Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Weekly Checkins
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Week 33: 8/8 - 8/15
I've been reading lots this week but nothing for Popsugar.I finished The Priory of the Orange Tree for an A in potions for NEWTs. I appreciate a standalone epic fantasy for once, though it did take me ages to absorb all the characters and places, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. And no waiting to see what their fate is!
I read Authority for an A in care of magical creatures and ATY (related to a film I like). Not as good as Annihilation but has an unsettling atmosphere and I will read the last one. I also learned a new word, terroir, which is a wine term for sense of place. I had never heard this before and then the bottle of wine we opened that night only mentioned terroir on the label! Spooky.
Also read To Be Taught, If Fortunate for an E in care of magical creatures and ATY (weird/intriguing title) which I loved. It's quite different from her Wayfarer novels, very science based and less story.
And for an E in potions I read Heartstopper: Volume Two, which is still adorable.
I'm currently reading The Nightjar for review and listening to Sanctuary.
PS: 37/52 | ATY: 41/52 | GR 85/100
QOTW:
Yes! I can be very shallow when it comes to book looks. Well designed covers catch my eye and let me know someone cared enough about the book to present it properly! It still needs to sound vaguely interesting, but it definitely helps when there are so many books to read. I need a really good reason to read a book with a terrible cover. I'm so glad Hodder gave Becky Chambers beautiful covers in the UK because her US ones are so off-putting to me.
Sometimes I do want to read books with bad covers and I resent buying a print copy, so I tend to go digital with those.
I'm still working on The Leopard as my book that takes place in Scandinavia. QOTW: The only book I can remember reading based on the cover was The Jaguar Hunter and I didn't really like it. Then it was funny because I had a pile of finished books, my mom came over for a visit and looked through the pile to see if she wanted anything and picked that one up and I was like "NO! Don't read that." Probably a bit too dramatically, but I knew she wouldn't like it. We were both just drawn to the jaguar on the cover. We're cat lovers.
Hi everyone! This heat in Texas is really wearing me out. It is hard to concentrate on books with a lot of characters or an intricate plot, so I’ve been reading a lot of Chick Lit lately. I’m heading to Colorado this evening for a long weekend, so I’m hoping the break will energize me for the rest of August. I seem to be doing exactly what I’ve done my last 2 years of reading challenges. I get to a certain point – around 35-40 books read for each – and then I go weeks without making any progress. I haven’t added any books to my Popsugar total in quite a while, so my September focus will be back on this challenge.
37/50 for Popsugar
44/52 for Around the Year
Books I finished this week:
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank. I think the reader is supposed to feel bad for the main character in this one, but it is hard when she was complaining she had to drive an Audi, didn’t get to shop often and only got to have someone clean her house once or twice a month. Aside from the eye-rolling privilege, the story was okay.
Can You Keep a Secret? By Sophie Kinsella. This was also just okay. The story was predictable, of course, but at least the main character in this one was smart and stuck up for herself.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. I had never read anything by this duo writing under a single penname before, and I think that must be corrected! I enjoyed this story, which was told in alternating time periods of today and 12-14 years prior. The writing was excellent and I could feel what the character was feeling.
Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews. Ugh. Andrews’ books are usually fun, but this one was about 75 pages too long and had none of her trademark humor. Also, the love story part fell really flat, so by the end it was just plain impossible to believe the main character (view spoiler) At least I can check this one off since it has sat on my bookshelf for about 3 years.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. I didn’t like this one as well as Love and Other Words, but it was still worthy of 4 stars.
The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion. This was a great ending to the Don Tillman trilogy. I really liked the Hudson character and think it would be great to have a book from his POV, maybe 3-5 years after this book takes place. This story tackles a lot of heavy topics (domestic violence, mental illness, labeling, vaccinations) without feeling “preachy.” It also addresses autism and the way people treat those with it. I’m sure the handling of everything isn’t perfect, but I appreciate how Simsion did it.
I am currently reading:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (Around the Year: A book published before 1950)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (Around the Year: A book from the ‘1001 Books Before You Die’ list)
Good Intentions by J.D. Trafford.
QOTW:
Probably! I think I'm more inclined to pass on a book due to the cover than read it, but I haven't had any coffee yet. I'll try to come up with examples and come back later. :-)
Happy Thursday! 45/50Completed:
23.) The Year of the Hare by Arto Paasilinna was my Scandanavian read. Surreal might be a word for it. I have just come to the understanding that I’m not a fan of the Nordic novel.
The Big Four by Agatha Christie wass terrific. It’s not set in Belgium though. Still loved it!
Odessa Sea by Clive Cussler wass a light read set in the Ukraine.
In Progress
To cleanse the post Hare palate, I’m reading a horse driven cozy mystery entitled Unbridled Murder by Leigh Hearon. Sometimes you need some fluff.
Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen for a random book on tape in the car. If you’ve never read Carl Hiaasen, he is interesting – he has a breezy style as a journalist, but some crazy characterizations.
QOTW Read based on the cover?
If I’m going to be reading something in public, I may put a book cover on a provocative cover (both romance novels and political pieces) to prevent opinion sharing, but I don’t generally judge a book on it’s cover.
This week I did a complete reset. I took everything back to the library that I had out and then just browsed the shelves and got some new stuff. I love doing that sometimes when my reading is starting to feel a bit stale.This week I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for my podcast read-along that I am doing. This is the first good book in the series, in my opinion. I know there are a fair amount of people who hate this one, but it's probably my favorite. I'm going to take a little time off before I embark on book five.
I also finished The Flight of the Silvers, which I have read before. But it's really fun and I enjoyed reading it again. This time I'm going to finally read the sequel, which I had meant to read last year, so that will tick off a prompt.
I am currently reading Archangel which is entertaining. But it's not for the challenge.
QOTW: I don't think covers influence me too much, especially since I get almost everything I read out of the library based on a review or an internet search where the covers aren't so prominent.
