Albany Public Library discussion

Hi everyone, and welcome to Theme Week 3 of the Albany Public Library Summer Reading Challenge!

This week's theme is "Somewhere in Space". Remember to comment with any books you have finished this week! We will keep track of them for you, and let you know if you have reached a prize level!

Here's a list of "Somewhere in Space" themed recommended reading curated by your local APL librarians! Happy reading!

Artemis- Andy Weir
Dune - Frank Herbert
The Space Between the Stars -Anne Corlett
Binti: Home - Nnedi Okorafor
All Systems Red - Martha Wells
Bloodchild and Other Stories - Octavia E. Butler
Embassytown - China Miéville
The Wanderers - Meg Howrey
Foundation - Isaac Asimov
The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury
American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race - Douglas Brinkley
Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth - Chris Hadfield
Physics of the Impossible : a Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel - Michio Kaku
Packing for Mars - Mary Roach
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson
How to Read the Solar System - Chris North
The Interstellar Age: Inside the Forty-year Voyager Mission - Jim Bell
Rise of the Rocket girls : the Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars - Nathalia Holt
Brief Answers to the Big Questions - Stephen Hawking
Hidden Figures - Margot Lee Shetterly
Star Talk - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Saga - Brian K. Vaughan
Seveneves- Neal Stephenson
Star Wars: Aftermath - Chuck Wendig
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Martian - Andy Weir
Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey
Redshirts - John Scalzi

Finished The Cheerleaders over lunch today!

This topic is excellent, it's giving me the kick in the pants to finally read two books that I've never read (but wanted to)-- Hitchhiker's Guide and The Martian. One on hold and one downloaded ebook in the queue (among the many others books TBR).

I'm putting a pause on our suggested-theme books to consume The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters . Once I'm done with that, I'm queued up for Astrophysics for People in a Hurry .

Here's what I've read since last week:
Temple of the Dragonslayer
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World - perfect for those who would rather read than socialize!
Peppermint Volume 1 - needs a better translator or editor.
The Witch's House Volume 1 - creepy!
So Cute It Hurts! Volume 1
Goblin Slayer Volume 1 - strangely compelling! I can see why it's a hit.
Slumbering Beauty Volume 2 and Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro Volume 7 - finishing up a few series I've been following.
Mirror of Lida Sal - Guatemalan folklore as retold by a poet in purple prose.
A Wild Swan and Other Tales - fairy tales retold, starring actual humans who behave like people you know!

I have added all of the books above!

@Diana - you have a Level 1 prize to pick up at your local APL branch

@Kathleen, you have Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 AND the reach 20 books read prize for pick up at your local APL branch. Congratulations!

I have finished Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker and The Secret of Seaside by Agatha Ball. Cork Dork is about Bianca’s fortay into the wine world and passing the sommelier exam and the life of sommeliers. Seaside was A cute little cozy mystery, fluffy and cheesy, which my brain needs over the summer.

Just finished listening to Field of Blood, the first in a series, and the first book I have read by Denise Mina. Don't know if it is a shorter audiobook than usual, or if I just couldn't stop listening. I really enjoyed the main character, a young woman who is trying to work her way up in the newsroom. I think this is a title that is probably enhanced by listening rather than reading.

Not set in space at all, but in Glasgow Scotland.

Mirkat wrote: "I'm putting a pause on our suggested-theme books to consume The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters. Once I'm done with that, I'm queue..."

This sound fascinating and something I have been concerned about lately. Looking forward to your review.

Hi! I am new and would like to be added to the challenge. These are the books I have read since it started:

Too Much and Not the Mood by Durga Chew-Bose
Hard to Love by Briallen Hopper
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

Read Book #5 (author who shares your initials)
Kathleen Kent - The Heretic's Daughter

I'm chiming in a day earlier (well really the night before) I typically check in with my reads for this week and I'm so excited about this one. THANK YOU for the space idea because I finally read The Martian and first, I'm mad that I haven't read it before and second, I'm so happy I did. I burned through this book in one afternoon because I was obsessed with it (you can see my review on my Goodreads profile).

This week I also read a book of science fiction too but based on the Nigerian civil war called War Girls, Past Perfect Life that was a "what you see is what you get" story about a girl who finds out she was kidnapped by her own father and her mother is actually alive and has been wanting to find her for nearly 15 years. I also read two nerdy bookish books both with the same title: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life and I'd Rather Be Reading: A Library of Art for Book Lovers.

