed. I'm interested to see how it gets defended on the show, but ... ugh. Not for a PS prompt.

Bury Your Gays This was the second 5 star. Not for those who don't have a stomach for horror, but I just thought it was brilliant. The way the monsters were expressions of things Misha had dealt with (or not), the messaging about studios and how they treat the LGBT+ community. I don't know that I've ever read another book that hit all three of making me laugh, cry, and sleep with a nightlight on. Used for neurodivergent author as Chuck has said in the past that he's autistic.

Currently Reading
A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder
Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

QotW
Not such much anymore. I used to follow a lot in the days when Twitter was Twitter. However now my main social media app is Instagram, and the type of people I follow there is very different (book reviewers and pet accounts mainly!).
I never made a formal decision to stop using it once Twitter became X, just drifted away over time, so I never thought about trying to look up the people I used to follow on Twitter and add them on Instagram.

Greetings! I could have sworn yesterday was Thursday - after a board meeting ended last evening I settled in to watch the latest episode drop of US The Traitors on Peacock only to realize it was Wednesday not Thursday. I even had popcorn in hand! I'm still off sync! Why was I so off? One reason was that last week was a 4 day week. But mostly I think because this particular board meeting is usually on a Thursday.

PS 7/60 and ATY 19/52

Finished - neither fit PS:
To Distraction
The Frangipani Tree Mystery

Currently Reading - all started:
Nothing
Third Girl
The Shadow Cabinet - this is IRL bookclub read

QOTW: Not actively. I am 'following' multiple, including some who are clients or friends, on FB though not really any other social media platforms. I do get a few newsletters from favorite authors. But I don't actually read any posts or newsletters with any frequency.

Ooooo thanks for the definition! I was planning on using a book from the Wrinkle in Time series for this. I think it counts?

Finished 02/50

Currently Reading

Wind and Truth for "2015 PS prompt (book over 500 pages)". I'm over halfway!!! Good grief this is a TOME!

Everyday Saints and Other Stories for "book with interconnected short stories". This is such a lovely read! I'm doing a story a day, and it's been so nice!

QotW

I follow my co-authors from the two books we published together! Ha! Otherwise, I follow Brandon Sanderson because you never know when he's going to announce some insane new Kickstarter!

Jennifer W wrote: "This morning I finished The Fox Wife on audio. Loved it! I was meh on her book The Ghost Bride, but this was fabulous. ..."



Good to know, because I also found Ghost Bride surprisingly meh, but I still wanted to give the author another try.

Happy Thursday!

This week has been super busy at work, but I'm taking a short break to post and catch up on Goodreads.

Finished:
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis - 3.5 stars - a book about space tourism. I mostly enjoyed this. I don't know if it was me being busy and not having a lot of time to read, but this felt like it took me forever to get through.

Comics & manga:
Chihayafuru, Vol. 27
Rainbow Days, Vol. 13
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 4
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 5

I am currently at 7/50 for Popsugar (6/40 and 1/10).

Currently reading:
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - a book with a happily single woman protagonist

The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 11 by Natsu Hyuuga - no prompt

Upcoming/Planned:
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - a book of interconnected short stories

QOTW:
I do! I used to follow a bunch of authors on Twitter, but now I follow most of them on BlueSky, and I also follow a few on Tumblr. Those are basically the only two social media sites I actively use anymore.

Thanks. That definition had a bit more to it than the one I found for healing fiction.

Been having a lot of medical procedures so that means a lot of me sitting in waiting rooms reading. I knocked out a few more

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain
for PS 19. A highly anticipated read of 2025. I've seen it on lists for YA gothic horror and I had the arc so...(I believe it's out in March) I loved this one. It's funny reviews had it as either 5 star or 2 with little in between. I need to get my review up but I enjoyed this

This one was unexpected. I had planned to use manga (Crazy Food Truck) for 29. A book about a food truck because it was an uninteresting (to me) prompt but then ran across and Amazon freebie (at least it was last week) Mozzarella Murderby R.M. Murphy about a 40 year old widower coming back to his home town to start a food truck pizza business and murder happens. It's more novella than novel, not bad for free.

Stumbled over this one at the library as I do an alphabet challenge yearly and Ys are hard. Found this YA horror. It was weird with an ending I didn't care for (another review I need to get on) You Must Not MissYou Must Not Miss by Katrina Leno for PS 42. A book with a title that starts with the letter Y

QOTW

Yes many of them. Most of the ones I followed on twitter are now on Blue Sky so I follow them there and some on FB and Instagram. Most of those are ones I know personally or have worked with. Twitter was and Blue Sky is now where I follow most of them.

