Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 27: 6/30 - 7/6
Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear about Tigger. Let's hope his steroid treatment works!
Lynn: I'm sorry your are struggling.It's been a week of heat advisories here. It's either smog advisories or heat advisories.
Next year I'm going to read a mystery/thriller a month. I finished The Hunting Party in three days. I posted too much in the discussion group. I haven't done one of these PS group reads before and clearly I didn't understand the assignment.
Finished:
The Hunting Party
ATY prompt: A book found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com
Popsugar prompt: A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
Summer challenge: First letter of the book's title is in HORSE AROUND
Series - 9/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells
Nobel laureates - 4/7
Random books - 3/7
ATY - 26/40
PS - 24/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 5/12
Around the year in 52 movies - 26/52
10. A movie related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities" - Look Both Ways (Baby)
26. A movie related to pride - The Menu (I'd already watched this, but I moved it to pride as it worked here and it wasn't scary.)
Currently reading:
The Starless Sea - 35% done
Buddy Reads:
God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God - 10/15 chapters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 12/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 1/21 chapters
QOTW:
"Re-tellings" as in a straight re-telling - e.g. it's the same story, but in modern times - I tend to find these boring. I do like a twist on a classic, like when someone takes a minor character and writes a book from their perspective. Or somehow changes things up - like a romance into a mystery. I seem to have a ton of Jane Austen related books on my TBR. Alice in Wonderland too.
Mod
I'm so sorry about Tigger. Our pets are such a huge part of our hearts.
The 2023 October Monthly Group Read is The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman! And, I evidently had this book confused with another one, so I have not yet read it and am anxious to do so!
This was originally published in two volumes, so perhaps you read volume one, but "The Complete Maus" would still show as unread?
Because I can't imagine confusing Maus with any other book!!
Mod
No I think you understood the assignment just fine!!! You did not post too much - it's not even possible to post "too much"!! The idea originally was for people to post reactions as they read, so multiple posts for each reader. But interest has waned in these group reads and we don't get as much participation as we used to. I think the Goodreads format makes it difficult, too.
Okay, summer's barely started and I'm already tired of the heat. Luckily, we live in an area that's technically desert so it cools rapidly at night. (Our community is bounded by the Columbia and Yakima rivers. Everyone irrigates their lawns with canal water, so it's very green. But we get fewer than 30 days of precipitation each year.) Most evenings we can eat outdoors since the patio is shaded by trees, and the mornings are pleasant enough for a walk before 8:00 am.Challenge Progress: 38/50
Recently Completed
Nimona: Graphic novel recently released as a Netflix movie. The movie was quite different from the book, but they were both enjoyable. ★★★★
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1: Completely gory. Great start to a new comic book series. ★★★★★
Queen Charlotte: Well, I love Netflix's Bridgerton series and Queen Charlotte was definitely not disappointing. It's such a warm, lovely story. You can really feel Shonda Rhimes' influence. ★★★★★
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: So fun! It's rare to find this kind of adventurous book that features a woman who's not quite young anymore. I felt seen. ★★★★
The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World ★★★★
The Cartographers ★★★★
I Have Some Questions for You ★★★
All the Missing Girls (PS7 - a book with girl in the title) ★★★
Currently Reading:
The American Roommate Experiment
See You Yesterday
A Flicker in the Dark
The Hacienda (PS41 - a book written during NaNoWriMo)
Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It
The Build Up
Lucky Red
Dreaming Beauty (PS44 - a book that was self-published)
QOTW: Retellings can be so hit or miss. Sometimes they're great - the story is reimagined or told from a different viewpoint. Sometimes they're pointless - a new culture/gender/setting dropped in without really examining the story and how the changes ought to affect the story. I've read several retellings this year that I enjoyed:
Demon Copperhead (David Copperfield)
Jane & Edward: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Eyre
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix
Within These Wicked Walls was less successful. It wasn't a bad book, but it was advertised as a retelling of Jane Eyre and the connection was tenuous at best.
Mod
Oooh that got my attention!! I had not been interested in this one, but I just added it to my TBR because now that I'm in my 50s I'm loving adventure stories about slightly older women.
Mod
I finally got started mowing my yard again!!! At the end of spring we had a dry spell and no grass growing (hurray! no mowing!) and then we had the air quality issues, then rain, then more air quality issues plus heat ... and my grass got really long!!! A local bunny has apparently decided it's a wild field now and is trying to dig a nest, I found two (maybe three!) spots where she started digging - bad idea, bunny!! Do you not notice my two DOGS??? My backyard is fenced. Adult bunnies can easily get away and run under the fence. Baby bunnies do not have the sense to run. If any animal runs, my dogs seem to just enjoy the chase - I've seen them let squirrels get away - they don't seem to be truly trying to catch the animal. But if an animal does NOT run, it's game over for that animal. I've seen that, too, and I do not want to see it again. So, I'm hoping if I mow, the bunnies will catch a clue that this is NOT a good spot.
It's crazy hot today, too, but I'm heading out there right now to mow some more. I've got my earbuds all charged up and my audiobook ready to go!! In the mornings, it's too humid and the grass is still wet, so the mower will clog. In the midday, it's so hot, I get all sweaty. In the evenings, it's humid again, and the bugs come out. There is no good time!!! So I'm doing it in little bits. I can mow for ten or fifteen minutes even when it's in the 90sF outside. I'll take the heat over the bugs in evening.
On to my books. I haven't made a lot of progress lately.
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas - I wasn't feeling inspired by the books I had penciled in for "forbidden romance" so I went back to the drawing board and found this book on a list. I have not really loved Kleypas in the past, but I figured I'd give her another chance. This book was fun in the first half, dragged in the second half. It wasn't exactly a forbidden romance, either! The heroine - for reasons - impersonated a friend of hers and became pen pals with a neighbor guy who was busy dodging bullets in the Crimean War. She never liked neighbor guy because he said something rude about her once, but she figured he was lonely at war and deserved some letters, but her friend didn't feel like writing. They fall in love through their letters. The only reason the romance is "forbidden" is because there was an understanding between friend and neighbor guy, so the heroine is kind of stepping on her friend's toes here. That didn't seem very forbidden to me, but I decided to count this category as complete anyway, because I chose it in good faith, specifically for this category.
