Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 34: 8/14-8/21
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Wow, happy Thursday! Can't believe we're at the end of the week. Even more crazy is how next week is the final week of August. Where is the time flying?*****
Weather has been great. Clouds, rain, and no temps above 99°F this week which has been amazing. I've bene loving all of these rainy days. And I find that the Twisters soundtrack (the new Twisters movie) is the best for driving in the rain.
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My babysitting days of my nephew are over. While I'll miss the kid, I'm glad he's got both his parents again. It will be a different/difficult adjustment for all of us, but I kind of need the break especially given recent events. Still, it was fun having him around every day.
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Work has been going great. It's only a part-time job, but I love it. I know the place so well at this point. I volunteered there for a month and now I can't believe that it'll have been a month that I've been working there. Time is flying! I love helping people find books and simply talk about reading.
I read in the morning, work at a book store, and read on whatever time I have. Never get tired of it.
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Book News:
Been getting massive book hauls this week. I have to read 9 books for one class (it's an entire semester from August through December) so that makes sense. Still, I'm excited. First it's a topic I've wanted to read on my own but never had time for so this gives me the push I need. Second, there were some authors on our reading list that I've been wanting to read, and one author who I always read so it has me looking forward to the class. My professor has a great blend of fiction and nonfiction.
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I've been doing the Sealey Poetry Reading Challenge. Won't do all 31 books, but I think I'm up to 15 or 16 so far so that's been neat.
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Currently Reading:
Future of Environmental Criticism: Environmental Crisis and Literary Imagination - I'm barely on page 40 or so and this book is so complex! It's information I'm not familiar with. Already there are 55 words that I don't know as well as around 24 concepts I'm unfamiliar with so it's taking time to look this stuff up. I'm having so much fun in the learning process though so that's making this text enjoyable!
Orbital - I needed a light read and this one has been on my list for a while. It's absolutely stunning! If you didn't research the author you would not be able to tell that she does not have some kind of astronomy degree or something in that field. Her research is one of the best I've read! Her description, word choice, etc, it feels as if I'm there experiencing these events and feelings with these astronauts. Definitely one of my favorite science fiction books of the year!
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I do plan to read more poetry.
I'm also planning my September TBR. I have a lot of priority reads for this coming month that I'm excited for. Then there will be my school reads and whatever else I have time for.
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QOTW:
Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one?
I read self-help books every now and then. I've certainly gotten more into them the older I've gotten that's for sure. I think it has to do with an age thing. You experience unfortunate things and you just look for guidence in whatever form, and in my case books have always been where I turn to for answers.
I once sent copies of the book Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship to former friends. I read it and I really connected with it at the time. Now that's on longer the case (and I have no idea if they ever read it or not because they never said anything).
One of my surprised books I enjoyed was The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. I read this around the time I was diagnosed with PTSD and it certainly helped me a lot with the trauma I was going through.
I do think the "self-help" genre has changed. I think it can be in reference to just about anything these days: psychology books that help you understand your addictions, mental illness/disorders, writing guide books, anything educational, books related to friendships or friendship breakups. I have a book about friendship breakups (can't remember the title) that I've been meaning to read, but because it's been 2 years since I ended things with them, it's still hard for me to read.
Happy Thursday all!Classes started up this week for me. My only classes this semester are math classes -- I dedicated an entire semester to my math credits because math stresses me out and I didn't want it to detract from my other classes. But the professor is very helpful, which I appreciate.
Books read this week:
Mirror Lake -- still enjoying this cozy mystery series set in a village populated by talking animals. Very much Beatrix Potter meets M. C. Beaton.
Evergreen Chase: A Shady Hollow Mystery Short Story -- novella set in the world of Shady Hollow. Technically a Christmas story, but I’m nothing if not a completionist haha…
Buffalo Dreamer -- aimed at younger readers, but still a painful yet triumphant read about the residential schools that forcibly assimilated Indigenous children into European society… and how modern First Nations people fight for justice and reconciliation.
Little Fish -- mainly read this because Goodreads recommended it to me after I read Any Other City. This one gets a lot of praise, but BOY, it felt like a miserable slog.
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 -- still reading this series between longer books. Still enjoying it.
Currently reading:
The Best of Catherynne M. Valente, Volume One
Obsidian Son
FantasticLand
Twilight Falls
We Had to Remove This Post
QOTW:
I don't really read self-help books.
Kenya wrote:Classes started up this week for me. My only classes this semester are math classes -- I dedicated an entire semester to my math credits because math stresses me out and I didn't want it to detract from my other classes. But the professor is very helpful, which I appreciate.
Wow, that's brave! I commend you for doing that. How many math classes are you taking, if you don't mind me asking (you don't have to answer.)
I hated my math classes. It got to a point where my professor just passed me because he knew I couldn't do it myself no matter how hard I tried.
Good morning, everyone! Happy Thursday!It has been a busy, and surprisingly productive week! Apart from one trip to the grocery store (and another to the movie theater), I decided to spend the week at home, working on the disaster area that is my office. It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve managed to get quite a bit done, and I’m on track to finish over the weekend. I’m super pleased with myself!
Sunday afternoon I had a chance to go and see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at my local movie theater for the movie’s 35th anniversary. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid (and still is as an adult), but this was the first time I’d had a chance to actually see it on the big screen. It was so much fun! I’m so glad that my movie theater does anniversary screenings like this. I’d really like to go to more of them.
This has been a pretty good reading week. Despite the busyness of the week, I still managed to find time to do a significant amount of reading. I was able to put a sizeable dent in my ebook backlog, which feels really good.
In other reading news, I have officially finished the Mount TBR challenge! This year I decided to climb Mount Olympus, which required me to read 150 books from my TBR list. While I’m certainly not done reading titles from my TBR in 2025 (because I have a lot more left to read before I’m even remotely close to being caught up), it feels really good to have completed the challenge…especially since I was able to finish it less than two-thirds of the way through the year.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 286/250 (114% — Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (100% complete)
📚Physical TBR: 105/731
📱Ebook TBR: 34/218
🎧Audiobook TBR: 11/12
TBR Checklist Total: 150/961 (15% complete)
TBR Books DNFed in 2025: 3
I went a little overboard on book buying this week, proving once again that I should not be allowed in Barnes and Noble unsupervised. But in my defense, it is my birthday month. The books I got this week included: The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 14, by Kousuke Oono; Hemlock & Silver, by T. Kingfisher; On Wings of Blood, by Briar Boleyn; The Library at Hellebore, by Cassandra Khah; The Late-Night Witchess, by Auralee Wallace; A Deadly Education, The Last Graduate, The Golden Enclaves, and Buried Deep and Other Stories, by Naomi Novik; and The Bone Raiders, by Jackson Ford.
