Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 32: 8/1 - 8/8
Happy Thursday Lynn!I finished 3 books this week and did well on another 3. Let's hear it for vacation.
I finished my August mystery read. The Only One Left is in my opinion Riley Sager's best so far. I finally finished a buddy read I've been working on with my kids since Christmas vacation.
And although I only counted The Purloined Letter, I also re-read The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Mystery of Marie Rogêt for Poe's trio of detective stories set in Paris (for the Paris Olympics).
None of the books had a PS prompt, but the 4 I'm currently reading all do.
Finished:
The Only One Left
ATY prompt: A history or historical fiction book
Popsugar prompt: couldn't find one
Summer Prompt: A book you've been meaning to read and A book by a favorite author
This Present Darkness
ATY prompt: A book with wings on the cove
Popsugar prompt: can't find one
The Purloined Letter
ATY prompt: A book set in one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world (Paris for the Olympics)
Popsugar prompt: can't find one
Series - 7/12
Nobel laureates - 4/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 9/13
ATY - 31/45
PS - 18/30
Summer - 10/12
Currently reading:
The Midnight Feast - 75%
The Odyssey - 50%
El Deafo - 65%
Buddy Reads:
Hollow City - 60%
QOTW: So many of them seem so restrictive this year. I think I could be a 500 year old ghost in a library and still not read a K--pop book. (No offense to anyone who loves it as a music genre or book.)
Happy Thursday!We're going to a baseball game this weekend (and rooting for the visiting team because they're my team), but otherwise, no exciting plans for the immediate future.
Finished:
Dying with Her Cheer Pants On by Seanan McGuire - 4.5 stars - for a book about women's sports. This is a set of interconnected short stories about the Fighting Pumpkins, a very Buffy-esque group of supernatural California cheerleaders who protect their town/the world from evil. Written with McGuire's usual eye for character and clever dialogue. The first story is the earliest and the weakest, but the rest are much better and where she hits her stride with this concept.
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - 3.5 stars - not for a prompt, but this would work for second chance romance. The story of two people who have been in love since high school but took until their 30s to start to figure it out. Overall, I was engaged enough to keep reading but the characters kind of got on my nerves, too.
I am currently at 47/50 prompts for Popsugar (42/45 and 5/5). Three more to go!
Currently reading:
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 4 by Natsu Hyuuga - still loving this series.
Upcoming/Planned:
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis - for Popsugar's book set in space.
Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff - for Popsugar's book that was published 24 years ago (2000) and Robot Librarian's book about/taking place during a war that is not WWI or WWII.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan for Popsugar's book that was turned into a musical and Robot Librarian's book that has been adapted into a TV show or streamed series.
QOTW:
None of them, really. I have options picked out for everything, it's just a matter of getting around to the last couple.
Happy Thursday....and unhappily back at work during a heat advisory. Seriously who thinks it's a good idea to send kids back to school when there is nearly always a heat advisory in effect? (answer: the admins at my school)I finished 2 books that were in progress and hope to finish 3 more before the read-a-thon ends.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. I absolutely loved this book. I didn't use it for a PS prompt but it could be used for an unreliable narrator, some consider it magical realism but i personally don't see it; if you consider PTSD neurodivergent you can use it for that (I do count it); if England is on your travel destination; or if you typically avoid immigrant/refugee stories it could be used there
PS:N/A
52: Non-chronological order
ATY:N/A
Robot Librarian: N/A
The Iliad: I remember liking this book when I read it in 9th grade. Not so much now, Possibly it's a translation issue. I am irritated that every character has 2 names, as in X, son of Y. I don't remember that before
PS: Blind/visually impaired
52: Duology
ATY and Robot: N/A
Currently reading:
If Cats Disappeared From the World (re-read)
Erasure
The Catcher in the Rye
Born To Run
Consider the Fork
Anne of Green Gables
Mystery of the Blue Train
QOTW:
NaNoWriMo is a struggle. I have already read most the books on the Listopia I wanted to read and the rest are not appealing to me. I researched outside the Listopia but the same books come up.
24 years before I was born also...it's right in the middle of WW2 and I just don't feel lie reading a WW2 book rn and its hard to find a book from that time that isn't about the war
Dubhease wrote: "Happy Thursday Lynn!I finished 3 books this week and did well on another 3. Let's hear it for vacation.
I finished my August mystery read. The Only One Left is in my opinion Riley Sager's best s..."
I read K-Pop Confidential because my K-Pop fan daughter had it in her room (I asked for a recommendation from her and she handed it to me). It's a young adult book and it was quite honestly a fascinating look into the K-Pop machine and creation of the "idols". The restrictions and rules are awful! I enjoyed that aspect enough to make it a decent read. The rest is typical teen drama.
My right leg has been feasted upon by mosquitoes. I seems to be reacting a lot to the bites this year and it's sooooo itchy. Not much else to report on this week.Finished:
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky for ATY (second book for favourite prompt). I loved this story about a robot valet who kills his master without any knowledge and sets off, not for answers, but to find someone else to serve. Because the robots at the end of the world haven't managed to break their programming. Reminded me of Jasper Fforde.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros for ATY (number in title). Not perfect but I had fun reading it. I'm not in any rush to read the next one, but I'd pick it up if I saw it on offer.
