Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Good Morning/Afternoon everyone! It'll be a short check-in for me today. School started yesterday for my daughter so things are quite busy this week! On the plus side the temperature today is supposed to stay in the upper 70s which makes me ridiculously happy!

The nomination thread for October's group read is still open (forgot to close it yesterday) so I'm going to leave it open until later today. A poll should begin tomorrow morning, and I will send a message once the poll has been created.

I have continued my efforts to pull myself out of my summer reading slump. I finished two books this week:

This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book as I tend to shy away from topical books that match up with current events (I'm a bit of an ostrich in that). I finally decided to dive in after so many people raved about it, and I am glad I did. I think the author did a fantastic job of exploring a complicated issue in a real, human and emotional way. Five stars from me.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This was a reread for me, but it was my daughter's summer reading book for English class. We read it out loud together so I'm totally counting it for my reading this year!

Books currently reading:

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory. This is on audio. I haven't listened to it much this week, but the narrator is fantastic.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan. I've had this book on my shelf for a while, and last night I finally picked it up. I have only read a couple of chapters so far, but I am enjoying it.


Question of the week:

Another from AF. (I couldn't resist this question as it is quite an interesting one)

I've heard of work-wife/work-husbands, but what about book-wife/book-husband? Do you have a special friend in which your friendship is mainly centered on books and your love for discussing books? Not that this person couldn't be important to you in other parts of your life, but when you think about books and are dying to talk to someone about the latest one you read, this is the person you talk to.

The Circle by Dave Eggers. Using it for the movie prompt. I really did not like this book. The main character, Mae, was horrible. She was super judgmental about her small town job at the beginning of the novel and about people who don’t want their whole lives online.

I feel like Eggers was trying to make a point about how the world we live in online can consume us and ruin us but his main character was so blasé about all the crap that happened to people she supposedly cared about. Also, the first “book” (it’s broken into three books) could’ve been cut short. It’s all about how Mae gets subsumed into this life style but she never really pushes back on any of the choices forced upon her. I really did not like this book and I think Eggers is way over-rated. I'm not a big fan of Eggers. I picked the book up to read it before I watched the movie because I love Hanks and Watson but then I heard the movie sucked and it took me a while to get to the book.

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. Using it for protagonist with a disability prompt. I really enjoy these and hope she continues writing them.
And books that don’t fulfill a prompt:

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. YA novel about leopard people (people with magical abilities). It’s set in Nigeria and Sunny, the main character, is albino. I’m using it for the Read Harder challenge about a spiritual journey. It would also work for the all point of views from a POC prompt.

QOTW:
My niece definitely. I have some former and current students that I also talk to about books. I’m currently reading the newest Jeff Zentner and I love it so much, I hope he continues writing forever. Yesterday, a told a couple of juniors that they’re going to have to read it because I love it so much.

I only finished one book - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe which I'm going to use for eccentric characters.

I started Scrappy Little Nobody but I only listen to that when I talk a walk but I got summer cold so I haven't been exercising so that got put on the back burner.

Also started Secondhand Souls but I haven't made it very far since I've been going to bed early to fight this sickness off. :(

31/40 and 8/12.

QOTW Only one of my friends is a reader. So when I find a book I think she will like I will text her about it. But I can't think of anyone else that I talk to about books - aside from you guys!!

Greetings from a humidity-free Cleveland! It's still warm and sunny, but the lack of humidity makes it feel so much better. I think fall is finally on the way.

I read SS-GB for an espionage thriller. I read something by John le Carré last year and *hated* it, so I was really not excited for this prompt. The alternate history and murder mystery aspects helped keep me engaged, but I still didn't love it. (And not just because of the abysmal way the female characters were treated!) I think a big part of the reason this genre doesn't work for me is, while I picture everything I'm reading in my head, all the characters are just sort of blobs. Since espionage thrillers seem to involve a lot of characters, often popping up unexpectedly, it just turns into a blurred mess for me. I'd like to watch the BBC mini-series if I can, and I think I'll enjoy it more.

QOTW: I wish I had a book-spouse! I mostly read GoodReads reviews to get my fix.

Chrandra wrote: "The Circle by Dave Eggers. Using it for the movie prompt. I really did not like this book. The main character, Mae, was horrible. She was super judgmental about her small town job at the beginning ..."


Hah! I hated the Circle too! I was SO unimpressed by Eggers, it's likely I'll never read anything from him again. The writing was crap. (IMO!)

It's been a few weeks since I've been able to update. Totally blaming work for that. But I have been able to finish at least a book each week, which is normal for me. But a really quick update on what I've read and what I'm reading now:

Completed
45. A book about an immigrant or refugee: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

34. A book with a month or day of the week in the title: Saturday by Ian McEwan

13. A book by or about a person who has a disability: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

In Progress
10. A book with a cat on the cover: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Inching ever closer to completion, and it's getting harder by the week.