For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes - omg, what is this, a Joe Goldberg novel that I did NOT love??!!?? The horror!!! I don't know how Kepnes did it, but she made Joe BORING. This book felt like such a slog! Joe was just constantly wanting to kill people - it was too much, he was whiney and pathetic . Someone insults his writing? kill them! someone is in the way of a relationship he wants to start? kill them! someone insults his girlfriend's writing? kill them! someone else insults his writing? kill them too! his girlfriend starts an argument with him? maybe he needs to kill her too!!! (And I didn't even care if he killed any of them - they were all annoying. Joe was annoying. Everyone was annoying.) If anyone has already seen season 4 of the show (and I had), rest assured that this book is NOTHING like the show: completely different setting, characters, motivations, resolution, and ending. Kepnes seems to leave things open for a book 5, which I guess is good? I just hope it's not boring. This did not fill any challenge categories for me.
Popsugar: 34/50
Winter mini-challenge: 6/10
AtY: 30/52
2023 must-reads: 6/12
QotW
Retellings excite me!! I especially like retellings of stories from myth and folktales, because multiple versions of these stories already exist, and I like to see what new spin an author can bring to the story. (This is - oddly - the same reason I enjoy zombie stories: the idea of a zombie story has been around for a long time now, but I enjoy seeing what new twist an author brings to the "rules" of being a zombie.) Retellings of classic novels can be dicier, because it's hard for the author to keep it interesting if I have already read the story.
So, even though I will read a book specifically because it is a retelling, it has to be really good to impress me. I'm often disappointed.
By coincidence, I happen to be reading my "retelling" right now!! It's not because of the group read,it just worked out that my hold ws available now. I'm reading The Wife Upstairs which is a retelling of Jane Eyre. It's ... not very good, honestly. I hate Jane, and I'm only truly interested in the chapters from Bertha's POV. Perhaps this makes sense, since I never really liked Jane Eyre, but I loved Wide Sargasso Sea. Or maybe this book just isn't that great. It's funny, one review complained that the title was a spoiler - but if you've read Jane Eyre, you of course know there is a wife upstairs. It never even occurred to me that it could be a spoiler LOL. But sure I can see how it would be if you've never read the original.
Happy Thursday! I’m finding that I’m not liking the new system for what I want to do with it. I think I just have to figure out the intricacies of it, but, for right now, I’m frustrated. I’m trying to weed my YA fiction, but with the completely new system, all the year-to-date checkouts are now gone. We only have lifetime checkouts.
The babies were down for the 4th. So I got a dose of adorable baby girl and toddler power. Ziggy thought the baby food on the baby (she was in a baby chair on the floor) was free food for him. So when I came home from work, I took over feeding Livie and he basically was a living wash cloth. Too bad he was too enthusiastic. He got in the way of feeding her.
It’s officially in the 90s! Blech!!!!! We were spoiled by the wonderful 70s and 80s for all of June. It’ll fluctuate between high to low 90s until the 100s hit. We did have one 100s day. I am so over summer already.
I found a new show that I like. It’s called Deception. It’s about an illusionist helping the FBI with cases to find the person who framed his twin brother. For the life of me, I can’t remember where it’s streaming.
CW! It’s CW. It has commercials in the show. I just remembered!
Popsugar:12/50
Finished:
Reading:
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares ps 32
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ps 4 – I finally came back to this one.
Aty:10/52
Finished:None
Reading: None
Goodreads Challenge 436/400
Finished:
With the Sheikh in His Harem, Vol. 2
With the Sheikh in His Harem, Vol.3
With the Sheikh in His Harem, Vol. 4
With the Sheikh in His Harem, Vol. 5
With the Sheikh in His Harem Vol. 6
With the Sheikh in His Harem Vol. 7
With the Sheikh in His Harem Vol. 8
The Princess’ Smile: The Body-Double Bride Searches for Happiness with the Reclusive Prince
Return from Death: I Kicked the Bucket and Now I’m Back at Square One With a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me Volume 1
Love at First Sight
Love At First Touch
Love At First Taste
Fighting For Hope
The Magnum Model
Grumpy in the Mountains
Found in the Mountains
Lost In The Mountains
Mountain Man Fixated
Snow Place Like Home
His Tasty Cherry Pie
Reading:
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares
Akaoni: Contract with a Vampire, Vol. 1
Solo Leveling, Vol. 2
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Nadine's Mini Challenge 7/10
Finished:None
Reading: None
Mount TBR:
33/150 Ebook
22/150 Physical
QOTW:
I don't mind retellings. Cinder is a retelling and I love it.
Mod
LOL!!
Had a pretty good week, not much special, just enjoying work and life. We’ve got a sticky hot weekend ahead, so I’m pretty much going to do nothing at all. PS: 29/50
Total 2023: 34
Finished
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak ⭐⭐
#27, a #BookTok recommendation
This one was a bit too artificial imho. Especially the ‘tree parts’ were a bit too made up, too much there for the effect, to make it more intellectual or something. I didn’t like it. The theme was good though: the effects of migration on people and their children.
Currently reading
Aleksandra by Lisa Weeda
QOTW
I have mixed feelings. Sometimes it’s fun to see what another point of view can add to an old story. Sometimes it’s an agony, too artificial, too much ‘I want a share of it too’. And sometimes the retelling becomes a classic itself (Bridget Jones's Diary).
Happy Thursday!Lynn, I hope Tigger's treatment works out. <3
Finished:
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo - 4.5 stars - for a book about a holiday that's not Christmas. This was a beautiful coming of age story about a Chinese-American girl coming to terms with her sexuality, and the fact that she can't be what her very traditional family wants her to be.
Comics & manga:
Honey and Clover, Vol. 4
Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 25
Rainbow Days, Vol. 4
Currently reading:
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert - for a book about an athlete/sport. Having a lot of fun with this so far.
I am currently at 35/50 for Popsugar (28/40 and 7/10)
Upcoming/Planned:
Night: Memorial Edition by Elie Wiesel - for a book I should have read in high school.
A Deadly Education - for a book I meant to read in 2022.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown - for a romance with a fat lead.
QOTW:
I've liked most of the retellings that I've read. I think I prefer retellings to have a bit of a twist on the original story, or more depth to characters or a different point of view.
Lynn,I hope Tigger gets better. My last cat had a tumor on her liver for the last 5 years of her life (noncancerous, obviously). And, the rollercoaster of her doing well, bad, won't eat, eating again, was a real emotional struggle.
I finished The Prophets of Eternal Fjord as my historical fiction. Didn't like it. Was confusing as all get out.
I read If I Ran the Zoo as my challenged book.
I just started Ripley Underground as my book with 2 langauges.
QOTW: I don't avoid them and I don't seek them out, if that makes sense. I loved most of the Wicked series (the last book is awful) and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. So, I guess I like them told from other perspectives best?
