Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 32: 8/5 - 8/12
I think I’m setting into a 3 week cycle on updates here. Oh well - I’m pretty sure I’ll be more in the groove once we get the big kid settled at Penn State. (Though I still plotz when I realize that we are leaving in a WEEK! How did this suddenly become a thing that’s really happening? :D)Nadine, remind me where your child is headed (school or just area if you’re ok with sharing that)? When are you doing the big move-in?
Finished
The Thursday Murder Club - A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover - Meh. This had such a charming concept, and yet had a pace that went from “leisurely” to “tedious” pretty quickly. Also I found the solution(s) to various threads totally underwhelming.
You're On Your Own (But I'm Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years - A book about a subject you are passionate about - This was very helpful, but a lot of it doesn’t apply to us, and some of it was already quite outdated. Good to read and highlight the applicable bits, and I suppose it was nice to pat myself on the back that I’m not going to try to control my adult child’s sex life or intervene in her school work!
"The Stalker in the Attic" from The Edogawa Rampo Reader- A locked-room mystery - I had a surprisingly difficult time finding something I could get through for this prompt! I resorted to a short story. This was a mixed bag. It’s Columbo-style where we see the murder first, and the psychological profile of the killer is fascinating. However, once the detective is reintroduced it all falls apart and the resolution is really truncated and odd.
Currently Reading
Sabriel - A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing - Bianca of Bookhoarding and The Jane Austen Universe posted her cosplay of this and sang the praises of the new edition, which inspired me to pull it out of my dusty Kindle archives and resume reading. A commenter also let me know that Tim Curry reads the audiobook and THAT was a great investment. Enjoying it a lot!
QOTW
I’m having trouble coming up with many examples. Though I do adore the villainous protagonist of Lady Susan! She is so delightfully awful, and it’s really fun seeing who is taken in by her, who is on to her, and how she gets hoisted on her own petard by the end (but still comes up with a way to keep going).
Mod
Binghamton. And yikes it's NEXT WEEKEND.
Happy Thursday! I am back to work less than two weeks after surgery. The miracles of robotic surgery. Granted I work from home, but doing it for eight hours straight is still a bit of a struggle. Hence the break for the weekly update.Nadine, I feel you on the longest book. I am still only at 44% on War and Peace. At least I'm enjoying it.
Finished:
Galatea for shortest book on my TBR.
Half of a Yellow Sun for winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction.
Project Hail Mary for fun
Tokyo Ever After for book set in multiple countries.
Currently reading:
The Hidden Palace
War and Peace
Cleopatra: A Life
Act Your Age, Eve Brown for a little lightness in my life
QOTW:
The last few questions have been so interesting, but I can never think of a good answer. Dolores Umbridge, maybe (or however you spell her name). And Draco Malfoy.
And I agree about Joe Goldberg. Love him!
Not much to report this week, summer seems to have deserted us and we have courgettes coming out the wazoo.Finished:
Afterlove by Tanya Bryne about teenage grim reapers in Brighton. It took a while to get to the reaper stuff, but that's because it wanted to establish the lovely queer romance to start with. Cried a little at the end.
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson for ATY (author of a 2020 favourite). Probably my least favourite of the series, very dark, Pip is a changed person after the events of the previous book and it really shows. So it is a good book, but I felt the second half was hard going just because of what the main characters chooses to do.
QOTW:
I dunno, I either hate hate them, or just plain love them. I'm not sure I enjoy hating characters, like how some people really enjoy reading about very unlikeable people, it just makes me want to stop reading about them.
Nadine wrote: "Christine wrote: "... Nadine, remind me where your child is headed (school or just area if you’re ok with sharing that)? When are you doing the big move-in? ..."Binghamton. And yikes it's NEXT W..."
My daughter went to SUNY New Paltz. I loved that it was close enough in case she really needed me, but far enough away that she felt independent. The initial separation was really hard, but you get used to it really quickly. It's so easy to keep in touch these days. Remember when we were in college and had to use a landline, and actually pay for our phone calls? Remember looking at the phone bill and dividing up the phone calls with your roommate?
I keep putting off my long book. I've deleted some or moved series books to my "depth of kindle" shelf so I'm left with House of Earth and Blood, but I'm wary because I didn't love her last few Throne of Glass books. I am really not loving the advanced prompts this year.
Nadine wrote: "Binghamton. And yikes it's NEXT WEEKEND"😆 I totally empathize with the yikes - hang in there, mama! It sounds like they have a good approach on vaccines, and if they're anything like Penn, they have plans for "on ramps and off ramps" as our university president put it, to respond to changing circumstances. I'm hopeful that the kids will have a much more normal year than the poor freshmen who started in 2020.
Mod
Yes I am so glad she chose a school close to us!! It's about 1.5 hrs away, so she's definitely feeling "on her own" but I can drive down there in a pinch if need be.
I know she's nervous too, and I'm really glad her best friend is also going to Binghamton.
Those old days of stressing about the long distance charges seem so far away now!!! Most of the time my school days don't seem so different from today, but THAT is a huge difference.
Lol, I still have a phone card in my wallet from my college days!! I keep thinking I should toss it, but now it's a nostalgia thing!
Mod
Oh I forgot to credit you for today's QotW! fixing that now ...
Happy Thursday, y’all.For whatever reason I didn't get much reading done this week. Bleh. Got very little writing done too. Just a bleh week all around... hopefully this next one is better.
Books read this week:
The Past Is Red -- a climate-change sci-fi novella by one of my favorite writers ever, this is both brutal and strangely charming, managing to give us a post-apocalyptic fable that nonetheless has the shimmer of a fairy tale. Catherynne Valente remains one of my favorite writers ever!
What's Up, Beanie?: Acutely Relatable Comics -- comic collection. Kind of light on substance, but still a cute collection of comics.