37/40 and 8/12

Happy Thursday! I've had a fun week of back to back sick kids :(

I did manage to finish Tig Notaro's book Just a Person and slot it in for a book with pictures. I also read about 2/3 of Amy Poehler's book.

QOTW: I have a couple friends who are readers but nobody I'd consider that to be a staple of our relationship. One possible exception is actually my husbands cousin. We get along and he's a lot like my husband in personality and looks actually. But hubby isn't a reader at all, cousin is and one thing that we have in common is a huge love of the Oryx and Crake series. We rarely chat outside of family functions but if there is O&C news (rumours of movie or tv show, another book release as a few years ago etc) he's the first person I think of lol my husband is slightly baffled but loves that we have that weird thing in common.

It's surprisingly cool here in NY too. The State Fair opens today, and it's usually really hot for the Fair, so I'm a little surprised at how cool the day is.

I finished four books this week, and three of those were finished in the last 24 hours so I'm a bit surprised to be reporting "4!" instead of "1." None for the Challenge so I remain 51/52.

Fear Itself by Walter Mosley, audiobook read by Don Cheadle. Mosley is Mosley so if you like him you'll like this. Cheadle was AMAZING. I need more Don Cheadle audiobooks and I need them now!

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson. This history was short but powerful, and powerfully upsetting, so I could only read small bits at a time. 5 stars.

Runner by Patrick Lee. This thriller just wasn't that thrilling, because the hero could always Do All the Things, he always got away from the bad guys easily, it was too much.

Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems, 1988-2000 by Lucille Clifton - I always have a poetry book in progress, and this was my latest. If you like Clifton, you'll like this, because Clifton.

QOTOW Well, YOU GUYS! LOL that's why I'm here! In a few more years, it'll be my daughter. She's 14 now so she doesn't care about most of the books I read, but our taste is always aligned when it comes to YA. Once she starts reading the grownup stuff, we'll be Best Reading Pals.

I can’t believe it is already Thursday. I spent a 4-day weekend in Colorado camping with my niece & nephew and taking them to their first day of school, so I didn’t get much reading done this week. I did manage (barely) to finish two that I started before the trip. My reading outlook for the next several weeks looks bleak also. Not as much business travel and lots of evening & weekend plans. I need to step it up!

I’m still—forever it seems—at 33/40, 8/12 or 41/52.

I finished:
The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland by Rebekah Crane. This was a cute, well-written YA about a group of teenagers at a summer camp for distressed youth. It is more about friendship between the MC and one of the other girls at camp than a love story. It felt like a John Hughes movie.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. Not my usual genre, but I enjoyed it! I didn’t feel compelled to pick up the book & continue for the first 100 pages or so, but while reading it I was completely engrossed. After the first 100 pages, though, I didn't want to stop. This is the first of a trilogy, so at some point I will pick up the next book: A Gathering of Shadows.

I am currently reading:
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand.
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West.
Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 by David Sedaris.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. This is the first Christie book I read, roughly 30 years ago. I wanted to reread it to see how much I remember and if my thoughts on the book changed over time.

QOTW: I have a few friends who read (I actually met most of them from a book club), so they often ask me what I read recently that I would recommend and vice versa. We also swap books frequently. Other than that, I recently discovered buddy reads in another Goodreads group and love them! I’ve done several with the same 2 women, and I like discussing the books as we read them.

Chilly in Baltimore this morning as well. And I have pumpkin spice creamer in my coffee. I might be leaning into fall vibes a bit early but this summer was such a scorcher and I can't wait for boots and cardigan weather to hit.

Finished: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (audiobook). I heard people rave about these in audiobook format but I think I'm too attached to the movies because hearing certain characters' voices being so different from what I'm accustomed to was distracting. It was good to listen to a familiar story while I was quilting on the weekends, though!

The Upside of Unrequited. Used this for the "recommended by a librarian" prompt and really enjoyed it. I've been reading a lot of YA this summer and it's been a blast.

Currently reading: We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy. Still making my slow way through this Ta-Nehisi Coates essay collection. It's tough reading and not breezy.

The Royal We (audiobook). Once I finished Harry Potter, I needed another audiobook for sewing and I again went with one that I've read before. Doesn't fit any prompts I have left, but if anyone needs 1) multiple authors or 2) red spine, this would fit the bill!

The Alice Network. FINALLY digging into this book, which has been on my list all summer and is my book club's pick for September. It's interesting to read about WWI for a change. Using it for a novel set during wartime but it could also be a book set in two time periods.

The Duchess Deal. I was saving this for Labor Day weekend as a beach read but then Elyse at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books gave it a rave review and I adore Tessa Dare's books so I'm almost 2/3 through it, obviously, despite having multiple other books in progress.

QOTW: I have a few people I talk books with. I did nothing but swap recommendations with the summer intern at my office and we became Facebook and Goodreads friends before she left. I also have a friend doing the challenge with me and we constantly run to each other when we've finished something good that fits a prompt (or not) and have an interstate book loaning system going.