This week I also used my Audible credits to get copies of the audiobook versions of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Carl's Doomsday Scenario, by Matt Dinniman. I’ve been interested in getting these audiobooks for a while, because I've heard that the narrator is fabulous, but didn’t want to spend a ton of money on them when I already own the books in hardcover. So I’ll be waiting until I have more credits to get the rest of the audiobooks.
“New” Books Bought in 2025: 141
“New” Books Read in 2025: 128
“New” Books DNFed in 2025: 0
“New” Books Checklist Total: 90% complete
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~My Mountain Man's Desire — This is the first book in the Rock Creek romance series. It was a very short read (only 77 pages), but a decent story. I liked the male main character, but didn’t feel like I got to know the female main character particularly well. I don’t plan to continue this series. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Fenrir — This book is the prequel to the Heart of Ice series. It was a very short novella, so I really didn’t get a good feel for the characters. I do have the rest of the books in this series, but I don’t know if I have any interest in continuing it. 📱: ⭐️⭐️
~Drop Dead Sisters — This is the first book in the Finch Sisters series. I thought this was a fun mystery, and liked the characters. Content Alert: (view spoiler)📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Shield of Sparrows — This is the first book in the Shield of Sparrows series, and I absolutely loved it! The story and characters were awesome, and I already can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also read books 2-6 in the Monsters of Jellyfish Beach series. I thought this was an entertaining paranormal mystery series, but didn’t realize that there is actually another series (the Freaky Florida series) that takes place prior to this one. Not reading those books really didn’t detract from my experience of reading these ones, except that some of the books do include references to events from the previous series (which unfortunately are sort of spoiled for me if I decide to go back and read that series at some point). I thought the mysteries were pretty good, and liked the main character. The titles I read this week include:
~Fiends With Benefits — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Get Ogre Yourself — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~My Funny Frankenstein — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Werewolf Art Thou?: A paranormal mystery adventure — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~In Sprite of Herself: A paranormal mystery adventure — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~Sword of Destiny — This is the second book in The Witcher series. I have read this book a couple times before, but I'm enjoying listening to it before bed. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 🎧
~Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials — I’ve made a considerable amount of progress on this book since my previous update. I’m currently a little over halfway through, and hope to finish it by the end of the week. 📚
~Six Wild Crowns — I’m currently only a couple of chapters into this book, but I’m finding it interesting so far. 📚
QOTW:
Self-help books aren’t something that I normally gravitate toward, but I have picked up several over the years. The ones I’ve read are mostly about home organization, which is an area I’ve struggled with ever since I became a homeowner. Some of the books I’ve read include: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals, Tidy the F*ck Up: The American Art of Organizing Your Sh*t, and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
Of these books, I would say that The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning was the most motivational, simply because it’s about getting rid of the stuff you don’t really care about so your loved ones don’t have to deal with it after you’re gone. While it certainly didn’t turn me into a minimalist, which is one of the book’s goals, it has helped me let go of some things I was holding onto out of stubbornness.
As far as more general self-help books are concerned, I really liked The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck (please excuse the language). As someone with OCD, I get stressed out by a lot of stuff, and this book was a good reminder that most of what I find stressful is not worth my time or energy. I actually would like to do a re-read of this book soon.
I definitely think that the self-help genre has changed over the years. Most of the self-help books I remember seeing when I was younger were pretty general…kind of a “find joy in your life” type of book that covered a lot of different areas. While those books do still exist, a lot of the self-help books I’ve seen in stores are very specifically focused on one area of life that might be causing you problems.
I’ve also come across quite a few self-help books that approach their topic with the type of attitude your best friend might have when they’re done with your nonsense: “Let’s get real. You’re a mess, so let's fix that.” I really like this, because the author is usually saying exactly what I need to hear, even if I don’t want to hear it.
Nadine in NY wrote: "(re Ariana Franklin) Now I've only got two more books left to read (plus a final book in the series that was published posthumously with another author, and is probably not as good)."I didn't know that there was a 5th book. I have added it to my Wishlist.
Happy Thursday, y’all.Utility room repairs completed…and that TO DO LIST item to clean/organize the utility room now being worked on as I make decisions about what stays and what goes...and where it goes..
Refrigerator finally fixed. Yay! A matter of dust clogging the drain.
Now I am waiting for an appointment to get the new dishwasher installed and the old one removed.
Darla, my new pup, at two cakes of hot bird suet last night (Tuesday) while I was gone to a meeting. As a result, I awoke to piles of vomit all over the house…which I found after I fed her breakfast, when that also came up mightily. Poor baby. As of this morning, she has kept down a few meals of rice and chicken.
Today I will try to remove the orange stain from the carpet. Wish me luck. The only good thing is that she vomited in corners and behind furniture for the most part, although those are hard to clean areas, too.
Finished:
In the Night of Memory – No prompt. 4*. It is the story of two Ojibwe sisters who ended up in the foster care system and found their way back to family and identity.
The Paris Novel – Book Club choice. 5*. Wow! What fun this book was! And, yes, I went to the RL Book Club and discussed it. And, I even enjoyed that experience enough to consider going back. Definitely a Cinderella story of a young woman who goes to Paris on the death of her mother.
Louisiana Longshot – PAS. 4*. Funny. An assassin gets sent to a small Louisiana town to hide and gets involved with the local people.
The Frozen People – PS #19 (highly anticipated), ATY #51 (pub 2025). 3*. A time travel story. Not fully my cup of tea but a good story.
Currently Reading:
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All - ATY #30 (monster), PAS, PS #44 (book I have avoided). 83%.
The Witchfinder's Sister – Audiobook. No prompts. 68%
Zeus's Cookbook: Most Ungodly Appetizers – PAS. Kindle. 44%
Porgy – PAS. 10% (Too many issues on GR to find the specific book that I am reading!)
Spiritual Reading:
Navigating the Bible: The 5-Minute Guide to Understanding God's Word – I am using this book as a brief overview of whatever Bible book I am reading. Currently it is 1 Corinthians.