Happy Thursday all! I read just two books this week but I finally made the choice to cut my challenge down from 150 to 100. I went from being 24 books behind to 7 ahead and it's such a weight off my shoulders. I didn't quite realize how it was making me avoid coming on goodreads till I switched it up. I have no doubt that I could read 150 but knowing exactly how many books I needed to read each week somehow made me avoid reading the first time I really had a little slump. Instead of just reading for joy I was forcing myself to read for numbers, which made me read less. Next year I think I'll aim low and just mentally try and beat that (which worked last year really well).
Onto the books! Oddly related to today's QOTW, I finished Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen which I snagged at the library because of the super bold color and I really loved the black text and simple thumbprint right in the middle. It's a memoir, and I didn't actually realize it (the blurb makes it sound like it's going to be more about immigration as a whole rather than one persons journey) and I really ended up enjoying it. I don't usually like memoirs either so that was a nice surprise. I couldn't help thinking that if I was in that situation I'd probably make the same exact choices and I could see why he did what he did once he found out what his grandfather and mother had done. I'd be really curious to see what my dad would think about this book.
Second and final book I read last week...well actually I've been eyeing this one based on the cover for months and when I saw it was available I snagged it. Woolly: The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of History's Most Iconic Extinct Creatures interestingly enough I have what I think is the movie cover on my book which has the sub-title as The True Story of the De-Extinction of one of History's Most Iconic Creatures. Honestly, the first title is a lot more accurate. I thought the science in this was fascinating and really enjoyed that aspect. My husband works in a related field so I was weirdly surprised at how much of the science I was familiar with. The book is written in narrative non-fiction however, and that really didn't work for me. Apparently, there are some other books on this topic and I think even this specific project which I may check out instead. Maybe that will work for the prompt of two books on a related subject. I don't think I've filled that one out.
QOTW: Frequently! I will often go into the library with a list of books I've figured out beforehand but I always do a few laps looking for anything that happens to catch my eye. There are books I've frequently picked up because of the cover and just haven't pulled the trigger because the plot didn't quite match with what I wanted to read that week but eventually they usually fit at some point and I bring them home (like Woolly did this week).
Books I've read more for the covers than the plots (except the public shaming one, I was totally intrigued):
As for books with covers I didn't like, that does happen but usually if there is a cover I think is ugly but I am really intrigued by the plot or it has reviews from people I trust then I could care less what it's packaged in. So I guess if I know of the book before I'll give it a shot - not so much if it's an unknown on the library shelf. Usually don't pick those up.
Hey everyone, hope your reading week is going well! Making myself check in every week is helping me slowly complete prompts. Even if they mostly end up being audio books I listen to on my way to and from work. This week I finally finished the audio book version of Hidden Figures. I’m using this for an item of clothing on the cover.
This brings me to 12/50... slowly but surely getting through them. Idk how people have already finished the challenge! Even when I wasn’t back in school and reading a lot more I still didn’t finish the challenge until the end of the year!
QOTW
I know there have been books I’ve read because of the cover but I can’t think of any off the top of my head right now...
I’ve had Truly Madly Guilty and The Sun Is Also a Staron my TBR list for a while now but their covers just don’t draw me in. I wouldn’t say they’re ugly just kind of boring.
No books finished again this week. I haven't been in the mood to read for long stretches lately, but I've been reading a chapter or two a day so I'm making steady progress. QOTW
I picked these books for their covers, and that worked out really well. I absolutely adored them.
But then there are books like these. Their beautiful covers lured me in, but alas the cover was the best part of the book.
I can't think of too many books with ugly covers that I loved. I remember that was a category for a previous reading challenge. This was a wonderful book, but the cover isn't really that ugly. Maybe I avoid all books with ugly covers? Ooof. I feel a little shallow ...
Mod
I had a lot of reading time between Friday - Sunday. It was too hot to do anything outside – temp 94 with humidity of 89% - Hot, hot, hot….I finished three books on Saturday!Finished:
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen – ATY challenge #20 (featuring indigenous people) This book took a little while to get started. Once you get past the character intros, the story started moving. This was my first book by Carl Hiaasen.
Recursion by Blake Crouch for a BOTM pick – This is a Sci-Fi book that keep my attention. Very intriguing. I like “light” Sci-Fi, books that have real people with the Sci-Fi twist, not a totally alien plot.
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella – BOTM pick – I liked this book more than I thought I would. I previously DNF the Shopaholic book, so I was iffy on this one. Cute story, a lite read. Just what I needed between the harder challenge reads.
Rebecca– ATY challenge. I’m not a classics reader, so I was I unsure on this one. LOVED IT!
Currently Reading:
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong – for 1001 BOTM – I don’t think this book is for me. I’m going to give it one more try, then decide.
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda – PS#35 Author whose first and last names start with the same letter – Reese’s BOTM pick
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker - PS#17 A book set on college campus – 50% Complete
I Heart Vegas – BOTM for the I Heart series – audiobook. 75% complete
Frankenstein – on audiobook. 45% complete
My Lady’s Choosing for PS #42 – choose your adventure. I really enjoyed this type of book as a child, but have not read any as an adult. This book is a historical romance, not my favorite, but its “cute” reading. – On the third story line.
QOTW: When I’m walking through the library just grabbing books to try new authors, the covers make a difference. If it’s an author I already read, the cover doesn’t change my mind.
Happy Thursday y’all.Several BIG donations of books came to our library over the week. Part of my duties is to sort these donations out, determine what our library can use, and pack the rest up for our yearly booksale. One of the perks of this job, at least, is that I get first dibs at the booksale books… and I actually found a few books in said donation that were on my to-read list! Whoo, heh...
Books read this week:
The Habitation of the Blessed -- fantasy novel based on the legend of Prestor John, so could count as “novel based on legend, mythology, or folklore.” While not my favorite of Catherynne Valente’s works, it’s still a fascinating and lyrical tale, and I’m eager to read the next volume!
Sh*t My Dad Says -- absolutely hilarious collection of stories about the writer’s snarky, no-nonsense father. Makes me wonder if a future prompt shouldn’t be “book written by a blogger or other online personality,” seeing as this started life as a Twitter account.
Goblin Fruit -- I thought this was a fantasy novel, but the “goblin fruit” of the title is instead a super-addictive drug that eventually renders its users catatonic. Interesting premise, but the writing could have used some work and had some weird stylistic choices (whenever the POV switches to one character in particular, it switches to first-person perspective instead of third and bold, italicized text for no discernable reason).