Good Morning,

It's a pretty cool day in Indiana today (71 is the high). It's kind of gloomy outside, a bit windy and a bit cold, it really would have been a great day to stay home and curl up with a book.

Finished:

I only finished one book since last week and that puts me at 30/40.

Every Heart a Doorway for the first book in a series you haven't read before. I had heard some really good things about this from a few of the podcasters on a BookRiot podcast (sorry can't remember which one/ones). I really enjoyed it. It's just a novella, so it's a quick read and I actually plan on finishing out the series as my library gets the books.

Currently Reading:

The Snowman this is not for any challenge prompt but I just really wanted to read it and since I'm doing well on the challenge, I thought I would add this in. I'm liking it so far. It hasn't been too creepy yet but I can feel it building.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War for a book of letters. I'm reading this on my iPad, so I'm really only reading it before bed. I'm enjoying it so far.

The Shining for a book set in a hotel. I just started this on audiobook this morning as I was driving into work. Holy smokes it's over 15 hours long. This will for sure take some time to get through.

QOTW: I have a number of friends that are readers but not really one particular person I discuss them with. I do have a new friend I meet through another group that I have started chatting about books a lot with. I've borrowed a few from her and I'm loaning her some of mine.

Enjoying the nice, cool change of weather here in Wisconsin! I despise summer and am always looking forward to winter so the fall changes are a huge boost for me!

I am currently reading a few books:

The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts, and Other Homemade Adventures - a fun, flip through type book. Some of her crafts and recipes seem interesting but most are too unnecessarily complicated.

A Game of Thrones - I wasn't going to read this one but I'm waiting for the show to finish before I binge watch the whole thing. I am too anxious waiting so I decided to read the series. So far it's really good!

Wedding Night - Just started listening to this one again. I hard started a while back but got a more interesting book shortly after starting. I like Kinsella's books as they're usually light and easy and fun. So far this is shaping up to be the same way.

This week I finished Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World. Travel memoirs are some of my favorite books to read but I was disappointed by this one. I did not feel as if I was travelling with her, which is why I like travel books so much! I felt more like I was talking to my grandmother who likes to give back handed compliments but instead of "oh, aren't you going to put a sweater over that?" it was more like "oh, unlike everyone else in the world, I like to appreciate the culture of a place I am travelling and actually talk to the locals".....it got a little old after a while.

QOTW: The first person that came to mind was my aunt Jane. She and I have always had a special connection but books are one thing that we continue to share. We both have very different tastes in books but always seem to find ones to talk about or share with each other. She has encouraged me to become a librarian (she was a college librarian for many years before she retired) which I am just now starting to pursue.

I recently accepted an assistant position at my former high school library. I am looking for any career advice from the many librarians we have in this group. I started a discussion in "The Ask-a-Librarian Folder" and am hoping I can get some great feedback!

Hello everybody!

This is the first time I am writing here instead of reading only.
I live in a medium sized town in Germany (Münster) and teach Englisch, Spanish and History at a high school in the area.

I have finished 36 of the original prompts and 8 of the advanced.

I have read two books this week that don't count for this challenge, but finally found one that fits the X for the A-Z challenge so I am very happy about that.

I have noticed I have become a little too strict with myself about reading books that match challenges, so I have allowed myself two crime novels without knowing whether they would fit a category.

First one finished this week:
Swimming Lessons I finally got around to reading this, had it on my TBR for a few months and finally got it from the library. I really enjoyed Fuller's writing and the story about a marriage and one woman's development on the one hand and on one of the daughter's way of coping with her and her parents' decisions and mistakes.
I used it for the prompt: book of letters. I counted it, even though the daughter's part is not written in letters.

second book:

Kristina Ohlsson Schwesterherz. The link is for the English edition.Lotus blues. A Swedish crime novel. I just love Skandinavian crime novels.
It is a really gripping story about a lawyer who finds himself involved in a series of crimes on an international level, even though he didn't really do anything except try to prove the innocence of a dead woman. It is the first book in a series of two, so I can't wait till the second one is finally there for me at the library.

Third book this week:

Kalter Zorn. A German crime novel. The first murder takes place in Xanten, Germany. This offered the chance to finally fill the X-slot in my A-Z challenge with a book I actually enjoyed.
The book deals with a series of murders in the USA and Germany and establishes connections betwenn the FBI and the German federal police the BKA.

I have been reading The Power of When: Discover Your Chronotype--and the Best Time to Eat Lunch, Ask for a Raise, Have Sex, Write a Novel, Take Your Meds, and More for a few days (I usually read a non-fiction book on the side) which offers some interesting insights.

I have ordered some books that fit into missing categories, but will probably read some more crime novels for the rest of this week before getting back to the challenges...

QOTW:

I have quite a few people at work (I am a teacher at a high school) that I talk about books with. One of them is a colleague who also has a similar taste in music so it is always interesting to hear about his latest discoveries in literature and music. But since actively being involved with Goodreads I am starting to tell more and more people about the challenges as well. Here in Germany not so many people seem to know goodreads, even avid readers often don't.

