Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Good morning all! It's another busy day here so I'm going to just open the thread and I will come back later to update on my reading.

Admin note: Just a reminder that November is only a few short weeks away. The group read for November is The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. If you are interested in reading along with the group you may want to think about getting your hands on a copy.

No reading updates for me for now. I'll try to post some later!


Question of the week:

I'm going to take a page out of one of my new favorite reading podcasts. If you aren't already listening to Currently Reading with Meredith and Kaytee you should check them out! They are two good friends of mine from an online book club, and I am enjoying the heck out of listening to them chat about books! It's available on all podcast listening apps.

https://www.currentlyreadingpodcast.com/

On to the question: What is one book you want to press into people's hands for them to read?
ETA: Don't overthink this! Just something that you have read and think "OMG who can I recommend this to??? SOOOOOO good!" Doesn't need to be groundbreaking or life-altering. Just a book you are passionate about and love to recommend to others :)

I completed the challenge! I also hit my overall Goodreads challenge goal but I'd purposefully set that a bit lower so it wouldn't spend the year telling me I'm behind. I'm doing Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon this weekend so looking forward to hiding away with my book and snacks.

I finished Muse of Nightmares for time of day in the title. It took me a little while to get into because it focused a bit too much over the main characters desire for one another BUT I loved the story behind the godspawn and how Minya got to be like she is. There's a little nod to ADoSaB in there too and allows both her stories to exist in the same "universe". Sort of. I want a series of books on further adventures please!

I also read The Halloween Tree for the Halloween prompt. It was not what I was expecting. I think children's books have moved on a lot since it was written. It was a bit rushed and half the time I didn't know what was going on. It didn't help that the boys weren't fleshed out as characters, they were interchangable.

I listened to Washington Black, just a coincidence that it was Booker announcement week. I liked this, it lost a bit of momentum in the middle but it was a nice idea to tell a story about slavery by sending the slave on an adventure. I particularly liked the natural history elements, although I'm confused why Goss was renamed to Goff, because the character is very heavily based on the real person (who made the first public aquarium).

I'm currently reading Planetfall and listening to Magic Bites.

50/50 | 102/100

QOTW:
I can't answer this question because I know people have different reading tastes and I'd rather give a personal recommendation than have them read a favourite of mine and not like it. Probably the books I have recommended the most lately have been the Broken Earth trilogy.

Another week survived. Whee! Had our hot water heater give up and die on us, so getting that replaced was an adventure. I ended up missing a day of work, too, because I figured my co-workers wouldn't appreciate me coming to work when I'd been without a shower for two days...

On the plus side, I've got a vacation lined up for next week. Excited! :D And yes, I've already picked out what book I'm taking on the plane...

Books finished this week:

Little Red Rodent Hood -- still following this kid's book series. It's delightful, and a nice feminist twist to fairy tales. (Though is it ruining the "feminist" bit when I find myself wanting the heroine to fall for a character introduced in this installment?)

Mistress of the Solstice -- this one disappointed me. I love Russian mythology, but this book felt like a poor representation of it, and there was a creepy incest theme running through it that icked me out.

Through Violet Eyes -- a mystery/thriller with a supernatural bent -- people with violet eyes have the ability to communicate with the dead, and use their talents to aid police investigations. Would work nicely for the "book about death or grief" prompt for people who want a less-than-depressing read.

DNF:

The Girl with the Red Balloon -- it's not a good sign when the main character annoys you right off the bat...

Currently Reading:

Alistair Grim's Odditorium
And still chipping away at Lovecraft...

QOTW:

For people who I know love fantasy and sci-fi, I will always recommend The Last Unicorn, The Martian, and/or Dragonflight. For non-fantasy/sci-fi fans, I recommend Life of Pi, The Snow Child (some magical elements but VERY slight), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and/or The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

I only finished one book this week, but it was for the challenge so that's good - now at 43/50

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, used as female author using male pseudonym; it was a great book but it was very slow reading for me

QOTW: If I were choosing from books I read this year, it would be Sold by Patricia McCormick.

I tried to check The Immortalists out of the Library a few weeks ago and couldn't find it even though it said in the catalogue that it is available. It'm hoping it just hadn't been processed yet and that it will be back now.

I finished one book this week and did some shifting to fit it into the villian/antihero prompt.

Completed
The Girl in 6E by A.R. Torre. This wasn't for me. I thought it would be a psychological thriller but it was far too heavy on the romance/erotica and the plot was achingly slow in some places and breakneck in others. Nice concept but not very well executed in my opinion.

Currently reading
Dracula. I am really enjoying this. I usually hate diary/epistolary novels but it really works here. It's cool to see where a lot of the vampire myths originated and I only wish that I could be reading this fresh with no preconceptions of vampires and the character of Dracula. As a Victorian I would be (pardon my language) s**tting myself reading this! It's all so creepy and suspenseful. I didn't think this fit any prompts that I haven't filled yet but I'm on 76% and currently the story is on October 3rd so I'm really hoping that the climax will take place on Halloween!

QOTW
That's a really hard question and quite similar to one we had a few months ago about books 'everyone should read'. It's difficult to answer as everyone has different tastes and should be allowed to read what they want. I'm just happy for people to be reading!

Hello, everyone! I'm in such a good mood this week that the days have flown by. I've still had all the usual frustrations of a work week, but at least it's not hot anymore! It's finally cold enough for me to wear a scarf today. I loooove scarves!