DNF:
The Space Between Worlds -- how do you make a book about alternate universes so bland? It doesn’t help that the characters have very little personality and the supposed romance had no chemistry whatsoever.
Currently Reading:
The Midnight Circus
Faerie Tale
A Master of Djinn
Oddjobs
QOTW:
For whatever reason the villains of the Dragonriders of Pern series always resonated with me -- Lord Fax, Lord Meron, Weyrleader T'ron, Weyrwoman Kylara, etc. To this day I still love to hate them.
As for Dolores Umbridge... I just flat-out despised her, to the point where I think "Order of the Phoenix" would have been a much better book without her. Lord Voldemort was just too bland a villain to really love-to-hate...
I finished Crows & Cards as Girl with a Pearl Earringmy book with a heart, diamond, spade or club on the cover. I liked it. It wasn't anything deep, but it was a fun, quick read.I read Girl with a Pearl Earring as my book with a gem in the title. It was alright, but kind of boring with no real point that I could see. Don't get the hype.
I read Troll Hunters: Tales of Arcadia as my book of a different format.
I'm about half way through A Man Called Ove as a book everyone else has read. I'm loving it so far.
QOTW: Interesting question. Maybe Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Or Tyrion from Game of Thrones, but that may be more of a love/hate thing. Amy from Gone Girl. She was such a psychopath (or sociopath, I'm not sure of the exact difference), but I was almost rooting for her because everybody in that book was horrid.
Hello All. Awww the days of having kids in the house & sending them off to college. Bittersweet times. I finished three books for the week. Two for the advanced prompts of the Pop Sugar challenge. The last was for a face to face book club. Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer. 2 stars. Advanced prompt a book on your TBR list you associate with a favorite person,place, or thing. It has been on my TBR list since 6/10/2017. I loved Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. One of my favorite books & authors. I really didn't like Here I Am . I felt like it was a waste of time. I would of DNF it but I needed it for the prompt.
Run by Ann Patchett. Keeping with my theme of the week of reading books because I love the author I was again disappointed. 2 stars. I used it for the advanced prompt the book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover. The cover isn't that ugly by there isn't much going on. It was the closest I could get to the prompt staying somewhat true to it. I really didn't like this book. Strong dislike.
Savage Summit: The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2 by Jennifer Jordan. This is for my face to face book club. Our theme for this month is historic first. 4 stars. Amazing women.
I wanted to put out there I am currently reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. I know some of you are struggling with the long book prompt. The ebook is 641 pages. Of course it may not be on your TBR lists.
The good news is I finished the advanced prompts for the challenge.
Happy Thurs..(wait, is it, yes. No. Yes) Happy Thursday!It's back to school season here as well. My two little ones are back to elementary school, so I have my fingers crossed that it all goes well. In two weeks, my oldest niece starts freshman year away at college, all the way in West Virginia. (We are in IL). I have tried to convey that while she is away, we will all be just a phone call away, which she has met with the level of distain reserved for rotting roadkill.
FINISHED: The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh - for Gene Hybrid
CURRENTLY READING: (like way too many at the same time to list all)
I am attempting to chip away on #41- Longest book: Les Misérables
QOTW: I hated Delores Umbridge, worse than Voldemort. Umbridge was cruel because she could be, and because she had a position of power (teacher), no one could disobey.
I currently have a seething hatred for authors that start a series, and just...don't...finish... Like, what are you doing? Why are tempting fate? I think the punishment for lollygagging should be that author is forced to write their next novel on an old flip phone, tap-tap-taping for each letter.
Happy Thursday! Another week of reading and Love Island UK! I have been pretty good about separating my time between the two since I can watch LIUK any time. We are due for another "excessive heat warning" this weekend. Fortunately not in the 100's where I am but still high 90s.
Currently reading:
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang. Really enjoying this story so far and am looking forward to seeing how it ends
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult. I really like her writing style - she is a beautiful writer but her books aren't really my thing. It's a little too...dreamy. Her characters have a lot of time to overthink everything.
On Deck:
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. I am really excited to read this one! I have seen it everywhere and I due for a good mystery.
QOTW:
I love characters like Amy from Gone Girl because they are smart and devious. Joe from You is the same way - they are totally terrible people but keep the story going.
Nadine wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Lol, I still have a phone card in my wallet from my college days!! I keep thinking I should toss it, but now it's a nostalgia thing!"Oh I forgot to credit you for today's QotW..."
No worries! I'm excited to see what everyone answers! TBR explosion imminent! :D
Good morning! I'm moving in a week and am dreading it but also so ready for it. I can't wait to be out of this apartment! I really, really hope that this new place doesn't end up being another poor choice. No apartment is perfect, but this was my first really bad living experience (thankfully), so now I'm worried about having accidentally chosen another poor spot...I have a lot of trouble feeling relaxed when I'm surrounded by boxes, so my anxiety has been up.
Living in Texas is also ramping up my anxiety. But if I start talking about the rampant stupidity regarding the virus, I'll never stop.
Finished:
The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman - a magical realism book. This was absolutely lovely!
A Man and His Cat, Vol. 1 by Umi Sakurai- I swapped this into "a book in a different format" because I haven't ever read manga before. And then I moved Scott Pilgrim to "a book about forgetting." This was SO PRECIOUS. If you love cats, I highly recommend this -- it is so obvious the author loves and understands cats. It's so sweet and accurate.
Currently Reading:
Proof by Dick Francis - I boxed up all my books and decided to pull from my Kindle, not realizing I hadn't really slated any of my Kindle books toward the challenge. So I'm finagling it by swapping the "book with a family tree" prompt with 2015's "book by a favorite author that you haven't read yet." I haven't found any books with family trees in them, so...my challenge, my rules! XD
QOTW:
The previously-stated Lady Susan is great. Maybe Cathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights because they're so delightfully bonkers. I don't usually enjoys books where nobody's likable, but I do like that one, somehow. But I'm not really into villains, so I don't have any others coming to mind.