Currently reading Key Lime Sky and listening to The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love.
QOTW:
I've decided just to do 40 prompts because so many prompts just aren't doable with books I want to read. I don't reading one or two just for the challenge, but this year was too much. Some of the hardest for me are autobiography by a woman in rock 'n' roll, set 24 years before you were born, and book that was turned into a musical.
Happy Thursday! We thought we were going to have a very quiet week… Ashley and her boys left late last week for a two-weed road trip to visit friends and family. They got to Salt Lake City, met with friends, and visited a dinosaur museum, but then Ashley started to feel a little sick. She consulted with her doctors and decided to stick it out, but when she woke up the next morning, she was YELLOW! Because she was in pain, we decided that she shouldn’t drive home, so Todd, Seth, and I drove down to get her and the boys. She’s in the hospital now having had an endoscopy to remove gallstones on Tuesday and surgery yesterday to remove her gallbladder. She’s doing well and will be home soon. It sure wasn’t the quiet week we’d expected.2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 292 books so far this year (and 25.8% of my ever-growing TBR – I bought five new books!) with an average length of 335 pages and an average rating of 3.72.
52 Book Club: 49/52 (Summer Challenge 21/24)
ATY: 40/52 (Summer Challenge 33/36)
Booklist Queen: 47/52
Diverse Baseline: 21/36
Popsugar: 41/50
Robot Librarian: 47/52
ICYMI Backlist: 8/12
Recently Completed:
The Invisible Hour (52 Books #44 – includes a wedding/Popsugar #35 – magical realism) ★★★★
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World: NPR 2023 Books We Love. (ATY July #4b – a hot setting) ★★★★★
Very Bad Company (ATY July #1a – author’s initials appear in CURVEBALL/Robot Librarian #29 - a car, plane, train, motorcycle, or bicycle on the cover or in the title) ★★★
The Unwedding ★★★★
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons: I’m starting to think (high? cozy?) fantasy isn’t really my thing. I didn’t like this nearly as much as I expected. (Booklist Queen #43 – a fantasy book) ★★★
The Scent Keeper (52 Books #2 – a smelly book/ICYMI #8 – published in 2019) ★★★★
Rivers Of London Vol. 1: Body Work: Graphic novel. I enjoyed the book so much I thought I’d give this a try. The characters don’t match the pictures in my head, but I enjoyed it anyway. I fully expect to continue reading this series. ★★★★
Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—A Cool History of a Hot Commodity: NPR 2023 Books We Love. (Robot Librarian #18 – author’s initials are consecutive alphabetically) ★★★★
The Male Gazed: On Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me about (Desiring) Men: NPR 2023 Books We Love. ★★★★
Currently Reading:
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (ATY #12 – on your TBR for more than a year/Diverse Baseline #23 – anthology by BIPOC authors)
Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice: Goodreads Giveaway. (52 Books Summer #8c – a memoir or biography about an Olympian/Popsugar #7 – about women’s sports or a woman athlete)
Ink Blood Sister Scribe: NPR 2023 Books We Love. (ATY June #1a – writing utensil on the cover)
Day One
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother (Diverse Baseline #22 – by a biracial or mixed race author)
Kaikeyi (ATY August #1a – featuring an ancient civilization)
Sun of Blood and Ruin (Diverse Baseline #24 – a retelling or re-imagining by a BIPOC author)
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1
The Wilds (Robot Librarian #29 – a car, plane, train, motorcycle, or bicycle on the cover or in the title)
QOTW: A book that was turned into a musical. I’ve read the lists, followed the discussions, and I’m still not inspired. I’ve slotted Ragtime into this spot, but I’m certainly open to better suggestions.
We're finally getting a break in the heat, though not from the rain. Summer reading has come to a close, and soon the back to school books will be going on display, which keeps making me think September is closer than it actually is. Finished:
None. I blame the Olympics.
DNF'd:
All Fours - I just couldn't get into it.
Currently reading:
Total Olympics: Every Obscure, Hilarious, Dramatic, and Inspiring Tale Worth Knowing
Ashes
The Coral Kingdom
Artificial: A Love Story
QOTW: The 42-year-old MC has been the trickiest so far. I keep reading books with characters who are either slightly over or slightly under, but not exactly 42. (I might have kept going with All Fours if the MC was 42, but alas, she was already past that.)
L Y N N wrote: "The Booker Prize 2024 Longlist has been announced! https://thebookerprizes.com/Book Riot’s listing of the best of 2024 thus far:
https://bookriot.com/best-books-of-20..."
Thanks for the lists! I've only read one of the Booker Prize nominees (James), but surprisingly there are others that I'm actually interested in reading. What's even more surprising is that I've never even heard of most of the books on the Book Riot list!
Library TBR: 3/8Purchased TBR: 2/20
Finished: Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout So-so.
Mother, Nature: A 5,000-Mile Journey to Discover if a Mother and Son Can Survive Their Differences For a book club. We had a good discussion, but only because we didn't limit ourselves to the book.
God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning This was very interesting. By someone who had gone to seminary to become a preacher, but lost her faith in religion and now writes about the implications of technology.
Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process I didn't enjoy the writing style
Started: Novelist as a Vocation This makes me like Murakami more. He comes across as humble.