Last night I finished "I'm not Missing" by Carrie Fountain. A suspenseful, silly, light-hearted yet deep YA book was the break I needed.

Last night I finished "I'm not Missing" by Carrie Fountain. A suspenseful, silly, light-hearted yet deep YA book was the break I needed.

This week, I have read:

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
Living as a Lesbian poetry by Cheryl Clarke
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
The Girl in the Flammable Skirt short stories collection by Aimee Bender

Was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Grace Year, which comes out in September. Librarians, order multiple copies of this because my guess is that teens (and others) will be beating down the doors for this one. I read it in one Saturday even though it is 400 pages.

Susan wrote: "Was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Grace Year, which comes out in September. Librarians, order multiple copies of this because my guess is that teens (and others) will be bea..." And now I see the publisher has pushed the release date to October.

Hi, I have finished three books this week. My favorite was finished first. A new novel set in far south New Zealand by a favorite author, Tracey Alvarez. "Love Everlasting" brings together two people who have strong ties to breast cancer who resist loving each other out of fear. It is a great read. I did finish a book under this week's theme of Somewhere in Space. "Architects of Destiny" by A.K. DuBoff is the opening of a series. Earth is an outpost of a larger space-faring people. Most of Earth has no clue of a lunar outpost. I'll need to read more of this series. The last book I finished was Adriana Locke's "Tangle." What happens when a no falling in love contract is far from accomplished? Read it to see.

I just finished The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven, which was wonderful! I was expecting a cheesy beach read but this one had a lot of heart to it, and talks about love and loss.

Hi, books for the week of 7/7-7/13 are:
Hickory Dickory Death - Agatha Christie (I’ve been on a real Agatha Christie kick this summer)
Appointment With Death - Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie
Sad Cypress - Agatha Christie
The Mystery of Three Quarters - Agatha Christie/Sophie Hannah
...and then I switched gears and started re-reading the Lunar Chronicles, so
Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Since the beginning of the challenge I’ve completed: (1) One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds and (2) The Year of Less by Cait Flanders.

Listened to The Dead Hour by Denise Mina. Didn't like it as much as the first book in the series, but still enjoyable. I am sad that the library does not have the third (and last) book in the series in audiobook format.

All books have been added to this point.

@Paul- you have a Level 3 prize to pick up at your local APL branch
@Nicole R- you have a Level 3 prize to pick up at your local APL branch
@Emily T- you have a Level 1, 2 and 3 prizes to pick up at your local APL branch
@Alicia A- you have a Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 prizes to pick up at your local APL branch
@Laura T- you have a Level 1 prize to pick up at your local APL branch

I have finished The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters yesterday. My review is here.

I started Astrophysics for People in a Hurry today. Downloaded my book for week four (but I will probably keep lagging about a week behind!)

Mirkat wrote: "I have finished The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters yesterday. My review is here.

I started [book:Astrophysics for People in a Hur..."

I have added your book!

Finished another! I just finished reading Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin.

Alicia wrote: "Finished another! I just finished reading Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin."

I added your book.

@Alicia R- you now have a Level 1 prize to pick up at your local APL branch

I finished my Lost in Space reads this week. One of them I've been working on since before the summer reading challenge began.

This week I finished
Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Lightless (Lightless, #1) by C.A. Higgins

Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart

I'm now looking for a book that will work for this week's challenge.

Just finished Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art, which was super interesting.

Finished Astrophysics For People in a Hurry. Here is a review for people in a hurry. :)

I have added your books.

@ Diane B you have a Level 1, 2, 3 and Level 4 prize to pick up at your local APL branch

@ Mirkat you have a Level 1 and Level 2 prize to pick up at your local APL branch

This week I read “The Girl He Used to Know” by Tracey Garvis Graves. I’m not sure if I liked it?

Just finished a book from this list - All Systems Red. Not the sort of book I usually read - the narrator is a robot - but I enjoyed it. Enough to read the rest of the books in the series? I am not sure yet.

@Abi, I added your title; you currently have Level 2 and Level 3 prizes to pick up at your local APL branch

@Susan, I'm glad you read out of your comfort zone! I have added the title, and you have Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 prizes to pick up at your local APL branch!