Joanna G wrote: "Bury Your Gays This was the second 5 star. Not for those who don't have a stomach for horror, but I just thought it was brilliant. The way the monsters were expressions of things Misha had dealt with (or not), the messaging about studios and how they treat the LGBT+ community. I don't know that I've ever read another book that hit all three of making me laugh, cry, and sleep with a nightlight on. ..."



I need to read this!!! I'm not an erotica reader so I've never read Chuck Tingle before, but I have mad respect for the guy, and this book looks like it's right up my weird alley. I just need to find the time to get to it ...

I just checked the audiobook and it's a large cast, mostly authors. What's up with that? Are there authors who are characters in the book? (I linked to all the authors - if there is no link, then they don't show up in GR as an author.) Santana is a professional audiobook reader, I'm wondering if he's the main narrator and all the others just have cameos?
Andre Santana
Charlie Jane Anders
C.J. Leede
Georgia Bird
Liz Krin
Mara Wilson
Mark Oshiro
Sarah Gailey
Stephen Graham Jones
T. Kingfisher
T.J. Klune

Alex wrote: "Ooooo thanks for the definition! I was planning on using a book from the Wrinkle in Time series for this. I think it counts?

..."


I don't know!! The subgenre started in Korea, so I plan to read a Korean book for it. Looks like the definition is flexible and is slowly being used to include other regions?

I think it's kind of like magical realism, the subgenre got its start in Latin American literature, and was originally associated only with Latino authors, but now it's spread and shows up everywhere, it's common in books by many American authors, Asian authors, etc.

I completed The Shire Conqueror Challenge this week! I made it to Bree with the Hobbits. I got started on the next leg of the quest (The Fellowship) right away. As of last night, Aragorn is traveling with the Hobbits now. I'm finally starting to see improvements in the gym too, which is a fantastic feeling.

Being at the gym more means more audiobook time, so I'm finishing books a little more slowly than I would reading with my eyes. I've found some excellent narrators though so it's a fair trade off.

Finished
Letters to Half Moon Street (a book centering lgbtq+ characters that isn't about coming out). Epistolary novels aren’t usually my thing, but this was a fun, lighthearted book that I enjoyed a lot.

Reading
Boy From the Valleys: My unexpected journey

QOTW
Technically, yes. But I’m never on Twitter anymore, and I haven’t gotten around to following anyone on BlueSky. I don’t follow them on any other social media sites.

QOTW: Simple answer, no.

I'm still w orking on Demon Copperhead as my book with snakes on the cover. It's good, but it's long.

A short check-in for me this week. Nothing completed, so no movement on my challenge totals. I'm at 3/40 and 0/10 for this challenge (I'm aiming to complete 25), and 7/85 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Finished:
* nothing

Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips, which is one my book clubs' picks for February; and,
* Never Meant to Stay by Trisha Das.

QotW:
Do you follow authors on social media? Right now, I follow a bunch on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky (and here on Goodreads, too).

Hey Nadine - winter driving is the worst. Neither of our university attending Gen Z's have licenses (they have learners' permits). My husband and I have to drive them.

I finished 2 books. Both mystery/thrillers. One was a 5 star read and the other 3.5. I still can't figure out that joy not trauma prompt as very character is going to have to have obstacles or it isn't a compelling book if only good things happen to that character.

Healing fiction has to be the dumbest prompt PS has dreamed up in a while. Coffee shops and cats seem like the most boring combination of plot points. I guess this is yet another prompt that I can't do as their is literally nothing appealing for me to read.

At the end of January, I read 2 books I meant to read, but still have my series book and ATY anniversary book that I'll be carrying into February. Hopefully it will work out by the end of the year.

Finished:
Kill for Me, Kill for You
Popsugar prompt: A book that fills your favorite prompt from the 2015 PS Reading Challenge (mystery or thriller)
ATY prompt: A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song

Are You Sara?
Popsugar prompt: none
ATY prompt: A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists

Series - 0/10
Reading Across Canada - 1/10
Nobel laureates - 0/5

PS - 5/40
Regular ATY - 5/40
Anniversary ATY - 0/10

Currently reading:
Inheritance - 89%
We Sold Our Souls - 30%

Buddy Reads:
none at present

QOTW: just Jenny Lawson

OK well, I've written this post twice already and keep clicking off the page and erasing everything, so try 3! It's been a long month. I am very exhausted...clearly. Looking forward to the weekend. I'm going to write the rest of this quick before I click off the page again

Finished:
Fourth Wing- really fun, loved the dragons! picking up book 2 next month
-50 chronic pain

Cat's People- loved this heartwarming book about a stray cat and the people in the neighborhood who help take care of him. Very sweet.
-40 chosen family

Raised By Ghosts- graphic novel about growing up in the 90s with beautiful artwork. nostalgic and melancholy
-6 2015 prompt (graphic novel)

Currently reading:
Saha
Patriot: A Memoir
A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage

QotW:
I'm not on social media as much anymore, so not really. But my friends follow lots of authors and send me the best stuff, so it works out well for me!