QotW: The reading challenge is so far behind me and I don't want to look back!!!
Mod
I don't know what you prefer to read, but I did count We by Yevgeny Zamyatin because it was listed on the Wikipedia article that a musical was adapted from it. I only rated it 2 stars, but if I had never read 1984 and Brave New World, I think I would have liked it much better.
Here is my review:
"Perhaps this was a bit too nuanced for me. I certainly would not choose to read another book written by Zamyatin. I admit to being so very bored with this until about 2/3-3/4 through it. However, if I had never read another dystopian novel (e.g. 1984 or Brave New World both of which I read when 13 years old) I can imagine this would have engaged me much more than it did now, some 50+ years after having read Orwell's and Huxley's dystopian works.
But, I have now FINALLY finished this novella and am grateful to have stuck it out! At least now I have an acquaintance with the book recognized as the very first dystopian novel written/published!"
It is relatively short...
Happy Thursday! It's still a bit quiet at work, although people are starting to return. Still glued to the Olympics, so not much reading done (fingers crossed for Femke Bol tonight!!). I'm in a 'finish series mode' :)PS: 17/50
FNL: 30/40
Total: 43/52
Finished
The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante⭐⭐⭐
Last part of the Neapoliton novels. I had a bit trouble to pick up Lena's life. But after 50 pages, I was hooked again.
Currently reading
Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore
El libro negro de las horas by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi
QOTW
I'm not reading for PS this year, just trying to fill in as much prompts as I can.
Mod
Book Riot’s listing of the best of 2024 thus far:
https://bookriot.com/best-books-of-20..."
Thanks..."
Glad you enjoy lists as I do!! 😉
Greetings! We finally have cooler temps - lots of rain though. Won't last but reveling in it!PS - 45/50 - I'm creeping to a finish!
Finished:
Stoner - excellent absorbing, beautiful read. Fits no prompt I have left.
And Then There Were None - classic
The Spare Man - fun retelling in space of Nick & Nora Charles with Asta a/k/a The Thin Man movie.
Currently Reading:
The Housekeeper and the Professor
The Night Tiger
Bollywood Confidential
Aunty Lee's Delights
QOTW: I'm down to the last 5 and actually have books for all and have had them for months just not gotten to reading them as I also read them for other challenges - make them do double and triple duty. My remaining prompts:
Deaf/Hearing impaired author - I'm using Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King - just got from library
Set 24 years before birth <- 1931 - reading The Night Tiger - if anyone else needs 1931 - Water for Elephants fits too. I used that one for NaNoWriMo.
Takes Place over 24 hours - I actually do not have a book picked yet though I do have a 'single day' shelf and there are a few on there that I have not read, and one I would like to re-read. I'd say this is the hard one for me. Ironically, I read a book at end of last year, before list out, that would have fit perfectly. While I have no hesitation in stretching to breaking point my interpretation of the challenge prompts, counting that book is too far for even me.
Autobiography of woman in Rock n Roll - this was one I dreaded as I don't really read many, and most women in Rock n' Roll I am interested in, I have already read their autobiographies - then realized I have Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton - it's a heavy coffee table sized book and will need a forklift to hold it up for me to read but I am game and thrilled actually.
Book with 24 poems -- I have a collection of Edna St. Vicent Millay - need to start reading 2 or 3 a day - only way to attack a collection of poems.
Laura Z wrote: "https://media.istockphoto.com/id/2032...."I discovered using google that The Alchemist, which I was reading for another challenge and is very short - was made into a musical in 2006 in Singapore. I used it. I was googling to figure out why this book is so prized and loved -- it's not my type of thing but read quickly and gave me the musical.
My advice is to google books you plan to read and see if anyone has made a musical out of it somewhere in the world. You might be surprised as I was.
I missed last week’s check-in due to work being a dumpster fire. I’ve been bullied by customers before, but not by another vendor’s support team. Usually, we recognize that we’re all under pressure and our customers don’t like corporate competitive nonsense so we work together when they ask. But this guy showed up looking to fight. I could win a gold medal for holding a grudge, though, so payback is just beginning.My reading time hasn’t been relaxing lately either. I’m reading three books right now. I’m kind of anticipating two of those ending up as DNFs. I’ll give them one more chapter before I decide, but it’s not looking promising.
Finished
What the River Knows. Wow, I did not like this book. Secrets and betrayals are fine, interesting even, but this was a different level entirely. I don’t trust a single word any of them say. The ending is a cliffhanger too so I might never know WTF is true.
Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories. These are weird, abstract, horror fantasy stories that made my dreams strange. I love them deeply.
A Caribbean Mystery. A good Miss Marple mystery.
Reading
Ouroboros
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
QOTW
I’ve finished the challenge so I got there eventually for all of the prompts. I’ll admit that my pick for women’s sports/athletes was a stretch. I’m rarely drawn to books about sports so when I came across a reasonably athletic woman in a book, I decided that was good enough.
Ellie wrote: "My right leg has been feasted upon by mosquitoes. I seems to be reacting a lot to the bites this year and it's sooooo itchy. Not much else to report on this week.Finished:
[book:Service Model|208..."
For those looking for books set 24 years before you were born - here's a fantastic link to find one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categ...