City of Glass: The Graphic Novel -- graphic novel. Starts off as a mystery novel but goes into some really WEIRD and surreal territory. It’s based off a novella by Paul Auster, so maybe I need to read the source material to get a better handle on it?
DNF:
Dear Luke, We Need to Talk, Darth: And Other Pop Culture Correspondences -- I’m a pop culture fan, and so a book full of pop culture humor seemed right up my alley. But this book reeks of “trying too hard,” and few of the jokes are actually funny. Plus many of the jokes in this book have been done before, and better, by other people. (Several of the jokes in the “Gilligan’s Island” part were done almost twenty years ago by Weird Al in his “Isle Thing” song, for example…)
The Third Witch -- two words: WHINY PROTAGONIST. A retelling of Macbeth from the point of view of one of the witches seemed like a great idea, but the character was so freaking whiny I couldn’t go on. I get that she’s suffered hardship, but give her a personality trait besides whining...
Currently Reading:
Horrorstör
It's the Apocalypse, Dave: Try to Have Fun
Gods of Jade and Shadow
QOTW:
An eye-catching cover will always draw my eye, though I rarely read books solely based on the cover. There have been a couple instances where I've read a book with an absolutely hideous cover just out of train-wreck curiosity. Make Way for Dragons! is an actually-pretty-epic urban fantasy, for example, but it's done a huge disservice by its lame title and awful cover.
Happy Thursday!It's the first week of school here so my routine is all over the place. Hopefully we will settle back into our usual patterns soon.
I finished two books at the tail end of last week.
China Rich Girlfriend - I didn't love this as much as Crazy Rich Asians, but I am looking forward to reading the third book soon!
The Bride Test - Initial reviews I had read weren't great so I put off reading this. I was pleasantly surprised though! I liked The Kiss Quotient a little better, but this was still an enjoyable read!
Currently reading:
The Brutal Telling - still working on this reread in the Louise Penny series.
The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay - Madeline has inherited her Aunt Maddie's bookstore along with the two employees - Claire and Janet - at a time in her life where she needed connection and belonging. I'm about halfway through. It's not a light read - the characters are grieving the loss of their friend/aunt plus dealing with issues in their own lives - but it isn't too heavy either. I have loved several of Reay's other books so I'm looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.
QOTW
I know that there have been covers that drew me in but I can't think of any right now! If I'm browsing in a store or library the cover art can really influence whether I pick up the book. With online browsing I don't pay as much attention to the cover. Maybe it's because so many Kindle versions have really ugly covers (especially the classics) so I've trained myself to disregard them. Or maybe it's something about having the book in your hands makes the visual so much more compelling. A well designed cover is so important for a book!
Happy Thursday! I have 8 books left for the Popsugar challenge and it is such a relief that I will be done soon and can focus on mood reading. Of course I am doing other challenges, but even having one out of the way will be a relief.Finished:
The Secret History for book set on a college or university campus. Loved it!
Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery for a book set in space. Fascinating!
Conviction for book published in 2019. I know some people were disappointed with this book. I've never read any other Denise Mina, so I had no expectations and liked the book.
Currently reading:
Rebecca
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts
QOTW:
I rarely notice book covers. I'd like to say it's because I mostly read digital, but I think I didn't notice before digital books either.
Happy Thursday! It's been a long week so I'm looking forward to the weekend. Finished:
China Rich Girlfriend - I used this for prompt #11 - a book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it. I think I just want more of Astrid and Charlie! I plan to read the third book just to have closure, but it hasn't been my favorite series. I think Kevin Kwan likes to draw things out a bit more than needed, but that's just my opinion.
The Perfect Wife - I had an ARC so this isn't for any challenges. This was not what I was expecting. I almost DNF, but decided to stick with it. I ended up finding the story interesting, but I was not expecting the sci-fi part of it (trying not to give away any spoilers although you find out in the first chapter). I ended up giving it 3 stars.
Challenge Progress:
Regular Challenge - 36/40
Advanced Challenge - 6/10
Total - 42/50
Currently Reading:
Circe - I put this on hold to read The Whisper Man however I'm trying to read at least one chapter a day typically after reading The Whisper Man so it takes my mind off the creepiness, and I can go to sleep!
The Whisper Man - I started this almost as soon as I got it however, I can only read so many pages at a time before being totally creeped out!
How to Walk Away - I'm listening to this for my local book club. So far it's very good and not what I was expecting.
One S'more Summer - I had a copy of this on my Kindle and needed a book for prompt #44 - read a book during the season it's set in. It's cute so far!
QOTW - Is there a book that you chose to read based on liking the cover? Or a book that you didn't want to read because of the cover?
I know I definitely pick books by their cover, in particular the free books I get from BookBub. However, those are on my kindle so I don't know why I care about that! I can't think of any books in particular I haven't read because of the cover or books I read only for the cover though.
Happy Thursday! I finished 3 books this week for the challenge:A book that makes you nostalgic: I wasn't sure how I was going to approach this prompt, but since I started this series a couple of years ago, I thought I would just continue. Cherry Ames, Army Nurse certainly fits the bill for this. As a nurse, some days I yearn for this - actually caring for patients instead of all the paperwork that is required.
A novel based on a true story: Since I love historical fiction, especially set in colonial America, I opted for I, Eliza Hamilton. Being ardent fans of Thomas Jefferson, I didn't care for the way he was portrayed in the book, but I'm sure it was true to their point of view.
A book set on a college or university campus: My favorite read of the week! Have you ever just rooted for a couple that are perfect for each other? Well, everyone (and everything) in this book does just that! The bus driver, the squirrel, the delivery guy and everyone else want Lea and Gabe to get together. So do they, but they just don't know how! A Little Something Different will have you rooting for them too!
QOTW:
I will absolutely pass by a book if I don't like the cover - mostly if I'm just browsing at the library or the bookstore. If it comes recommended, then the cover doesn't matter. (On an aside note, I prefer original covers rather than covers that are made for books made into movies. Those are strictly to promote the movie.)