Good morning, everyone! It's gloomy and chilly in San Francisco, too, but that's typical for August here. I can't wait for the sun to come out in September!

I had a slow reading week for no good reason I can think of. I finished only one short book, and got about a third of the way through two others. I'm now at 35/40 on the regular list and 6/12 on the advanced.

Completed

The Untold Adventures of Santa Claus by Ogden Nash. This is for #18, a book that never fails to make me smile. I read this when it first came out, the year I was 11, and memorized whole chunks of it. I just love Nash's unorthodox rhymes and clever set ups.

In Progress

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin. I had been waiting for this to come out and it finally did! It's the last book in the trilogy and I can't wait to see how it gets wrapped up. The first book in the series, The Fifth Season, is one of my all-time favorites -- and I usually don't much care for fantasy or science fiction!

The Futilitarians: Our Year of Thinking, Drinking, Grieving, and Reading by Anne Gisleson. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway (yay!), but it's heavy reading so it's taking me awhile to get through it.

Question of the Week

What a great question! I was part of a 6-person book club that I absolutely loved and we talked about all sorts of books -- the one we read for the month, and anything else anyone was reading. But I moved 2000 miles away this past December. :( I still discuss books over email with a couple friends, but it's harder, and I do talk books with one of my sisters when we get together. I recently joined a book club here, so that should help.

Hi everyone!

It's distressingly cool here in Michigan, feels like fall is in the air. But there's still summer left, fall needs to back off! Since Michigan falls tend to be 2 weeks and then segue straight into winter. Let's not have a snowy/freezing october, ok?

Been getting a bunch of long library books so taking a while to get through them.

This week I finished: Leviathan Wakes - This was an interesting read, since I'd watched the syfy series. Suddenly the show makes so much more sense. I don't know if it's because i always do stuff while i watch tv, so missed details, or if the world and plot was just so complex it didn't get conveyed well. I think I'll re-watch season 1 to see how it goes a second time through.

A Gathering of Shadows This was good, book 2 of the Shades of Magic series. It's a really interesting world, very engrossing. Ended on a total cliffhanger though so now I'm tapping my foot at the library, hoping I get book 3 soon.

Currently reading:

The Fifth Season - Just started it so haven't read much to form an opinion. I have read one other N.K Jemisin book though, she does fantastic world building. I think it'll be good. I'm pretty sure this won a sci-fi award, a hugo or neubula or something.

QOTW: I've got a fair number of bookish friends that we have long conversations about books. I don't think there's one in particular who stands out for that reason. Most of them are people who live far enough out I only see them every few months, not weekly. Goodreads groups fills in between those visits :)

Good morning, this time from Lima Peru.
I finished two books this week, but neither of them fulfilled any prompts.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, just because I've always wanted to read it, and even more after I saw the musical in London (I loved it!). I didn't quite enjoy it as I thought I was, I was kind of disappointed, but it may not be the book's fault.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. OMG I loved this one. As I said in my review I can't explain exactly what I liked about it, just describe the feeling of a trance, a delightful trance. Loved loved loved it, and this will not be my first and only Murakami book. That's all I can say.

Still working on The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, I don't know what is taking me so long, and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, sooo excited about this one.

QOTW:
I wish I had a book-husband. I pretty much talk about books with anyone that'll hear me, but it is pretty much a one sided conversation. (Tears)

Sheri wrote: "The Fifth Season ... I'm pretty sure this won a sci-fi award, a hugo or neubula or something. ..."

So funny, I just mentioned that this is one of my all-time favorite books and see you are reading it now. Lucky you! It won the Hugo, as did the next book in the series (The Obelisk Gate). Enjoy!

Cheri wrote: "So funny, I just mentioned that this is one of my all-time favorite books and see you are reading it now."

Awesome :D Hope that means I'll like it!

Ashley wrote: "Good Morning,

It's a pretty cool day in Indiana today (71 is the high). It's kind of gloomy outside, a bit windy and a bit cold, it really would have been a great day to stay home and curl up with..."

A fellow Bender! Nice to meet you.

Hi everyone! I've been sick the past couple of days, and the only good part of this miserably congested experience is that I finally finished a book.

Finished

Hotel du Lac - Lovely and atmospheric and quite sad. If you liked either Excellent Women or My Mrs. Brown, this could be a good follow-up. I used this for Popsugar's "a book set in a hotel," bringing me to 31/40 for this challenge.

Uptown Thief - I don't usually enjoy plot-driven romances or heist stories, but this was a really enjoyable novel - deals with heavy topics (and check those triggers) but quite a fun ride. I used this one for Book Riot's "a debut novel," which makes 18/24 prompts completed.

DNF

The Game Plan - Just wasn't feeling it right now, but I could see picking it up again in the future.

In-Progress

Still working on League of Dragons and Pictures Of The Floating World.

QOTW

I basically force everyone to talk about books with me, but it's a BIG topic of conversation for my library boss and me - we're the romance readers on staff, and it's rare we don't jump directly into a conversation about what we're reading.