Just change the '1931' to the year you need. I found I had in my TBR Towers more than one of the books they listed!
Denise wrote: "NaNoWriMo is a struggle. I have already read most the books on the Listopia I wanted to read and the rest are not appealing to me. I researched outside the Listopia but the same books come up."I feel for you. I pray to the goddesses that NaNoWriMo never ever shows up as a prompt again. At this point I have read every single book that is even remotely appealing or tolerable - and it's not like I'm that picky or narrow in my reading. This year I finally read Water for Elephants - which also would have fit the 24 years before I was born - but I fortunately had other choices for that and could give this over to NaNoWriMo. Like you I googled, searched, and searched - that's it!
If this awful prompt shows up again, I'm just going to pick a debut by someone that was published in a November.
Dubhease wrote: "Happy Thursday Lynn!I finished 3 books this week and did well on another 3. Let's hear it for vacation.
I finished my August mystery read. The Only One Left is in my opinion Riley Sager's best s..."
For K-Pop, I stumbled across XOXO by Axie Oh and it's all about K-Pop and celebrity culture in Korea, and was really fun and good - reminded me of the boy band from my youth in the 1960s - The Monkees -- and boy bands in general. I had picked it up as a my X book but quickly pivoted as I can and did have other X books (read Xmas Carole - a novella), but K-Pop - this was it.
L Y N N wrote: "For me, this is prompt #32 A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot"I recommend Tokyo Ever After - which I was reading for some other challenge and found it has an enemies to friend plot. This was a light fun read -- and I had picked it up at some point because I loved the cover.
. Covers can and often do seduce me. Most of the time the books are good even excellent. This pleased me and some friends also read it and liked it.
Heather wrote: "I’ll admit that my pick for women’s sports/athletes was a stretch. I’m rarely drawn to books about sports so when I came across a reasonably athletic woman in a book, I decided that was good enough.."First - congrats on finishing! I still have 5 books...
On the woman athlete/sports - I bent it a bit myself. I just don't care about sports or athletes enough to read about them in any way. However, one of the MC in The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World. runs marathons and talked about jogging and running as the three girls traveled around the world. That is the one I used. I do not recommend the book unless you are into millennial whining for over 400 pages. I was happy to get it off my TBR but it was a huge disappointment - even though it fit a couple challenges I was doing. That was an impulse buy seduced by the cover
and title that disappointed.
Theresa wrote: "For those looking for books set 24 years before you were born - here's a fantastic link to find one:..."That wiki page for 1957 has barely any books on, so it's not that useful. I'm just skipping the prompt. I know I have read books for that year in the past because of Sputnik and Doctor Zhivago, so I don't feel I'm missing out on anything.
Happy Thursday!My reading has stalled a bit, but my book acquisition has not (both library books and purchases). My piles are growing, which was not the plan!
Finished
A Fine Balance Just emotionally gutting. I cried a few times. For book club, wasn't planning on using it for a prompt, but then there was a line in it about one of the main characters still looking good at 42. Woo-hoo!
Golden Son Heard a lot of people saying this was better than the first, but I didn't agree. I also do not understand how this society has survived for hundreds of years - the rate at which people get killed is over the top, and there's no references to new Golds being born. Still page turning enough that I'll move on to the third. No prompt.
The Fake A random pick up from the library, not for a prompt. Story about a con artist (?) and two of her marks. Amusing enough, but not that well developed. For instance I was never sure if she was a con artist, or a compulsive liar, or something else. I guess that wasn't the point, it was more about her effect on the other two, but I didn't particularly care for either of them.
Currently Reading
The Big Book of Modern Fantasy
Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
The Kingdoms
QotW
I did manage to find books for many of the "tougher" prompts, (set 24 years before my birth, 24th book of an author, takes place in 24 hours) so most of what I have left, I either have a pick for, or I know there are plenty of options (dragons, pirates).
The one that is unexpectedly being difficult is a character dying in the first chapter. For some reason my brain is being a stickler about it, so I didn't use Red Rising (view spoiler) or Death at La Fenice (view spoiler). I let myself get a little loosey-goosey with set 24 years before my birth (found it listed on the wikipedia page for set in 1958, but I didn't see anything within the text that convinced me it was), so I'm not sure why I can't seem to do the same here!
Hi all! Getting a rainy day tomorrow. Hope everyone in the southeast US has been OK with rain and storms from the hurricane. Also hoping the rain only lasts a day up here, we're supposed to go to my boyfriend's brother's rental cabin over the weekend. A cabin on the lake in a monsoon doesn't sound as enjoyable...Otherwise, kiddo has been busy with Vacation Bible School. She warmed up to it once her best friend was there. Today was the last day, but we've got birthday parties and a play and grandparents to visit. She's been one busy girl this summer! I'm ready for school to start! (Denise, we don't start school here until after Labor Day!)
I feel like I've been extra tired these last few weeks, so I haven't read as much as I would like. I'm about 1/3 of the way through The Frozen River and I'm loving it! Unfortunately, it's due back on Tuesday. So either I've got to pick up the pace or keep it past the due date, which I hate to do because there's lots of holds on it.
I've also started The Murder of Roger Ackroyd on audiobook when I've been too tired to read.