Doing my check in while listening to the FireAid concert for LA. The second set fro Intuit has much better acoustics. Both good shows though

I finished 4 books this week:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Out of My Mind
The Nakano Thrift Shop
A Match Made for Thanksgiving

I used all of them for prompts so I am ending the month with 7/50 prompts completed. Last year I started the challenge late and barely finished

QOTW: I don't follow anyone, author or otherwise, on social media. The closest I get to interacting with social media are NextDoor, MeetUp and Goodreads

Life update: Pretty good, really. My ear infection is clearing up, so I haven't had to brave the appointment system. My daughter had some blood test results that were not great, but also not as bad as they could have been. I had an occupational health review that was constructive and helpful, so I now have some more ideas about how to potentially move forward with my recovery.

Reading update: I've been reading a lot, but it isn't showing in the stats here yet because I haven't actually finished anything new this week. Perils of reading multiple books at once, I guess, but all of them are for good reasons, so I don't think that will change. There are several that look like they'll be finished over the course of this coming week.

Stats:
Finished for the PopSugar challenge: 0 this week, 3/50 total
Finished for the Star Trek Series challenge: 0 this week, 1/18 total
Finished outside the challenges: 0 this week, 1 total
DNF: 0 this week, 1 total

Currently reading:
Water Memory for the "body of water" prompt - I'm really enjoying this one
A Fire Born of Exile for the "POC experiencing joy" prompt
A Stitch in Time for the Star Trek challenge
Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done, a re-read as part of my ongoing endeavour to tune up my work system
The Logic Of Spirituality With Dvd via the Vedanta Daily app
Srimad Bhagavadgita: with English Translation and Transliteration # 1411 as my bedtime scripture selection

Up Next:

Was tun, wenn jemand stirbt?: Handbuch für den Trauerfall
Adult MHFA Course Manual
Fabio Quartararo, l'ascension d'un prodige - Nouvelle édition
Come Tumbling Down

QOTW: Yes! I follow Seanan McGuire, Ursula Vernon, Aliette de Bodard, John Scalzi, Emily Welkin Chen, Wil Wheaton, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, N K Jemisin, Elizabeth Bear, Mary Robinette Kowal, Diane Duane, K B Spangler, Andrew Hickey, Peggy Coleman, Swami Saradananda, Stefan Sauter, Katy Harrad, and of course my favourite fanfic authors. When I was still active on X/Twitter, there would have been more.

Cornerofmadness wrote: "This one was unexpected. I had planned to use manga (Crazy Food Truck) for 29. A book about a food truck because it was an uninteresting (to me) prompt but then ran across and Amazon freebie (at least it was last week) Mozzarella Murder by R.M. Murphy about a 40 year old widower coming back to his home town to start a food truck pizza business and murder happens. It's more novella than novel, not bad for free."

Still free. Picked it up today for Kindle Unlimited.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Joanna G wrote: "Bury Your Gays This was the second 5 star. Not for those who don't have a stomach for horror, but I just thought it was brilliant. The way the monsters were expressions of things M..."

Interesting. No, those authors aren't cameos or characters as themselves in the book. It's also told from Misha's POA so it wouldn't be that, but maybe they're all the people he interacts with and the pro is doing his narration? That's a pretty stacked cast though!
Yeah, I first learned of Tingle through the Sad Puppies Hugo nonsense, and there is a bit of me that's still thinks of him as the "Space Raptor Butt Invasion" guy, but he definitely has writing chops. I may have to pick up his other "regular" book, Camp Damascus (there are a couple fun references to that in this, but nothing too spoilery, and I certainly didn't feel like I needed to have read that first. More like Easter eggs).

Doni wrote:

The world is falling apart at the seams, but it seems like for most people, it's business as usual. Where can we grieve? Where can we agitate? It's gotten to the point where each day, I try to take care of one thing. That's about all I can handle

I know what you mean. It's always one thing or another on the news so it becomes too overwhelming that I have to stop watching the news and stop looking at news on the internet. It's just too much to handle at this point because it's one bad thing after another.