The Practice of the Presence of God – Devotional reading. 71%
Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart: Parables of the Spiritual Path from Around the World – Devotional bedtime reading. 24%
Just Starting:
Shaman – PS #38/#39 (same title). 6%. I own this book, so it takes the back seat to library due dates.
The Hydrogen Murder – ATY Anniversary. 5%
On Deck: (library)
How to Read a Book – Book Club choice.
The Scarlet Letter – Library book/movie discussion. Reread. Due Sept. (Too many issues on GR to find the specific book that I am reading!)
The Henna Artist – Book Club choice.
Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail - PS #32
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection - no prompt
The Kept Woman - PAS
PS 33/50
ATY 38/52, Anniversary 9/10
GR 137/200
QotW: Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one?
Occasionally. I read specific books related to my own life and changes I am hoping to make. But, I read less of them now than I used to do.
Goodreads needs an undo button for when you accidentally erase everything you've typed. Honestly!VPL Challenge: 5/24
Mar.-Aug. Purchased TBR: 24/48 50%
June-Aug. Library TBR: 2/24 14%
Finished: Chronos: How Time Shapes Our Universe
Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading
A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity I really enjoyed this one.
Journal Planning Magic: Dot Journaling for Calm, Creativity, and Conquering Your Goals I really enjoyed this one too.
Started: Condorcet and Modernity just a biography of Condorcet. Probably won't finish it.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Guys! I know this book is supposed to be amazing, but I couldn't stomach it. His mom is so mean to him! Probably won't finish this one either.
QotW: I read self help books all the time! They never help. I always think, if I find a really good one, if I just read it several times in a row and really internalize it, THEN it will help. Hasn't happened yet. The most recent self-helpy book I read was Journal Planning Magic. It totally revolutionized how I journal and plan. For a few days. Then I went back to my normal ways!
Working on my upcoming monthly TBR's. - I have 10 books that are priority reads for the month of September.
-9 priority reads for October. I'll use my TBR jar to pick the 10th.
- 5 priority reads for November. Since November is called 'Nonfiction November', I'll be reading at least 10 nonfiction books. 5 are going to be for Native American Heritage Month and then I'll need to pick 5 more. If they turn out to be fiction they'll go back in the draw and I'll draw until I get 5 other nonfictions.
-So far I only have 4 priority reads for December so I'll have to do a draw 6 times from my TBR jar.
Ron wrote: "Kenya wrote:Classes started up this week for me. My only classes this semester are math classes -- I dedicated an entire semester to my math credits because math stresses me out and I didn't want..."
I'm taking two math classes -- Math in Modern Society and Math in Modern Society Plus. I scored so low in the placement test that I need to take the supplementary class, whoops...
Wow, got more done than I anticipated. I completed 5 books this week:1.
by Robert W. Fieseler.2.
by Chanel Miller.3.
by Elie Mystal.4.
by Adam Weymouth.5.
by Marie Bostwick.I completed prompt 19 A highly anticipated read of 2025: I read The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
I am doing Hooked on Books August listopia madness. I currently have 25 points. I completed the For Love of a Book August puzzle- contemporary.
Question of the week: I don't generally read self help books. I am a skeptic so I want more than just someone's word. They never talk about those that tried their self-help techniques and failed. I guess I am not very trusting.
Kenya wrote:I'm taking two math classes -- Math in Modern Society and Math in Modern Society Plus. I scored so low in the placement test that I need to take the supplementary class, whoops..
Yikes, those sound complicated! I wish you luck. I got fortunate that my math teacher decided to just pass me even though I was technically failing my general intermediate math class. I couldn't do it on my own.
Happy Thursday!It's about to get hot here again, so not looking forward to that.
But our vacation is in less than three weeks. I really can't wait.
Finished:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates - 4 stars - for a book mentioned in another book. An incredibly powerful memoir in the form of an open letter to the author's son, all about his experiences living as a black man in America. Highly recommend reading.
I am currently at 40/50 for Popsugar (33/40 and 7/10).
Currently reading:
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner - for a book about soccer. For some reason (maybe the cute, cartoony cover?), I had thought this was YA, but it's definitely adult. Enjoying it so far.
Don't Call it Mystery (Omnibus) Vol. 13-14 - not for a prompt. Still working my way through this volume.
Upcoming/Planned:
The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd - for a book about a run club.
Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders - not currently for a prompt.
QOTW:
I view self-help books as books that are about improving or working on yourself, in whatever direction that is. (Are writing books technically "self help"? They're about improving a skill you have.)
Once in a while I read them. Mainly when they come highly recommended by someone I trust, or relate to a topic I'm interested in. For example, one book I really got a lot out of was Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food by Susan Albers, which was recommended by my nutritionist. That one really helped me figure out a lot of my unhealthy eating habits.
My local book award reading is officially done, three weeks early! There's still the voting to come, but for the moment I'm free to read whatever I like. That said, at the moment I'm trying to focus on books that fill the GR summer challenges. I probably won't get all of them, but I'll at least get a few.The weather has been lovely lately, nice and cool, but unfortunately it is still August, so the temps will be going up. At least we're in the part of the year where the nights stay cool, so there's that.
Finished:
Uncharmed - (RH A holiday romance that isn't Christmas) A netgalley read. While not strictly speaking a romance novel, there's a romance and most of the book takes place around and on Halloween, so I'm counting it. A nice read, but nothing super special. The ending was unexpectedly intense.
Botticelli's Apprentice: A Graphic Novel - A unique time period for this kind of historical graphic novel, but the story was pretty basic.
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 12 - I reread this before reading the next volume as a refresher, since it's been a year. Good thing, as I had forgotten a lot.
Control Freaks - Overall an enjoyable story, but it would have been even better if it had leaned into the team a little more.
Hemlock & Silver - T. Kingfisher has quickly become my favorite author, and her latest does not disappoint.
Go-Man: Champion of Earth - This was another netgalley read, so only the first few pages had color (I assume the published version will be full color), but that didn't detract from the story. A fun homage to classic sentai series.
Currently reading:
Sea Monsters
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Wild Dark Shore
Bring the House Down
A Method for Magic and Misfortune
Patty Lyons' Knitting Bag of Tricks: Over 70 sanity saving hacks for better knitting
QOTW: I generally only seek out self-help books when I have a specific need, so no big thoughts on them here.