This week:I read One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia for middle grade novel that received a diversity award since 2009. I was so charmed by it I promptly picked up the other two books of the trilogy. P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama. I managed to find spots for both (clothes on the cover (which I have totally been saving for a situation just like this) and (multi generational saga (ATY) or book with a journey.
This is the second time in the last three weeks that I've finished one planned book and been confronted with needing to read the other two immediately.
Currently reading:
Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy over500 pages (ATY?)
QOTW
No, seriously. I am a huge cover reader. I can't think of one off the top of my head but I have read books based on the cover. Lots of them.
My reading has been a little slumpy this week, probably because my health and energy levels have been slumpy for a while, and I'm tired of spending so much time sitting around reading. I need to find a new show that holds my interest as well as Star Trek Next Generation, because DS9 just isn't the same. I'm not really worried about being in a slump--I know I'll always come back to reading so there's no reason to push it if I'm not in the mood.
Finished Reading:
Voice of Power & Voice of Command This YA fantasy audiobook series is the one thing I've been really enjoying even during my slump. It has a lot of elements I'm enjoying, and avoids a lot of the more irritating cliches. (No love triangle, no insta-love, etc) Even some of the places where it does veer into cliched ground, I understand why the characters made those choices, instead of feeling like they just did it for the plot.
The Phantom of the Opera Three stars, for psychological thriller in ATY.
Currently Reading:
Voice of Dominion The next installment in the spoken mage series I've been listening to.
The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful A light enough read that I've been able to make some progress. I love her approach, but so far it's very light on practical ideas.
Traitor's Masque I thought this might break me out of my slump, but I've only gotten a few pages in, even though it looks interesting.
A couple others I'm in the middle of but haven't even picked up this week...
Possible DNF:
And Less Than Kind This looks well written, so I haven't made up my mind to give up on it, but there are several reasons it's just not working for me, including the fact that I picked it up at a used book sale without realizing it was the fourth and last in a series.
QOTW:
Nope, I don't pay much attention to covers. I find a lot of books online, where it's all about the reviews, but even on the occasions when I'm browsing library shelves it's more about the title, author, genre and blurb. (And I'll probably look up reviews before making a final decision unless I already know I like the author.)
Hello. I finished a few books this week, but I'm still 35/50 for the challenge.Legionnaire by Jason Anspach & Nick Cole - the first in the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge series, this is a military tactics focused book, a bit heavy but a good read.
A Dog's Luck by Liora Barash Morgenstern - looking at a family from many different sides, this novel examines the mc and her family within their relationships between each other and their pets, dealing with both love and loss, I found it a bit on the depressing side to be honest but still good
Tainted Love by Erin Cawood - anyone with domestic violence triggers should avoid this, it's a raw look at the truth behind the façade in these types of relationships, I could not put it down
Sink: Old Man's Tale by Perrin Briar - great premise, subpar dialog (character interactions were really awkward)
QOTW: Sometimes, probably more for print books than e-books.
Some covers I love:
I was traveling this past week, so I had some extra reading time. I listened to Fruit of the Drunken Tree and it took me some time to really get hooked (even though I was highly interested in the topic) but it definitely got me by the end. Good stuff.
I read The Woman I Kept to Myself and really enjoyed it. I liked the style of an autobiography/memoir in 75 three-paragraph sections; it was a good format that worked for me.
I listened to The Poet X and really loved the first 2/3, but the last 1/3 didn't get me quite as much.
I also listened to The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey and even though the story was something I was interested in (especially since I used to live in Chile) the writing/narration was very staccato and disjointed. I was expecting a lot more fluidity.
I found The Bitter Side of Sweet to get a book about the Ivory Coast (as I'm slowly making my way through "reading around the world"). I liked it, but recognized that the author wasn't actually from there, so it's an outsider's perspective.
I read Franny and Zooey for a book club and my goodness it was so awful. I would have DNF'd it if it weren't for a book club.
QOTW: Books that I have been drawn to because of their covers include:
Books that I read despite the boring/unappealing cover:
(the title and cover didn't do this book justice)
And I'm sure there are a lot of books I've passed up because of their covers, but I can't think of any specifics at the moment.
Hi, I have not checked in in a long time! I got interested in participating in the Summer Seasonal Reading Challenge (my first time participating)...whew, boy, that one is one that I will not finish but have enjoyed the prompts and have tried to incorporate books I have tagged for the PopSugar Reading Challenge/ATY Challenge into it. So, since this is my first check-in in about a month, I will just list those books I am reading at the moment :)Outlander...one of my All-time favorite books! This is for prompt PS #7 (a reread of a favorite book)
The Girl in the Tower...for ATY challenge #8 (2 books related to the same topic, genre or theme) I had read The Bear and the Nightingale earlier this summer for ATY #7. I am really enjoying the setting and mystical quality of this series!
Turn Left at the Sleeping Dog: Scripting the Santa Fe Legend, 1920-1955 for ATY #20 (a book featuring the indigenous people of a country). My husband's family has lived in Santa Fe, NM since the 1930's and northern NM since the early 1900's (originating on a ranch in Encino, NM) so I am loving the oral histories in this book!
QOTW: I tend to be a little turned off by covers if they are really unappealing to to me. It makes me question whether the synopsis of the book that initially attracted me is perhaps not as good as I was thinking. However, I will read the book based mainly on the synopsis I find on Goodreads and also reviews by fellow reading participants in reading challenges! I have been introduced to a lot of new books by reading prompts and reviews/recommendations for those prompts!
Hey all! Spent some time this week converting my popsugar notepad file into a cool spreadsheet. Fun fact: Without double-dipping, I have 33 categories filled. If I allowed infinite double-dipping, I'd only get up to 37. It's getting to that time of year where I have to go out of my way to fill prompts.Another fun fact: Of the 36 books I've read this year, all of them fit at least one category (not counting the prompt for a past year's prompt, which is basically the free space in bingo).
Finished reading (33/50):
The Boy Who Steals Houses (about a family, ownvoices (autism), 2019 release, accessory on the cover, retelling of a classic) - A dark contemporary YA book inspired by Goldilocks. We know that Goldilocks breaks into someone's house, eats their food, and sleeps in their bed, but why? What if she's homeless? What if she just wants to feel she has a real home, if only for a little while?
