75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2020 GR Challenge)
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Amy J's Reading Challenges
Read Harder Challenge (Original post in Group is #5)21/24
1. Read a YA nonfiction book The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater Finished 7/7/2020
2. Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi Finished 5/25/2020
3. Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman: If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin Finished 4/8/2020
4. Read a graphic memoir: Persepolis, Volume 1 byMarjane Satrapi Finished 1/1/2020
5. Read a book about a natural disaster: Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester
6. Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author: The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman Finished 1/1/20
7. Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII: Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller Finished 3/27/2020
8. Listen to an audiobook of poetry: Nothing Is Okay by Rachel Wiley
9. Read the LAST book in a series: Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris Finished 1/18/20
10. Read a book that takes place in a rural setting: Women Talking by Miriam Toews Finished 3/3/2020
11. Read a debut novel by a queer author: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett FInished 4/9/2020
12.Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own: Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
13. Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before: Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen by Stephanie Hua Finished 4/1/2020
14. Read a romance starring a single parent: Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec Finished 6/10/2020
15. Read a book about climate change: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert Finished 6/27/2020
16. Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Finished 6/29/2020
17. Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages): Forest of Memory by Mary Robinette Kowal Finished 4/10/2020
18. Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson Finished 1/1/20
19. Read a book by or about a refugee: The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya Finished 2/8/2020
20. Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK: Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed Finished 7/9/2020
21. Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout Finished 5/8/2020
22. Read a horror book published by an indie press: Come Closer by Sara Gran Finished 4/30/2020
23. Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical): Uncanny Magazine Issue 15: March/April 2017 by Lynne M. Thomas Finished 7/1/2020
24. Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author: The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich Finished 3/8/2020
Reading Women Challenge (Original Post is a topic in the group)24/26
1) A Book by an Author from the Caribbean or India: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo Finished 5/16/2020
2) A Book Translated from an Asian Language:The Vegetarian by Han Kang Finished 6/11/2020
3) A Book about the Environment: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert Finished 6/27/2020
4) Picture Book Written/Illustrated by a BIPOC Author: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson Finished 1/1/20
5) A Winner of the Stella Prize or the Women’s Prize for Fiction: The Power by Naomi Alderman Finished 2/9/2020
6) A Nonfiction Title by a Woman Historian: Witches, Midwives and Nurses: A History of Women Healersby Barbara Ehrenreich
7) A Book Featuring Afrofuturism or Africanfuturism:The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin Finished 2/29/2020
8) An Anthology by Multiple Authors: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris Finished 1/7/20
9) A Book Inspired by Folklore: Uprooted by Naomi Novik Finished 6/6/2020
10) A Book About a Woman Artist: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood Finished 3/11/2020
11) Read and Watch a Book-to-Movie Adaptation: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Finished 1/24/2020
12) A Book About a Woman Who Inspires You: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor Finished 10/26/2020
13) A Book by an Arab Woman: A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum Finished 7/31/2020
14) A Book Set in Japan or by a Japanese Author: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
15) A Biography: Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon Finished 3/16/2020
16) A Book Featuring a Woman with a Disability: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout Finished 5/8/2020
17) A Book Over 500 Pages: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Finished 6/29/2020
18) A Book Under 100 Pages: Forest of Memory by Mary Robinette Kowal Finished 4/10/2020
19) A Book That’s Frequently Recommended to You: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray Finished 4/8/2020
20) A Feel-Good or Happy Book: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Finished 3/8/2020
21) A Book about Food: Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen by Stephanie Hua Finished 4/1/2020
22) A Book by Either a Favorite or a New-to-You Publisher: Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller Finished 3/27/2020
23) A Book by an LGBTQ+ Author: Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson Finished 2/6/2020
24) A Book from the 2019 Reading Women Award Shortlists and Honorable Mentions: Women Talking by Miriam Toews Finished 3/3/2020
BONUS
25) A Book by Toni Morrison: Jazz by Toni Morrison Finished 2/4/2020
26) A Book by Isabel Allende: The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende Finished 5/22/2020
PopSugar Challenge (Original post in group is 126)39/50
1. A book that's published in 2020: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James Finished 3/9/2020
2. A book by a trans or nonbinary author: Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
3. A book with a great first line: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Finished 3/8/2020
4. A book about a book club: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix Finished 4/27/2020
5. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics: The Library of Legends by Janie Chang Finished 5/16/2020