Fingers crossed for Tigger, Lynn <3333
It's been a real week of nothing happening. We've had some rain, which is good for the garden and nature, but now I want the sun back.Finished:
The Sentence by Louise Erdich for ATY (from best books threads). This took me so long to read, it was perfectly ok but didn't really have much plot and I didn't really click with the characters, so I kept putting it down.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston for ATY (art). This on the other hand I loved! The romance was adorable and I cried over the side story of her dealing with her grief. The author's note says she rewrote those parts after losing a loved one and I think that showed in how much feeling came through.
QOTW:
There is a lot of fantasy that are loose retellings and as long as they are well written and adding a twist, I'll read them. I think some stories have been done to death, but others have lots of potential to inspire new ideas. I tried reading The Fall of the House of Usher short story after reading What Moves the Dead and hated his writing style so much, that I can safely say T.Kingfisher improved it greatly!
I don't even know how time keeps passing, it's like I'm hardly here for it. So as boring as it is to read, have a list of my past week xD- Friday was my first day of ADHD meds; just the one, and I got my foot support thingies. I cried a lot that day xD (partly because Many New Things and partly cuz of the exhaustion from the Escape Room/Bowling day before)
- Saturday was day 2 of ADHD meds; two. We went to an animal home, where (mostly) cats and dogs get to live when they can't live anywhere else. So there's dozens of AIDS cats, some disabled cats (blind, disfigured paws, missing/amputated paws etc), a bunch of dogs without hindlegs who get to race around in wheelchairs every day across a huge field, dogs without front paws, one dog with three disfigured front paws, incredibly anxious dogs.. you get the picture. It was absolutely stunning and I had a wonderful time cuddling with the kitties and feeding the few horses they have. They also have one swine!
- Sunday was day 3 of meds; 3 times. On Sunday we went to a Lego Railway Museum. Those layouts were just so stunning! Also great to see some of the original stuff; how far we've come!
- Monday was a calm day where we ended up going out to dinner to end my dad's holiday from work. Delicious as always, but as we were driving over I got a message from the bunny shelter to ask if I was ready yet, because they had a spot for Mia right now and a bunch of requests for female bunbuns (there's always a shortage) from owners with wonderful homes.
- Tuesday was chaos and I promptly forgot to take my meds throughout the day. Thank god these are just a 'work for 4 hours' kind of pill, and not the 'you have to take them or they stop working'. Food consultant was first, and with all the chaos and stress and emotions I am glad to say everything remained the same! So nothing gained I wasn't supposed to, score! Then lunch with my carer, who I wasn't even 100% sure was coming by that day, and then ... bringing Mia to the shelter.
Honestly it was such a quick thing to happen, but it was for the best for sure. This was it was tough, no time to really prepare, but on the other hand, no days to weeks of me dreading the day coming. It was still terrible, and I still hate that it had to happen, but I'm glad to know she's unlikely to stay at the shelter for long. Unless she decides to remain a tricky bunbun to mate, haha! Owner of the shelter promised to keep me up to date, which isn't something they do normally, but I'm an exception because I'm basically furniture over there and have been for years and the situation was exceptional. We all knew I didn't want to be there, and that I wouldn't be if I didn't absolutely had to be.
It's weird, her not running up to meet you when you walk outside. I miss her.
Mickey is doing incredible, by the way. He eats immediately once you put it down, even the pellets, and eats all of it in no time at all. We're so proud of him. Next Thursday is the final day of meds, and then he gets to go outside in the fresh air again!!
In general news, I'm still stuck in that Ted Lasso trashcan, and am wasting a lot of time on Songpop. If anyone plays, hit me up!
Read
The Little Mermaid
FINALLY! I'll have to look up what my plan was for this story's prompt, but it counts for something kjsadhfadg. I still have to do this book's admin, but I've been too tired. Wow. This girl has issues, haha!
Currently Reading
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Reread as a buddy read with my best friend for fun because season 2 is coming out soon! Gonna be listening to the full cast audiobook which includes David and Michael!
QOTW
In general I love retellings of any kind, but if I'm already on the fence on the original I am more hesitant to read a retelling (like Pride & Prejudice; never read the OG, but my first ever eARC was a retelling and ended up being a Christian one and ... yeah sdjkhflsg). I do prefer there to be a twist, and not just the same exact thing with a minor change (and in this case a simple gender change is minor imo).
Happy Thursday! I've decided to use this extra time I have to try tackling The Count of Monte Cristo for the longest book on my tbr. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've started it, so we'll see how it goes!I've also been watching both King the Land and See You in my 19th Life- neither of which I was planning to watch but have been loving them!
Finished:
Orange: The Complete Collection, Volume 2- this is a sweet story about friendship and looking out for each other. It's nothing groundbreaking, but I liked it, it was sweet
-no prompt
Currently reading:
The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening- I actually didn't know much about Ari Shapiro before starting his memoir. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that a radio journalist can tell a good story, but I'm really liking this
The Count of Monte Cristo-I'm on page 50. 1200 to go!
QotW:
I'm usually intrigued by retellings. I think there's so much potential for a well known story to be modernized or brought into a new culture, or transferred to a SF/F setting. That being said, it can be really disappointing when it feels like it's just being used as a gimmick and not really thought through.
Mod
Thanks for the good wishes!
Mod
Thank you!
"It's been a week of heat advisories here. It's either smog advisories or heat advisories."
We have only been in the 90s a couple of days so far. Fortunately, we are getting regular rains, so that's good for the corn and soybeans!
"Next year I'm going to read a mystery/thriller a month. I finished The Hunting Party in three days. I posted too much in the discussion group. I haven't done one of these PS group reads before and clearly I didn't understand the assignment."
Mystery/thriller is one of my favorite genres! Oh, Dubhease! There is no specific way to participate in the Monthly Group Read discussions! Like you, I often finish the book immediately and then post my reactions. Some readers read a portion each week, etc, but there is no one way nor any restriction on how you participate. Your comments make me anxious to pick this one up now!
"Finished:
The Hunting Party
ATY prompt: A book found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com
Popsugar prompt: A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
Summer challenge: First letter of the book's title is in HORSE AROUND
Series - 9/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells
Nobel laureates - 4/7
Random books - 3/7
ATY - 26/40
PS - 24/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 5/12
Around the year in 52 movies - 26/52
10. A movie related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities" - Look Both Ways (Baby)
26. A movie related to pride - The Menu (I'd already watched this, but I moved it to pride as it worked here and it wasn't scary.)"
You have definitely been busy! :)
"Currently reading:
The Starless Sea - 35% done
Buddy Reads:
God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God - 10/15 chapters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 12/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 1/21 chapters"
The Starless Sea was not a favorite read for me. I hope you enjoy it!