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Popsugar Challenge Completion: 50%, 5/10
📖=book 💻=ebook 🎧=audiobook 🌠=rating
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I read a few things this week, but only one was for the Sugarpop Challenge. Challenge 28: A book that features an unlikely friendship:
📖🌠1️⃣I finished reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt today. I got about 2/3 of the way through the book, but found it to be such a grind, I speed read the rest. Overall I found the storytelling and characterization ranged from boring to disappointing. Definitely not my cup of tea.
📖2️⃣I'm going to start reading Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid for Challenge 19: A highly anticipated read of 2025.
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Question of the Week
Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one?
I do read self-help books off and on. I find they can be very helpful in motivating me when I'm in whichever rut I find myself. They can also be a great tool in learning about yourself more and help with self acceptance. And I've definitely used more than one to get me back on my physical fitness routine.
I think the genre definitely has changed over the years, with the early incarnation being mainly for men aspiring to become high powered within their communities, work, and financials. I even remember seeing some of the old adds in the back of comic books depicting a "weak, wimpy guy" getting steamrollered by some big machismo, and being able to order the cure for having no muscles or confidence, ultimately showed by the formerly wimpy guy getting revenge and girls by beating the snot out of his former bully. That being said, there were definitely housewife manuals available to women on proper etiquette and hosting, how to be the perfectly desirable version of a woman to attract men and to become the best housewives they could be.
These days, a lot of self-help books are aimed toward accepting your authentic self, rather than to fit any one mould, and I think that's especially become the case for womens' and queer self-help (thankfully). We also have books on psychology and neurodivergency. Wilderness camping and survival preparedness have had many modern iterations. You can get many on religion and spirituality, including witchcraft and paganism, which would have been much harder, if even possible, to find the further back you go in the 1900's. And of course, so many arts and crafts, from drawing to crochet, are easily available. I even have anti-racism self-help books, which may not have existed before the 21st century at all (correct me if I'm wrong). There are, however, also the same types of books as decades ago, but in an updated, shiny, new version, particularly in the financial sectors. And don't even get me started on the pick-up artist how-tos (awful). With the self-help industry being such a booming one, it's impossible to list all the sub-genres here myself.
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Hi all! Busy weekend coming up. Brother in law rented a cabin for the week, and we're going to spend the weekend in it. I honestly couldn't care less, maybe I'll bail early. It's a super nice cabin, with electricity, appliances, AC, etc etc. It even has wifi. If I'm getting all that, I might as well stay home which also has my couch! lol The kiddo is looking forward to it, though. We leave tomorrow after my boyfriend gets home from work. Otherwise, trying to cram end of summer stuff in and count down the days until school starts! (2 weeks from yesterday, if anyone else wants to count down with me! lol)
I finished Blankets this week. At the very end of the book, the author said his brother, who is a character in the book, is a lefty, so I'm using it for that. I liked the book, but because it was based on real people and events, it didn't all come together with a neat bow at the end. Kind of bittersweet, and made me a little melancholy.
More progress in Hanging Mary, I've got about 2 1/2 hours left. I'm eager to look up afterwards how much is true and what the author had to make up. I know Mary's boarding house is a museum in DC, but I haven't had a chance to go there yet. (I'm not going to put all my snide political comments here, but just know that I am thinking them!)
I started The Scaffold Effect: Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant, and Secure Kids in an Age of Anxiety and while I'm finding it readable, thus far, I haven't encountered much new information. So far, I should take care of my own mental and physical health so I can better take care of my kiddo's and I should also pay more attention to her good behavior than her bad. *earth shaking!!!* (did I mention I'm feeling snide??)
QOTW: I'm one of those people who say that I don't like self-help books, but I do read them once or twice a year. I think when I think of self-help, I'm thinking of the "get rich quick!" "find love!" "be happy!" types. I do think they've changed, I feel like they have more scientific backing than they used to. Scaffold Effect is written by a psychiatrist who founded a center for studying and modifying child behavior. (but then again, Dr. Spock was also a doctor... so maybe not). I feel like when I do read them, I read them more skeptically than I read other books. I'm not sure what draws me to some self-help books. I have a background in mental health, so the psychology aspect of self-help books is always a draw for me.
I've started to suspect that one of the users of my local Little Free Library is also doing the Popsugar challenge. Recent finds there include The Midnight Library (healing fiction), A Gentleman in Moscow (luxury resort), and a book about running (I forget the title). Hope they're finding my contributions equally helpful.Finished Dog on It (nonverbal character) and The Payback (not for the challenge, but would work for highly anticipated 2025 or adult changing careers).
Also some poetry: How to Love a Country by Richard Blanco, and I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You : A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs, which pairs male & female poets' takes on issues as deep as having an alcoholic parent, and as whimsical as tomatoes.
Currently working on The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin. I don't have a challenge slot left for it, but wanted to finish the Broken Earth trilogy since I'd read the first two. Well written, but GRIM. I really need to read something happy after this.
I think for the first time all summer, Nadine and I have similar weather - sunny but low temp days and cool nights, I also had rain yesterday and today. For once Upstate NY and Downstate NY were matching! It won't last. But this weather looks to be with us a bit. In fact, when I was out at midday- it was still overcast though the rain had ended, it felt borderline like fall!PS - 44/50 still and ATY 60/62 still.
Finished - I read a couple of cozy mysteries as I just wanted a change of pace - and was intent on a couple other challenges than either PS or ATY:
My Brother Michael - this is so good - and pure nostalgia for me on 2 levels - it's one of my favorite Mary Stewart romantic suspense reads from my teen years and it also accompanied me in 1987 on my own personal trip to Greece and specifically Delphi which is the prime setting. I have not read it since then, and I have to say that Stewart so wonderfully captured Delphi ... I was back there in an instant. Book holds up though dated a little bit - everyone smokes all the time (this is set in 1958) and she has many literary and classical references that assumes a basic familiarity in her readers which of course did exist but does no longer. Read it in ebook and you can google it all. Hint: One of the frequent references is to Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes by Robert Louis Stevenson, a travel memoir that's been on my TBR for ages. I have no tags it will fit but there likely are some.
Murder in a Scottish Shire by Traci Hall - a cozy set in a yarn shop in Nairn, Scotland on the upper east coast - first in series, really liked it and will continue reading the series - and I recommend listening in audio - that says a lot considering I dislike audio! Narrator is Scottish so you don't have to suffer reading the author's misguided inclusions of 'tae, dinnae, verrae and on in her dialogue. I am probably going to dowload the audio of the 2nd from the library to have when driving around Santa Fe next week. Don't get excited, I am there on business and have tons of meetings -- but there will be lovely scenery and nice meals.