It was a good reading week for me, and I'm really excited for Saturday. It's Dewey's Readathon. If you're not familiar with it, I can recommend it as a really fun event with fellow bookworms. I have my books picked out: The A.B.C. Murders, Keep Her Safe, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories, and The Clockmaker's Daughter.

Finished
Circe by Madeline Miller - I enjoyed the book, but I liked Song of Achilles better. It might be that I'm more familiar with The Illiad so it was easier to follow along. The writing was definitely just as good. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. I definitely recommend if you're looking for a good audiobook.

Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews - If I had read this when I was younger, I think it would be a forever favorite. I'm glad to have read it to know why so many people 10-20 years older than me still gush about this book. I may read the sequels and prequel sometime.

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai - This has been on my TBR for ages. It was in a 2-for-1 sale on Audible so I bought the audiobook. I liked hearing Malala's story in her own words.

I listened to several short story audiobooks this week. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow narrated by Tom Mison (who played Ichabod Crane in the TV show Sleepy Hollow) was my favorite. I've decided I should listen to classic novels/stories rather than read them myself. A talented actor can make the arcane (to me) text come alive. I was inspired to try listening to The Count of Monte Cristo, which I've always wanted to read, but the page count has always scared me. The audiobook is almost 53 hours long!

QOTW
To preface, I don't believe there are any books that "should" be read. I believe you should only read books you want to read. But ... I wish more people loved The Sage of Waterloo: A Tale. It's a really wonderful introspective look at human/predator nature through the eyes of a prey animal. It's not for everyone. The pace is slow and there's very little action, but there's so much heart. I really loved it, and I'm sad it has so little attention.

Hello from a chilly Columbus! I woke up to frost on the ground, but at least I’m not hot.

Les Misérables finished, finally, for the book tied to me ancestry! What a mammoth of a book. Normally I love long reads but I really struggled with this one. I can’t even assess how I feel about this book because my brain is a bit numb after reading. No regrets, most definitely not ever reading this again.

A Wizard of Earthsea a book recommended by someone taking the challenge. I’m glad I saw someone list this on the recommendation thread because I’d been wanting to get to this. If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge Studio Ghibli fan, so naturally I was excited to read this. It’s different from the movie but it was short and fun and I enjoyed it. The book follows a wizard from his childhood, as he goes through training and accidentally raises a malevolent spirit who he ultimately has to face off with. I most definitely want to read the other books in the series. Also, the audiobook version I got was narrated by Harlan Ellison, and he really gets into the text.

So I’m at 39/40; 5/10 with 149 books read this year.

QOTW: if I had to pick ONE book I’d probably go with Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I just REALLY enjoyed that book, plus the fun bonus material that’s on her site.

Kenya wrote: "(Though is it ruining the "feminist" bit when I find myself wanting the heroine to fall for a character introduced in this installment?)"

Not at all!! For so long, "feminist" stories have been seen as stories where women are tough, independent, and usually, alone. But that kind of story says women can only be heroines if they're missing something male heroes almost always get (romance, as in they "get the girl"). So definitely keep hoping the heroine finds love!

Dani wrote: "Hello from a chilly Columbus! I woke up to frost on the ground, but at least I’m not hot.

Les Misérables finished, finally, for the book tied to me ancestry! What a mammoth of a book..."

Well done on completing Les Miserables. I read it a few years ago and it truly does feel like such an achievement when you finish it. Looking back I have mainly positive thoughts. I love the characters and Hugo clearly cares deeply about people in poverty and in desperate situations. But there are definitely numerous scenes that could have been cut or trimmed. Those that immediately come to mind are: the Bishop's backstory, The Waterloo scene, the sewer scene. It's hard going when you're on a roll then hit scenes like that.

I am about to start War and Peace which I am expecting to be a similar undertaking!

Kenya wrote: "... (Though is it ruining the "feminist" bit when I find myself wanting the heroine to fall for a character introduced in this installment?)..."

Of course not!! Feminists can love romance too.

Jess wrote: "Dani wrote: "Hello from a chilly Columbus! I woke up to frost on the ground, but at least I’m not hot.

Les Misérables finished, finally, for the book tied to me ancestry! What a mamm..."

The bishop was one of my favorite parts haha. But I guess I just needed some positive depictions of the Catholic faith right now.

I’m sure I’ll look back on it fondly, but getting through the political and war stuff was a CHORE.

Hello all! It seems fall has finally arrived my my neck of the woods. Brrr.... I haven't read much this week (and I kept quitting books I was reading- dunno if it's a reading slump or if I keep picking books that aren't for me), so I didn't get any farther in the challenge. Still 47/50.

Read:
Coraline- I listened to this as an audio and I really enjoyed it. It's a nice and creepy halloween read, and since its for children there's no blood or gore or depressing ending. I think I only like Gaiman's children's novels, because I loved this and The Graveyard Book, but didn't really like American Gods, Neverwhere, Stardust, and The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House and on (I liked Preludes & Nocturnes ).

Currently reading:
Midnight Riot
The Midnight Mayor

QOTW:
Usually the books that leave me all "OMG EVERYONE HAS TO READ THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW!" are moving memoirs of people who have overcome major trials or trauma in their lives. One of my favorite memoir reads so far this year is Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening. Go read it! (If you haven't read a book about feminism yet, it's perfect for that prompt.) I believe Saudi Arabia finally lifted the female driving ban in June, and no doubt all the media attention this woman attracted to the issue helped in that direction.