"QOTW:
"Re-tellings" as in a straight re-telling - e.g. it's the same story, but in modern times - I tend to find these boring. I do like a twist on a classic, like when someone takes a minor character and writes a book from their perspective. Or somehow changes things up - like a romance into a mystery. I seem to have a ton of Jane Austen related books on my TBR. Alice in Wonderland too.."
Agreed! I definitely appreciate a retelling that puts a different twist on the original. Changing the perspective is a ploy that often works for me as well!
Happy Thursday, everyone!The SciFi Summer Readathon has officially ended, and I have to say that I’m really pleased with the number of books I was able to read during the month of June. I ended up reading close to three-quarters of the SciFi books on my physical TBR list!
Although I enjoyed the SciFi Summer Readathon, I have to confess that I’m feeling the need to take a break from readathons for a while. With the exception of January (and this month), I’ve participated in a readathon every month since the beginning of 2023, and I’m starting to feel a little burned out. There were a couple other readathons that I was planning to do this year, but I’ve decided that they can wait until another time.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 581/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)
📚Physical TBR: 255/634
📱Ebook TBR: 7/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 11/13
TBR Checklist Total: 273/883 (30.9% complete)
I did not buy a single new book this week!
Now that the SciFi Summer Readathon is over, I am focusing exclusively on reading titles from my “New Books” list. My goal for July was to reach 95% list completion by the end of the month, and I ended up making a considerable amount of progress this week. In fact, I’m currently only one book away from accomplishing my goal!
“New” Books Bought in 2023: 318
“New” Books Read in 2023: 301/318 (94.6% complete)
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
During the final two days of the SciFi Summer Readathon, I was able to finish two more books from my collection of Star Trek books. Both of these books were collections of short story adaptations of episodes from the original series.
~Star Trek 10 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Star Trek 11 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Since the end of the readathon, I’ve had a chance to read the following novels…
~Everything And The Moon — This is the first book in the Lyndon Sisters duology. I really enjoyed the story, but I do have to confess that I didn’t care much for the male protagonist. I did really like the female protagonist, however, and actually found myself cheering for her (out loud) a few times while reading. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Brighter Than The Sun — This is the second book in the Lyndon Sisters duology. The story was a tremendous amount of fun to read, and I loved the characters. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Lonely Castle In The Mirror — I bought a copy of this book after seeing the anime adaptation at the movie theater, and I am completely in love with it! I think it’s the best book I’ve read so far this year. If you have a chance to read this book, or see the movie version, I highly recommend it. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Queen Charlotte — This is the novelization of the Queen Charlotte series that premiered on Netflix earlier this year. While there were some scenes that were omitted from the book, I found that I enjoyed it just as much as the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Star Trek 12 — This is the twelfth (and final) collection of short story episode adaptations from Star Trek (TOS). I’m so glad that I was able to find a copy of this book, because I really enjoyed it! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic's First-Class Passengers and Their World — This book relates the stories of several of Titanic’s first class passengers. I found it really interesting, and was very impressed by its readability. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Love's in Sight!, Vol. 2 — This volume was a great continuation of the series! I’m really looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Alice in Kyoto Forest, Volume 2 — This was very cute. I’m not sure if this will be the last volume in the series, but it does a great job of concluding the story from the previous book. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Foxes in Love Volume 3 — I love Green and Blue so much! They’re just so sweet! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sue & Tai-chan, Vol. 1 — This is a super cute series! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves cats. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sue & Tai-chan, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sue & Tai-chan, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sue & Tai-chan, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 1 — This series was a total impulse purchase, and I’m so glad I decided to get it! I absolutely loved the characters and story! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Otaku Elf Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Yakuza Lover, Vol. 9 — This was a good continuation of the previous volume. I have to admit, however, that I am starting to lose interest in the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Lore Olympus: Volume Four — I really enjoyed the fourth installment of this series, and I was really impressed with the art. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next volume. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My missing volume of Pokémon Sun & Moon finally arrived in the mail, so this week I was also able to get caught up on my Pokémon manga! These books have been a lot of fun to read! The volumes I read this week include…
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 7 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 8 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 9 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 10 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 11 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sun & Moon, Vol. 12 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 6 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~Twenty Years After — This is the sequel to The Three Musketeers, and takes place two decades after the events of that book. I’m currently 25 chapters into the story, and really enjoying it so far. 📚
~Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived — This book tells the stories of Titanic’s survivors, focusing on how the disaster affected their lives years later. 📚
~Fables: Compendium Two — The second book in the Fables series has been pretty good so far. 📚
~Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter — I started reading this book last night, and I’m loving it so far. I will probably finish it this afternoon. 📚
~The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation — This book is an expansion of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, taking place toward the end of that novel. I’m really enjoying the story so far. 📚
QOTW:
I don’t usually seek out retellings of classic novels, but I really enjoy books that expand on the original story.
Mod
I'm so sorry about Tigger. Our pets are such a huge part of our hearts."
I guess I'm lucky not to have had to deal with death of my furbabies to awful much. Maybe if she was older I could handle her illness better...
"The 2023 October Monthly Group Read is The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman! And, I evidently had this book confused with another one, so I have not yet read it and am anxious to do so!
This was originally published in two volumes, so perhaps you read volume one, but "The Complete Maus" would still show as unread?
Because I can't imagine confusing Maus with any other book!"
Ha! Ha! And I thought you knew me so well! LOL Trust me! I can get confused about pretty much anything! :)
Hi all!Having a quiet week, it was nice to have a four and a half day weekend. Kinda wish I took the rest of the week off too. Or maybe just win the lotto and not have to work. You know, the dream, haha.
This week I finished:
The World We Make - good wrap up to the duology. i enjoyed. I can't actually remember if I posted this last week or not.
Rolling in the Deep - prequel to Into the Drowning Deep, did the audio book. I liked it, fleshed out the story more.
Witch King - I do love Martha Wells storytelling, even if it wasn't murderbot haha. It reminded me of her old school fantasy from the 90s.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea - a cozy fantasy, reminded me a bit of legends and lattes. Not as good, but I did enjoy. I'll probably read the second when I need another cozy break.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory - audio book, I liked it a lot. gave me a lot to think about too. I'd already had some thoughts about what i wanted to happen to me after I go, but this gave me more of an impetus to figure it out NOW not just wave it away for when I'm older.
Break Your Glass Slippers - getting some additional genres in for my library genre genius challenge.
Currently Reading:
The Sisters Grimm - getting back to this now that I'm caught up on library books. Still kinda meh, but it's on my tbr challenge and I feel like i should finish it. It's not the worst, but i've certainly read much better.