Currently reading:
The Uninvited Guests - this is for prompt rating below 3 stars - and coincidentally it has been on my TBR for years. I am enjoying it - it's really I think a satire - that's how it reads to me - I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. It's also very short - less than 200 pages.
Night Boat to Tangier - this is prompt irish author - and it isn't long or difficult. I've just had other demands on my reading time.
Bleak House - my very slow read along
The Holy Thief - not allowed to start that until the first 2 listed books are read. It's likely to be my flight read on Sunday as I head to Santa Fe. Everything going to Santa Fe will be ebook, except for one paperback I always carry on flights 'just in case' I can't use my ebook for any reason. You know we can't be without something to read ever!
I do plan on giving myself time in Santa Fe to visit Collected Works bookstore and check out local author options to purchase. That's always something I love to do when traveling.
QOTW: Never. I dislike self-help books. Can't think of a single one I'd seek out. I don't count books I read connected with my legal practice, even if it's related to the business not legal side. That's all part of work.
What I will read are books about creative process - I've read ones about the art of writing - Bird by Bird is a favorite, but also ones by Stephen King, Ishiguro, many others. They are usually as much memoir as about creation. Another area is theater - and I cannot recommend highly enough reading the print version of Hamilton: The Revolution - the experience is lost if you just do the audio - photos and more.
Happy Thursday!Temperatures are dropping here, but mostly only overnight. I had no idea how to dress myself for work today. It was 12 when I left the house going up to 27. Where ever you wore was wrong.
I finished 2 more books. I finished all my August books and even got a bonus book, which I'm reading too quickly. I forgot how Shari Lapena books just zoom along with short chapters. I have requested books for September, but everything could take weeks. I may need another short book to read.
I said I'd do 40 PS prompts, which I thought of as 10 each quarter. I should be at 30 by the end of September, but I'm already at 31.
I actually liked The Woman in Suite 11 more than The Woman in Cabin 10.
Finished:
Those Pink Mountain Nights
Popsugar prompt: can't find one
ATY prompt: A book title that could be a country song
Anniversary prompt:
Summer prompt: A book title that includes a word starting with the letter P - 300 points
The Woman in Suite 11
Popsugar prompt: A book set at a luxury resort
ATY prompt: A book published in 2025
Anniversary prompt:
Summer prompt: A book by a favorite author - 300 points
Series - 7/10
Reading Across Canada - 7/10
Nobel laureates - 3/5
PS - 31/40
Regular ATY - 31/40
Anniversary ATY - 8/10
Summer Challenge - 4900/5000 - 98%
Currently reading:
Interior Castle - 35%
Everyone Here Is Lying - 70%
Buddy Reads:
Library of Souls - 10%
QOTW: I'm not opposed to reading them. I might have a couple on my TBR list.
I've finished one book since the last check-in (and that was on my way home from work today!). It didn't fit any open prompts, so I'm still at 13/40 and 0/10 for this challenge, and 48/85 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.Finished:
* A Madness of Sunshine written by Nalini Singh and narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. I've listened to several audiobooks narrated by Saskia Maarleveld previously and had no idea she was originally from New Zealand. When I first started listening, I thought it was going to be hard to keep up the accent for the length of the book...and then checked out her bio because I got curious while listening and discovered the other books were the ones that had been read in different accents. I'm even more in awe of her narration skills now - wow!!
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims; and,
* The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso, which I hope to finish over the weekend so I can finally say I finished my #CampNetGalley choice, even though I missed the deadline for getting this year's reading badge.
QotW:
This week's question was suggested by Jennifer!
Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one? I've read a fair number of books that would be considered "self-help" in recent years. It was a combination of reading challenges that had prompts about them and reading a bunch of leadership books for book clubs and professional development (many, if not all, of them would qualify as "self-help"). Some of the "self-help" books I've read were really enjoyable; others were eye-roll-inducing and caused me to groan audibly as I read. I do think that genre has evolved over the years, so I suspect that some readers who would have avoided them in the past may have actually read some titles that would qualify as "self-help" today.
Happy Thursday, everyone! I’ve been napping a lot lately, and I think it’s thrown off my sleep schedule because I feel tired all day. I've been able to get some "reading" done during my commutes, and that's really the only reason I was able to finish one book this week. At four stars, it turned out to be my highest-rated book of the month, which says a lot about how mid my reading month has been, haha.In the meantime, I've been stockpiling books. I ordered two books from the UK as I'm making my way through the Booker longlist, and they finally came in this week. I also have like 6 books checked out from Libby that all fulfill my remaining prompts in some way. At this point, I have like 1-4 books left for each challenge, so I anticipate crossing some of these off by the end of the month!
2025 Reading Challenges
Popsugar- 49/50
52 Book Club- 50/52; Connections- 19/21
Barnes & Noble- 49/52
Booklist Queen- 48/52
Buzzword- 8/12; Cover- 7/12
Finished
March- I read March: Book One earlier this year and planned to read this book as the other book with the same title. I really enjoyed this one and found the writing beautiful! ☆☆☆☆
52BC Connections #19- set in same time period as previous book
PS #38- Two books with the same title (2)
Currently Reading
Wide Sargasso Sea
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin
QOTW
I'm not a self-help reader. I feel like most of the advice they dish out are obvious or cheesy, i.e. "believe in yourself!", or out of touch. However, I have read some psychology books that could be seen as self-help. For example, I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking shortly after undergrad, and it helped me better articulate my strengths in job interviews
Doni wrote: "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Guys! I know this book is supposed to be amazing, but I couldn't stomach it. His mom is so mean to him! Probably won't finish this one either"Maybe try his latest release, The Emperor of Gladness. I’ve heard from a few people who disliked OEWBG that they enjoyed this one much more
Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all!Classes started up this week for me. My only classes this semester are math classes -- I dedicated an entire semester to my math credits because math stresses me out..."
I love math classes! I've actually been thinking about retaking the Calculus series... just for fun. (It's been 40+ years since I've done any serious math work.)
Happy Thursday! Late check-in for me... I've been traveling all day. Seth and I flew from Tri-Cities (Pasco), WA to Albuquerque, NM this morning, and then drove 4.5 hours south to Carlsbad, New Mexico. My husband took a job there. We're just visiting.2025 Reading Challenges:
52 Book Club: 46/52 (Connections Challenge: 12/21)
ATY: 40/52 (ATY Anniversary Challenge: 8/10, ATY Summer Challenge: 25/25 – Finished!)