Hi everyone from a waterlogged Texas! Supposedly we are getting a break from the rain this weekend, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Aside from the rain, it has been a good week. My birthday was last weekend, so I’ve enjoyed a lot of quality time with friends and family the last several days.

I am still at 47/52, but I’m working on a couple of books for Popsugar prompts now so I should have 1-2 more prompts checked off next week. I want to finish this and Around the Year by the end of November.

Books I finished:
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis. Wow. What a powerful book about young love, friendship, trauma and the psychological effects of trauma. It would work great for the prompt about a problem affecting society today.

Every Man a Menace by Patrick Hoffman. Not great. Very close to DNF, but I guess I was stubborn that day.

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman. I saw the movie based on this book a few years ago, and it is how I discovered Laura Lippman. I love her writing, and this gritty, dark crime fiction kept my attention.

Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach. This was a memoir half about her experience as a soccer star and half about her struggle with addition & relationships and her fight for equality for women. I really enjoyed this quick read.

I am currently reading:
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher for a book about or set on Halloween (29)
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

QOTW: This is a hard question to answer! I generally need to know the tastes of the other person before recommending something. But my top recommendations are probably The Nightingale, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, Educated: A Memoir and The Hate U Give.

Hello all. It snowed last week but it's warm this week. I hate that because I have wear my full winter gear in the morning and by the afternoon I'm in short sleeves.

I'm still at 51/52. The only prompt I have left is Halloween and my son and I will be reading a creepy middle grade book together for that after we finish Prince Caspian. I'm not sure if it's actually set on Halloween, but it's in the spirit.

Finished this week:
Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls- audio
Batman, Volume 7: Endgame by Scott Snyder
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
Uncanny Avengers, Volume 1: The Red Shadow by Rick Remender
The Joker: Endgame by Scott Snyder

Currently reading:
The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket- audio with kid
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis- aloud to kid
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery- audio

QOTW:
I'm not sure there is just one book that everyone would love. I think A Game of Thrones is probably the best work of adult fantasy I've read, but it's too complex for some people in my life, and it's quite a commitment with 5 current books all at over 1000 pages.
Big Little Lies resonated with me in a big way, but part of that is just my past experiences. I know it wouldn't work for everyone, especially most of the men in my life.
I recommend Caraval for anyone who loves YA or wants a quick, exciting book.
I recommend anything by Gillian Flynn for people who like mysteries and don't mind the dark stuff.
I recommend anything by Sam Kean for people who like to learn about sciencey stuff.
And on the list goes...

Yet again, I've lost track of the days, and I'm only now realizing it's check-in day! It's only morning still, so it's not like crazy late, but usually I wake up thinking "yay for Thursday check-in!!" so this feels weird to me to completely forget.

I'm sorry I complained about warm weather last week!! Cold weather is definitely upon us! Brrrr. I guess "crisp and refreshing" was not an option, because it went from "warm and muggy" to "bone-chilling cold." It was below freezing last night, so goodbye to my basil.

And, I have finished the Challenge! Just last night I realized that a book I read this summer had been a birthday gift, so I can finally finally FINALLY check off "book you borrowed or was given to you" and voila! I am done! I guess I'm DNFing the other book I had intended to read but never wanted to read.

I have read 5 books this week.

The Midnight Star - book three in the Young Elites trilogy by Marie Lu. Hated it.

Sharks in the Rivers - poetry by Ada Limon - for my taste, this volume was not as good as her more recent collections.

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters - wow this book really surprised me, in a good way. It was so compelling. And the audiobook read by William DeMeritt was fantastic.

My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel - this was silly and wonderful and I laughed out loud. Recommended for romance fans who also like to poke fun at tired tropes. I read five different paths and I might still go back to try more.

Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward - this gets such good reviews, but I was disappointed. Woodward doesn't dig into the issues that really worry me (such as ethics violations). I didn't really learn anything.

Monthly reads:
I just started Hallowe'en Party so I can now join in with the monthly read discussion! And I put Circe on hold, but ... I'm hold #410, so I probably won't be joining in December's monthly read discussions.


QOTW

I'm not usually the type of person who wants to tell other people to read certain books, because I hate when that happens to me (witness my epic foot-dragging for that final Challenge category, "book that was given to you") but a book I'm currently reading has been so amazing and shocking and appalling and eye-opening for me, I do think everyone (well, everyone in the US, anyway) should read this: Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. I actually bought a copy to keep so maybe my kids can read it, and I hardly ever do that (only once before, actually).

For fiction, I frequently recommend Kristen Lepionka's mystery series, starting wth The Last Place You Look. So good! So under-rated!

Brooke wrote: "... Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman. I saw the movie based on this book a few years ago, and it is how I discovered Laura Lippman ..."

I saw that movie this winter, and that's how I discovered Lippman too!! I haven't read the book yet. I read Sunburn an enjoyed it. Next I think I'll try book one of her Baltimore series.

Hello from Omaha! We have had a crazy weather week here. Sunday it snowed (big wet packing snow, so a lot of snowmen went up in the neighborhood) and by Tuesday we were back to mid-50's and sunny. It was a great week though, one of my kiddos was on fall break from college and it was fun to spend some time with her.