Happy Thursday!We've had quite a few thunderstorms this week; hopefully the weather clears up for these weekend nights and our performances don't get rained out (knock on wood)! I finished three books and a short story this week and I'm still at 41/50 for the challenge. Normally I would say I've stalled but I've got my eye on these last few to wrap it up, so I'm staying optimistic :)
Homegoing - 5 stars. Absolutely beautiful.
The Unbroken - 4 stars. Glad I can finally scratch this off my reading list! I'm glad I read it, but I did NOT expect it to take me two months to read!
Compulsory - 4 stars. A quick (like, seriously took me 2 minutes!) Murderbot prequel, available to read online.
Still Life With Crows - 4 stars. Pendergast is such a great summer/autumn series and I'm hoping I can knock out one or two more books before the year's over. There have been (or will be, here shortly) 20 books published in this series so far; I need to get it in gear and catch up!
Currently:
From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars - Hubby has been stealing this to read while he's at work, otherwise I might have finished it by now. My favorites are definitely Tom Morello's (Rage Against the Machine etc) and Geddy Lee's (Rush) moms :)
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing - Much fun, as always. This installment is, incredibly, even more meta than the others have been and while it's fun sometimes it leaves my brain in knots!
The Doll's House - Started this last night, and I'm very glad for Neil's intro of "the story so far" because I'd somehow forgotten everything that happened in the first volume, after only two weeks away!
Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent - Hoping to finish this by the end of the month!
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis - Reading for another group challenge. I love Stephanie Thornton's historical fiction <33
QOTW: Are there any book villains that you love to hate?
I would definitely classify Joe (You) and Amy (Gone Girl) as villains, and I think Tyrion's more of an antihero. Villains I love... definitely Amy. Reading YOU gave me the creeps, so I can't say I loved Joe (or loved to hate him). The book cast that springs to mind is Craig Schaefer's Revanche Cycle (Winter's Reach); all the characters are so nuanced. I'm loving to hate Accorsi right now, although I'm sure a lot of people also consider the Owl a villain (I love her too much to hate her just yet).
Mod
uh-oh. that's my "book that's been on your TBR the longest" book. I haven't read it yet, but I've owned it for a really long time now.
Mod
Yes, she is so awful, I feel an intense urge to just LEAVE THE AREA when she shows up.
Mod
It's been so hot here in NY, I haven't mowed the lawn since I got back from vacation. It's either raining, or over 90F.
I've got to mow soon though. Maybe I'll break it up into several small chunks - mow for 15 minutes each day until it's done. That'll take me about a week!
Mod
I'm tentatively planning to read a Dick Francis book for "best-seller from the 1990s" - almost all of his books made the best-seller list, so if you've got any older books by him on your Kindle, you're all set!
Nadine wrote: "Christine wrote: "... Nadine, remind me where your child is headed (school or just area if you’re ok with sharing that)? When are you doing the big move-in? ..."Binghamton. And yikes it's NEXT W..."
OMG - I grew up in nearby Owego! SUNY B was like my backyard --- that and Cornell. Great school. If you want info on where to eat and what to do when visiting in the area, just PM me -- for example there is a terrific Vietnamese restaurant in nearby Johnson City family run full disclosure my brother knows the family. Food is fantastic. I know you will NOT be looking for anything for move in weekend but there will be other visits I'm sure. Also, the daughter of a friend is a junior this coming year and loving it - she grew up in NYC so it is quite a change of pace.
On another note - proud and happy as you are, I know that it is hard to see your first baby heading off. Meanwhile your younger daughter will likely revel in being an 'only' child for a bit.
Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's that "longest book" that is looming over me, quite ominously. I have now DNF'ed one book for that category, started a second one and found it completely dull but haven't officially DNF'ed it yet (my library loan expired, so I'm waiting to get it back so I can give."
I am familiar with this anxiety - but not for any reason except I really don't want to be reading a 1500 page book in November or worse December when I may be overwhelmed with work and other things.
My long book is A Suitable Boy (thank goodness I read Proust last year! Otherwise that would have been it and it would have been a slow long read). I had planned to read it in April, then May, and well still not started. I was even supposed to read in a buddy read with a friend who is a slow reader -- and she's finished it! I've had so much work and other books I've had to read ... just not felt I could start.
But now is the time. I'm not expecting it to be a slow or hard read and I know i'll enjoy it. That won't be an issue.
I was frankly relieved when I saw it was longer than both War and Peace and Les Miserables, both of which are on my TBR list. I know those two would be more time consuming reads. If it kept my buddy read friend involved to the point she read it in record time (for her), then it's a fun read.
Mod
Oh, did I never tell you that she decided on Binghamton? Yes I remember you grew up there!! It's funny, I reached out to you when we were planning to visit Columbia (which never happened, thanks Covid), and now she's going to school near your old stomping grounds.
Send me ALL your recommendations! I barely know the area. I'm thinking about making dinner reservations for Family weekend at the end of September.