6. A bildungsroman: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo Finished 5/16/2020
7. The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed: Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust Finished 9/7/2020
8. A book with an upside-down image on the cover: Still Lives by Maria Hummel Finished 3/21/2020
9. A book with a map: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Finished 6/29/2020
10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club: The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton Finished 2/9/2020
11. An anthology: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris Finished 1/7/20
12. A book that passes the Bechdel test: The Power by Naomi Alderman Finished 2/9/2020
13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it; Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Finished 1/5/20
14. A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Finished 1/24/20
15. A book about or involving social media: #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil Finished 1/23/20
16. A book that has a book on the cover:Uprooted by Naomi Novik Finished 6/6/2020
17. A medical thriller: Outbreak by Robin Cook Finished 5/7/2020
18. A book with a made-up language: Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin Finished 10/31/2020
19. A book set in a country beginning with "C": The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin Finished 7/6/2020
20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention: The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson FordFinished 10/31/2020
21. A book published the month of your birthday: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Finished 5/20/2020
22. A book about or by a woman in STEM: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Pérez Finished 5/20/2020
23. A book that won an award in 2019: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas Finished 2/27/2020
24. A book on a subject you know nothing about: Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester
25. A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics: Three Women by Lisa Taddeo Finished 4/13/2020
26. A book with a pun in the title:The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean Finished 7/27/2020
27. A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi Finished 7/18/2020
28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character: Cress by Marissa Meyer Finished 1/16/20
29. A book with a bird on the cover: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Finished 3/16/2020
30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader: Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer Finished 8/7/2020
31. A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Finished 1/12/20
32. A book by a WOC: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray Finished 4/8/2020
33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow Finished 3/18/2020
34. A book you meant to read in 2019: Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
35. A book with a three-word title: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Finished 2/1/2020
36. A book with a pink cover: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager Finished 5/13/2020
37. A Western: The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich Finished 3/8/2020
38. A book by or about a journalist: The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates Finished 9/28/2020
39. Read a banned book during Banned Books Week: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Finished 9/29/2020
40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (2016: A book that's over 600 pages): Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James Finished 6/22/2020
41. A book written by an author in their 20s: Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi Finished 1/3/20
42. A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title:Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber Finished 10/18/2020
43. A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision): Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout Finished 5/8/2020
44. A book set in the 1920s: Jazz by Toni Morrison 2/4/2020
45. A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
46. A book by an author who has written more than 20 books: Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson Finished 2/6/2020
47. A book with more than 20 letters in its title: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré Finished 2/21/2020
48. A book published in the 20th century: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood Finished 3/11/2020
49. A book from a series with more than 20 books: Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
50. A book with a main character in their 20s: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Finished 5/4/2020
The Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge (Not in Goodreads)12/12
1. A book published in the decade you were born (1980s): Native Tongue by Suzette Haden ElginFinished 10/31/2020
2. A debut novel: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett Finished 4/9/2020
3. A book recommended by a source you trust (MyLitBox): The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton Finished 2/9/2020
4. A book by a local (Kansas) author: American Heart by Laura Moriarty Finished 4/21/2020
5. A book outside your genre comfort zone (western): The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich Finished 3/8/2020
6. A book in translation: The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende Finished 5/22/2020
7. A book nominated for an award in 2020 (Audie Award Nominee in YA): On the Come Up by Angie Thomas Finished 2/27/2020
8. A re-read: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Finished 11/5/2020
9: A classic you didn't read in school: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Finished 1/2420
10: Three books by the same author: Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi Finished 1/3/20
11: Three books by the same author: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi Finished 5/25/2020
12: Three books by the same author: What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi Finished 11/8/2020
Mod
Mod
Good Luck - I am doing the Modern Mrs. Darcy challenge also, although, I've only added one book to the list so far! LOL. A debut novel: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.
1. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (HW) My first book of the year! And it was a really short one (32 pages). I like the idea of beginning this year with short, diverse reads. My early reads are also going to include a graphic memoir, a play, and maybe an audiobook of poetry, before I get into a proper novel. We'll see how I'm feeling later today.
I have a tendency to devalue children's lit. Especially, when it's made for young children. I didn't think I was going to really like this little book (I didn't think I'd hate it either), but I really did. Jacqueline Woodson is amazing regardless of who she is writing for. It was a powerful story about being and feeling different, but telling your story and building connections to others.
2. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (H)I'm really having a good reading day with these short reads. This was the second work I read today that I really enjoyed. I wish I had checked out the Complete Works edition from the library instead of just the first volume, because I really want to know what happens once she leaves Iran. The ending of this volume was jarring.
Mod
I'm really having a good reading day with these short reads. This was the second work I read today that I r..."
Persepolis was so good!
3. The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman (H) I always ask the theatre department at my school for play recommendations, and they never fail to give me something amazing.
The format of the play was innovative. It captured "moments" in the case. Glimpses of interactions and conversations. I think it suited the subject well and really gave the story some omph.
I thought I knew what happened in the Matthew Shepard case, but I really only knew the broad strokes. This play really added depth to my knowledge and personalized it for me. The end was particularly emotional. I had tears in my eyes and a catch in my throat.
4. Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi (PD)In the beginning this was a very confusing book. The story has a tendency to jump around a lot in in its narrative. It involves a writer's muse coming to life and the writer and the muse engaging in a contest of sorts involving writing each other into stories.... But despite the early confusion, it's a really great story.
5. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (P)I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I hoped I would. I thought it was supposed to be a thriller, but I didn't find that a very apt description. I don't really know why, maybe it was brought down by the scientific explanations for why and how the box worked.. Idk But there were times the story dragged.
On another note, I couldn't help laughing at the author's description of the Chicago Cubs in the beginning of the book. He describes them as losers and and goes into the disappointment yet loyalty of the fans. The funny part is, the book was published in 2016, which is the year that the Cubs broke the 108 year curse and won the world series. LOL. Chicago fans would not have been disappointed that year. I realize the author would have had no way of knowing that 2016 would be THE year, when he sent the book off for publication, but it struck me as funny nonetheless.
Mod
"This book was so confusing but overall very enjoyable! It was my first Blake Crouch book.
Amy J. wrote: "5. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (P)I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I hoped I would. I thought it was supposed to be a thriller, but I didn't find that a ver..."
I think this is the year I finally get to this book. It's been on my TBR for a while.
6. Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris (WP)Two of my challenges required an anthology and I've had this book on my physical shelves for awhile now, so I decided this would be my anthology selection. Since it's Christmas themed I knew I would need it to be one of the first or one of the last books I read; I decided to get it out of the way since I rarely enjoy short story collections ( there's just not enough plot development for me, personally).
I picked this particular collection up back when I was really into the Southern Vampire series, but by the time I actually got around to reading it Ms. Harris had published a collection of Sookie Shorts that included the one contain in this anthology, so that was probably the least exciting short that I read in this collection. Patricia Briggs, whose series I've enjoyed, and Kat Richardson (Grey Walker series) also had stories featured in this collection. The Briggs story was probably my favorite, but overall, the collection was pretty meh.
7. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (P)I enjoyed this book, but again, not as much as I thought I would. I'm thinking my mindset is off. I recently got dumped and I find myself obsessing about it and I think I'm reading while being somewhat distracted. And I think that's reducing my enjoyment. I had trouble following the plot of this book. I'd be reading and find myself wonder wtf just happened. And I'd have to go back, sometimes to the beginning of the chapter, to refamiliarize myself with the plot. Ugg...