QOTW: I read so slowly that I don't think I'm exactly hung up on any of the prompts, I just don't have enough hours in the day to read as much as I would like!
Happy Thursday!I am so exhausted I can't remember anything from the past week jadkhfljag so this is going to be a really short one.
I watched both adaptations of The Color Purple to try and kickstart me into continuing the book, and I did!!! I read 57 actual book pages yesterday!! Whether I'll pick it back up again is anyone's guess, but still!!!
QOTW
This question assumes I have any knowledge of the prompts, or that I haven't given up months ago because I wasn't reading xD I genuinely have no answer for this one.
Happy Thursday, y’all. Not much to report for my week. We moved from high heat to rain, so weather has dominated my attention.
Finished:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches – Audiobook. No challenge. Finish of a trilogy. 4*
The Rise of Magicks – Audiobook. No challenge. Finish of a trilogy.
Walden – PAS. 3*. Interesting for prices in 1845-1847...but philosophically dull for me. The conclusion had some interesting ideas and thoughts. I am glad to have read this, but most of it was a slog.
Rest in Pieces – PAS. 4*. Probably a better choice for animal's POV, but I already slotted another book into that prompt.
Book Love – PAS. GN. 4* So right on!
Currently Reading:
Good Poems – PS #27 (genre I avoid). 44%. The funny thing about this one is that I seem to have read a lot of poetry this year!
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics – ATY #31. 48%. I need to buckle down and get this one done as I am falling behind in my goal to read in order for ATY.
Just Starting:
Six Crimson Cranes – ATY #32.
A Tale of the Secret Saint (Light Novel) Vol. 1 - No challenge.
On Deck:
A Year In Provence – PAS. 1%, ATY #33.
Have His Carcase - No challenge.
PS 26/50
ATY 30/52
GR 124/200
QotW:
I have books planned for all prompts. However, the one for 24 years before birth gave me the most trouble since that would be 1924.
Ellie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "For those looking for books set 24 years before you were born - here's a fantastic link to find one:..."That wiki page for 1957 has barely any books on, so it's not that useful. I..."
I'm also 1957! I'm planning to read a book about the integration of the school in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock, the Crisis That Shocked the Nation planned for it, but there's quite a few out there.
I also stumbled on The Woman in the White Kimono, the historical parts of the story take place in 1957.
Happy Thursday all!I haven't finished anything this week - I've been too exhausted every night to do anything other than collapse into bed. I haven't been listening to my audiobook either because I've just been watching the olympics all day every day. It's my two-week obsession every two years lol.
Currently Reading
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks
Water, Water: Poems
Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children: Charming tales of wealth and entitlement for tots who were simply born better
The Lamplighters
DNF
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law - I just wasn't jiving with the writing style
QOTW
My most elusive is a book from an animal's POV. I've had a couple of dnf's but mostly I just haven't found many appealing options.
Happy Thursday all!School starts up in a couple of weeks, and part of me feels like I wasted my summer. Don't know why -- I went on a fun vacation and got a ton of writing done. Wish I could fight this feeling of having to be productive 24/7, even during my "free time."
Books read this week:
The Ghostkeeper -- graphic novel not just about ghosts and a young man with the ability to speak to them, but a great story with a sweet queer romance and a good message about setting boundaries and the dangers of giving way too much of yourself.
Turtle in Paradise -- enjoyable middle-grade read set in the Florida Keys… but boy, does the ending kinda ruin it for me.
The Stardust Grail -- a sci-fi/space opera adventure that isn’t perfect, but is still significantly better than the first book I read by this author (The Deep Sky)
The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies -- a collection of weird and brilliantly written horror/weird fiction stories.
Currently reading:
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Sunbearer Trials
Ascendant
QOTW:
The prompts involving specific ages were HARD for me. I struggled to find enjoyable books for those prompts.
Quick check-in for me (didn't realize how late it was!)...no books finished since the last check-in. I'm at 20/45 and 2/5 for this challenge, and 60/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.Finished:
*none
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* Havoc by Deborah J. Ledford, which is my latest Goodreads Giveaways win (hooray!);
* Flirting with Danger: The Mysterious Life of Marguerite Harrison, Socialite Spy by Janet Wallach, which is one of my book clubs' picks for August; and,
* How to Age Disgracefully written by Clare Pooley and narrated by Clare Corbett, which popped up as a Libby Lucky Day read this morning!
QotW:
Which 2024 Popsugar challenge prompt seems to be the most elusive for you? Perhaps you haven’t even selected a book to fulfill it yet… I'm just planning to see how far I get this year, rather than trying to complete all of the prompts. The prompts didn't grab me overall, so I'm not doing much planning. If I finish, great! If I don't, also great! I want to see how many books that I own or books that are book club picks will work. I've actually done pretty well with that strategy -- 17 of the 22 prompts I've completed were either books I had a copy of or books one of my book clubs read!
Jackie wrote: "My most elusive is a book from an animal's POV. I've had a couple of dnf's but mostly I just haven't found many appealing options..."I used a children's picture book from a series I read for fun with a friend - one from Grumpy Monkey series- they are delightful!
If you like mysteries at all - go to Spencer Quinn's Chet & Bernie series, told entirely from Chet the dog's POV. The audio versions are very well done too.