Happy Thursday! I leave tomorrow for my first BY MYSELF (aka, no husband, no child) trip since my girl was born (and she's 3!). I'm headed to a monastery with some girl friends to pay my respects to Mother Alexandra aka Princess Ilyena of Romania whose autobiography I Live Again: A Memoir of Ileana, Princess of Romania and Archduchess of Austria is WILD. Perfect book for the multiple countries prompt fyi! She watched the Nazis and Soviets invade, started a hospital, fled for her life, and eventually became a nun and started a monastery literally 4 hours away from I currently live (she's buried there too). She was an incredible woman who witnessed unspeakable things. Go read her book. Literal real life hero. ANYWAY, I'm super stoked to go see where she spent the last years of her life, and hopefully enjoy a little peace and rest. Delta is, thankfully, slow to rise here which is a miracle (considering some of the folks in this town), so I'm going to take advantage of it and escape while I can. We were going to go to Utah for the holidays and visit my in-laws, but if this variant doesn't get under control, that may not happen. ANYWAY
Finished 32/50
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1 of 3 for "book by an anonymous author". So, I liked aspects of this and really didn't like others. Reading Muslim fairytales was cool. Not a genre you often see. And the historical and classic aspect of it were neat and some of the stories were pretty wild, but it's terribly racist and bigoted and I'm probably not going to read the other two volumes.
Currently Reading
New Spring for "book set in multiple countries". I'm assuming fictional countries count. ;) Yay, the Wheel of Time prequel! I'm SO EXCITED for the tv show coming out on Prime in November. I've never read the prequel, so I'm eager to dive in and see if any details from it make it into the show.
QotW
Umbridge (Harry Potter) is a given, obviously. Hel from Everworld is a fantastic villain. Just downright terrifying the way she was written and definitely one of my favourites! I love to hate on Damodred from Wheel of Time because he tries so hard to be hardcore and just isn't. I loathe Joffrey from Game of Thrones. Literally just makes me angry (but most of that series does). The evil queen from The 10th Kingdom is also one of my top villains, but mainly because of how she's portrayed in the movie. So I'm not sure that counts, lol.
It's yet another sultry tropical week in NYC. The last two evenings have seen violent thunderstorms about the time I would be leaving the office and heading home if I were NOT working from home! A great benefit of WFH for me, almost balancing out the negatives. I'm at 37/50 - 74% and comfortable - no real issues with fulfilling remaining prompts. Except like Nadine I'm anxious that I have not started my really long chunkster. But that will be this weekend!
Finished:
She Who Became the Sun - just published a couple of weeks ago and thus my published in 2021 prompt. EXCELLENT! If you love alternative history and/or historical fiction - you will love this. Strong interesting LGBTQ themes - and if you are at all familiar with and love east asian tv historical dramas you will want to read this as author wrote this because she misses those dramas.
Death Comes to Pemberley - I enjoyed a lot actually - The great author P.D. James' only historical murder mystery written as a sequel of sorts to Pride & Prejudice. This was clearly a departure and 'fun' book for James. Don't expect it to be perfect Austen fan fic, just enjoy for what it is.
The Yacoubian Building - Modern Cairo in the early 1990s as fundamentalist Islam is on the rise and corruption in government and police is rampant, as told from perspective of the various denizens of a Cairo mixed use building that is a bit down on its heels from its elegant glory days.
Currently Reading:
The Little Paris Bookshop
How Much of These Hills Is Gold
A Suitable Boy
QOTW: I love a good villain! Of course I'm pulling a blank on any names....besides those mentioned.
But how boring would books be without a good villain like Voldemort or the insurance investigator in Sidney Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes, or the obsessive CIA agent in Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow? Or Wickham for that matter in P&P.
Nadine wrote: "Katelyn wrote: "... We are due for another "excessive heat warning" this weekend. Fortunately not in the 100's where I am but still high 90s. ..."It's been so hot here in NY, I haven't mowed the..."
My friend lives in Manhattan and FaceTimed me when it was just downpour rain a couple days ago. Streets were flooded in a matter of minutes but fortunately she is from Seattle so it was just another rainy day to her...LOL
Finished:InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves (4/5)
The book is full of cool and interesting ideas, and it moves at a rapid clip. As is evident from any casual reading of the reviews, Reaves was very involved in the writing, so if you don't go in expecting a Gaiman jam, than you should enjoy the experience more.
Currently reading:
Legacy of the Force: Exile by Aaron Allston
Excelsior: Forged in Fire by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
I am only a few chapters into The Lightning Thief, but I am enjoying it quite a bit so far. One thing I love is that the chapter titles tell of something that will happen during the chapter that is so unusual that you just have to know how it will come into play.
Question of the Week:
I will say Erasmus from the Dune series of novels.
Hello! I'm having lots of anxiety about Delta and people's pandemic fatigue and everyone wanting to do everything in person again. My challenge reading has definitely stalled because of it. I have a stack of books from the library, most for challenges, and I don't want to read any of them. Finished This Week:
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie. I bought this years ago as an ebook because a podcaster I like was friends with this author. I started it, got bored and never came back. I remembered it was about an artist, and I needed a book for that, and figured I'd try again. It's a romance where the two leads meet as they're both trying to rob the same person. There's a huge cast of her family and his associates, and the climax somehow involves like all of them. Using for PS Prompt About an Artist, but could also be Song Title or Three Generations. Oh, and the dog lives!
Burn for Me / White Hot / Wildfire / Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews. The author posted on their blog recently a snippet from the book they're working on that will be Ruby Fever in this series, and then answered a bunch of questions about one of the characters in the snippet. It made me want to read the whole series again, even though I know Ruby won't be out for a while. I hadn't reread Nevada's arc in a while, and it was good to remember that story and see where everyone came from. All rereads, not for prompt.
PS: 36/50 RH: 13/24 RW: 17/28 ATY: 45/52 GR: 111/150
DNF:
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. Made it to 10%, didn't care, let the library have it back for the wait list. It's on hold again (but paused) in case I decide I want to try again later.
Currently Reading:
Sapphire Flames - I'll finish Catalina's first book probably tomorrow and move on to Emerald Blaze.