This was my first book by Ms. Novik and I will be reading another by her later this year, as I need a book with a book on the cover and Uprooted fits there.
8. Cress by Marissa Meyer (P)I only picked this book up because I needed a book to fill the prompt "a robot, cyborg, or AI character". Having read Scarlet in 2016, I initially had a lot of difficulty getting into Cress. So many series give you sort of a recap of what previously happened, but apparently the Lunar Chronicles does not! Normally, I'd love that it just jumped right in to the action, but since it was over 3 years since I had picked up this series, an action packed opening was hard. That's my own fault I guess, and I remedied it by going online and reading summaries of Scarlet and Cinder.
I ended up listening to most of this book on audible because I was having a hard time sustaining my interest in the story. Once I started listening to the book, I started to enjoy the story a lot more, even though I thought the narrator had a somewhat annoying voice.
Amy J. wrote: "8. Cress by Marissa Meyer (P)I only picked this book up because I needed a book to fill the prompt "a robot, cyborg, or AI character". Having read [book:Scarlet|1..."
I remember really liking Cress the book, though Cress the character could be a bit much at times. Not sure if I could have handled a voice I didn't like on top of that.
9. Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris (H)The last book in what's probably my least favorite series by Ms. Harris. I happened across this book in a used book store last fall, so I got it. It seemed like a perfect match for the weird Read Harder task ("last book in a series"). The book started off fine, even though it focused too much on the new baby (sorry to all the mothers out there, but I'm really not into babies). But then the story itself got really tedious in the second half, to the point I no longer cared who did the murder and why. I remembered why it was my least favorite series. She should have just left the series at 9 books. Book 10 was a dud.
Mod
The last book in what's probably my least favorite series by Ms. Harris. I happened across this book in a used book stor..."
I grew tired of the Aurora Teagarden series fairly quickly. It did not need 10 books. I would've rather gotten more Lily Bard books!
Elyse wrote: "Amy J. wrote: "9. Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris (H)The last book in what's probably my least favorite series by Ms. Harris. I happened across this book in a..."
Agreed! I loved the Lily Bard Series! That's my favorite
Mod
The last book in what's probably my least favorite series by Ms. Harris. I happened across ..."
Mine too!
10. #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil (P)Despite the dark premise, this wasn't a grisly book. It was actually pretty light throughout. I devoured this book, when Rebecca got to be too much for me.
11. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (P, W, D)Wow, what a slog! The first half was coma inducing and the second half was just marginally better. Maybe "gothic" is just not my jam. I've tried reading other gothic novels, never with much enjoyment.
12. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (P)This book was both enchanting and frustrating. I loved the writing style and the mix of book excerpts. The frustrating part was that the plot sometimes seemed to drag and the book felt really long.
Amy J. wrote: "12. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (P)This book was both enchanting and frustrating. I loved the writing style and the mix of book excerpts. The frustrating..."
I'm on hold for this at the library and I'm so nervous about it. Trying not to let expectations run away with me, but I loved The Night Circus and have been seeing mostly good things about this one. It's hard!
Mod
This book was both enchanting and frustrating. I loved the writing style and the mix of book excerpts. The frustrating..."
This is how I felt about The Night Circus so I am in no rush to read this one. I'm just disappointed by how little I liked TNC when so many people love it. Ah well!
Mod
Wow, what a slog! The first half was coma inducing and the second half was just marginally better. Maybe "gothic" is jus..."
I listened to audiobook and loved it. Not sure if I would've loved it if I'd physically read it.
13. Jazz by Toni Morrison (WP) I've always enjoyed Toni Morrison before I picked .up this book, for which I did not care. I had a hard time connecting to the story and the characters. I don't know why, maybe because it jumped around so much and was very stream of consciousness. It was beautifully written, but that couldn't save what just wasn't a compelling story. I could never get drawn into it.
14. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (WP)Jacquline Woodsoon is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Everything I've read from her has been beautiful and engaging. It's the story of Melody and her family. Although the narrative jumps a lot between characters, it's never confusing or disruptive. It's a really short but satisfying read.
15. The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya (H)I'm always a bit anxious when I start a non-fiction book, and this year I basically have to read one a month to get through all the one's I need for my challenges. However, if I could keep picking non-fiction like this one, it would be a breeze. I was captured immediately by the story, which is told in clear, precise language. And though the narrative isn't presented linearly, one never gets confused because at the start of each chapter you can see where you are on the timeline at the top of the page. I really liked that feature. There's a rawness to the story, you can feel the author working to understand to weave their own narrative. And I think that helps make this the most readable non-fiction I've ever encountered. It reads almost like a novel. I loved it.
16. The Power by Naomi Alderman (WP)For most of the book, I felt like the author and taken a really interesting concept and failed to reach its true potential. The most consistent thought I had while reading this was that the premise is more interesting as a thought experiment than a full blown novel. There were a lot of points where the story just dragged and I was at a loss how I was going to rate this. The novel does make a lot of interesting points, especially in the way it highlights and inverts rape culture. It was going to be a solid three star rating, because it talks about important themes but, as I said, doesn't realize its full potential. And then I got to the end. The correspondence chapter blew my mind. It got me really thinking about the rest of the story. Lot of great quotable material packed into that ending. It earned the book an extra star in my eyes.
17. The Revisioners By Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (PD)I received this book as part of the last "MyLitBox" subscription, and I was really anticipating reading it. Everything else I had received from them was phenomenal and I was really sad that they had done away with the service.
This novel, however, wasn't really my cup of tea. I felt the story was kind of drug out, and that the non-linear narrative was confusing. I also felt like what would have been interesting pieces of the story were left out or happened "off-screen" and then only alluded to in ways that were unsatisfying.
Basically, I was disappointed.
18. Harbor Me by Jacqueline WoodsonAnother Jacqueline Woodsoon novel, another 5 star read. This one was read for a tic-tac-toe game I'm playing in another group. I needed a cover that had people holding hands and someone in that group suggested this to me. It is my first "off-challenge" read of the year. Like everything else I've read from Ms. Woodson this was an emotionally compelling and moving story. Despite only being 190ish pages, I was invested in the characters and moved to tears by the end.
People sometimes ask me why I do reading challenges. Ms. Woodson and her work are becoming my answer. She is an author that I was previously unfamiliar with that I am coming to adore. I may never have found her if I hadn't needed "a book of poetry published after 2014" last year.
Mod
Another Jacqueline Woodsoon novel, another 5 star read. This one was read for a tic-tac-toe game I'm playing in another group. I ..."
I really enjoyed this one! It was my first Woodson book and will surely not be my last.
Mod
I do the PopSugar challenge loosely aka I see if a book fits a category after I read it. I did this last year and was able to fit 40+ categories that way and then decided to fill the remaining ones purposely.
19. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré (P)I really wasn't sure what I wanted to get, I dithered and then I surprised myself by picking this novel, mostly because February is Black History Month. And I'm really glad that I did. It was a great story. In the beginning, it was really hard for me to read. It made my grammar-police head explode. I know that it was trying to capture the authentic voice of an uneducated, non-native English speaker, and it was successful but that doesn't mean that it was easy for my brain to process. I kept tripping up and getting pulled out of the story. Fortunately, as the story progressed so did the main characters proficiency in English, and so did my ability to read the book for sustained periods.
20. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (PD)Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book. There were times when I found the main character a bit annoying, but she's a 16 year old girl. So she's going to do stupid things and make bad choices. She's going to be occasionally selfish. But I do believe she was trying her best and that her heart was in the right place. It was vividly written and I loved the characters despite (or because of?) their flaws.
