Albany Public Library discussion

Hi everyone, and welcome to Theme Week 9 of the Albany Public Library Summer Reading Challenge!

This week's theme is "A Star is Born". 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 former child celebrities memoirs recommendations curated by your local APL librarians! Happy reading!

Melissa Explains it All- Melissa Joan Hart
Choreography- Corey Feldman
Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame- Mara Wilson
Unsweetined- Jodie Sweetin
Wildflower- Drew Barrymore
Scrappy Little Nobody- Anna Kendrick
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding my Voice- Maureen McCormick
Wishful Drinking- Carrie Fischer

Sorry! I confused the past two weeks' categories.

I listed Wildflower by Drew Barrymore for last week when it should have been listed for this week.

For last week's category, I read the Outsider by Stephen King (which I already listed a couple of weeks ago). So clearly neither of those should be counted as new books.

However, I did finish
The Last Juror by John Grisham and
Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass

Thank you!

Diane Brown wrote: "Sorry! I confused the past two weeks' categories.

I listed Wildflower by Drew Barrymore for last week when it should have been listed for this week.

For last week's category, I read the Outsider ..."

No worries. All of your books have been counted. The weekly themes are suggestions. You don't have to read them only during the assigned week. Happy summer reading!

This week I read a really fun romance in Making Her Mark (Merindah Park, #2).

Diana wrote: "This week I read a really fun romance in Making Her Mark (Merindah Park, #2)."

I have added your book!

I just burned through another play by Rory Mullarkey, Each Slow Dusk. If anyone is interested in historical fiction and/or World War I, this short, easy read is for you.

Finished Calypso by David Sedaris, Hothead by Stella Rhys, Cruel Money by K. A. Linde, Love sincerely yours by Sara Ney, Bad Situation by Brynne Asher, Manwhore+ 1 by Katy Evans, In my mind’s eye by Jan Morris. I am not sure if there are some repetition here because I have not been keeping track. Thanks

I have added your books!

@Evee you have Level 1 ,2, 3, 4 and the summer reading t-shirt for pick up at your APL branch.

The challenge ends for me today due to my vacation schedule (if I've counted right, otherwise tonight will be a long night, LOL!). Thanks for the fun APL! I'm looking forward to having more time to peruse everyone's reads this coming week for recommendations.

Since posting last I have read Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan, No Happing Endings by Nora McInerny, The Huntress by Kate Quinn, The Widow by Kate Waters, and The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo.

This week i read Halloween Night 1 and 2 by RL Stine, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott ODell, and American Girls by Allison Umminger

Hello All - As of yesterday, at least two branches (Bach and Pine Hills) were out or almost out of adult size T-shirts. So if you have earned one, I recommend calling the branch before going to pick one up.

Thanks for the warning, Susan. I most likely would have stopped in at Pine Hills.

I was going to go to Pine Hills too, thanks for letting us know.

I have added your books!

@Jaybee you have Level 1,2,3,4 and the summer reading t-shirt prize for pick up.

@Nicole you have Level 3,4 and the summer reading t-shirt prize for pick up at your APL branch.

I finished I Might Regret This by Abbi Jacobson this week!

I finished reading the Alice Network and before the fall.

Finished I Feel Machine yesterday evening.

I didn’t read any from this theme but getting close to my 20 book goal! This week I finished #16: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware and #17: The Perfect Mother by Aimee Malloy.

I didn't manage books from the theme, but I did finish an ARC I received from Ann Omasta, Shining Pearls. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense continuation of a trilogy. It's out now if you want to check it. I also managed to finish Bossman by Vi Keeland, Be Mine by Piper Sullivan, Good Girl by Piper Lawson, and Bad Girl by Piper Lawson. I am currently working on the third part of the trilogy, Wicked Girl but haven't finished it yet.

I have added all of the titles above!

This weekend I finished

Artemis by Andy Weir
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride and
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Hi Diane, I have added your books!

I finished Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani.

What with the job and kids I haven't managed to post 'til now. Since the start of summer reading I have read:

"death masks", "blood rites" and "dead beat" by Jim Butcher (Dresden files books). They were all good. There are things I dislike about the main character and the series, but they are still enjoyable.
"Becoming" by Michele Obama. I really liked it; it was really interesting hearing about what it is like to be first lady and how to balance the demands of kids with running for office, etc.
"5 ft apart" which I did not find great, despite often enjoying YA stuff; it just was too inaccurate and everything felt too calculated to appeal to the target audience. It didn't seem genuine to me.
"wind, sand and stars" (a book with stars in the title) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Very lyrically written; the chapter where he's crashed in the desert was nerve-wracking. It was an interesting look into a very different world.
"Call the Midwife" by Jennifer Worth, because I really enjoy the show and wanted to read one of the actual books. I liked it. It was interesting to see what was the same and what was changed in the TV show.
"where the heart is" by Billie Letts because I saw it on my sister's bookshelf and was curious. It was OK.

That's 8 books for adults or young adults. I've also read "toesy toes" and "where's the unicorn" about a million times for my toddler and an average of 2 books a day for my 4 yr old... I have to say that I actually am really enjoying the Princess in Black series, and wish that the Bach Branch would just "happen" to lose all the Ladybug Girl books...not really...

@Anna, I have added your books. You finished the program with 8 books read! You can pick up your Level 1 and Level 2 prizes at any APL branch this week.