Looking back at my reading this week, it was a lot of cozy mysteries (again). I read:
Body on the Bayou- the second in a series I have started.
Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener- another series I have started
Hallowe'en Party- because it was the monthly read (I finished my Halloween book in March, but it is Christie so I am in). This was a re-read, and while not my favorite of Christie's books I enjoyed it the second time around.
Lions and Liars- a book for my youth reading committee. It was OK.

QOTW: I am not sure there is a book I would press into everybody's hands. It depends on their reading taste. I do recommend a lot of books to people (especially kiddos since I am on the youth reading committee) but don't have a 'go to.'

Happy Reading!

Nadine wrote: "Brooke wrote: "... Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman. I saw the movie based on this book a few years ago, and it is how I discovered Laura Lippman ..."

I saw that movie this winter, and that's h..."

I've read the first 2 books in the series so far and really enjoyed them.

Good morning everyone! I am feeling good about my prospects for finishing the challenge this year. I only completed one book for a prompt this week and that was Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters for "an allegory". I thought it was cute and I definitely commend the author for his ability to write with increasingly fewer letters. I also read Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science for one of my classes, not a prompt. It was an interesting book and I learned a whole lot about sugar. It could work for a microhistory if anyone is still searching and it's not too hard or long of a read.

QOTW: My go-to recommendation is Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. I read it in high school and it has stayed with me all these years. Whether anyone else reads it or likes it is another story.

Hi everyone! This week I finished 3 books, and 1 actually counted for my challenge! I'e been trying to buckle down on finishing prompts since the year is passing way faster than I realized.

I relistened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling. It really felt like catching up with an old friend! I counted it for my "book set in the decade you were born" since I was born in the 90's.

Next, I finished The Governess Game by Tessa Dare. I love Dare's writing, and this one was so charming and fun!

Finally, I finished Between the Devil and the Duke by Kelly Bowen. She is one of my new favorite historical romance authors. Her books are absolutely delightful, and this series had really fascinating plots.

Currently, I'm making my way through Don Quixote on audio. This book is LONG let me tell you. I also just started Pride by Ibi Zoboi, which is a newly released P&P retelling, set in Brooklyn and focusing on gentrification. I'm barely into the story, but I'm really liking it so far!

QOTW: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne! This book is SO FUN and a perfect little rom-com in a book. I've seen a lot of people in this group read it throughout the year, which makes me so happy!

Only one book this week and it wasn't even a great book.

He Said, She Said by Erin Kelly. A couple witnesses a rape or the aftermath of one at an eclipse viewing party. They help the woman and they live to regret it. It goes back and forth in time and POV. And the twist was okay but I honestly feel like most of these twisty novels should come with the "what a twist" guy from Robot Chicken.

QOTW:

I mainly just press books into the hands of my students. Simon v. the Homo Sapien Agenda, The Hate U Give, anything Jenny Han, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Salt to the Sea, The Serpent King and Goodbye Days. Lately, I've also been rec'ing One of Us is Lying, I think it's a great read.

I had a couple days working from home last week, so I finished some books!

The Race
Throne of Jade (audio)
Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness - LOVE!
The Halloween Tree
How To Be Happy

I'm on track to finish 3 more today or tomorrow: Moby Dick (long term read), Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam on audio, and Gaudy Night.

QOTW: I really *love* when someone reads something I liked or recommended, but actually suggesting something feels too pushy or vulnerable usually. Recent favs I would recommend to people interested in the genre include Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness and The Power.

It feels like autumn here in NYC, finally. Central Park is looking less green, sky is clear, and we even get rain that doesn't leave it hot and humid after. Makes me so happy.

Finished: How to Eat a Cupcake - I found this an enjoyable read about two best friends, raised like sisters, learning to forgive the past and trust each other again. There is little romance in it, lots of cupcake flavor descriptions that have you hunting for a local cupcakery open in the wee hours, and, coincidentally, a couple of mysteries to be solved. I have had this book in my TBR pile since 2012, and one of first 10 books listed on my Want To Read Shelf here on GR. Glad I read it finally!

The Fifth Season - I enjoyed this but am not enamored of it. Too much in the fantasy genre for me, in truth, although filled with much diversity, institutionalized racism, climate change, fragility of man against power of nature, and more. Powerful stuff. There is something so raw and good about what Jemisin has brought to the table in this book...I am actually looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy to see just where she takes us.

Currently reading:

The Weight of Ink - a cache of documents discovered during renovations in a historic house in the Richmond section of London proves to be a genizah, an archive of Jewish documents, from the late 17th Century when the Jewish community was first being re-established in London after being banished for hundreds of years. We now follow not only the story of contemporary research and scholarship, but in parallel the story of the scribe who wrote for a blind rabbi in late 17th Century London. Really engrossing, but a slow read.

QOTW: The Last Watchman of Old Cairo - published this year and one of my favorite reads this year - gave it 5 stars! I tell everyone to read this, press them to! Moving between 3 different historical periods in Cairo, it has compelling storylines that keep you reading long into the night while beautiful writing gives much to savor. And certain assumptions that suddenly are turned on their head at the end have left me thinking more deeply about this novel than I first expected. Read it!

Hope wrote: "Usually the books that leave me all "OMG EVERYONE HAS TO READ THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW!" are moving memoirs of people who have overcome major trials or trauma in their lives. One of my favorite memoir reads so far this year is Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening. Go read it! "

I loved this one too and learned SO much! It's great on audio too. It's not read by the author, but the narrator is good and I was grateful to hear the correct pronunciation of words and names that were unfamiliar to me.