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. The one challenge book I'm actively trying on, for Read Harder's Latinx Memoir. Still early on, but interesting so far. She wasn't someone I knew anything about, so everything's new. The opening story about her learning to give herself insulin shots so her parents would stop fighting is probably going to be the part from the book that sticks with me.
QOTW: Are there any book villains that you love to hate?
I guess Hugh in the Kate Daniels series. Roland was the Big Bad, but Hugh was the one seen on the page more. He was so good at being evil. People loved to hate him so much he got his own book in the series (with more planned).
Nadine wrote: "I'm tentatively planning to read a Dick Francis book for "best-seller from the 1990s" - almost all of his books made the best-seller list, so if you've got any older books by him on your Kindle, you're all set!"Ooo if you do, I highly recommend To the Hilt--it was published in 1996 and I believe was on the best-seller list. It's one of my favorites of his!
I love his books--even though they're male-centric, his men aren't all testosterone-charged he-men or anything. Mostly they're just...guys. Guys who have actual sensitivities and vulnerabilities. And most of his female characters have actual depth and strength and aren't just there as a plot point to be a weakness for the men. I'm not saying his books are ground-breaking and full of diversity, but for the genre and time period, I think it's refreshing that the women think for themselves and the men are allowed to cry.
They also tend to be fun rides (pun intended, since most center around horse-racing!) and quick reads.
I was going to use one of his for the 90s prompt, but the book I have slated for that prompt is one I REALLY want to read this year, so...I'll just make things fit where I can lol.
Hello hello! It is so hot that it's mostly all I can think about. I am basically a lizard who just wants to lay under the sun on a heat rock all the time and even I'M too hot right now. But y'all are reminding me how fortunate I am that the longest book that was on my TBR list ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year - good job shelf curating, past Alex! Haha.VERY IMPORTANT DOG UPDATE: y'all there were TWO gloriously fluffy pomeranians at the Farmers Market yesterday who both looked like they just stepped out of a glamorous dog salon, one was pure white and the other was a tan and black mix, and they became FRIENDS and didn't even yap at each other! Having grown up with a pomeranian (who was appropriately named Napoleon for his tiny dog complex), I understand what a rare treat all of this was.
Finished:
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells - gosh I am really enjoying these Murderbot books and all of Bot's delightful new companions each installment.
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells - GOSH I AM REALLY ENJOYING THESE MURDERBOT BOOOOOOKS, this one made me so happy!
Currently Reading:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I Would Leave Me If I Could: A Collection of Poetry
Network Effect
The Cat of Amontillado - thank you to whoever mentioned reading this a few weeks ago and put it on my radar!
Loveless
Storm Front
QotW:
First off I LOVE Buffy with all my heart and they had some killer bad guys. I just listened to an interview with Clare Kramer (who played Glory) yesterday!
Also. seconding Lady Susan! It's a shame we didn't get a move fleshed out book about her, because I really enjoyed that story.
As for an actual answer to this question, hm! Leck from the Graceling books (back when it was a trilogy) was very easy to hate in an interesting way. I feel like some of the villains I like are potentially spoiler-y, so instead I'll mention their books: Gideon the Ninth, The 7&1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Uprooted, Small Gods, Perdido Street Station, American Gods.
Apparently August is my injury month. Last year my back problems started in August (my back now feels better than ever by the way). Last weekend I got a whiplash in my calf (is this a correct term? I couldn’t find a better translation). I walked down the stairs and suddenly it felt like someone hit me on my leg. I had to sit down and couldn’t walk for about an hour. It feels better now, but I still stumble around. Takes 2 to 8 weeks. Sigh. Patience. Well, on the bright side: lots of time to read (because there’s not so much else I can do…). 28/40
Finished
Eline by ⭐⭐⭐
Prompt: #36, a book with fewer than 1.000 reviews
Pleasant historical fiction book on how a rich woman starts to see poverty and unequality in the Netherlands during WW1.
Currently reading
De Dertigjarige Oorlog: De allereerste wereldoorlog 1618-1648
The Romanovs: 1613-1918
QOTW
Tough question. I read non-fiction and historical fiction and villains are rare in those books. When I can think of anyone I post again.
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I'm not sure if you remember me complaining bitterly about this book earlier this year. I say: leave it as a DNF, you're missing nothing.
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Ooo if you do, I highly recommend To the Hilt--it was published in 1996 and I believe was on the best-seller list. It's one of my favorites of his!..."
When I first moved to Syracuse, there was a fantastic used book warehouse, and I would stop by every Saturday after the comic book store. I bought every Dick Francis book I found, and read them all, completely out of publication order, and I've seen gotten them all confused in my head. I remember two or three were like a little series featuring the same guy, I guess it was the Sid Halley books, and I liked those. But I liked all of them more or less equally. And I can't rememember any of them now!
So, I suspect whatever I read will be a re-read, but it'll feel like the first time.
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What was it? I might need a recommendation if I keep DNFing the books on my TBR!!
Spoiler tag it and tell me who was the villain in Perdido Street Station? That book was so twisty, I can't remember anything except the bizarre robot uprising.
My grandmother's boyfriend had pomeranians. Oh boy, those dogs did NOT like me. They weren't aggressive or anything, but they were yappy.
Mod
Ouch!! I think what you're describing is called a charley horse here.
Nadine wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I'm tentatively planning to read a Dick Francis book for "best-seller from the 1990s" - almost all of his books made the best-seller list, so if you've got any older ..."Yes! I was going to suggest the first Sid Halley book (Odds Against), but it was published in the 60s apparently.
I also read them all out of order, but it's fine since he only had two characters with "series" - Sid Halley, who had five books (I didn't know about the last one...looks like I have another book to add to my list!), and Kit Fielding, who had two.