Hi all,

Doing great in Vancouver.
I'm at 32/40 and 1/12.

Currently underway with, In Cold Blood. I'm reading it for the advanced challenge prompt, book about a difficult topic. Sooooo, it's pretty dark. I'm about half way through. Capote is a good writer, I think the story is well written.

As for the challenge, I need to sit down and do some planning, with an eye to finishing the challenge LOL. I also have to see what the library has, and compare that to my list.

QOTW: I'm a lucky lady. I have many friends, but it seems that quite a few of us are readers as well. So, books often come up as a topic! I also have friends who read different genres (true crime, romances, chick-lit, bestsellers, mysteries, religion) -- it's diverse, and it helps me improve my reading. My sister and hubby-- they like scary/freaky/Steven King. That is not my thing, but I can always ask questions :)

Mike wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Good Morning,

It's a pretty cool day in Indiana today (71 is the high). It's kind of gloomy outside, a bit windy and a bit cold, it really would have been a great day to stay home a..."

Hey Mike!

Nice to "meet" you as well!

Hi everyone. The sun is shining today here in Yorkshire, for a change.

This week I finished Once Upon a Dream: A Twisted Tale for my book with a subtitle. It's based on the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty but, as the name would suggest, with a twist. There are so many negative reviews for this book on here but I really liked it. The main critique seems to be how silly Aurora comes across at the start of the book but if you've seen the film, you know she's not exactly a brain surgeon so anything else would be completely betraying the film. I actually liked how the author tried to explain why Aurora was so silly in a plausible (well, fairy tale plausible) way and I think she also dealt with mental illness really well. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of these books.

I am currently reading The Haunting of Hill House. After loving We Have Always Lived in the Castle, I thought I would give some more Shirley Jackson a try. So far this is leaning more towards the traditional ghost story than the other but enjoying it so far.

QOTW: No bookish friends for me really. Many are casual readers but I come across as an obsessed bookworm compared to them (which I don't mind). My sister-in-law will sometimes recommend a book to me but, with the exception of Jane Austen, we seem to have very different tastes.

Bonjour,

In one night it turns from winter to autumn. It's almost chilly today which is good since I have to wear a lab coat without air conditioning.

Last week I finished The Princess Bride for the story within a story prompt. It was perfect, like the movie. But I may be biased.

I also read Blankets for no prompt, just because I like graphic novels and especially when it's autobiographic. It was good.

QOTW: I have my sister and a friend. They both are doing this challenge as well.

Wow, in some ways it feels like it should have been Thursday days ago, and in other ways, I feel like it totally snuck up on me. My son went back to school last Thursday, so maybe it's just that feeling of trying to get back into the routine and this being the first full week of having to get him up & ready for school every day instead of just having to worry about getting myself up & ready for work (my husband gets home from work about the time I leave for work, so over the summer, I could just let my son sleep). We'll get used to it again, it will just take some time.

Anyway, on to week 34!

I didn't finish anything this week. I did make progress on both books from last week, though, so I'm okay with that.

Currently Reading
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama for prompt #3 on the advanced challenge, a book with a family member term in the title. I am about halfway through it now, and still enjoying it. There have been some parts that have been slow-going, but then some parts that I breeze right through, so it goes faster some days than others.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (the illustrated version) by J.K. Rowling. This isn't fulfilling any prompts, just a re-read for me and the first time for my son. We have made a lot of progress on it, and I think we will finish tomorrow night. We probably would have finished already if it wasn't for the school bedtime reinforcing our firm quitting time, instead of "just one more chapter, please?!"

Right now, my progress stands at 39/40 & 11/12 (50/52). I just need to finish the book I'm currently reading and then read my last one, which will be The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer for prompt #3, a book of letters. Interesting that my last two books to be read are both #3 on their respective lists.

QOTW
I have a few friends from church and a coworker who are all big readers, so we often talk about books. A couple of them are GR friends, too, so we can recommend books to each other or add to our TBR (like I really need any help in that department!) by seeing what they're currently reading or what they want to read. I love talking books!

Hello from Columbus! This week has been nuts with back to school stuff. My son is starting his first year at pre-school so those appointments have been draining my time. IEPs are a lot of work y'all.

Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens was the only book I finished this week. Like I said last week I had it in audiobook and flipped through the physical book while I listened. I absolutely loved this book. He narrated it as if he were just sitting in the room having a conversation. Sometimes he'd even stop to ask someone a question or to google something. I think the audio book is twice as long as the book because he'd add footnotes for everything and kind of ramble a bit. I really liked learning about his early life and career. I just think Eddie Izzard is one of the best people alive so 10/10 will read again.

So I'm at 36/40; 4/12 with 55 books read this year

QOTW: I don't think I really have anyone like this. I guess this group is my book-wife haha

olá, from hot, hot Portugal. This week I've read few, still with A Mulher de Trinta Anos; tomorrow is my last day before holidays. bye.