Greetings from Phoenix! I've got too many things on my to-do list today, so I'm going to try to make this quick.

Finished
Swimming Lessons I read this for an IRL book club, and it prompted some great discussions about unhealthy relationships, what it means to be a "good mom," and how we feel about controversial endings.

Passing I read this for the Reading Women Challenge - classic novel written by a woman. It is about a friendship(?) between two black women, but one of the women "passes" as white. It was an interesting story and the writing was great. I wish I could read it as part of a class or discussion group though, because I know there were things I missed or could understand better.

Baba Dunja's Last Love I read this for the Reading Women Challenge - a book set in Russia. This was such an interesting concept - a older woman returns to her home in the "death zone" of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to live out the rest of her days. The concept was great, and the characters were interesting, but I don't think the author did enough with the story and I was left feeling disappointed.

Currently Reading
Beloved
Old Filth
The Spirit of the Disciplines : Understanding How God Changes Lives

QOTW
My always answer for questions like this is Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption because I want to see the death penalty abolished and because Bryan Stevenson is a personal hero of mine. But, I'll also mention two books from 2018 that I loved and haven't seen much buzz about. One is really heavy and one is a delightful lighter read. The heavy one: Everything is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love and Loss is a memoir of losing a famous brother to a heroin overdose. The lighter one: The Lido is a touching story of a group of unlikely friends who band together to try and save a beloved public pool.

Monkiecat wrote: "One of my dogs has the runs, so hubby slept downstairs on the couch last night to let her out every half hour or so, while I got the best. sleep. ever. :D
She's still looking pretty miserable, so we'll probably be making a trip to the vet today..."

I can sympathize! My pup has an extremely sensitive stomach and is in the midst of a tummy issue as well. I was up about every 2 hours or so last night to take her out. She's on a bland diet of boiled chicken, rice and eggs until things calm down. Hopefully this one won't warrant a vet visit. Hope your pup feels better soon!

Monkiecat wrote: "Good morning. I forgot today was Thursday, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the weekly checkin posted! One of my dogs has the runs, so hubby slept downstairs on the couch last night to let her ..."

I read Tipping the Velvet this year and loved it. Fingersmith is high on my TBR

Theresa wrote: "It feels like autumn here in NYC, finally. Central Park is looking less green, sky is clear, and we even get rain that doesn't leave it hot and humid after. Makes me so happy.

Finished: How ..."</i>

I just came back from a lunch time walk (listening to [book:The Silkworm), and it is so cool and crisp out finally. This is the nicest day in New York City in months. I wish I was close enough to walk in Central Park, had to settle for Murray Hill.

Hi everyone. The weather is super autumnal today. Clear sky, crunchy leaves, chilly sunshine. I love it when it's like this!

This week I finished Tongues of Serpents. I love Laurence and Temeraire's relationship and Izkierka makes me smile. This book felt very much like a filler book, hopefully the next one will be a bit more exciting

Currently reading Space Opera. Catherynne M. Valente is like a writing chameleon! This book reads a lot like how I imagine a twenty-first century Douglas Adams would be.

I just picked up Vengeful from the library and it is huuuuuuuge. Hopefully I'll be starting reading it soon

QOTW: I don't really have any IRL friends who enjoy the same kind of books as me. If I did I would probably recommend Sorcerer to the Crown, The Final Empire, The Lies of Locke Lamora, The School for Good and Evil, A Darker Shade of Magic, Mars Evacuees and Sabriel

I should stop before the list gets out of hand

Yes!!! Sorcerer to the Crown was SOOO good and I can't wait for book #2!!

It's been a crazy week of weird health issues, but I'm doing better today. The sun is shining, the air is crisp and clean, and my favorite NBA team (Utah Jazz) won their season opening game last night, so all is right with my world.

I'm done with the PS challenge, so just reading whatever strikes my fancy these days. I am at 80/90 for the Goodreads Challenge.

I finished:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
I'm listening to the series on audiobook in my car, and I want to go on road trips every weekend so I can listen faster. I hadn't read the books for quite awhile, so am really enjoying it. I just love this series!

Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
She's a younger sister of Liane Moriarty, one of my favorite authors. This is the second book of hers that I have read, and I enjoy her books nearly as much as her sister's. This is a timely novel about the conflicts that can arise among women in social media groups, who can be so critical of those who make different decisions than themselves.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
I read this because of all the praise from many of you, and I loved this book so much. What an intriguing premise! My mother got sick of hearing about this book because I couldn't stop talking about it. It is touted as the first science fiction book written by a black woman, but I think even non-Sci Fi readers would enjoy it.

Come join the Monthly Challenge thread if you have read or are currently reading Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. I am the discussion leader this month, and I enjoy reading what others think about the book.

QOTW: The book I have recommended the most in the past few years has been A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It touched me in so many ways, and led me to read the rest of his amazing books.

YAY FALL!

Jess wrote: “Currently reading Dracula. I am really enjoying this. I usually hate diary/epistolary novels but it really works here. It's cool to see where a lot of the vampire myths originated and I only wish that I could be reading this fresh with no preconceptions of vampires and the character of Dracula.

There is one really rough patch of phonetic dialect, but if you power through, it gets better! And if you like a view of early vampire lore and enjoyed this, I highly recommend Carmilla, an even earlier example, and a fun, quick read.