That's the premise of this book. It deals with a couple of homeless brothers, Sam and Avery. Sam breaks and enters and steals from houses to help provide for Avery, who is autistic. (Also it's ownvoices for autism!) It's very fast-paced and feels like younger YA (not in a bad way though).
Currently reading:
Accidental Thief (litRPG)
QotW: I pick books mostly based on Goodreads reviews, but a good-looking cover helps to grab my attention in the first place.
is my favorite cover of the year. The book itself was kinda forgettable, but every time I see that cover I kinda want to bump it up my yearly rankings because it looks so good.
is easily my least favorite cover of the year - it looks like a third-grader's craft project. But the book is fantastic, so IMO don't let the cover put you off.More awesome covers: (all from great books except The Shadowed Sun, which wasn't quite my thing)
Still enjoying the beautiful Santa Fe weather... but I'm headed back to the swampy heat of Saint Louis next week. Oh well, at least there'll be baseball to watch!Challenge Progress: 40/50
Completed:
Good Omens: So good! I rarely enjoy listening to audiobooks (unless they're non-fiction/memoirs), but this one was so well done. Martin Jarvis was just the cheeky, talented narrator this novel required!
The Scoundrel in Her Bed: I wavered between three and four stars for this one but ultimately landed on the positive side. It got a little long-winded, but I loved that Finn and Lavinia actually talked to each other! Very heart-warming.
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up: Oh, my. Tom Phillips takes us on a funny, biting (very British) tour through some of history's greatest mistakes and it's both hilarious and depressing at the same time.
Currently Reading: Ayesha at Last, Girls with Sharp Sticks, Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump, and Miracle Creek
QOTW: I absolutely judge books by their covers! I read many books simply based on reviews and recommendations, but I also browse the library at least twice a week. A beautiful cover can really suck me in; an ugly cover can really turn me off. I still haven't read any of Colson Whitehead's work because the covers are just so darn ugly. Blech!
Hello all!Finally dropped my car off at the mechanic yesterday and got it "fixed". Apparently, really low and sludge like fluid in the transmission with really mess with a car. I was actually able to get it up to 55 MPH this morning!
I haven't gotten a bunch of reading done this week. I've been trying to get through all the seasons Supernatural before the final season starts, so I finished up season 11 this weekend and than binge watched The Boys on Amazon after work a few days this week. Now it's time to pick-up reading again.
Finished:
A Nearly Normal Family for book a set in Scandinavia. Meh...I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, it was just okay and kind of there. I liked the concept of telling the story from three perspectives and I like the courtroom parts but the rest of the book was really lacking for me.
Currently Reading:
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World probably not for the challenge but I'm still really enjoying it. The author is funny and of course really knows his stuff. It's hard to believe he and I are around the same age. I need to step up my game and discover something.
Northanger Abbey for a book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent. This is a re-read for me and I forgot how funny some parts of it are. I'm hoping to buzz through it in the next few days.
Red, White & Royal Blue probably not for the challenge but I moved it up my TBR because someone was raving about it on Reddit. I'm only 3 chapters in but I really like it.
QOTW:
Of course I judge a book by it's cover. I will be more inclined to pick-up a book with a great cover but a bad cover wont put me off of a book.
I haven't read it yet but I love the cover of Wilder Girls and pretty much added it to TBR because of the cover.
Hello all! We have had a mercifully not-too-hot summer until now in Sacramento, but it's viciously hot today so I'm planning on doing some sheltering in place and reading. :-)Finished this week:
Cutting for Stone: I think I did last week's update late and included this one, but it's so good I'll include it again! I just loved this book. It's fascinating and original and lush without being fussy, and a page turner without diminishing any of its complexity, and oh I loved it. The romance subplot is rubbish, to warn you now, but everything else more than makes up for it.
Where the Crawdads Sing: I do understand why this book got buzz, but I am not a fan. It was certainly a page-turner, and the descriptions of the marsh were lovely. But ohhhh my dayyyyys, the poetry was SO BAD. Just so. Unutterably. Bad. And! it contributed nothing to the story. Disapprove.
Currently reading:
Love's Labour's Lost: It's still interesting, but the comedy is getting stale. I should finish this soon and watch the play to really get the experience.
Shelter in Place: Nora Roberts is so good at what she does. I don't think this will fit any challenge categories I have left, but that's ok.
Washington Black: already seems very good. I have to pause it for some library books, but I'm excited about it.
We, the Drowned: this is getting more interesting and nuanced as I go
QOTW: Unlike most people, apparently, I'm not super influenced by a cover. I do appreciate old or unusual bindings or book construction, and I definitely like looking at beautiful book covers, but it doesn't have much influence on what I read. I do try to avoid purchasing movie tie-in editions of books, though, because I think they don't look as nice on my shelves.
Mod
Hahaha that made me laugh!!! (Because I can kinda identify.)
And, yeah - Wilder Girls? Gorgeous and mysterious cover!!
@Ashley - good one! the Wilder Girls cover is amazing
Hello,Another week with nothing finished. This is getting ridiculous! I keep meaning to read over lunch at work, but since I'm currently reading a library book, I end up not wanting to risk getting food on it. And then when I'm done eating, I'm usually caught up in something online (like reading Goodreads updates)! So. That's something I need to figure out.
Currently Reading:
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle: I have to finish this one by next check-in because it's due back to the library before then!
The Grey Fairy Book
The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business: my boss wants me to read this, so I'll probably finish it fairly quickly. It helps that I can read it during my down time at work, since it's technically FOR work.
QOTW: I 1000000% will pick a book based on its cover. But, I have a pretty good eye for the covers that fit my reading interests, so that's nice. And, as others have said, I don't always let an ugly cover sway me. I'm just far more likely to reach for
a book if the cover catches my eye and looks pretty/whimsical. If it doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy, I don't go out of my way to read it (although sometimes it makes me really sad when a book with a beautiful cover is decidedly outside my reading interests).