Wound from the Mouth of a Wound - listening to poetry both for genre genius and read harder (lgbtqia+ author).
QOTW:
I love retellings, more particularly ones that twist the story some how. One of my favorites was The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein which told Frankenstein from Elizabeth's perspective, as well as tweaked some other things around. I've really been enjoying the current trend of various old myths being told from the women's perspectives instead of the men's. I'm less interested in them if i don't particularly know or like the source material, but I still enjoyed What Moves the Dead even without knowing the original.
Lynn, I hope the treatment works for Tigger! It was SO STRESSFUL going through radiation for Teddy (and expensive) but he is only 5 and we couldn't bear to just not do anything for him, when the vets were pretty sure it'd help. So I totally get how much your pet being sick can throw you off.
Mod
Sounds quite enjoyable!
"Recently Completed
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1: Completely gory. Great start to a new comic book series. ★★★★★"
Whew! Luckily I would have never put this on my TBR listing, just from the title! (Can't do much gore...)
"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: So fun! It's rare to find this kind of adventurous book that features a woman who's not quite young anymore. I felt seen. ★★★★"
I keep wanting to tackle her City of Brass trilogy. This looks awesome as well!
"The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World ★★★★"
Not sure I want to know! ;)
"All the Missing Girls (PS7 - a book with girl in the title) ★★★"
Well, pooh! Sorry you didn't enjoy this as much as I did! When I met her I admitted I had purposefully avoided her books because they looked to be a bit too scary for me. I can handle only so much "scare"! She admitted that she is exactly the same way! LOL I certainly didn't expect her to agree! Then I thought it was a rather insensitive thing for me to say, but she made it into a positive! (Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain...)
"Currently Reading:
The American Roommate Experiment
See You Yesterday
A Flicker in the Dark
The Hacienda (PS41 - a book written during NaNoWriMo)
Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It
The Build Up
Lucky Red
Dreaming Beauty (PS44 - a book that was self-published)"
Wow. Quite the list! :)
"QOTW: Retellings can be so hit or miss. Sometimes they're great - the story is reimagined or told from a different viewpoint. Sometimes they're pointless - a new culture/gender/setting dropped in without really examining the story and how the changes ought to affect the story. I've read several retellings this year that I enjoyed:
Demon Copperhead (David Copperfield)
Jane & Edward: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Eyre
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix
Within These Wicked Walls was less successful. It wasn't a bad book, but it was advertised as a retelling of Jane Eyre and the connection was tenuous at best."
Thanks for the listing! Having never read David Copperfield, I plan to read it before tackling Demon Copperhead. I think because I feel as if that is a classic I should read anyway!
Mod
Oooh that got my attention!! I had not been interested in this one, but I just added it to my TBR because now that I'm in my 50s I'm loving adventure stories about slightly older women."
Ha! Agreed! Except I have at least 10 years on you! ;)
Mod
I finally got started mowing my yard again!!! At the end of spring we had a dry spell and no grass growing (hurray! no mowing!) and then we had the air quality issues, then rain, then more air quality issues plus heat ... and my grass got really long!!! A local bunny has apparently decided it's a wild field now and is trying to dig a nest, I found two (maybe three!) spots where she started digging - bad idea, bunny!! Do you not notice my two DOGS??? My backyard is fenced. Adult bunnies can easily get away and run under the fence. Baby bunnies do not have the sense to run. If any animal runs, my dogs seem to just enjoy the chase - I've seen them let squirrels get away - they don't seem to be truly trying to catch the animal. But if an animal does NOT run, it's game over for that animal. I've seen that, too, and I do not want to see it again. So, I'm hoping if I mow, the bunnies will catch a clue that this is NOT a good spot."
It is a dog's instinct... But I agree about not wanting bunnies nesting in the yard. Double danger--dogs AND lawn mower! In the past I was lucky enough twice to simply mow "over" a bunny nest without disturbing the little ones! Whew!
"It's crazy hot today, too, but I'm heading out there right now to mow some more. I've got my earbuds all charged up and my audiobook ready to go!! In the mornings, it's too humid and the grass is still wet, so the mower will clog. In the midday, it's so hot, I get all sweaty. In the evenings, it's humid again, and the bugs come out. There is no good time!!! So I'm doing it in little bits. I can mow for ten or fifteen minutes even when it's in the 90sF outside. I'll take the heat over the bugs in evening."
You are so right! NO. Good Time! I used to do the same thing. A little at a time!
"On to my books. I haven't made a lot of progress lately."
Progress is still progress! :)
"Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas - I wasn't feeling inspired by the books I had penciled in for "forbidden romance" so I went back to the drawing board and found this book on a list. I have not really loved Kleypas in the past, but I figured I'd give her another chance. This book was fun in the first half, dragged in the second half. It wasn't exactly a forbidden romance, either! The heroine - for reasons - impersonated a friend of hers and became pen pals with a neighbor guy who was busy dodging bullets in the Crimean War. She never liked neighbor guy because he said something rude about her once, but she figured he was lonely at war and deserved some letters, but her friend didn't feel like writing. They fall in love through their letters. The only reason the romance is "forbidden" is because there was an understanding between friend and neighbor guy, so the heroine is kind of stepping on her friend's toes here. That didn't seem very forbidden to me, but I decided to count this category as complete anyway, because I chose it in good faith, specifically for this category."
I would say you've fulfilled that prompt!
"For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes - omg, what is this, a Joe Goldberg novel that I did NOT love??!!?? The horror!!! I don't know how Kepnes did it, but she made Joe BORING. This book felt like such a slog! Joe was just constantly wanting to kill people - it was too much, he was whiney and pathetic . Someone insults his writing? kill them! someone is in the way of a relationship he wants to start? kill them! someone insults his girlfriend's writing? kill them! someone else insults his writing? kill them too! his girlfriend starts an argument with him? maybe he needs to kill her too!!! (And I didn't even care if he killed any of them - they were all annoying. Joe was annoying. Everyone was annoying.) If anyone has already seen season 4 of the show (and I had), rest assured that this book is NOTHING like the show: completely different setting, characters, motivations, resolution, and ending. Kepnes seems to leave things open for a book 5, which I guess is good? I just hope it's not boring. This did not fill any challenge categories for me."
Ooohhh...nothing about that one sounds appealing to me!
"QotW
Retellings excite me!! I especially like retellings of stories from myth and folktales, because multiple versions of these stories already exist, and I like to see what new spin an author can bring to the story. (This is - oddly - the same reason I enjoy zombie stories: the idea of a zombie story has been around for a long time now, but I enjoy seeing what new twist an author brings to the "rules" of being a zombie.) Retellings of classic novels can be dicier, because it's hard for the author to keep it interesting if I have already read the story."