I'm just trying to focus on my own little world for now. The books I'm reading, school. Issues in the world matter, but not at the expense of my own mental health so I try to focus on my world only and leave the rest be until I feel mentally capable for it.

In the mean time aside from school I'm just gonna focus on my reading goal for February. I've got a lot of good books lined up that I'm excited for.

Dubhease wrote: "Healing fiction has to be the dumbest prompt PS has dreamed up in a while. Coffee shops and cats seem like the most boring combination of plot points. I guess this is yet another prompt that I can't do as their is literally nothing appealing for me to read...."




LOL because, on the one hand, I completely agree with you, I would NEVER normally want to read a book about borrowing cats. But since this is SO far outside my normal reading style, I'm also intrigued, so I'm actually excited to read a "healing fiction" book to see how I like it. Maybe it will be a rant-filled experience, or maybe it will be eye opening. At this point, only The Shadow knows ...

Erin wrote: "Currently reading:
... A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage...."



I spotted that on GR's list of new and upcoming thrillers, and it caught my eye, and I added it to my TBR, so I'm really interested to hear how you liked it.

Joanna G wrote: "Yeah, I first learned of Tingle through the Sad Puppies Hugo nonsense, and there is a bit of me that's still thinks of him as the "Space Raptor Butt Invasion" guy..."



LOL for me his most memorable title was "Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt"

Hi all, back for a January update. We had sun today!!! Weather has been kind of, well, grey this month over here. No sun, just grey and rain. It’s kind of depressing.
Last week, we had the honor to attend a charity dinner my boyfriend’s niece organized. It was the final exam assignment for the whole class. All students had a role and our niece was the general manager. She did fantastic and got a 9.5 out of 10 points. O, and they raised EUR 12.500. We are so proud of her!

January update
Read: 7 books

The Night of the Scourge: The Sister Bells Trilogy Vol. 3 by Lars Mytting- beautiful finale of the Hekne Trilogy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig- nice read. Addie’s storyline was great, Clemmie’s not so great ⭐⭐⭐
El ángel de la ciudad by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi- just one part too many ⭐⭐
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter- the amazing story of the Kurc family. Impressive ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The House of Orange in Revolution and War: A European History, 1772–1890 by Jeroen Koch- this is the summary of 3 big biography’s on our first 3 kings. I’ve read them and this book is all familiar. It’s a nice history on the Dutch monarchy in the 19th century.
And 1 book on Dutch regional politics, won’t bother you with that.

QOTW: Do you follow authors on social media?
I follow 1 author on Instagram. And some authors/ scientists on X. I love the little essays Simon Sebag Montefiore posts there every now and then. I use X as a kind of news magazine.

Finished:

Silent Weapons (reread, 4/5)

David Mack is a pretty consistent Star Trek author. It's rare that I rate anything of his less than 3 stars, and he is often better than that.

Privateers (2/5)
Empire Builders (2/5)

These are listed as being in Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, but I'd say they can safely be skipped. They are quite dated in terms of attitudes and technology.

Currently reading:

Return to Mars
The Body Electric (reread)
Appointment with Death (reread, snake on the cover)

I bounced off of The Witch's Heart for the prompt of a married couple not living together. The writing of Angrboda was more compelling in God of War: Ragnarok, and Loki has been done much better elsewhere, too.

Question of the Week:

I am not currently reading much social media. I may still be subscribed to John Jackson Miller's posts. I typically let authors speak for themselves in their books.

Nadine in NY wrote: "LOL because, on the one hand, I completely agree with you, I would NEVER normally want to read a book about borrowing cats. But since this is SO far outside my normal reading style, I'm also intrigued, so I'm actually excited to read a "healing fiction" book to see how I like it. Maybe it will be a rant-filled experience, or maybe it will be eye opening. At this point, only The Shadow knows ....."

I went back to the listopia and someone added a book I was planning to read this year. I have no idea if it's healing fiction or not, but someone thinks it is, so I'll roll with that.

Sheri wrote: "I saw Sarah Gailey had a new book out soon,..."

Looks like her new book, Spread Me, would work well for "nature as the antagonist"!

This book arrived today. I'm not big on memoirs but this one sounded interesting. It's about a woman's experience with how reading helped her in life which I thought was cool.

Also it's perfect timing too since Feb. is Black History Month.

Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me

Bea wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "This one was unexpected. I had planned to use manga (Crazy Food Truck) for 29. A book about a food truck because it was an uninteresting (to me) prompt but then ran across a..."

It might be perma-free. It's a quick read, not outstanding but not awful either and it knocks out that prompt