Happy Thursday, everyone!I’ve spent nearly the entire week continuing to watch the Olympics, and I’ve been having a great time! Very little has gotten accomplished in the way of actual work, but that’s okay.
This is also my birthday week, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with my dad over the weekend. We’re planning to have dinner out at one of our favorite local restaurants, and then spend some time playing a new board game.
As far as reading is concerned, most of this week’s reading was done during commercial breaks, but I did have a chance to finish quite a few books.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 366/200 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 99/150
📚Physical TBR: 52
📱Ebook TBR: 47
🎧Audiobook TBR: 0
TBR Checklist Total: 99
I did pick up one complete manga series this week, which was Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami. I also got the first volume of the follow-up series, Battle Royale: Enforcers, Vol. 1. I’m really excited to compare the manga to the original novel and the movie adaptations.
I also ordered copies of three new releases, including: A Sorceress Comes to Call, by T. Kingfisher; Spy x Family, Vol. 12, by Tatsuya Endo; and Star Trek: Holo-Ween, by Chris Sequeira and Joe Eisma.
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 286
“New” Books Read in 2024: 245
“New” Books DNFed in 2024: 1
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Secondborn — This is the first book in a YA dystopian trilogy. While I didn’t know what to expect from this book, I ended up really liking the story and main character. I will definitely be finishing the trilogy at some point in the future. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Study in Stone — This is the first book in the Devonshire Mysteries series. While I did enjoy the story, I didn’t really care for the main character, so I don’t have any plans to continue the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Other Man — I thought this was a well-written book, but I have to confess that I didn’t really like it. While the main character finds himself in a very difficult situation, his dishonesty in his relationships really disappointed me, and that definitely impacted my overall impression of the book. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️
~Alas, She Drowned — This is the first book in the Stratford Upon Avondale Mystery series. I thought it was a good mystery, but I don’t have any plans to continue the series at this point. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Killer's Mind — This is the first book in the Zoe Bentley Mystery series. I thought this was a very interesting, fast paced story, and liked the characters. In fact, I liked the characters so much that I will most likely be reading the rest of this series in the future. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Ghost of Marlow House — This is the first book in the Haunting Danielle mystery series. I really enjoyed the mystery and characters, and I would like to continue this series. There are currently a total of 35 books though, and I don’t own any of them except the first one, so I probably won’t be finishing the series this year. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life — I’m really glad I got myself a copy of this book, because I thought it was a fantastic read. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope — While I did prefer Mark Manson’s previous book, I thought this was a very interesting follow-up. I found his discussion of AI particularly interesting, given how that technology has continued to develop since the book’s publication in 2019. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~Murder at Teal's Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks — This true crime book focuses on the unsolved murder that inspired the Twin Peaks television series. I’m currently a little less than halfway through this book, and it’s okay. 📱
~Unf*ck Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life — I’m currently about 35% of the way through this book, and I’m really enjoying it. I think it’s going to be a very quick read. 📚
QOTW:
I’m not actively participating in this year’s challenge, so none of the prompts are really a problem for me.
Mod
Today we visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so I’ve been out most of the day and have not had time to read everyone’s posts yet!
Yesterday when I walked the dogs to the bay, it was 100% humidity! 100%The day before that it was 98%. I honestly did not know it was possible to have 100% humidity and not be actively raining. Now I know! (Today it is actually raining but the humidity is 94%, if anyone cares. Obviously the humidity at ground level and up in the atmosphere is not anyways the same.)
This week I had a GREAT reading week. I’ve been giving almost every book five stars. I started to wonder if I had become too much of a softie LOL (but then I read a book that disappointed me).
Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren - the only reason I read this was because I saw the Mustang on the cover - I’m a sucker for a muscle car, and classic Mustangs are my particular favorite. I LOVED this book!!! For some reason I thought I didn’t like these authors, but I think I need to re-evaluate that stance. I’m going to read other books by them now, and I’m going to read the rest of this series of fairy tale retellings (each by a different author). Five stars!
Big Time by Ben H. Winters - Winters has become a favorite author, so I put this book on hold at my library without even knowing anything about it. I thought it might be a time travel story, but it is not. It is sort of a medical thriller with a sci-fi aspect. I loved this and gave it five stars, it was fast-paced and I loved the characters, but it’s getting mixed reviews, so ymmv.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark - another NetGalley book! I ended up finishing this exactly on its publication day. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this because I’ve had mixed luck w Clark, but it’s a novella so I figured why not. I loved this book! Fantastic world building without feeling like once-dumping, he packed soooo much story into this novella.
Fire Exit by Morgan Talty - Talty’s first book blew me away so I immediately put this book on hold when it came out. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me. It was a depressing slice of life that didn’t have a beginning or ending. It’s getting a lot of praise so ymmv.
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer - this was getting so much buzz, I had to read it to find out for myself. It started strong, but it had a bit of a fizzle midway through. I expected more after that big build up. I’m wavering between 3 & 4 stars.
QotW
The prompt I had the hardest time with was “published 24 years ago.” Because I’ve had 24 years to read it, if I wanted to read it, I did already. So it was really hard to find a book I was interested in that I hadn’t read already. I hope they don’t repeat this prompt.