That's such a great summary of my own feelings! Though I've never read many (perhaps none?) of the original myths, I have enjoyed many of the retellings I've read!
"So, even though I will read a book specifically because it is a retelling, it has to be really good to impress me. I'm often disappointed.
By coincidence, I happen to be reading my "retelling" right now!! It's not because of the group read,it just worked out that my hold ws available now. I'm reading The Wife Upstairs which is a retelling of Jane Eyre. It's ... not very good, honestly. I hate Jane, and I'm only truly interested in the chapters from Bertha's POV. Perhaps this makes sense, since I never really liked Jane Eyre, but I loved Wide Sargasso Sea. Or maybe this book just isn't that great. It's funny, one review complained that the title was a spoiler - but if you've read Jane Eyre, you of course know there is a wife upstairs. It never even occurred to me that it could be a spoiler LOL. But sure I can see how it would be if you've never read the original."
Ah. What isn't a spoiler for one person, may be for another! ;) The Wide Sargasso Sea didn't impress me when I read it...probably just me. I wonder if I should reread and give it another chance...
Mod
YES you understand exactly!! Once - back when the dog I had was old and not a threat - a bunny made a nest in my lawn and I nearly mowed right over some baby bunnies - I am so grateful that they moved as I got closer and I saw the grass shift. Scared me silly because I didn't know what it was at first hahaha!! how embarrassing to be scared by adorable baby bunnies!!!
I found MORE holes in my lawn now that I've mowed more. One even had tufts of rabbit fur in it - that mama bunny was INVESTED in building her nest in my backyard!! I dont' know what happened to her, I am hopeful she ended up having her babies in my neighbor's yard instead. He doesn't have any dogs, his yard is safe.
Hi all! HOT here in NY. And humid. Ugh. We've been cranking our ACs for days, and I hate to do it, but I can't handle the heat like I used to.Monday my step sister and her 2 girls were in town, so we met up at a local science center. I had never been (my dad says otherwise), so it was fun for me and the kiddo. Yesterday, the kiddo started a morning summer program at school. I can't quite tell if she likes it, but she's not throwing a fit about going so, I guess she does??
I finished Goodbye, Mr. Spalding for a book about a sport. It was a cute middle grade book about baseball and friendship.
Currently reading Night over Water. I gotta focus on this a bit more. I also want to get done with Stay Gold.
I don't know if you all saw my late post in last week's thread, but my library went from allowing 1 renewal to allowing 6!! Now I have all these books floating around my house that aren't due back for *months*. So now I'm kinda like "well, why read any of them? I have them foreverrrr...." How is it my library can put me in a slump?? sheesh.
QOTW: I don't mind retellings or books based on a classic, but I don't really seek them out. Especially because I'm neurotic and *have* to read the original first. What I really like are books that are based on something else but I don't know that going in and I figure it out for myself (cause "I am so smart, S-M-R-T")!
Lynn, best wishes for your Tigger. I hope you're able to take care of yourself, too! It's hard.
Mod
I was excited about this book, but then reviews came out saying things like confusing, long, slow and I started worrying. Last week I took a look at the free sample ebook that I must have downloaded from Tor, and holy cow it's all I want to read now!!! Lucky me, my hold on the hardcover came in from the library. I had been planning to go the audiobook route w/ this one, but I don't think I can wait.
Bonus: it has a map! I can finally check that category off!!!
Mod
LOL!!! Because I understand COMPLETELY!!!
L Y N N wrote: "I have been on the "struggle bus" these past 2 weeks or so, but feel as if I’ve finally turned a corner and am regaining a more positive outlook on life! Rarely do I get “down” but it happens once ..."It sounds like things have been rough lately. I'm sorry :( Sending plenty of hugs and good vibes your way for both you and Tigger!
Laura wrote: "Okay, summer's barely started and I'm already tired of the heat. Luckily, we live in an area that's technically desert so it cools rapidly at night. (Our community is bounded by the Columbia and Ya..."I love Nimona so much. I know the movie is different but I kind of want to watch it anyhow...
Nadine in NY wrote: "No I think you understood the assignment just fine!!! You did not post too much - it's not even possible to post "too much"!! The idea originally was for people to post reactions as they read, so multiple posts for each reader. But interest has waned in these group reads and we don't get as much participation as we used to. I think the Goodreads format makes it difficult, too.."Thank you. And thanks to Lynn too.
I learned to do group reads in another group where people would propose books and other people would sign up. They created folders for the book (same as you do for our monthly read), but they put the names of the readers in the first message. I don't know if that made a difference or if it was because there were usually only 3-10 readers per book, but people posted a lot. They shared their thoughts every 3-10 chapters depending on the book. (Some books have super short or super long chapters.) I did 2 or 3 books with them and I figured that was how people did group reads.
I don't know if it's because this group has 3,000 members that people figure some one else will post. Or if it's because there is no where to "sign up" that you are actually doing the group read that month. (And I'm not proposing anything that makes mods lives harder.)
Happy Thursday everyone.My oldest niece is in the hospital this week -- I won't gross everyone out with too many details but she had to have surgery to remove part of her digestive tract. Poor girl's hurting, and I wish I could be there for her. Sucks sometimes when most of your family lives a long ways away...
Books read this week:
Clockwork Boys -- great snarky fantasy with a touch of steampunk. The first in a duology, and a prequel to the Paladin’s Grace series.
Wayward Creatures -- a thoughtful read about the consequences of our actions, managing anger, and making restitution for our wrongs. Also, coyote main character!
Bumfuzzle - Just out looking for Pirates -- the true story of a couple who sold everything and decided to sail around the world with no previous boating experience. I would have liked to hear less about the actual sailing and more about the places they actually visited, but it was still a fun read.
Witches of Brooklyn -- graphic novel, and a cute fantasy story about an orphan girl sent to live with her aunts… who turn out to be witches!
DNF:
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs -- this just wasn’t working for me. It feels like the “kid loses a parent/both parents and gets sent to live with a relative” story is getting a little overplayed… or maybe I’ve just become cold-hearted as I’ve gotten older…
The Vanished Birds -- the first chapter could have made a compelling novel all on its own. The second chapter was “eh.” The third chapter could have been a compelling novel all on its own. It feels like the author had a ton of great ideas but they just aren’t gelling together well. I’m losing patience with this one and may or may not come back to finish it at some point.