It makes me so nerdily happy to find someone else who read/reads Dick Francis! Obviously people do, since he was always on the bestseller list, but outside of my mom, nobody ever seems to know who he is! James Patterson, John Grisham, Danielle Steele -- everyone knows them. But somehow Dick Francis seems like a niche bestseller or something lol.
Finished six books in the last two weeks, four of which were for this challenge. Current progress: 34/50. * Something broken on the cover: This Old Homicide by Kate Carlisle (broken fence)
* A book about forgetting: The Lost Girls of Johnson's Bayou by Jana Deleon (heroine doesn’t remember anything before a tragic fire when she was six years old)
* A book everyone else has read: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Excellent writing but thoroughly depressing)
* A book you meant to read in 2020: Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower (I like this series, but have been disappointed with the editing in the last two)
Listening to: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Reading: Having finished one book earlier today, I haven’t yet decided what to start next.
QOTW: Like so many others, it’s hard to think of one on the spot, though Professor Umbridge definitely rates high.
Nadine wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. Made it to 10%, didn't care, let the library have it back for the wait list. It's on hold again (but paused) in case I decide I want to try agai..."I think I said this to Nadine at the time too - if you're kind of interested, but the writing/pace is a problem, do check out the TV series. It's WONDERFUL!
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The TV series is most definitely better than the book!!! I watched the first episode, and I 100% approve of all the small changes they made. (My kids hated it and refused to watch any more, so I've never seen the rest. They're not big space opera fans.)
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YES!! And I don't know why that is!!!
Hey! Missed the last couple weeks of check-ins, but I hope everyone's been doing well! Haven't got much reading done this month, or last month to be honest. Is this the burnout everyone keeps talking about? Not a fan!Finished
Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began- I think I liked this one even better than part1. It's so interesting how the author talks about how difficult it is to talk about his father and the past.
I'm Waiting for You and Other Stories- I loved this! If you're a fan of sci-fi or speculative fiction, you should really check this out. Half the book is space travel/time travel, and the other half is more an exploration of gods and creation. Really good!
Bullet Train- loved this one too! So much fun. A bunch of assassins on a train, getting in each other's way and ruining each other's plans. Really funny too.
Currently Reading
I have nothing started right now but a few of the books I have from the library that are due back soon:
Minor Detail
Project Hail Mary
The Road Trip
They're all so different, hopefully one of them will grab my attention
Qotw
The ones that pop into my head right away are Lena and Angie from Karin Slaughter's books. Not your typical villains I guess, but they are pretty terrible people who do whatever they want and hurt who ever they want in order to get ahead. Every book I hope they finally face consequences, but they never do!
UGH it is on it's way to 104F today. This is not why I moved to the Pacific Northwest! Luckily I worked mostly overnight and don't have to go back out in that mess today. Jigsaw puzzles and audiobooks in the basement FTW! I felt like I read more than I did this week. Weird.
Finished:
The Constant Rabbit - I enjoyed this look at an alt-history modern post-Brexit Britain where we explore prejudice through giant anthropomorphic animals, mostly rabbits. The end left me scratching my head but the Danny Kaye references MADE MY WEEK. Afterward I read a bit on Jasper's website about this book which I also really enjoyed.
A Burglar's Guide to the City - Architecture as seen through the eyes of burglars. Sort of. This was OK.
Currently Reading:
The Archive of the Forgotten - The second Hell's Library book
The Decagon House Murders - I'm interested in what will happen, but I don't know if it's the writing or translation that is... lacking. Taking ages because it's an ebook.
Defekt - This one's in print, which is why I'm not that far along, although I really enjoy it when I can bring myself to actually read text with my eyeballs.
QOTW:
I don't love to hate things. If I hate them, I am unhappy and want to avoid them. There have been villains I've hated (like Umbridge) but honestly I really just wanted her to go away so I could read the rest of the book, and then I never, ever want to re-read it.
Now, there are villains I enjoy, (probably because they are kinda camp, playful or delightfully devious), but I don't hate them, I enjoy them. My current favorite villain is probably Emperor Mollusk. (Villain? Antihero? Both?) He somehow really reminds me of Niles Crane, if he were a squid-like alien genius super-villain. I'm not sure how much of that is the audio narration, where Scott Aiello performs him so delightfully.
Mod
Admin Stuff:
Brandy B is leading August’s discussion of Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas! I will plan to tackle it this weekend. And don’t forget to post the book(s) you have read to fulfill prompt #5 A dark academia book here!
WE STILL NEED DISCUSSION LEADERS FOR THESE TWO MONTHLY GROUP READS:
October: #13 A locked-room mystery
(“Spooktober”/Halloween)
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Are you the "fascinating facilitator" needed to lead discussion of this book?
December: #1 A book published in 2021
(Because it’s the end of the year!)
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
There is need of a "gifted guide" to lead this discussion!
Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
Question of the Week
This week’s question was suggested by Jennifer:
Are there any book villains you love to hate? :
Ooph! I know I am in the minority here, but I truly do not LOVE to HATE... It just doesn’t work for me. And, interestingly, while I love to use the word LOVE I try to never use the word HATE. Semantics aside, while I can sometimes have some sympathy for villains when informed of disastrous and horrifying childhoods/life experiences, I don’t want to hate… I may disagree with them and dislike them.
Popsugar: 41/50
ATY: 48/52
RHC: 13/24
Reading Women: 11/28
Some movement!
FINISHED:
Precious and Grace (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency #17) by Alexander McCall Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was so very enjoyable! I love reading Precious’ own musings about philosophy and interpersonal behaviors! This book dealt much with forgiveness. (As did another one I read this week!)
POPSUGAR: #18-Forgiveness, #19, #27, #30-Africa, #34-Fraudulent pyramid schemes, #43, #47-All-time favorite writer and series
ATY: #3-…when the dog bites…Fanwell’s stray dog!, #8-Africa, #10-The woman who mistreated the child she was to care for, #13, #18-Forgiving those who have wronged us in the past, #27-Justice and judgement, #29, #31, #35-Africa, #40, #42, #45-Charlie, Hotel, #52-In the end, forgiveness wins out over revenge!