Nothing read for the challenge this week, too much funeral stuff to deal with. I did read The Van Meter Visitor: A True and Mysterious Encounter with the Unknown by Chad Lewis, a true cryptid accounting sort of thing and it was well written trying to find non-supernatural reasons as well as reporting on the original 1903 sighting.
QOTW
I'm not sure any were elusive. I was able to fill the slots easily from my TBR pile with the exception of the romance ones and the woman in rock memoir thing. That was awful but luckily the library had one by Melissa Etheridge (it was not good though). Also if I see that 'happens in one day' prompt again I'm ignoring it
Happy Thursday! It's been busy busy at work this week, and will probably be busier next week, so yay! Randomly spent all evening looking for new apartments available in town, but I realize I need to sort through all my stuff before I even think of moving. There's just too much stuff that I've gathered over the last 10 years. So my new plan for the rest of the year is to do a lot of downsizing, so when I do move it'll be not as crazyFinished:
Out on a Limb-this was cute, but then it felt like nothing really happened for the second half of the book.
-no prompt
The Full Moon Coffee Shop- a netgalley book that I really like. A magical cafe, cats that serve coffee and give astrology readings. Had fun with this!
-no prompt, Women in Translation month (Japanese)
The Phoenix Keeper-another netgalley book that I really liked. Cozy fantasy about zookeepers working in a zoo of magical creatures. Almost more of a work place drama with a bot of romance, and there just happens to be magical creatures
-no prompt (could be for dragon book)
Currently reading:
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey-still listening, still enjoying
We'll Prescribe You a Cat-just starting this evening
QotW:
I'm also not crazy about the NaNoWriMo prompt. I'm tired of it, no more. I also really hope we never see the "takes place all in one day" prompt. I'm tired of that one too.
But honestly I liked the mix of prompts this year. I still have about a dozen or so prompts left, but I'm not too worried about getting them fulfilled
Erin wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's been busy busy at work this week, and will probably be busier next week, so yay! Randomly spent all evening looking for new apartments available in town, but I realize I need t..."I'm definitely over the happens in one day prompt too
Nadine in NY wrote: "The prompt I had the hardest time with was “published 24 years ago.” Because I’ve had 24 years to read it, if I wanted to read it, I did already. So it was really hard to find a book I was interested in that I hadn’t read already. I hope they don’t repeat this prompt...."I laughed when someone in ATY proposed a book published 25 years ago (for 2025). I'm already skipping that prompt this year.
Happy Thursday I went on stay-cation this week, but ended up with the flu or something. It totally sucks! I want another vacation dammit! One where I’m not flopped on the couch like a dead fish with fever for two days! Ugh!
Other than that, I’ve read nothing because I can’t read when I’m sick. It’s more veg time than think time.
QOTW
I have books chosen for most of them but the willingness to read them after selection is my problem. It’s like assigned reading for class. It becomes a chore and not pleasure. If I hated a book I wouldn’t t want to read it. Like huckleberry Finn, I despise that book. I couldn’t read more than four chapters before I wanted to throw it across the room.
I ran out of time to post yesterday even though I meant to. I felt like taking a drive for the heck of it so I went to two areas around town. It was nice.My main thing though was that I had ordered a box set of the The Twilight Saga books, but I got a notice saying they were damaged during shipping, so I went to BN to pick up new copies. They had almost all of them. The only one they didn't have was Midnight Sun which is fine since I won't be reading that one until last anyway.
A group I'm in is doing a buddy read for these books come October so I wanted to get new copies to annotate. I've been busy making my annotating system and stickers to add to the books so that's been fun.
I might start reading book 1, Twilight , this month though because the annotating is gonna take a while.
Yesterday had to run an errand for my sister who was still at work so I didn't mind since I wasn't doing much.
Such an adjustment lately though. Having to deal with a baby in the house is definitely different. But I like having my sister home so that's been nice.
*****
Book News:
Been reading like crazy! Most of my books have been education-related, but they've been good.
Finished:
Teaching Challenged and Challenging Topics in Diverse and Inclusive Literature
-Very impressed with this book! Definitely my favorite educational book so far.
Building Critical Literacy and Empathy with Graphic Novels
-Love this one.
Teaching Social Studies Today 2nd Edition
- This one has just been okay.
Poetry Pauses: Teaching With Poems to Elevate Student Writing in All Genres
-I have really enjoyed this book!
Why Do I Have to Read This?
- Had to read another Tovani book for school and discovered this one which has been amazing!
I Read It, but I Don't Get It
- Just okay on this one.
Other Reads:
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
- I've been very impressed with this book. Definitely my favorite book of the month so far. Though I'm having to slow down on it because there's so much intense information, but it's one I will finish by the end of August.
The Apache Wars: The Hunt for Geronimo, the Apache Kid, and the Captive Boy Who Started the Longest War in American History
-This has been a really good book.
*****
Question of the Week:
Which 2024 Popsugar challenge prompt seems to be the most elusive for you? Perhaps you haven’t even selected a book to fulfill it yet…
Honestly, I am so behind on the PS challenge. I've been mood reading so I try to fit in the books if they fit the prompts. Unfortunately, though many of the prompts are geared towards fiction genres so that makes it even harder as I don't read much fiction.