Not having read The Hate U Give, I didn't really have any specific expectations going into the novel, though I was aware that it had gotten lots of positive reviews.
I will be reading the author's debut novel in September, during banned book week.
Mod
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book. There were times when I found the main character a bit annoying, but she's a 16..."
Was/is her first book banned? I might read it during that week too (for the popsugar challenge). I felt the same way about On the Come Up - I too was annoyed at time, lol.
It was banned in a school in Texas and was one of the most challenged books in 2017 and 2018 (I haven't seen a list for 2019 yet. That's the prompt I am using it for in the Popsugar Challenge!
21. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (W)I ended up dnfing my first choice for the Afrofuturism/Africanfuturism book, and I had this audiobook handy so I listened to this instead. At times, I found it to be very confusing, as I jumps narrative tracks frequently and it's hard to know when different parts of the story are happening relative to other parts. But despite that, I really enjoyed the novel. The author does a phenomenal job with her world building. There are sometimes, however, when plot seems to be a secondary consideration.
Mod
I ended up dnfing my first choice for the Afrofuturism/Africanfuturism book, and I had this audiobook handy so I listened ..."
I've listened to the first book in the Inheritance trilogy and that is equally crazy world building!!
Amy J. wrote: "21. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (W)I ended up dnfing my first choice for the Afrofuturism/Africanfuturism book, and I had this audiobook handy so I listened ..."
This is on my list to re-read at some point. The first book was my least favorite in the trilogy, and I'll be really curious if I feel differently now that I'm more familiar with the world and know how the story goes.
Mod
Excellent! I might do the same!
22. Women Talking by Miriam Toews (HW)I really wanted to like this more than I did. But most of the book was about the women deciding whether or not their religion (mennonite) supported them leaving their community or not. And I just really don't have the stomach for religion.
It bothered me that the story of these women was told through a man. While I get that these women could not have written their own meeting minutes down, since none can write, couldn't there have been another way. Third person omniscient, perhaps?
At the end the author attempts to justify the narration by a man but it still really bothered me.
23. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (WP) "In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three.”
Since I read this in fulfillment of PopSugar's "great first line" prompt, I've included it above.
I first came to discover the story of Howl's Moving Castle, through the anime movie. I'm a fan of Studio Ghibli movies in general and this is one of my top three SG movies.
As always, the movie leaves out a lot of the material found in the book, but the movie was true to the character's and the story. It was just more. I loved Sophie's character.
24. The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich (HPD)One of the prompts that makes me groan when I see it is "A Western". Read Harder had this prompt last year and after a few false starts (books I DNFed) I ended up reading a little house on the prairie book. I hate westerns, in part due to their treatment and depiction of Indians. I get that there's historical accuracy in their depictions, but I don't enjoy reading the racism.
So this year I was motivated to see if I could find a different kind of western and Book Riot had a list of Western's written by Native American's... this book was on the list and available through Libby so I went with it. It was also fairly short, so I figured if I didn't like it, I could push through.
It was a good story and a welcome reprieve from the type of westerns I've come across in the past. It definitely shows American Indians as civilized rather than savages. The story takes place across four seasons and tells the tale of Ojibwa and her family.
It was a cute, lighthearted book that I was able to listen to as I did chores this weekend.
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One of the prompts that makes me groan when I see it is "A Western". Read Harder had this prompt last year and after a ..."
I love Louise Erdrich but haven't read this one! you're my go-to gal for fulfilling my popsugar prompts ;)
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
My Beloved World (other topics)Witches, Midwives and Nurses: A History of Women Healers (other topics)
Native Tongue (other topics)
Twenty Wishes (other topics)
Girl, Serpent, Thorn (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Barbara Ehrenreich (other topics)Debbie Macomber (other topics)
Melissa Bashardoust (other topics)
Dashka Slater (other topics)
Liu Cixin (other topics)
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If anyone who is browsing this list has suggestions for prompts that are empty... feel free to hit me with suggestions.