RHC: #24
The Alcatraz Rose (English Garden Mystery #6) by Anthony Eglin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was a revisit to a series I so enjoyed about eight years ago. While this wasn’t a favorite in the series for me, it was definitely enjoyable. I (supposedly) own the last one in the series I’ve not yet read, so I hope to read it within the next 12 months.
POPSUGAR: #27, #36-17 reviews on Goodreads, #48
ATY: #8-UK, #18-Difficult to reconstruct the past, #28-Death, Judgement, The World, #29, #34, #36, #40, #42, #49, #52-In the end, there were still unverified details.
I definitely enjoyed Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2) by Jane Harper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ much more so than I did her debut novel, The Dry. I think I could just relate much more to the plot and characters in this book and female back-biting, etc. She covered many issues in this one and, IMO, did it very well! I buzzed right through it once I started reading it.
POPSUGAR: #18-Bullying and mean-spirited people, #19, #22, #27, #34-Fraudulent money laundering, #37, #46, #47-An absolute favorite genre
ATY: #8-Australia, #10-the sister, #19-The past intrudes upon the present to make for uncertain futures, #27-Death, Judgement, The World, #34, #35-Australia, #40, #42, #49, #52-In the end, it was a series of small incidents…
RHC: #1-I wasn’t sure this mightn’t be too scary for me
Reading Women: #18
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was such a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed this book so very much! I particularly appreciated the historical background of Hassan and his family, as well as the ‘insider information’ of the famed Michelin stars, etc. I am certain details of this book will remain with me for quite a while…
POPSUGAR: #7-Prize-winning chef, NEW #14, #18-Cooking!, #21-Contemporary Fiction, Cooking/Food, Cross-Cultural, Family, Fiction, Immigration, Prejudice/Discrimination, #27, #29, #30#-India, France, #33, #34-prejudice against immigrants, racial discrimination, #37, #43, #46#47-Cooking and eating!
ATY: #3-…bright copper kettles…-LOTS of copper kettles!, #8-India, France, #17, #20-Little did Hassan know what his future might be…, #23-Contemporary Fiction, Cooking/Food, Cross-Cultural, Family, Fiction, Immigration, Prejudice/Discrimination, #24, #27-Death, Judgement, The World, #29, #32, #34, #35-India, #39, #40, #49, #52-In the end, Hassan set records!
Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime by Ron Stallworth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was an absolutely excellent read! Full of historical facts and I cannot believe the cojones on Stallworth! Wow. The hoax he pulled on THE Grand Wizard David Duke and his organization, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, is so absolutely appropriate! A great read! So grateful for that Read Harder Challenge prompt #12 Read a work of investigative nonfiction by an author of color! Otherwise I might never have discovered and read this incredible book!
POPSUGAR: #7-Undercover investigative black cop who undermined David Duke and the KKK back in the 70s!, #15 [the hardcover edition], NEW #15, #18-Undermining white supremacy and other similar hate groups in the US and around the world, #20 [If not, it should be!], #21-Autobiography, Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Political, Prejudice/Discrimination, Social Justice, True Crime, #26, #27, #30, #34-The existence of white supremacy and other hate groups, #47-Those who work to undermine white supremacy and other hate groups!
ATY: #1-In the beginning I thought it impossible for a black man (an undercover cop) to infiltrate and undermine the KKK!, #8-Colorado, #18-Unfortunately, these past events are still pertinent in today’s world, #23-Autobiography, Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Political, Prejudice/Discrimination, Social Justice, True Crime, #24, #27-The Emperor, The Hanged Man, Death, Justice, Judgement, The World, The Fool, #36, #41, #44, #51
RHC: NEW #2, NEW #12
CONTINUING:
Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
PLANNED:
For August Buddy Reads:
Little Men (Little Women #2) by Louisa May Alcott
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. Still need to dig this one out.
Xenocide (Ender’s Saga #3) by Orson Scott Card.
Giving the Alex Cross series one more try with Jack & Jill (Alex Cross #3) by James Patterson.
For our August Monthly Group Read, my copy of Catherine House is top priority this next weekend!
For my face-to-face book club at my favorite used bookstore, The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. Since I was ill last weekend, I’ll be picking this up this weekend!
****The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman
And…
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #26 A book written by Isabel Allende.
Paradise by Toni Morrison to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #25 A book written by Toni Morrison.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
I finished a book this week (hooray!) but couldn't find an open prompt that fit, so no changes on my challenge read totals again this week. At least one of the books I'm currently reading will check off a prompt though, so maybe I can get it finished before next week's check-in to get some movement again :) I'm at 19/40 and 2/10 for this challenge, and 39/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, which I liked overall. Some of the reviews I read afterwards complained about the writing style and the fact it repackaged commonly known things with cutesy phrasing, but I kinda liked both of those aspects. It was based on research and didn't present some bogus miracle short-cut, which I found refreshing. I didn't necessarily learn something new, but did appreciate getting reinforcement that a lot of what I'm doing should be helping.
Currently Reading:
* Shell Game by Sara Paretsky; and,
* Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which is one of my book clubs' picks for August and should work for a couple of prompts.
QotW:
This weeks' question was suggested by Jennifer:
Are there any book villains that you love to hate? When I first read this question, none immediately jumped to mind. But after scrolling through the responses and seeing Amy from Gone Girl a few times, I thought of another character by Gillian Flynn who I loved to hate even more -- Adora from Sharp Objects. She is quite possibly the least likely candidate for Mother of the Year and so deliciously diabolical in the most understated way. Oh my!!