Chrandra wrote: "And the twist was okay but I honestly feel like most of these twisty novels should come with the "what a twist" guy from Robot Chicken."

I snorted out loud at this!


Finished

The Library at Mount Char - this was really great. It’s unique and surprising, but also very emotionally engaging. It contains some really hard-to-read violence and cruelty, but it worked overall.

Leah on the Offbeat- I kinda-sorta read this. I got about 50%, then skipped and read the last chapter. I feel like I didn’t miss much. It’s not bad, really, but I felt more frustrated with Leah being her own worst enemy and ruminating endlessly rather than communicating with anyone about anything important. Simon was much more charming and enthralling.

Currently Reading

House of Leaves - I started to have some flashbacks to slogging through college texts, but then Johnny’s footnotes started to really kick in and provide relief. And I’m almost to the bookshelf scene, where shit starts to truly get weird - yay!

A Night in the Lonesome October- every October. Never get tired of it. Zelazny’s rumbly voice is perfect as Snuff in the audio version.

QOTW

I’ll go with Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. This is such a great, creepy, literary tale of a haunting, and I’m sure it’s been all but eclipsed by Blake Crouch’s book of the same name. And the audio version is read by Jeremy Northam in one of the best performances I’ve listened to. Plus - there’s an awesome dog!

Hello! I've made some progress this week. I am ahead on my yearly goal but slightly behind with my challenges. I honestly don't know if I will make it and I'm done beating myself up about it. Reading should be fun and I want it to be so. Therefore I am gonna read what I want and if it fits somewhere great. If it doesn't oh well.

37/52

Finished

29. Set on Halloween

44. Cyberpunk (one chapter had cyberpunk elements, this book as a whole was not)

Currently Reading


QotW:
What is one book you want to press into people's hands for them to read?
Salt to the Sea! I read this is one sitting. It's amazingly written and powerful. I didn't know I liked historical fiction until Ruta Sepetys and now I think (particularly WWII) may be my favorite. A Man Called Ove was what I was pushing in 2017 and still a favorite!

Heather wrote: "It's finally cold enough for me to wear a scarf today. I loooove scarves!

I..."

I was just thinking the same thing this morning! I have a huge scarf collection....today was thrilled to pull out my Halloween themed one. Such a minute window in which to wear it - paired with my Halloween socks of course. Another positive due to cold weather - socks and shoes not barefeet and sandals!

Heather wrote: "I wish more people loved The Sage of Waterloo: A Tale. It's a really wonderful introspective look at human/predator nature through the eyes of a prey animal. It's not for everyone. The pace is slow and there's very little action, but there's so much heart. I really loved it, and I'm sad it has so little attention.

I've never heard of this book! Sounds wonderful and would have loved to have someone recommend it to me even if they weren't sure it was a genre I read (in general, it's not but I like good books and this sounds so good!). It's now on my TBR and Wish List!

The QOTW isn't so much a book you think everyone should read, but a book you loved so much that you just want everyone to read it and do not hesitate to recommend to all and sundry. I don't think that means you would not recommend it to someone who you believe only reads nordic noir. For all you know they might be looking for a change of pace or need a suggestion for a book for someone.

At least that's my interpretation of the QOTW.

Heather wrote: "Kenya wrote: "(Though is it ruining the "feminist" bit when I find myself wanting the heroine to fall for a character introduced in this installment?)"

Not at all!! For so long, "feminist" stories..."

I agree! We all need to be careful not to narrow the definition of 'feminist' and 'feminism'. The definition is about equality of the sexes, a very broad concept.

Dani wrote: "Jess wrote: "Dani wrote: "Hello from a chilly Columbus! I woke up to frost on the ground, but at least I’m not hot.

Les Misérables finished, finally, for the book tied to me ancestry..."

Well, even the critics during Hugo's day were not thrilled by his detours into political and historical essays!

Hi Everyone

Had a bit of an off reading week

Finished Spinning Silver which was really great.

Had trouble figuring out what I wanted to read next so just read a bunch of comics instead.

A bunch were single issues but I did finish up:
Skyward Vol. 1: My Low-G Life
Isola, Vol. 1
Invader ZIM Vol. 7
Domino, Vol. 1: Killer Instinct
Elsewhere, Vol. 2
The Wicked + the Divine, Vol. 7: Mothering Invention
Paper Girls, Vol. 5

Some of those I'm reading single issues, so I just read the most recent ones and that finished up a volume.

Currently I'm nominally reading Girl on a Wire but having trouble getting into it. It's a bit more YA than I expected, I think. I feel like a lot of times in YA main characters who are trying to be brave come off as more stupid. I'll probably finish it eventually but slowly.

QOTW:

I'd say The Night Circus. Often I tailor my suggestions to what I know of the person to make sure they have some hope of liking it. But Night Circus is one of my all time favorites so it's always near the top of my recommendation list.

I've been rereading old fanfiction for the last several years after being dragged back in when I haven't written in it for a decade so I haven't been reading much else.

All I did read this time was Spellcast by Barbara Ashford and I'll make that the answer to the Question of the Week. This paranormal/magic realism novel was one of the best things I've read all year.

Nadine wrote: "Yes!!! Sorcerer to the Crown was SOOO good and I can't wait for book #2!!"

Me too!!!! I wish more people knew about his book!!!

Up way past bedtime, but I really wanted to check in rather than leaving it until tomorrow!