I second everyone who's talking about how amazing the cover for Wilder Girls is! It sounds like it might be a little graphic for my taste, but I may read it anyway...
Shannon wrote: "Hello,Another week with nothing finished. This is getting ridiculous! I keep meaning to read over lunch at work, but since I'm currently reading a library book, I end up not wanting to risk getti..."
How are you liking The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle? It's on my TBR.
Hello all! Another slow reading week- this time I finished 2 books, 1 for the challenge so now I'm 49/50. Finished:
Outlander
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (A book with an accessory or clothing on the cover)
Currently Reading:
Anansi Boys
Rise of the Evening Star
QOTW:
I will totally read a book based off the cover! I've read plenty of good books this way... and also bad ones. Chris McGrath is my fav cover artist as his books are just gorgeous. I mean, just look at them!
Ashley wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Hello,Another week with nothing finished. This is getting ridiculous! I keep meaning to read over lunch at work, but since I'm currently reading a library book, I end up not wanti..."
I'm enjoying it a lot, actually! It's only taken me so long to get through because I haven't had a lot of reading time. I love a good murder mystery and this one isn't like any other one I've ever read!
Christy wrote: "QOTW: Unlike most people, apparently, I'm not super influenced by a cover. I do appreciate old or unusual bindings or book construction, and I definitely like looking at beautiful book covers, but it doesn't have much influence on what I read. I do try to avoid purchasing movie tie-in editions of books, though, because I think they don't look as nice on my shelves...."
I agree with this, I'd rather have the original cover most times than the movie-version.
Hi everyone. I got absolutely drenched walking to the train station today. I think that the weather gods have forgotten it's supposed to be summerThis week I finished two books. First up was The Witch of Salt and Storm. I did enjoy this one but I have a pet peeve when authors name their characters something tat seems really out of sync with the time period. Avery seems like way too modern a name for a girl in the 1800's, to me any way.
I also finished Reflection. This was a re-telling of Mulan but with her journeying to the underworld it felt more like a mash up of Coco and Hercules but with Chinese mythology.
Currently reading: I finally picked Ivanhoe back up after putting it down for a break a few months ago. I really am not enjoying this one but I am too far in to give up!
Also reading Dating an Alien Pop Star. This book is terrible, but it's so bad it has swung back around to good. I don't have any other options for the pop,sugar or challenge in title prompt so I hope it gets better!
QOTW: I don't normally just pick random things up at the library or book shop, I've normally already reserved them online. When I am browsing Goodreads though I will look at the blurbs of pretty covers I spot
Hi wow I’ve been gone for a while. Summer was busy and a new relationship and stuff had me forgetting the days and not really having the time to check in online much. I won’t sit here and try to list all the books I read over the last few months, but here’s a link to a post I made on instagram that lists all the books I read for the goodreads summer challenge.
Here are the books I read this week at least
The Graveyard Book this was my first popsugar read in a while, I read it for the multiple points of view prompt. I’ve had this audiobook in my audible account for a long time (I buy up any Gaiman audiobooks when they’re included in the bogo sales) and just now got to it. I enjoyed it, not nearly as much as other Gaiman books but it was still pretty great.
Dream Dark and Beautiful Chaos - these are 2.5 and 3, books 1 and 2 being Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness. I read book 1 for the goodreads challenge and read the others to take up time while I waited for library holds. These are like, Harry Potter meets twilight? Idk, I find most of the characters and the whole overly complicated plot deeply annoying but it’s easy reading that goes quick.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire I’ve been working my way through HP this year, you already know what it is.
Hello Girls A collab with Brittany Cavallaro (the Charlotte Holmes series) and Emily Henry (A Million Junes, When the Sky Fell on Splendor). This is like a YA Thelma and Louise but with teen girls. It was fun and sad and funny and thrilling, I read it in one sitting.
The Dogs of Riga almost finished with this, it’ll be done later this afternoon. Very Nordic Noir crime fiction detective novel. I get asked occasionally if I named my son after Henning Mankell, and while I didn’t, I do quite enjoy his books now.
QOTW: I make many book purchasing decisions based on pretty covers and clever titles. I collect the penguin hardcover classics and books with floral covers.
Hey readers. I am so slow right now. My brain feels fried and I have no school this month. Granted I am averaging only 4 hour sleep a night but that can't be it. *eyeroll*
I don't remember my exact book count right no and I don't want to look it out. Approx 24 for regular and 4 for advance.
I am excited for the soon to be released SLAY which I believe will cover the LitRPG topic that I fear so greatly. Woohoo!
Currently Reading
Finished
for ATY picture book challenge which I am ALSO choking on
QotW:
(from Lauren) -Is there a book that you chose to read based on liking the cover? Or a book that you didn't want to read because of the cover?
All books. lol. I very much judge a book by it's cover. My main book finding process involves browsing titles. If the title catches my eye I will the JUDGE the cover. If I also like that then I will read the excerpt and add to list. I put off
for a long time because the cover is meh. Ugly covers I kind of avoid like the plague. Ex. Escape from Exile has a stupid cover, imo, but it was my favorite book as a child so I am re-reading to my daughter. Opposite case, I am not a Stephen King fan. Have never had the desire to read ANY of his books. I love the cover below so much I am already on hold lists at my library and it's not out yet.
Just back from a family reunion in Old Town Alexandria, VA, where I discovered a lovely used bookstore called Book Bank. There were at least 4 independent bookstores in Alexandria! Also spent a couple of day in Washington DC relaxing and making a pilgrimage to see Julia Child's Kitchen in the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian. I am so glad I finally did!Train ride to/from DC gave me good reading time!
Finished:
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - absolute 5 star read! Have the kleenex handy though. This was one of the books I read for the 21st Century theme challenge over on PBT.
Malevil - English translation of a French dystopian novel published in 1972 and set in 1977. Not bad, but really felt like I was reading a pioneer homesteading story. And the author's treatment of women left a great deal to be desired. This was my August read for PBT Trim my TBR challenge
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - this is considered a classic??? I wanted funny and absurd and got boring and adolescent. Only reason it got one star was because of Marvin the depressed robot. This was my PS set in space prompt.