I'm back. I had an exhausting few weeks and could not focus on reading, so I read 0 books for 2 weeks. I started probably 20 and DNF each of them. I think it was more of a me issue than a book issue though. I did manage to finish 2 books this week, but I still feel stuck in a funk right now.I finished:
All Your Twisted Secrets: This one at least sparked my interest enough to get me out of a 2 week funk, but it ended up being pretty predictable and unbelievable.
Aloha Hideaway Inn: Usually when I hit a funk, I try to read some silly light-hearted romance. I tried a ton and eventually settled on this one. It was super short, so I managed to finish it, but it wasn't great.
Currently reading:
False Witness: I got the physical book from the library weeks ago at the beginning of my funk and ended up returning it after reading 2 chapters, but I knew I needed to give it another chance, so I got the library's kindle version today.
We Were Never Here: Haven't started yet, but it got delivered to my kindle today, so maybe between these two, I will break out of this funk for good.
QOTW:
I want to say Bellatrix Lestrange, but that might be more because of Helena Bonham Carter, than the book character. I'm just not sure about that. I'm sure there are others, but I can't think.
Nadine wrote: "Christine wrote: "... Nadine, remind me where your child is headed (school or just area if you’re ok with sharing that)? When are you doing the big move-in? ..."Binghamton. And yikes it's NEXT W..."
If you elect to take 38 btw Dryden and Owego instead of 81 all the way to Binghamton, you can stop at tbe great used bookstore on Front Street in Owego - Riverrow Books.
Checking in for two weeks since I was traveling last Thursday... Finished:
Love People, Use Things - I enjoyed this, even though I don't plan to implement much of it. I like the idea of minimalism, but don't feel too strongly I need to implement it myself. ;) 4 stars
In the Dream House I knew this would be sad, and it was. Domestic violence... :( 4 stars
What Strange Paradise Wow, this book is so important for current issues. Short and packs a punch. 5 stars
Gold Diggers This was my first Goodreads Giveaway win - yay! I enjoyed it too. 4 stars
Red Island House Nothing wrong with this, but it didn't hold my attention well. Possibly because it felt like over 90% exposition/description rather than "in-scene" writing. I notice these things now that I'm working on a novel. ;) 3 stars
Peaces This was wild and confusing, but still enjoyable in the end. 4 stars
This Tender Land This was a great story. The end wasn't as strong as I hoped, but still worthwhile. 4 stars
The Startup Wife I didn't love all of this, but the interview with the author at the end bumped it up to 4 stars
What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition I agree with the points/chapter suggestions, but this felt more "don't do this, that's not helpful, etc." than focusing on the "do's." Oh well. 4 stars
Let Me Hear a Rhyme This was fun and felt pretty lighthearted for the situation somehow. 4 stars
QOTW: Hmm, since I read mostly literary fiction and memoir there aren't a ton of "villains" in what I read, but Ace of Spades comes to mind. Don't want to spoil it by saying more. ;) Oh and maybe Hazel in The Other Black Girl?
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Sorry for the late post! I had a 7am meeting today (still ongoing!) so I was distracted and - yet again - I forgot it's Thursday. Where is my head at???
I'm back home, no more beach, now we prep to send my daughter off to her first year of college. I am sad to see her go, but I'm also HOPING she gets to go. This new Delta variant is scaring me, I'm worried things will shut down again. Hopefully not. Her school is requiring everyone on campus to be vaccinated, so they should be safe enough to open.
Admin stuff
Monthly read for dark academia is ongoing here: August Group Read Discussion: Catherine House
We still have openings for discussion leaders for October (Anxious People) & December (Malibu Rising)
This week I finished 3 books, one for the Challenge, so I am now 37/50.
My spreadsheet tracker says I'm in good shape, the year is 61% complete and my challenge is 74% complete, but I'm getting a bit anxious that I haven't made more progress with the reading Challenge. It's that "longest book" that is looming over me, quite ominously. I have now DNF'ed one book for that category, started a second one and found it completely dull but haven't officially DNF'ed it yet (my library loan expired, so I'm waiting to get it back so I can give it another chance). But I anticipate DNFing the second book, too, and then I'll find myself in October and still needing to read a long book. Ugh. So what this means is I've been deleting all long books from my TBR until I finally find one I actually want to read. I've got a third long book on hold at my library now.
Books I finished:
Naming Our Destiny: New and Selected Poems by June Jordan - I actually listed this in last week's check-in, because I got confused about what day of hte week it was! This was okay.
Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams - I always enjoy Williams' books, and I enjoyed this one, but I was disappointed at the lack of espionage & intrigue.
Shipped by Angie Hockman - this was fun, but it definitely feels like a debut novel. Hockman had a fun idea, based on the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, and she had some good dialogue and one good character, but she created some ridiculous situations in order to get them where she wanted them. I used this for "favorite person/place/thing" since I started reading it on the beach (and it's kind of a beachy book), which is my favorite place.
Question of the Week
This weeks' question was suggested by Jennifer:
Are there any book villains that you love to hate?
I LOVE villains in movies & TV shows (especially in Buffy - the Master and the Mayor are two of my favorite characters!! they are deliciously despicable. And Mr Trick!! oh how I wish he had a season-long story arc!! he was the BEST!) but in books that doesn't seem to happen as often.
The only book villain I can think of right now that I loved to hate was the truly vile yet oddly charismatic Humbert Humbert in Lolita. Oh I hated him, but I loved the book.
Oh, and of course He Who Must Not Be Named was a pretty good villain in the Harry Potter series. I guess the best villains are those who develop over several books.
And I like antiheroes! LIke Joe from the You series. I love Joe! I certainly would never want to KNOW Joe irl! But I don't love to hate Joe, I just love Joe.