Reading with Style discussion

This seems a good moment to open a new Socializing thread - the old one had reached nearly 600 posts, and it has been quiet for a few days. And we will soon be at the halfway point for the season!

I'm going to Seoul for the first time at the end of October. Any advice for must see/must do/must eat at? [Note: I'm traveling with a young teen, so fancy bars and clubs are mostly no-go on this visit.]

Oh, have you seen the Somebody Feed Phil episode on Korea?

Every time I watch him I want to eat, and travel, and eat….

It's the halfway point of the season. How is everyone doing? On track? Off track? Never had a track? ;)

Rosemary wrote: "It's the halfway point of the season. How is everyone doing? On track? Off track? Never had a track? ;)"

I am trying to figure out how come I am reading 4 books at once! That is very unlike me!

Rosemary wrote: "It's the halfway point of the season. How is everyone doing? On track? Off track? Never had a track? ;)"

I finished my goal of doing the 15 pointers. -- No, I didn't. I thought I had, but I had not. Humpph.

I don't really want to complete the Bingo Card. But I guess I've started the 10 pointers, and that will be my goal to do before the season ends.

Glad I chose the Diane Keaton book for the group reads - Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty, due to her unexpected passing. In truth, even though it's fine, i don't like that particular book, a look at how she admires women even though she feels "not pretty" herself [Can you imagine?] -- not as much as her memoir Then Again.

I may have said this in the past, but I'll say it again! Thank you to all Mods (past and present) who put example plans in the sub-challenge planning thread. Once again, I read but did not really retain the instructions and I was trying to match ALL 4 criteria until I reread Rosemary's example and wondered about her choices! Ugh..... it is really hard to match 4 criteria - ha, ha.

Agreed, Valerie! I often have trouble understanding the subchallenges, but this one really blew my brain up. It wasn’t until I read Joanna’s plan that I began to understand. Well, I think I do….
I see others are able to match all four criteria, and I wonder why it seems impossible to me.

It's fortunate that we only have to match three criteria! I was also trying to match four criteria until I went back and reread the directions for the subchallenge.

You're welcome for the plans. That is mostly why I posted one right away, hoping it would help.

I found that most of the books I tried will fit somewhere, although I seem to have a lot of Aquarius and Taurus - all those mid-series mysteries ;) Only a few of my books fit 4 criteria - the most likely were books with long titles that have a lot of the letters for the different month names.

Last chance to vote in the polls - closing tonight!

As always (!) a whole boatload of great tasks this season. I could easily spend A LOT of reading time on 20.10. At least that task prompted me to update my challenge list here.

My biggest problem is I have to be very disciplined for the next week(ish) because I am nearly finished Genji. Generally, I have enjoyed it, but I am ready for it to be done and focus on fun mysteries! In case you are following along - I only have 111 pages left to go! Yay!

Well done, Valerie. I read that many years ago and I remember appreciating it, but it is a long one!

Valerie wrote: "10.4 Valentine's Day

The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley
...
If you are doing the mystery challenge and haven't filled in 1929, this is a fun one!"

Thanks for the recommendation, Valerie! For myself, I have covered 1925-1950, and 1925 seems to be the date of this author's first book. But I will look out for it, just for fun!

It did seem to me that most folks in the RwS mystery challenge had that period covered - it was part of the 'Golden Age' after all! Still it is always good to find another Golden Age author.

Welcome back, Beth!

Rosemary wrote: "Welcome back, Beth!"

Yes, I thought the same! Happy to see you back, Beth!

Hi Beth, welcome back!

Happy New Year and all the best in 2026!

Happy New Year - Norma and everyone of my RwS compatriots!

We are going to the big smoke (Toronto) today to see the Sadies (a band) at the Horseshoe Tavern (bar/venue). It will be fun, although I haven't stayed up for NY since 2019 when we went in to TO..... to see the Sadies!

The Horseshoe is an institution, in case you were wondering! From their website: 'The Horseshoe Tavern, located in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood has been a Canadian musical institution since it opened its doors in 1947.'

Happy New Year! Wishing good health and great books to all.

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year and a wonderful 2026 to you all!