I finished a challenge and a non-challenge book this week. I'm now sitting at 49/52 (41/42, 8/10), and taking the chance to get a few NetGalley and TBR titles read now that I can be confident I'll have the challenge finished well before the end of the year.

Challenge read was Twins for prompt #30 book about twins. Whilst I was drawn in to this book quite quickly, it did take a while to win me over. The powerful individual voice of Sue stood out for me straight away, but I struggled with believing the very dysfunctional relationship you have thrown at you right off the bat. At first it felt too false, too dramatic and desperate. But as the situations and characters developed I did find myself understanding more how a close, competitive relationship could be so damaging between teenage girls struggling to grow in a wasteland of a family. I thought how each twin had their own journey was really what made this book so interesting. The story raises lots of questions about the pressure put on girls to be perfect, and is brave enough to examine parts of teenage girlhood that are still quite taboo and hushed. Yes, it's extreme and probably a bit far fetched, but ultimately I felt the story benefited from the situations the author puts the girls through. My only grumble really was that the ending was a bit too neat and saccharine...

My non-challenge read was The Skills: From First Job to Dream Job - What Every Woman Needs to Know. This is not just a career self-help book. It is a powerful guidebook on skills that, yes, will enhance your work life, but which will also enhance all other aspects of your life too. From resilience to speaking up for yourself, this is handbook for life. I've never read a career book before, but I have a feeling I wont need to read any others.


What is one book you want to press into people's hands for them to read?

Oh god, I get the fear when I recommend books! But knee-jerk would always just be the last book that really moved me so that would be The Door which I have already gushed about in a check-in recently!

Hi All!

Well last weekend ended up being the most gorgeous 2 days we have had and probably will have this year so I ended up rather productive outside and less productive on the reading front. Unfortunately, it seems like someone mentioned to Texas that we are definitely in Fall now because we have just skipped straight from super hot heat and humidity to chilly cold days in the course of a few days. A week ago, I was sleeping without the covers with a fan on and yesterday I woke up wishing I had my extra blanket on. I do miss San Diego's lack of weather at times (which is where I moved from).

This week I only finished one book The Hating Game which I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it so much that after work I went ahead and sat on my couch listening to it for another 6 hours so I could finish it. I'm a sucker for those relationships that start out with enemies. If anyone has any good recommendations for books with romance along those lines please let me know. I always find myself getting really critical of romance stories once I finish them so this time I'm trying to just go with my initial feelings of enjoyment.

QOTW:
In person I probably wouldn't be able to recommend anything as I'm too sensitive to suggesting something that someone doesn't end up liking. We're anonymous on the internet though so I'd probably have to say S.E Hinton's The Outsiders is the first to pop to mind. If there is anyone who hasn't read the Harry Potter series that would be another. Those are really the only two books that I've loved to obsession which I would gush over. Granted I fell in love with them 15-20 years ago when I was much younger so I know they don't necessarily have the same impact on adults as they do on children. But these are the books that I would be excited to share with my own children some day.

Edit: Actually I thought of another! Anyone who likes murder mysteries/detective novels I'd send them to Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike series. Currently loving this series. And yes, still waiting on Lethal White from my library.

Good Morning from the Outback. After 6 weeks travelling between the other houses I’m finally home. For a couple of weeks at least. In 2 1/2 weeks we’re heading to Italy for a couple of weeks or so so that will be nice.

This week has been more driving and doing stuff for others than reading and I, after a very prolific week last check in, have finished nothing this week. I’m also a little brain dead and a lot exhausted.

My currently reading list is as long as my arm as usual and is the same as every other week.

QOTW
Depends on the person. Mostly I used to push Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon. It was known as Outlander in the US and now it’s even Outlander here. I’d also push The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell right now as well as The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland. Also Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and anything by Alice Hoffman. Oh and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. If they were into murder mysteries I’d say The Dry by Jane Harper. Science Fiction lovers...Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells starting with All Systems Red as well as the Ancillary series by Ann Leckie starting with Ancillary Justice. Fantasy would be anything by Mark Lawrence or Robin Hobb. Oh and Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett. Together or seperately. Also Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell. Kids book must read would be Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend and the Harry Potter series. And Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan. All of his series dealing with the kids of different gods are great. The Illuminae Files series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are also brilliant. And different.

Time to go and do the housework that seems to be left for me after 6 weeks away and then I might get to check out the next “must read”.

The weather is finally perfect, so I am walking a lot and listening to audiobooks. Nadine reminded me about basil. I need to strip the plants and make pesto before they die.
I thought it was a slow reading week but it looks like I finished 4 books, none were for Popsugar:
The Widows of Malabar Hill
Transcription
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag
The Song of Achilles

Currently reading:
Hallowe'en Party
The Silkworm
It
All are for Popsugar. The next book I finished will be my 100th of the year. I have never read this many books before.

QOTW:
That's a hard question. I have read so many good books this year.

hey all, I finished some books this week!!

For ATY Book With a Map: American War still have not gotten over this. I literally closed the covers to the book when I was done and just sat there holding it. I don't know if thats ever happened to me before lol. A very scary and realistic dystopian indeed.

For Pop Sugar LGBTQ protagonist: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I liked it well enough. It was a quick and cute book. I think what I liked most about it was the relationships between the parents and the main characters ( more than Aristotle and Dante's relationship)

For Book Riot A Comic written or illustrated by a POC: Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. I have really been enjoying Marjane Satrapi's work, but I definitely loved the first book so much more.