Tomorrow is my first day of school (teaching, not as a student) so I am enjoying a final vacation day in my pajamas, reading and knitting!

This week I finished:
Salt to the Sea, which was good but I've read so many WW2 books this year it is hard not to compare... It wasn't my favorite among those, but good. I liked the ending, but it took a while to get used to the rapid cycling between several viewpoints.

Cress - I liked it a lot, better than Scarlet (the previous book in the series). I'm now reading the short story collecting in the Lunar Chronicles universe.

On the way up to see the eclipse on Saturday/Sunday, we listened to the audiobook of The Girl Next Door. Normally I am a fan of Ruth Rendell, but this was a weird one. Not really any suspense to speak of, just people making dumb decisions. I did cheer for Rosemary's ending, though.

My personal audiobook was a listen of an old favorite from childhood, All Creatures Great and Small. It is still charming, and the narrator does a pretty good job voicing different degrees of Yorkshire accents (although I have no idea how accurate they are!) In truth, I still have about an hour to go on this one, but I am sure I'll finish by the end of the day and I wanted to get this posted before I forgot!

QOTW: Well, I do have a few friends at work that are happy to talk about books and swap recommendations, but not quite rising to the level of a "book-spouse". It would be cool to get a small book club going... hm...

Dani wrote: "Hello from Columbus! This week has been nuts with back to school stuff. My son is starting his first year at pre-school so those appointments have been draining my time. IEPs are a lot of work y'al..."

How did I not know this book/audio existed?? I love Eddie Izzard! I'm going to have to add it to my list. :)

This week, I didn't finish any books towards the challenge.

QOTW: I don't have a friend where books are the center of our friendship. I'll talk to my mom about some, though.

Brooke wrote: "Dani wrote: "Hello from Columbus! This week has been nuts with back to school stuff. My son is starting his first year at pre-school so those appointments have been draining my time. IEPs are a lot..."

If you like his style of comedy I'm sure you'll love the book!

Hi everyone!

No finishes for me this week, but I am about halfway through my eccentric character novel, A Man Called Ove, and I'm still working on the audio of Snow Crash.

I think I'm going to give Snow Crash another week before deciding whether to switch back to a physical book. There are info dumps that make it difficult to follow the audio at times, and make it impossible to skim, but I also kind of enjoy it as audio. It's similar, even in narration style, to Ready Player One, which I used for the audiobook prompt and really enjoyed. I can definitely see where Ernest Cline got some of his inspiration!

So I'm sitting at 48/52 still. I decided to go back to school for my MLS this year (finally, after years of working in libraries), so I'm starting both a full time grad program and a new job on Monday. I'm going to spend some free time reading this weekend before my I become bogged down with required reading for school. I'm sure my reading will slow down (again) once work and school are in full swing.

QOTW: Hmmmm. I do spend a lot of time discussing books and trading recommendations with my sister. Even though we both have access to a lot of electronic resources, we tend to send each other physical books all the time too. She just surprised me by mailing me all of her Saga graphic novels with a note that said "YOU HAVE TO READ THESE!" and I sent her a bunch of my books, like Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, with a similar note.

Late check-in from me because I wanted to finish the last pages of one of my challenge reads for this check-in.

Finished:

Hamilton: The Revolution - OMG I loved this book! Five stars from me. Not only is it the book of the musical with Miranda's annotations, but the entire story of the creation from seed of an idea to opening on Broadway is told, and all involved are showcased. A great book about artistic process, one that engrossed me so much, I actually got on the wrong NYC bus while reading it, and only figured it out when I got to the end of the line! This was my book with character's name in title.

The Paris Wife - really enjoyable read, brings Paris and The Lost Generation to life, has me considering Hemingway more as a man than a Legend. Five stars from me, and read as my book about an interesting woman which Hadley Richardson Hemingway certainly is, as any wife of a man like Ernest Hemingway would have to be.

That brings me to 44/52 - 9/12 and 35/40. Only 8 more!

I am still reading Hunger’s Brides: A Novel of the Baroque although it has received no attention lately. I will read something lighter now though as a palate cleanser, probably a cozy mystery.

QOTW: I have many friends with whom I talk books all the time, including several who are all doing this challenge. We email perodically with updates that lead to discussions, and try to meet quarterly for brunch or tea to do same.

Taylor wrote: "Enjoying the nice, cool change of weather here in Wisconsin! I despise summer and am always looking forward to winter so the fall changes are a huge boost for me!

I am currently reading a few book..."

Taylor, you are spot on with Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World. I felt exactly the same way and ended up with a DNF on it which is rare for me.

Everyone has mentioned cooler weather in their areas, so I'll guess I'll just say that here in the Dallas area the high was mid-80s today. Normally it would be over 100 this time of year. Yep, we're pretty excited about it.

I discovered yet another book I had completed earlier but did not count for a prompt. The Sea Keeper's Daughters by Lisa Wingate is a great book. The main character is trying to save her 2nd restaurant from failure. Through a journey to her home in the Carolinas she explores the history of the Melungeons through a series of letters. It is probably one of my top five favorites from this author. It fits the book with a family member term in the title.