Currently Reading:
The Relentless Moon
A Wolf for a Spell
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway
Wanderlost: Shots of Literary Tequila for the Restless Soul
QOTW:
I really enjoy retellings of any kind. There are so many things that can be done with a classic work of fiction. Then again, I'm a huge fan-ficcer, so I don't mind people playing with stories... I mean, what's a "retelling of a classic" but someone's fanfiction?
I'm so sorry to hear about Tigger, Lynn. I hope everything goes well. My new furbaby is settling in, but has far more reactivity issues than expected. There's a lot of training for her in my future. In the meantime, I've done some reading. PopSugar 27/50
Finished
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. This was excellent. A really interesting look into Apartheid South Africa and the country as it ended. Used for the two languages prompt.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. An excellent, funny read that I only picked up because I needed something to occupy my mind between a job interview and a doctor's appointment. Like a modernised Christie novel. I'm looking forward to the next in the series, which I'll use for one of the released in 2023 prompts. This one fits the book about divorce.
DNF
Lessons in Chemistry I thought I'd like it, and it had some great moments, but I couldn't get into it.
Currently Reading
The Rebel and the Kingdom: The True Story of the Secret Mission to Overthrow the North Korean Regime
Miss Memory Lane: A Memoir
Zak George's Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love
QOTW
I love retellings of classics, which may be why I love fanfic so much. I like getting a different perspective of favorite characters and settings. I just picked Frankissstein: A Love Story up from the library and have March on my TBR pile as well.
It's still Thursday so I'm not really late, though it feels like it should at least be Saturday it's been such a packed long day. Crisis point with work you know. Forging on. PS - 37/50 ATY - 50/52 - only 2 more to read to finish ATY! And it happened with just random reading
Finished:
Nona the Ninth
Miss Flibbertigibbet and the Barbarian
Currently Reading:
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
QOTW: I do enjoy reading good ones and I have a lot in my TBR - I like spreading them out through my reading. I've also read and continue to read classics so making connections back to the original influence is fun. Badly written like any badly written retellings are to be avoided (though I can't think of one right now).
Ones I rated very highly in the last few years and recommend - across many genres:
A Study in Scarlet Women - Sherlock Holmes, of course
Circe - brilliant and beautiful
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue it's both a retelling of Faust and of the myth of Persephone.
I'm sure there are many many more but I'm really tired and brain dead.
Laura wrote: "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: So fun! It's rare to find this kind of adventurous book that features a woman who's not quite young anymore. I felt seen. ★★★★."Laura, I am with Nadine...I was so taken by your comment of being seen that I added this book to my TBR.
L Y N N, I am so sorry about Tigger, and I truly understand the relief of making a decision about treating your furbaby.
Hello! Gee, what ever did I do this week?
I started last week with a flare-up of my costochondritis (rib inflammation). I think this is a chronic condition that I will need to learn to manage. I did fairly well this time with some Tylenol ES for just two days.
Since it occurred on Thursday last week, the rest that I needed fit into my Sabbath. That felt right.
I have found a few streaming shows on Britbox and Masterpiece, so I have been watching them more. My reading seems to be in a bit of a hiatus as I only finished 3 books.
I spent the Fourth with a friend. We went to a Living History place and toured around. Heat and humidity were high, so we did not finish seeing everything before we called it quits. That place was only open 10-2 ~ the hottest part of the day!
Then we went to a local fireworks show. It was incredible! I haven’t been to a real fireworks (usually watch on TV) due to owning dogs who are scared of the sound…and we have a lot of families in the neighborhood who do fireworks. So this was a definite bucket list item. The show we saw was beautiful, long, and glorious. I really enjoyed it.
I also saw my financial planner this week. I am one who worries about outliving my money and being destitute. I have no immediate family and no one to care for me as I advance in age…so it is a concern. However, I learned that I can take a 4 figure income per month and still not run totally out of money by 95 (twenty years from now)! What a relief! I chose a few hundred dollars income for now to supplement what I get monthly. If that isn’t enough, I can up it.
I am still planning to go to Scotland, taking the Scottish Gaelic lessons online, and finding it hard to talk about anything but Scotland. Oh, well.
Finished:
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands – RwS. GN. For RwS, I created a challenge to read 10 GN/Manga linked via Listopia. With this book, I completed that challenge. From the title, I thought it would be a memoir of the Middle East, but I was surprised to learn that the setting was Alberta Canada! This memoir of those years spent in that remote setting of a woman in a man’s world was sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and all to realistic of the times. Hopefully they have improved, but I somehow doubt it. 4*
Six of Crows – PAS, RwS. 4* I enjoyed this, but I kept putting it down when one of the characters (like Inez) got into trouble. Kinda like being at the movies and covering my eyes!
Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life – PS #38. A spiritual guide to deepening spiritual life. It inspired me to try increasing my morning solitude time. 4*
Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book. Still on hold.
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%. On hold.
The Widows of Malabar Hill – ATY #25. 12%
The Egyptian Cross Mystery – old challenge. 21%
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII – ATY #24. 2%
On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club – ATY #26
In a Dark, Dark Wood – ATY #28
This Tender Land – ATY. The last book for Q1 challenge.
I am hoping to get back on track for reading ATY in order (1 per week). I am currently 3 books behind (all June picks) plus 2 for July with this week being #28.
PS 23/50 and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 23/52 and 11/12 for Q1 Challenge, 4/12 for Q2 Challenge, 5/12 for Summer Challenge
GR 146/200
RwS starting a new season: 24/30
QotW: How do you feel about “retellings” of classical books? Have you read any? Or do you purposefully avoid them?
I do not read a lot of classics, so retellings do not draw me as much as they might someone else. I also am not a huge fan of the Bronte or Austin books. Perhaps it is because most of those classics are romance genre…not my cup of tea. Still, I do enjoy the fairy tale retellings from childhood…and I enjoy the mythology ones, even though I might not be aware of the myth.
Mod
That's an interesting thought, that "signing up" for the group read makes one more likely to participate.
Echoing everyone's thoughts and best wishes for Tigger, Lynn.Yesterday was my 25th anniversary with my employer, so that was exciting.
I have only 3 books left to finish Popsugar, one of which I am reading now. What will I do with myself? Last year I let my TBR randomly select books for me, which led to some pretty bad reads. I'll probably still do it though, at least a little bit. It's a good way to get things off the TBR.
Finished:
Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
Pride and Prejudice for a book you meant to read in 2022. I mean to read it every year. I don't think I have read this before. I loved it!
Hollywood Homicide for a book that takes place in Hollywood. Not my favorite prompt, this book was fine.
Currently reading:
Love Medicine
Things Fall Apart
Bad Summer People on audio
QOTW:
I love retellings. I loved Demon Copperhead, although to be honest I have not read David Copperfield. Maybe next year.