Up to the Challenge - second in a romance series set on Anchor Island - one of the Outer Bank islands (fictional but loosely based on a real one). Loved this, especially the heroine Sid who is a tom boy in the body of a porn star. This was for PS book with word "challenge" in title.
Currently reading:
1984 - for PS prompt common phrase (Big Brother is watching you) - familiar as the beginning of this reads, I know I have never read it before. And my is it chilling how much it reflects our world today!
Home to Stay - 3rd in the Anchor Island series - featuring another great character, this time it's the hero. Not for challenge.
Snowdrift and Other Stories
Still on the nightstand:
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
The Master and Margarita
Remembrance of Things Past: Volume I - Swann's Way & Within a Budding Grove
QOTW:
Oh I am absolutely seduced by covers! In fact, I'm reading this particular translation of The Master and Margarita -
because I absolutely love the cover art, even though all the critics, reviews, and recommendations I have read and heard consider it to be too dry a translation. I also will read any book published by Persephone Books because they are just so beautiful. Ditto on New York Review of Books. Another publisher of beautiful books - hardcovers especially - Alfred A. Knopf.
I can't say I'm dissuaded from reading a book because of the ugly cover. I might not buy it, not want to own it ... but ebook reading has really eliminated the whole "I hate the cover" thing for me.
I've been known also to buy special editions or a new edition of a favorite book just because it is so beautiful. One example is
. Another is
Then there is The Hobbit or There and Back Again which I've never been able to read, and actively dislike (but love LOTR) - I own at least 3 different editions of the book, all special:
It's been a bad reading week because RL is kicking me in the face.I did managed to read for the prompt a book with "love" in the title
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: A Study In Mischief by Lydia Sherrer which was a fun UF novella.
QOTW
I definitely look at covers. Actually this novella was picked up (well being free helped) because the cover was fun and I fell in love with this cover
by Jana Denardo (also love vampires)If a cover is awful I'm far less inclined to slow down and read the blurb (which is really what hooks me)
Another slow reading week for me. I haven't been engrossed by the book I picked up at the beginning of the week, so I have supplemented with a few re-reads. I read:Orphan Train- I had forgotten several details, so enjoyed the re-read.
Why Shoot a Butler?- a favorite murder mystery of mine.
The Spitfire Girls- I hadn't read this one. It was fluffier then I thought it would be. It wasn't bad, I was just hoping for a little more meat.
QOTW: Covers absolutely influence my reading decisions. Usually I have to like the summary as well, and I will look at reviews but I always put pretty covers first. The book I am reading right now I am sure I bought completely because of the cover art. I am not loving the book, but I was three fourths of the way through before I decided I didn't love the book. I am finishing the book- hopefully today.
Happy Thursday! This week I have finished:
The Cybernetic Tea Shop. This was a cute sci-if romance. Nice light read.
The Only Harmless Great Thing. This was ok. I didn’t like it as much as some people seem to.
And Night was my audiobook. I really enjoyed it but not what a tough book.
This week I am reading:
Saint Badass: Personal Transcendence in Tucker Max Hell. It’s ok. It’s my audiobook and at this point I’m just a little to cynical.
The Priory of the Orange Tree. This one has taken me a while to get into but I’m enjoying it.
QOTW
Covers are important to me. I don’t make a decision based just on the cover- I look at the Goodreads rating and read the synopsis- but if it has a bad cover I never even get that far. I do all my “shopping” for books online and unless I’m looking for a specific book because of a recommendation or because it’s by a favorite author I’m rarely going to investigate a book with a bad cover further.
Hi Everyone!trying to get the last details of our addition ironed out, so frustrating! But hopefully by end of August we should be 100% set.
Fall, or Dodge in Hell - This was a huge book! I finally finished it. I liked it overall, but not as much as some of his other work. I loved Reamde and Seveneves, those were both 800+ page books but they didn't FEEL long. This one felt very long. I think he had too many ideas and none quite resolved into a cohesive whole for me. Glad I read it though, and still plan to keep reading anything he puts out, haha. Counts for ATY's something new, since it was his newest book and I bought it new.
The Trouble With Vampires - wanted something fluffy and no-brainer after that tome, so tore through this. It was alright, the series is getting a bit weird/lazy/far fetched as it goes on, but it wasn't as outright annoying as some of the other ones. I did like the characters at least.
Currently reading:
Pollyanna - ATY's children's classic I never read. Just started it so no opinion yet.
QOTW:
I am influenced by covers in that they're what will make me grab a book in the store/library and read the blurb, or stop when browsing in the digital library front. However I'll only read it if it sounds at least somewhat interesting. Actually that's how I ended up reading Twilight back in the day, the covers were really striking and they caught my eye every time I went into Borders (this was back when they were just getting big, before every other teen supernatural drama borrowed the black cover, stark image style). If a cover is ugly, i'm less likely to pick it up unless I know people who think I should give it a shot.
I'm back to reading books that work for the challenge as I did a little bit of mid-challenge changing some books to ones I think I will like better (and not keep avoiding).I finished two books this week.
Normal People by Sally Rooney; PS #17 (college/university); ATY #13 (New York Library staff picks) - 4 stars (more like a 3.5 but I round up)
My best friend gave me this for my birthday, and confessed she wanted to borrow it as soon as I finished. That's the joys of best friends - being able to confess your selfish reasons behind a gift. :)
This is a story about a boy and girl in Ireland who grow up together and have challenges in relating to each other. Much of the book took place during their years at Trinity College. It's alternatively really cute and really annoying. These two really need to work on communication skills.
Mama's Boy by ReShonda Tate Billingsley; PS #48 (second book with same title); 3 stars
While the premise of the book was interesting enough that I finished it in two days, there was some serious plot absurdities. I liked it well enough but will probably not read anything else by the author.
GoodReads: 49/80
PopSugar: 32/50
ATY: 41/52
QOTW:
I scarcely notice covers unless they blow me away (like The Night Circus). Usually I have a hard time remembering the cover when I need to select the correct edition here. I'm not much of a visual person, apparently. Just get me to the good stuff inside.