This week I DNF'd How the Light Gets In. It is one of the newer books in the Inspector Ganache series. It drug too much for me. I kept thinking i was getting close to something that would move the story forward, but after getting through a third of the book, I was still bored. I finally gave up on it because I became interested in some other books.

I finished Summer House. It seemed formulaic and tired to me. It doesn't fit a prompt (at least I don't think it does).

I also finished Death of a Valentine. It fits the prompt to read a book that takes place around a holiday other than Christmas. I haven't read a Hamish MacBeth series book in years, so it was a nice change.

My total for the challenge is 38/40 and 9/12. I've finished 16 off-prompt.

I've just started Maisie Dobbs. I chose this book for the prompt to read a book with the character's name in the title. I found it looking through a friend's Goodreads posts. I trust her judgements on books.

I need to get back to The Teaberry Strangler. It is my bedside table read, and I'm so tired by the time I get there that it seldom gets picked up.

QOTW: For years I had an aunt and a close friend with whom I discussed all things book. I don't talk to either of them very often, so no book-spouse at this time. I have a couple of friends who read many of the same authors as I do, but we don't get into any significant discussions about the books themselves. We trade author and series suggestions, but that is about it. I admit I miss having that I can talk books with all the time.

Chrandra wrote: "The Circle by Dave Eggers. Using it for the movie prompt. I really did not like this book. The main character, Mae, was horrible. She was super judgmental about her small town job at the beginning ..."

Read for same prompt and really disliked it as well. Did think it would make a good movie but then never bothered to see movie when it came out!

It's been nice here in Colorado - sunny but a bit cooler. I'd love it if this weather stayed year round. My two months of near constant houseguests is over, just in time for all four of us to get sick. Sigh.

So I only finished Postcards from the Edge on audio. This has to be one of the least fictional books categorized as fiction. I'm curious to read the next two about Suzanne.

I'm working my way through a bunch of books. The Lightning Thief expired before I finished it, but at the same time All the Birds in the Sky came up for loan, and I'd let that expire about a third of the way in last month. I'm listening to The Bookshop on the Corner and it's a nice, light read and also reading Cat's Cradle for book club on Tuesday.

QOTW: I have a lot of people I talk a bit of books with but no one I talk a lot of books with, outside of this Goodreads group and a FB group. My book club is fun but monthly and only discusses sci-fi/fantasy, which I love but I read more widely than that.

I've never really checked in before but better late than never.

This week I finished Blackwing for the published in 2017 prompt (actually it's not published yet, I have an ARC). It's very good (if very depressing) 'gritty fantasy.'

and I finished Daughters of Disguise which was an enjoyable historical mystery set in Wales.

QOTW: No, I don't have one special person I talk to about books. My various friends (and my Mom) will talk about books from time to time but no, not in the way the question means.

This week I finished 1 book on my Kindle, What Is the What and I enjoyed it, so gave it a solid 4 stars. Really interesting insight into the civil war in Sudan. I put this to the category 'A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you' (Sudanese).

I've just started my next title of The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir, again on my Kindle, and will read for the Advanced category of 'A book recommended by an author you love' (Paula Hawkins).

So I'm currently at 36/40 and 6/12 = total of 42/52.

I usually discuss book selections with my twin sister. We have really similar ready tastes and often recommend titles to each other. I enjoy loaning books to friends too.

Hello from a kinda chilly Connecticut, I'm getting excited for fall weather! Anyways, I read two books this week and am finally starting to get caught up!

Into the Water for my book published in 2017. Pretty decent light mystery but I didn't think it was as good as Girl on the Train

The Handmaid's Tale for a genre/subgenre I've never heard of. I saw somewhere that it is Slipstream.. whatever that is! Its kinda scary to think how fast that world turned into what it was, but I hated the ending.

This brings me to 33/52 (24/40 and 9/12).

QOTW:
I have a few friends that will read all of the big YA books that are being turned into series that we'll talk about, but that's about it unfortunately

Hello everybody,

This past week I traveled to a conference for work, so I got a bit of reading done on the planes and in the evenings. Unfortunately I also picked up a virus, no surprise given all the people I came in contact with. I feel pretty miserable at present, but at least it waited to hit me full force until yesterday when I was on my way home?

Love, Lies and Spies: This was a fun fluffy read. Regency historical fiction/romance. Very light, but very sweet and enjoyable.

The Curse of Tenth Grave: I dnf'd this. I should have read the blurb more carefully because I really should not have even bothered picking this up. I did not realize that this was the tenth book in the series, but no worries most of the first chapter was a summary of everything that had happened so far. Also I knew that this was a paranormal mystery but I did not know it involved the amount of mythological elements that it apparently does. The writing style, the strange genre, none of it was working for me, so I opted out after a chapter.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: This was a reread for me, and it always lives up to my memories. Agatha Christie at her best.