The Book Girls’ Guide: 50/74
Booklist Queen: 46/52
Popsugar: 46/50
My Ever-Growing TBR: 106/305 – 34.8% (My goal is 33.3%, so I’m golden if I just balance my book buying with book reading!)
Recently Completed:
✅ What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins ★★★
✅ Who Wants to Marry a Duke ★★★
✅ Caught Up, Into Darkness, #2 ★★★★
✅ The Guest List: Reese’s Book Club. (BGG ICYMI Backlist #8 – published in 2020) ★★★★
✅ The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders: BOTM selection. (52 Books Connections #12 – nonfiction inspired by the previous book) ★★★★
✅ The Hounding ★★★★
✅ Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?: Reese’s Book Club. ★★★
✅ youthjuice ★★★★
✅ California Girls ★★★
✅ Bewilderment ★★★★
✅ Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold: I never would have read this if it was marketed simply as Mark Schultz’s memoir. There’s only brief mention of the du Pont scandal. How they made this into an award-winning movie is completely beyond me. ★★
QOTW: I don't often read self-help books. Most of the time I just roll my eyes at most of the advice, but one that I really enjoyed - and found helpful - was Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White. Of course, I haven't implemented all 100 strategies, but there were several I found helpful. Originally, I checked it out of the library, but I ended up buying my own copy to refer back to when things got out of hand.
I can't believe the semester starts on monday. I feel ill prepared to be teaching already. I'm looking for my lost summer. I also lost all this week in class prep so I've read nothing to completion.QOTW
I have read some, mostly on cognitive behavior therapy and a few spiritual types but as a whole I don't really read them.
Last week I had a much needed long weekend, spent at the in-laws' lake house. Nothing like a few days spent reading next to some water to put some spunk back in your step. Plus, you gotta love a vacation with grandparents, aka more people to entertain the toddler. Finished:
Murder After Hours
Lord Edgware Dies
What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw
Hollow
The Spare Man
Why Shoot a Butler?
Bright Dead Things
Most of those were re-reads. The Spare Man was a disappointment - I loved the premise, but the execution was lacking.
QOTW: Nah, not for me. Generally I've found that the self-help section is full of either pure bunkum or advice that roundly ignores the role of privilege in success.
Happy Thursday! It's been a chaotic week so I'm looking forward to the weekend. And it was so hot today which is disgusting. Finished:
Looking for Group- this was a fun college romance, but a lot of it takes place while the characters are playing a video game, so if you're not into video games it might not be for you. It was originally published in 2016 which I didn't realize until I noticed some of the references seemed a bit off
-no prompt
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop- this was a sweet healing fiction type book. Similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but I didn't like it quite as much
-no prompt
Currently reading:
The Haunting of William Thorn- I'm slightly underwhelmed by this netgalley book, but it's fairly early on in the book, so I'm holding out hope
QotW:
Honestly not really. On occasion I'll pick them up if they're getting a lot of hype- like Atomic Habits, which I thought was pretty good.
But this question did remind me about a korean self-help book I wanted to check out- I Decided to Live as Me: An Illustrated Checklist for How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others So You Can Learn to Love Yourself. I like the translator of this book, Anton Hur, and I'm trying to read everything he's translated. Also I think it could be interesting to see self-help coming out of a different culture
Hello and happy late Thursday from a Columbus! The weather has cooled significantly which has been such a blessing with the ac still out in my car lol. I didn’t get a ton of reading done this week, I’ve just been consuming a lot of brain rot on YouTube and TikTok, gotta take that mental vacation sometimes. Finished:
Lady Margaret's Ghost: A Felicity Mystery not for a challenge, still working my way through the AG Felicity collection.
Summers at the Saint for a book set at a luxury resort. I was really hoping this would a book where nice things happen to good people, because it was really setting itself up that way but then things go bad and I’m honesty still recovering from this lol. I liked it but I really hate loosing characters I grow inordinately attached to.
Currently Reading:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Challenges:
Popsugar - 21/40; 0/4; 1/3; 2/3
Read Harder - 15/24
Classics - 8/12
European Tour - 7/10
12 Friends - 6/12
Yearly Goal - 87/180
QOTW:
Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever read one. I think I’m too contrary for that.
Andrea wrote: "Doni wrote: "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Guys! I know this book is supposed to be amazing, but I couldn't stomach it. His mom is so mean to him! Probably won't finish this one e..."Thanks for the suggestion!
Life update: Dogsitting for our friend is turning into a twice-weekly arrangement. Her dog is a pretty little thing who was rescued from the streets and is consequently very nervous and hypervigilant; she barks continuously at strangers, and I am currently still classified as a stranger, which is a little exhausting! I'm sure we'll get there, though. Our plan when she comes today is that I sit in a corner with my laptop and try to be as boring as possible while our dog distracts her with play. Wish us luck!Reading update: I finished five books this week, although two of them are very short:
She Sat He Stood: What Do Your Characters Do While They Talk? for Reading About Writing: a book about dialogue
Cracks in the Great Wall: Ufos And Traditional Metaphysics for my writing project. This project is going to be an increasing portion of my reading, which is blurring the distinction between challenge and non-challenge books for me. I think I'll stop tracking separately how many non-challenge books I read, as it's going to be less meaningful. Up to this point, non-challenge books have been about 20% of my reading, for what it's worth.
Flower Block, a children's book that I ostensibly bought for my grandson, but in reality mostly because I wanted to drool over the beautiful artwork!
Artificial Condition and Compulsory because I want to catch up on the series before the next one comes out in May. I'm also using Artificial Condition for Disability Pride: author with an invisible disability.
I also dnf'd Where the Axe Is Buried. The tone just didn't suit my mood.