Having just finished Pride and Prejudice, now I am interested in all the P & P retellings. Maybe I will join the group read of Longbourn in September.
Happy Friday everyone!! Yesterday I meant to check in but got so busy with work and then when I got home I completely forgot. I finished You or Someone You Love: Reflections from an Abortion Doula I was really excited to get the book and read it because one of my doula friend's contributed to the book. At first I wasn't going to use this book as a prompt but I decided to use it for prompt #29 A book your friend recommended.
I'm currently reading An African-American Guide To Ethical Non-Monogamy The How, Why and With Whom To Explore Your Expanding Love Styles I plan on having her on my podcast, Autonomously Poly.
QotW: How do you feel about “retellings” of classical books? Have you read any? Or do you purposefully avoid them?
I actually like retellings of classical books, especially the fairy tales because most of the stories that we think of have darker storylines. My most recent favorites are Cinderella Is DeadGrimm Fairy Tales Vol. 1 and Snow, Glass, Apples
Laura wrote: "Okay, summer's barely started and I'm already tired of the heat. Luckily, we live in an area that's technically desert so it cools rapidly at night. (Our community is bounded by the Columbia and Ya..."I saw Nimona streaming and I really wasn't sure of how to proceed since I read the graphic novel and absolutely loved it.
Also I read the complete series of Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 and really enjoyed that. I know there's a second part of the series called House of Slaughter or something like that.
Mod
Wow, I had just assumed that everyone's experience was the same as my experience, and every community in the country hosted a professional fireworks show, so that everyone has seen fireworks. When I was a kid my town set them off on the high school field, so we would all sit in the grass and watch them. (Dog stayed home, of course.)
Where I live now, the location is constantly changing year by year. I don't understand why. And there are multiple locations. Apparently there were fireworks up on a little lake north of us, my ex went up there and went out on a boat w/ his sister, he sent me incredible photos! The smoke and lights and boats all reflecting in the water was spectacular.
Annoyingly, this area has fireworks for a bunch of things throughout the year. Opening day of intramural football season? Yes, fireworks! (these are the WORST because the field is really close to our house) Opening day of baseball season? yes, fireworks! Some random day of randomness? yes, fireworks! Is it like this everywhere now? or is it just the place I live now? No fireworks here for New Years, though - probably because our winters are hard.
The weekend before last was my birthday weekend. We went to Belle Island (a state park) for the day. Sadly, the conservatory and gardens on Belle Island are still closed, but there’s plenty of other nature to enjoy. We packed a picnic lunch, something I haven’t done in ages, and for dinner went to my favorite restaurant. It was a pretty nice way to celebrate my birthday. It was the calm before the moving storm. As I type this, I’m sitting in a mostly empty living room with a wall of boxes at my back. I’m very excited to be moving. I’ll be closer to family and friends, and my apartment will be so much nicer. I’ve been listening to an audiobook while I pack and clean, and it really has made the time go faster.
Finished
Far Horizons: Volume One of the Travelers' Tales edited by Shelly Malcolm (a book based on a popular movie). This is a series of short stories based on Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. In the case of SG-1, it’s a book based on a TV series based on a movie. In the case of Atlantis, it’s a book based on a TV series based on a TV series based on a movie. (If only Wormhole Xtreme had been featured in one of the stories!) I really enjoyed these stories a lot! They struck a nice balance of before-the-series, between-the-episodes, and post-series stories. All of the stories were a good length. I didn’t think any of them could have used more or fewer pages.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers (2022 - a book with a character on the ace spectrum). God, I love everything Becky Chambers writes. This book was incredibly thoughtful and emotional and beautiful.
Reading
The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
QOTW
I think I’ve mostly avoided retellings of classic books. I read a lot of retellings of mythology or fairy tales, which I enjoy a lot. I’ve only recently read a retelling of a book - What Moves the Dead based on Fall of the House of Usher - and I enjoyed that a lot. I only read it because there was a rabbit on the cover, though. I probably would have skipped it otherwise.
Mod
Yesterday was my 25th anniversary with my employer, so that was exciting.
I have only 3 books left to finish Popsugar, one of which ..."
congrats on your work anniversary!
How did you like Spineless? that one is on my tbr
Mod
happy birthday and best wishes on your move!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Milena wrote: "Echoing everyone's thoughts and best wishes for Tigger, Lynn.Yesterday was my 25th anniversary with my employer, so that was exciting.
I have only 3 books left to finish Popsugar..."
It was pretty good. Not the best science non-fiction I have ever read, but I still enjoyed it.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Wheel of Time: Origin of the Holy Days (other topics)Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood (other topics)
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet (other topics)
Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West (other topics)
Unsettled Land: From Revolution to Republic, the Struggle for Texas (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ella Berman (other topics)Kate Clayborn (other topics)
R.F. Kuang (other topics)
Julia Whelan (other topics)
George Newbern (other topics)
More...
Other than that, positive interactions with students in my therapy pool classes over the past week have helped pull me up out of the depths of depression and negativity! I guess I feel so helpless with my furbaby's illness, that having a positive impact elsewhere helps me overcome that "helpless"/hopeless feeling!
I have finished a few books, but have nothing documented as of yet. Will spend some time catching up on that, but wanted to get us started on the important stuff!
HAPPY THURSDAY!!
ADMIN STUFF
The 2023 October Monthly Group Read is The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman! And, I evidently had this book confused with another one, so I have not yet read it and am anxious to do so! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #18 A book that’s been banned or challenged in 2022
Banned Books Week is October 1-7, 2023! Website: https://bannedbooksweek.org/#:~:text=... Jennifer is the "official organizer" who will lead this discussion! THANK YOU, JENNIFER!
We are currently soliciting for just one more monthly group read discussion leader:
A "vivacious volunteer" to guide the September Monthly Group read discussion of Longbourn by Jo Baker. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading "classics"!
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! :)
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE
Question of the Week
How do you feel about “retellings” of classical books? Have you read any? Or do you purposefully avoid them?
I got to thinking about this due to prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic and our September monthly group read selection of Longbourn. It has been more than 50 years since I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, so I will reread it before reading this retelling. I have read some retellings over the past 5-6 years that I really enjoyed and a few that weren’t particularly enjoyable to me.
However, I do admit to being quite leery of them initially. I just wasn’t sure I could or would appreciate an author trying to “redo” a classic book… Fortunately, I discovered I actually have enjoyed most of them I’ve read. :) So this is one instance where branching out disproved my initial hesitation!
Popsugar: 42/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 50/52
RHC: 13/24
Listings to be added later… :)