I started I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life, but I'm not currently in the mood to celebrate the wonderful diversity of bacteria and viruses.

Now I'm off to go re-stock my supply of cold meds, chicken noodle soup, and cough drops.

Jackie wrote: "Hello everybody,

This past week I traveled to a conference for work, so I got a bit of reading done on the planes and in the evenings. Unfortunately I also picked up a virus, no surprise given all..."

Feel better soon, Jackie!

I finished four books this week, two of which I was able to use for unfinished prompts:
* Dear Committee Members (A book of letters)
* Collected Poems (A book that's more than 800 pages))
* Arrowood (non-prompt)
* Did You Ever Have a Family (non-prompt -- part of the book is set in a motel, so I considered using it for the hotel prompt. But, I found an Agatha Christie title -- At Bertram's Hotel -- that I plan to use since it looks like the whole novel is set at the hotel.)

This brings my totals to: 31/40 and 10/12.

I started two books:
* The Snow Child -- I was late in picking up a copy to read along with the group, but since the premise sounded really interesting, I decided to proceed even though I won't finish it before the end of the month. Not sure if it will fit any of the unfinished prompts since I already checked off the wilderness prompt, but I'm looking forward to diving in and then checking out the discussion thread.
* The Underground Railroad, which is my book club's pick for September.

QotW:
While I'm fortunate to have several friends that love to talk about books, I'd say my Mom is my number one, go-to person for discussing all things books. We always talk about what we're reading and share recommendations frequently. We swap books every time we get together and always have fun seeing whose stack is bigger on swap day. She normally has a bigger stack waiting for me, but, every now and then, I have a few more -- a rarity, but it does give me something to strive for! :)

Greetings from Colorado! I just started a six-week online class, so most of my reading for a while is going to be related to that, but I will still try to read books for challenges as well. Too bad there isn't more overlap.

I finished two books last week. I was expecting to love The Book Thief, but I kinda didn't. I didn't hate it. So...yeah.... Anyway, I counted it for a book from a nonhuman perspective. Then I read The Prey of Gods, which could count for several categories, such as book by a person of color or book based on mythology. It had a few problems, but overall it was a really good read, especially for a debut novel.

QotW: No one person in particular, but various people in various groups. There's this discussion group, of course, but I also have my BookCrossing friends and all of my IRL book club friends, and then there are several readathon and challenge groups I follow here, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Hi from rainy DC -- it's the perfect weather today to curl up in bed with a good book. If only I had the day off... oh well. Speaking of rain, I hope everyone in the Texas hurricane area is safe and sound!

I tried my hand at audiobooks last week while I was traveling and actually found them quite enjoyable. I feel like I don't remember as many details from the books though as I do when I read a hard copy. That being said, they're so easy to do when on a plane that I think I'll start doing light, fun audiobooks for travel.

Finished books:
* The Girl You Lost -- on audiobook. Pretty suspenseful and a good thriller, but definitely graphic and very dark. Fulfills the "a book that's an audiobook" prompt.
* Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace -- on audiobook. I was really looking forward to this, and it did contain some parts I found useful and entertaining. But overall, I found it to be quite repetitive and not as insightful as I would have liked. Fulfills the "book with career advice" prompt.
* The Kite Runner -- I have been meaning to read this book for a very, very long time, and my sister coincidentally checked out a copy from the library. I LOVED this book -- I cried, I laughed, and I devoured this book in two days. This book will leave a lasting impression on me and has joined the list of my favorites. Fulfills the prompt of "a book by an author from a country you haven't visited" (Afghanistan).

So I'm now at a total of: 22/52 , 18/40 (regular), 4/12 (advanced).

Currently Reading:
* Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell -- I had mentioned to a family friend that I really loved The Night Circus and she handed me a copy of Jonathan Strange -- in February! I'm finally getting around to reading this, and I'm about 100 pages in, and I've found it pretty entertaining thus far. I hope it picks up a little bit more, since there's so much of it to get through! I'm using it for the advanced prompt of a "book that's more than 800 pages."

QOTW: My sisters and my boyfriend are definitely my book-wives and -husband. My sisters and I are always exchanging books or book suggestions to one another, even though our tastes sometimes vary. My sister recommended The Kite Runner to me, and I have both my sisters reading One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, since we can really relate (we're also first-generation Indian Americans).

For my Book set in a hotel I listened to A Gentleman in Moscow

I also read General Relativity for Babies, Quantum Physics for Babies, and Newtonian Physics for Babies.

How were the babies books?

Pretty good. I would have enjoyed them as a child.

800-page book done! Just finished Winter. Only 4 more prompts to go!

This is my first ever check in of the challenge. I have currently read 21/40 not as far as I would like to be at this stage. But University and my summer job working as a Librarian mean I don't get a lot of time to read. I only read on the bus on the way to work and on my days off. This week I am reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. I am a third of the way through and hope to finish it this week but it is over 600 pages long so wish me luck! It is OK atm not as captivating as I thought it would be, but I still have over half the book to go so am feeling optimistic.