Stats:
PopSugar Challenge: 0 this week, 49/50 total
GR Summer Challenge: 0 this week, 4/6 total
Disability Pride Challenge: 1 this week, 3/5 total
Star Trek Series Challenge: 0 this week, 16/18 total
Readers of the Wild Moor: 1 this week, 22/30 total
Politics & Philosophy: 0 this week, 4/15 total
Queer Reads Bracket Challenge: 0 this week, 4/6 total
Anti-Capitalist Inspiration: 0 this week, 7/30 total
All books finished this year: 5 this week, 110 total
DNF or paused: 1 this week, 20 total
Challenges completed this year:
GR Community Favorites, GR Seasonal Bookmarks, Pride Season
Currently reading:
Factotum for my writing project
Rogue Protocol to catch up on the series
Archive of Unknown Universes for the Goodreads bookmarks
The Valmiki Ramayana Vol. 3 for spiritual bedtime reading
QOTW: I don't read many self-help books; a genre search on Storygraph tells me I've read 30 since I started tracking in 2013, and about half of those are ones I would classify as spirituality more than self-help. That means that genuine self-help books are less than 1% of my reading. From time to time I look at samples of self-help books on Amazon, but most of them seem to just state the obvious with a lot of padding around it, and with the advent of AI slop, that only seems likely to get worse. Until recently most of them also assumed that everyone is neurotypical, but I do think this has been getting better over the years. The ones I have read all the way through are mostly about time management in some form or other, which is something I struggle with because of my ADHD.
Doni wrote: "The most recent self-helpy book I read was Journal Planning Magic. It totally revolutionized how I journal and plan. For a few days. Then I went back to my normal ways!"That is often my experience, also...at least most of the time.
Happy Friday...man I was on time for one week and now I'm back to being delinquent! Oops. First week of school, and I'm already having parenting struggles with my 2nd grader. SIGH. TGIF.Finished 34/50
Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir for "book by a neurodivergent author". Hurray fellow C-PTSD nerd! What Wil Wheaton went through as a kid/teen was awful and his parents are terrible. I'm aghast!
The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living for "book where music plays an integral part of the storyline". So, I finished this book last Thursday. Sunday I go to church and guess who's there? THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK!Lacey and her two sons just happened to show up to visit! It was wild! I had a lovely chat with her and told her I want to hear the rest of her story! She is a sweet human being and her book was really good and encouraging.
Currently Reading
Isles of the Emberdark for "highly anticipated read of 2025". Hurray another Cosmere book!! It's so pretty too!!
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection for "a classic you've never read". I'm SO CLOSE to being DONE!
QotW
Sometimes. I see self-help as kind of a "how-to" for various life skills or relational/business situations. Sometimes they're ok, sometimes they're not. Imho, ones that deal with relationships/mental health are only good as supplements to therapy, not in place of.
I forgot yesterday was Thursday, but definitely definitely know today is Friday. What a week!!!!I finished The Lion Sleeps Tonight as my book of interconnected short stories (depending on your definition) and it was really interesting.
I'm reading Red Queen as my first of 2 books with the same name. It's a bit much for me. I'm kind of squeamish.
QOTW: Not really. i read the Bible and some other Christian books (but not as much as I should), but basically self-help books just make me feel bad about myself because I'm a horrible person.
The people above are right, time is flying.The heat wave finally hit SoCalifornia....of course it did, we are back at school/work and everyone needs to switch classes when it's 100 degrees outside. Curses to whoever thought starting school Aug 7 was a good idea.
Finished no books this week (see above about school starting....)
QOTW:
I teach psychology and sometimes self help books overlap with psychology so I do read them to learn the latest science. And sometimes I do read them for fun, but never worth an eye to applying it. I just want to see what the writer has to say.
Last year I enjoyed The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. This year I enjoyed Reasons to Stay Alive.
A couple weeks ago I bought How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy and am looking forward to it, and Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed is on my TBR
Happy check-in! The summer has been pretty great weather until a couple days this week where it was 30+ humid days and not cooling off at night. The weather couldn't have waited a few days until we got the windows repaired so they could actually be opened and closed from inside the house. Oh well it was cool for the window repairers so it all worked out. It's the little things in life.Finished Reading:
Three Shattered Souls ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Series ender to a Korean mythology inspired fantasy epic. This series is a rollercoaster for sure. Many povs from great characters, and lots of secrets and lies.
Spy x Family, Vol. 14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first time a book in this series hasn't been a five star read for me. It just was a little boring compared to the other volumes.
Silver Elite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS silver)
I rounded this up to five stars because in the last couple of chapters the main character did stupid things to make plot happen, but not in the way I thought so it ended okay. This is labeled as romantasy but to me it's just sci-fi no fantasy.
The Deviant Vol. 2 ⭐⭐⭐
Duology ender I think but the origional murders weren't solved?
Kiki's Delivery Service ⭐⭐⭐
Very cute group of short stories. Maybe I'll watch the movie now.
QOTW:
Nope to self-help genre.
Happy Friday. Stats:
GR: 170/250
PS: 39/50
ATY: 43/52
ATY Anniversary: 9/10
ATY Rejects: 19/28
ATY Rewind: 6/10
GR Choice: 18/30
TBR: 4/10
Finished
The Cat Who Saved the Library ⭐⭐⭐⭐
GR Lightning Round Bookmark
Full Speed to a Crash Landing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATY Rejects: Silhouette on cover
Two Wrongs Make a Right ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: Left Handed MC
Spy x Family, Vol. 14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Progress
What Will People Think?
QotW
My feeling is the majority of 'self help' is one big con job designed solely to help the author make money.
Mod
Very cute group of short stories. Maybe I'll watch the movie now...."
It's my older daughter's favorite Miyazaki movie! I didn't realize it was also a book.
I spoke too soon last week, got back from a work conference in San Diego and got the flu! Me and a lot of others, but was sick for a week, so that was not fun. Finally able to breathe out of my nose again, the things you take for granted when you're healthy.36/75 GoodReads Challenge
32/50 PopSugar Challenge
Finished:
Nothing!
Currently Reading:
1.) City of Girls #24 - Happily Single MC
2.) The Incendiaries #7 - Cult
QoTW: Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one?
I do not enjoy reading self help books. It always feels like there's one worthwhile paragraph and everything else can be skimmed over. I'd almost just prefer to listen to a podcast episode of the topic rather than read an entire book.
@Nadine the book came first in 1985 in Japan. Maybe you’ve got a gift idea for your daughter now.
Mod
I put it on hold at the library! If I think she'll like it, you're right, it's great gift idea!
Hey everyone! NYC was chilly this week, I was wearing a sweater on Thursday that got me a lot of compliments! It was a light blue sweater with minor ballon sleeves and puffy shoulders. It is also cropped which is not work appropriate for the office but when you wear high waisted pants, it saves the write up lol. Earlier this month, I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism and when I tell you my diet has made a 180 turn-around, I am not joking. It has been a damn journey. I had to start fasting and it is harder than I thought. I have to take pills every morning when I wake up at the same time every day with a whole bottle of water. Then I can't eat 4 hours after that! I have been eating more healthier and less portions actually fill my stomach up.