Ellie wrote: "I also learned a new word, terroir, which is a wine term for sense of place. I had never heard this before and then the bottle of wine we opened that night only mentioned terroir on the label! Spooky."This happens to me so often that I apparently skip over a lot of words in life until something forces them to my conscious mind, and then they seem to be everywhere.
Ugh! What another week it's been! Work has been so draining lately. I took a couple days off next week because the sitter wasn't available, and I can't even begin to express how glad I am of this little break!! Even if it will be spent chasing a toddler, it's got to beat dealing with multiple client crises every day!Haven't finished anything, been too tired. Still working on the previously mentioned books. Enjoying them, when I can devote a few moments of brain power.
QOTW: Covers don't usually sway my opinion too often, though they will sometimes catch my eye on a display. I have to admit I read
because of the cover. So pretty! I wound up liking it more than most other reviewers because I went to a very liberal/ hippie-ish college and felt like I knew each character in the book. Ugly covers don't dissuade me, but when I borrowed
from the library, I had to stick a post-it note over the sad mopey face! I couldn't have her looking at me for weeks!
Read this week-Finally finished one of the few challenge books left.
The Two Towers (imaginary creature)- Some of the many descriptions of the landscape were a bit hard to get through (maybe because I don’t spend much time in nature?) but Tolkien’s myth-making remains superlative. 4 stars.
Also read-
Lock Every Door
The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe
The Nude Nutritionist: Stop obsessing about food and never diet again
QOTW- Hmmmm...I can’t think of any specifics off the top of my head. I think I’m tired out after work!
Finished two books this week--neither for PopSugar.But I finished the BookCrossing Decade Challenge (read one book from each decade) with Malice Aforethought (1931) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966). (The latter could qualify as an astrology term, although I already got that with The Girl Who Drank the Moon.) So for PopSugar, I remain 36/40, 8/10, 39 books total for the year.
Next up is The Lathe of Heaven for cli-fi.
I have been a bit too busy the last week helping a relative move to get much reading done, but I ended up moving things around on my list, so I'm now at 44/50 for this years challenge. Books I finished:
Murder by Candlelight: The Gruesome Slayings Behind Our Romance with the Macabre - This was interesting. It was a look at 3 murder cases that were the most infamous cases in England in the 1800's until Jack the Ripper came along. And it also looked at how things had changed by the time those murders occurred.
Books I made progress on:
City of Golden Shadow
Storm of Locusts
QOTW
A pretty cover is more likely to catch my eye, but I will only read it if the blurb looks interesting. However, if I hear about a book, or love the author, I will read it with whatever cover I find, whether I think the cover is nice or not. The cover does matter when it comes time to buy, but if I really want the book, sometimes I'll get whatever cover I can, then search for the cover I like best later. And unlike other people here, I tend to prefer the movie tie in editions.
Hi all! Work has finally lightened up and I'm looking forward to getting back to all the books I've had on pause. I only have three books left for the challenge, but I'm pretty much ignoring it right now. The mood reading urges are too strong!! Read:The Golden Tresses of the Dead (audio): liked it, as I liked all the Flavia books, but I think I preferred numbers 1-6 to the later ones.
The Vegetarian: bizarre and disturbing, but I had a good time.
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body: woah. Also disturbing, but super good.
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language: I love linguistics and I love the internet, so I loved this! The most useful part for me was the explanation of the different "generations" of internet people, which helps explain why people communicate on the internet/social media differently, occasionally resulting in miscommunication simply due to the ways we write.
Currently reading:
The Way of Kings (audio)
Under the Pendulum Sun
The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics
The Incendiaries
Descendant of the Crane
QOTW: I 100% judge books by their covers. I refused to read Sabriel as a child because I hated the cover so much:
but last year I finally sucked it up and read it and realized I missed out on so much!! In the opposite direction, I keep picking up
in bookshops because of the cover. For some reason I always forget that I've read the cover copy and decided it won't be my thing, but I HAVE TO pick it up every time I guess. That cover's doing its job!
Happy Thursday! I only finished 1 book this week....Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. I used it for a book set in space so I'm now 39/50.Currently (still) reading:
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl for a book by two female authors
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch for the GR summer challenge
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn for the GR summer challenge
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber for the GR summer challenge
QOTW: I definitely judge a book by it's cover. One book I didn't want to read because of the cover was Abarat
, but I really liked it. I chose to read The Nightingale based on its cover
even though WWII fiction didn't interest me, but it quickly became one of my favorite books.
It's been freakishly cool here this summer. Today I think it reached 71. Not that I'm not enjoying it! Heat and me are not friends. It's just so odd. I finished three books this week and am thisclose to another.
Finished:
Mythos - I enjoy Stephen reading to me, but Greek myths aren't really my thing. He did have some fun with it, though
The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Liked it, didn't love it. Saw most things coming. Still, not bad.
This Is How You Lose the Time War - It's short but I was still waiting for it to end. It's not bad, just not really a good match for me I think. More poetic than I was expecting.
I do like all of their covers
Currently Reading:
Little Fires Everywhere for book club. Nearly done
Illuminae still on hiatus until I finish Little Fires
Jane Eyre - My first Bronte and not enjoying it so far. I'm not even that far in and I think three different awful people are described as having dark skin. WTF
Not feeling so great so I'll have to answer the QOTW later, because I am obsessed with book covers!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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This week I finished 2 book, neither for this Challenge, so I remain 45/50.
Since the Surrender - I love Julie Anne Long, but this book was sub-par. Skip it unless you’re reading the series and are a completist and simply must read Chase Eversea’s story.
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda - this was an enjoyable thriller but does not stand up well to a detailed inspection. This book is what I call a good beach read.
In happier news, my library system is up and running, I am receiving holds yippee!! I can log into my account in browser mode, but not in mobile mode. Whatever, right? So long as I found a way in!
Question of the Week
(from Lauren) -Is there a book that you chose to read based on liking the cover? Or a book that you didn't want to read because of the cover?
Yes! I definitely judge books by their cover. If a book gets rave reviews but has an ugly cover, I will be reluctant to read it (some books linger on my TBR for this very reason, like Shin’s Archangel
The book I’m reading right now has what I consider to be a really cheap, amateurish cover: The Stories You Tell