For ATY A book by or about a person of a different ethnicity than you: Embroideries, another by Marjane Satrapi. This one was about the customs of Iranian woman taking their tea and gossip time and was quite funny actually.

For ATY A Womans Prize for Fiction winner or nominee: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. OMG, I love love LOVED this story. I loved the quirkiness of Eleanor's character, I loved the realness of it. I loved watching her develop relationships and evolve. Amazing feel good story, even though it had so many dark and twisty moments.

Currently reading:
Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort with the girls, a chapter at night. My older daughter in particular is enjoying this. Only on chapter 3 tonight, and we had to stop for a second to discuss the character development. As it turns out, one of the little girl characters father has a boyfriend. So we took a moment to discuss. Not a big deal, we had this discussion a few weeks ago when my daughters were playing with their littlest pet shop toys and I heard them saying "gay", I checked in to see what their understanding of the word was, and they said "it means a boy loves a boy", so we talked about how sometimes boys love boys and girls love girls. We went over it quick again tonight just to be sure they understood the basics ;-)
Keeping it simple. They are 6 and 8 years old. I love how non fazed and readily accepting they were of it.

Other than that, I don't have anything started but I do have the following sitting on my kitchen table:
Frankenstein
Sing, Unburied, Sing
and
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness
as well as the last of the picture books for my ATY picture book challenge. I'll probably finish that off this weekend, and then focus on finishing ATY. I'm close to done, so it's possible I can knock off one challenge this year.
I also started reading ( attempting to read ?) Ulysses, but that is definitely going to be a long term project that will take me into next year.

QOTW:
Ugh! I don't know. So many. Theres a big difference between what I would want to recommend and what I actually do recommend depending on the reader ( and sadly, I don't know very many readers). Books Ive recommended recently: To my mom Outlander and The Handmaid's Tale, to my aunt This House is Haunted ( not an absolute fav of mine but I enjoyed it this year, and thought she would like it also.), to my other online book group Rebecca, to my friend Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects, and to her son and daughter The Graveyard Book and Ghosts. To the nurses that I work with Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital and The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder, and to my older brother Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and The Complete Maus.

Books that Ive read this year and want to shove down everyones throat: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Complete Maus, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, The Smell of Other People's Houses, American War, Fortunately, the Milk, Wishtree and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors. Those have all been 5 star reads for me and encompass womens fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, YA, SciFi/dystopian, middle grade and picture books.

Hello everyone!

Completed
The Phantom Tollbooth - Advanced 6. An allegory
I will never tire of reading this book. This was around the third time reading it. It's one of my favourites.

Lab Girl - Read for Book Riot nature prompt
This one was interesting, but I liked the parts about the science and her work more than the rest of it. The audiobook was a bad choice for me, though. It was way too slow.

Saga, Vol. 9 - non challenge read
Why WHY -sobs forever until this comes back from hiatus-

Progress
Regular: 39/42
Advanced: 9/10

Currently Reading
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart
The Final Empire

QOTW
The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy I remember finding these books at my grandparents place when I was younger and being fascinated by all the postcards and letters you took out of the book to read.

And anything written by Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett.

oh no, poor puppy :-(

Hope she feels better soon.

Monkiecat wrote: "- dog update -
So, my son found a pool of blood under the kitchen table... of course I freaked out, but we were already close to appointment time, so there's that. Vet said she has colitis (which I..."

Oh no, I hope your doggo feels better soon. When Scully was tiny pup she threw up blood and I was so worried. Vet was just like, oh she probably just ate something she shouldn't have. She threw up soooooo much for such a small creature. She just had anti emetics and probiotic goop and was right as rain the next day (she was not impressed with the plain rice meals).

We were very grateful for our pet insurance in the first year of her life. She definitely got her money's worth.

Hallo everyone!
It´s been a busy week, and next week, also busy. Sunday is my oldest sons 18th birthday, so he will officially be an adult... This feels very natural and very weird at the same time. 30 guests coming tomorrow.

Didn´t finish anything for the challenge this week, and I feel exactly like Jessica:
Jessica wrote: "... I am ahead on my yearly goal but slightly behind with my challenges. I honestly don't know if I will make it and I'm done beating myself up about it..."

It´s also this time of year where bookclub books and review books come in large numbers and steer my reading (most of them great books, so its definitely not a chore, just doesn´t fit the prompts).

Well. Currently (actively) reading:
Darkest Minds - Mørke minder: Darkest Minds 2 (Never Fade) and
Barn af et cirkus (A Son of the Circus) on audiobook (bestseller the year I graduated) This is taking a while since it´s 36 hours of audio.

Lots of other books that are halfway done.

QOTW
Two book series I recommend lately are The Knife of Never Letting Go and Ravnenes hvisken (Whisper of the ravens - only in Danish). I recommend a lot of books, since it´s my job, and of course it´s person-dependent, but those two I recommend to everyone who shows an interest in sci-fi and fantasy.

Adding lots of books to TBR, when these questions occur :)

Congratulations to everyone who have finished the challenge! And for those who have smashed their own GR goals too!

So glad to see a few people mentioning Dewey's 24 hour readathon coming up this weekend. I'm excited for it, as I loved my first one (which I did off the back of hearing about it here). I've been doing the instagram challenge in the run up and can't wait!