I have finished reading three books and two of them have been for this reading challenge:
1) The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd (4.25/5): This book had me hooked! It had me quite emotional at times due to the cancer talk and how it was hitting close to home for me. IDK if it was the perfect time for me to read it but I was lowkey avoiding it because I didn't think I was going to enjoy the book. Surprisingly, this did not cover the "avoided reading" prompt (I am currently reading a book that is so stay tuned!). This book completed the "run club" prompt.
2) The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu (2/5): Cute art and the plot had me intrigued. But I feel like reading this in 2025 with the rise of A.I. and how I am fully against it, this book did not align with my views and it therefore got a low rating. Also, the synopsis for this made me believe it was going to go a different direction, but nope. This book completed the "happy ending in a dystopian" prompt. I don't think it is a happy ending but it is intended to be. And no this is not labeled to be satirical.
3) Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros (3/5): A VERY timely read. As someone who is against ICE and the deportations of innocent people, this is a great read for a younger audience to introduce this topic to. However, since it is a middle grade novel, the plot went very quickly. Although I didn't read this book for this reading challenge, anyone who is interested in doing so, this book completes the prompt "a book mentioned in another book" due to discussions of The House on Mango Street.
Currently reading a book covering the "avoided reading" prompt, Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman. The reason I have been avoiding this book is because a few years ago, I read the first book in the series and I was enjoying it until the ending. I was debating at the time to read the second book but I removed it from my tbr. I then found out that Libby finally got an audiobook for it and I decided to give it a try. It is not too bad right now, I hope I don't get disappointed again.
QOTW: I don't know if it is even considered to be self-help but when I find books about sex, I always want to read about it. They don't describe it as self-help however the topics do help me understand sexual desire and how-tos on stuff that I won't be getting into.
Guys! I'm so excited about Katabasis coming out! Is anyone else reading it?
Mod
I've actually not read ANYTHING by Kuang! I guess you're a fan?
Nadine in NY wrote: "Doni wrote: "Guys! I'm so excited about Katabasis coming out! Is anyone else reading it?"I've actually not read ANYTHING by Kuang! I guess you're a fan?"
I've only read Babel, but I loved it!
Doni wrote: "Guys! I'm so excited about Katabasis coming out! Is anyone else reading it?"I'm excited too! It's the last book I need for this challenge. My Kindle pre-order downloaded yesterday, so it will be the next thing I read after I finish my current Kindle book.
It's so fascinating to me how so many people get excited over new release fiction novels. Since I'm a nonfiction reader most of the time, I love seeing other people's taste in reading because it's often different than my own.
I have to be in a deep seeded mood to read fiction otherwise I get bored. Though now I will be forced to read some for my writing/lit class so that should be interesting.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Incendiaries (other topics)City of Girls (other topics)
What Will People Think? (other topics)
Spy x Family, Vol. 14 (other topics)
The Cat Who Saved the Library (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Dana K. White (other topics)Nalini Singh (other topics)
Hayley Gelfuso (other topics)
Saskia Maarleveld (other topics)
Michael Sims (other topics)
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The temps have finally dropped, it's that wonderful time of year with warm August sun, cool nights, ripe fruit, and gigantic spiders LOL. We are getting some MUCH needed rain - it's been so dry this month, this rain won't be enough, but it will help.
***** Admin stuff *****
August's group read is: Remarkably Bright Creatures. You can join the discussion here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
September's group read, which could fulfill "A Book About an Overlooked Woman in History," will be: Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail. We still need a discussion leader for September, and September is only a week away!!!
The October group read, which could fill "A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons" will be: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The poll for November group read nominations (which could fill "book about a food truck") will be open for another week, vote here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...
This week I finished 4 books, 1 for this challenge.
Backslide by Nora Dahlia - this was a NetGalley read, it comes out in October. I loved this! She hasn't talked to her ex in ten years, after a bad breakup when they were teens, but ... DUN DUN DUNNNNN they are sharing a hotel suite at their best friends' wedding vow renewal weeklong party. This was so fun to read. If you love contemporary romances, especially second chance romances, give this a try. (If you're iffy on romance, skip this, because it's full of all the predictable nonsense that romances are infamous for, like why would they have to share a hotel suite, but I didn't care.)
The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin - I read this for "book I've been avoiding" (and it's also the third book I've read this year with snakes on the cover or in the title!). Back in 2011 I read the first book in this excellent medieval forensic mystery series, and I loved it! And sadly, a few months later the author died. I was crushed. I had JUST found a new favorite author, and then I learned there would never be more books from her! I couldn't bring myself to read the rest of the short series, because I didn't want to run out of books to look forward to from this author. So for almost 15 years, I didn't read the next one. Until now! It was just as good as I remembered, happily. Now I've only got two more books left to read (plus a final book in the series that was published posthumously with another author, and is probably not as good).
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier - this was on my "must read" list for this year, as I slowly work my way through du Maurier's books. Two thumbs down, do not recommend. I have loved every other book I read by her, but not this one. I was so bored.
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan - this was also on my "must read" list for this year, and I'm so glad I added it, because I LOVED it!! Monaghan is officially one of my favorite authors now!! I read it in about 24 hours. Five stars. I had a book hangover when I finished so I started five new books because I couldn't decide what to read.
Popsugar 90% 45 /50
Must Reads 50% 5 /10
AtY 87% 45 /52
AtY bonus 100% 10 /10
2025 pub 78% 39 /50
NetGalley ratio 88% (I cracked 90%! and then I idiotically requested two more books ... I'm never going to get to 100% if I can't stop requesting new books.)
Question of the Week
This week's question was suggested by Jennifer!
Do you read "self-help" books? What does "self-help" mean to you? Do you think the "self help" genre has changed over the years? What would make you consider reading one?
This is such an interesting question, because I used to abhor self-help books, but gradually I've become a little bit more open minded. I don't know if I'm changing as I age, or if the self-help genre has changed. I think "self help" means a book that will help you find better coping strategies for life and help you find that path to inner peace. I still don't read very many of them!
So far, the only self-help book that truly helped me was Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh. I read that while my marriage was ending, and it really helped me find some much-needed inner peace. At this point in my life, what I most need help with is decluttering my house, and I still haven't found that magical book that will make it easier for me.