This year 92% of what I have read has been nonfiction.
Dubhease wrote: "I laughed when someone in ATY proposed a book published 25 years ago (for 2025). I'm already skipping that prompt this year."Oh, no! Do you realized that 25 years ago for next year is the same year as 24 years ago this year? I had trouble with the year for the 24. Not going there again.
Mandy wrote: "It’s like assigned reading for class. It becomes a chore and not pleasure...."This! I think some people must be happy to read any book that fits, but I want to enjoy my reading. There are enough struggles in life without struggling through a reading challenge.
Mod
If you like mysteries at all - go to Spencer Quinn's Chet & Bernie series, told entirely from Chet the dog's POV. The audio versions are very well done too. ..."
Yes that’s what I used for that category, and I LOVED the book! I’m definitely reading the rest of that series now.
Bea wrote: ""Oh, no! Do you realized that 25 years ago for next year is the same year as 24 years ago this year? I had trouble with the year for the 24. Not going there again...."It never got beyond the wild discussion.
Some people in ATY get oddly angry when ever someone says that a prompt was done for PopSugar and no one liked it here. But enough people do both that unpopular prompts here almost never get in there.
Mod
Oh, no! Do you realized that 25 years ago for next ye..."
Yes that’s exactly the problem!! I think this might be a fun prompt for younger people who were not adults in 2000, but for those of us who were reading the same types of books back then as now, it’s a struggle. I always say “I’m going to skip it!” but then I can’t bring myself to skip any, and I just complain a lot,
Mod
Yeah they really do!!! I think they misunderstand what people mean. They hear “that’s not allowed because PS did it” but what we mean is “I just did that last year in another challenge and I’m over it, so personally I’m not interested.” The whole point of the WD is to collect opinions, and sometimes opinions are negative.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "If you like mysteries at all - go to Spencer Quinn's Chet & Bernie series, told entirely from Chet the dog's POV. ..."I tried a Chet and Bernie book but I didn't like it. If I get the rest of the prompts done and I'm still stuck, I'll pick up a children's book I guess.
Jackie wrote: "QOTWMy most elusive is a book from an animal's POV. I've had a couple of dnf's but mostly I just haven't found many appealing options."
Have you tried Into the Wild? It's a middle grade series about cats, but gets surprisingly dark. If anything, it could be a quick read to get the prompt over with?
Nadine in NY wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Some people in ATY get oddly angry when ever someone says that a prompt was done for PopSugar ..."Yeah they really do!!! I think they misunderstand what people mean. They hear “..."
I never post there because I think some people feel it's a personal attack against them even if you are clear that YOU are personally over the prompt or not interested. I should also probably stop voting for ATY prompts because I swear every prompt I've downvoted made it in!
Denise wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Some people in ATY get oddly angry when ever someone says that a prompt was done for PopSugar ..."Yeah they really do!!! I think they misunderstand what peo..."
I personally find the whole ATY voting process irritating and ridiculous. I just wait until it's over and see what prompts we end up with. I read so eclectically and have so many tall TBR Towers, real and virtual, I can pretty much easily find anything. I finished ATY this year months ago without any planning at all. It was really too easy to fit casual reading to the prompts. I'm enjoying that PS has been a bit more demanding, had me digging through the TBR a bit, thinking outside the box. Of course there as prompts I really dislike but I still always have books for them -- if I never see another prompt relating to celebrity anything, movie/tv tie in of any kind, or NaNoWriMo or fanfiction, I'll be very happy.
Mod
I tried a Chet and Bernie book but I did..."
More than once I’ve used a picture book to complete a prompt!!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Aunty Lee's Delights (other topics)Turn Left At The Trojan Horse: A Would-Be Hero's American Odyssey (other topics)
Ticket to Ride - Lost and Found in America (other topics)
The Narrowboat Summer (other topics)
Twilight (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ovidia Yu (other topics)Anne Youngson (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
Ben H. Winters (other topics)
P. Djèlí Clark (other topics)
More...
Happy Thursday everyone! This week has been super-busy for me, but I'm managing. And a readathon!! I love those!!
I have completed several more books that I will wait to document. That always happens with a readathon. I just don’t want to spend time documenting! My team needs help! LOL
And just in case you missed my last-minute posting yesterday and are interested…here are some lists!!
James Baldwin!! An article celebrating his 100th birthday from NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/02/nx-s1-...
There is a Powell’s Summer Reading Challenge that lasts through August 31!
https://www.powells.com/summer-readin...
Though you must turn in your card at a Powell’s store to get prizes… But still…
The Booker Prize 2024 Longlist has been announced!
https://thebookerprizes.com/
Book Riot’s listing of the best of 2024 thus far:
https://bookriot.com/best-books-of-20...
ADMIN STUFF:
THE AUGUST MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon #1) by Kay O'Neill!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #23 A book that features dragons. National Lizard Day is August 14!
And who might be the "official organizer" willing to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!I posted some introductory questions and will post a few more! This was adorable, IMO!THE OCTOBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #8 A book written by a blind or visually impaired author.
October is White Cane Awareness Month! White Cane Awareness Day is October 15!
THE NOVEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #39 A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, please write it in. Please check the book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2022-present) are eligible. Remember to consult the listing of these books that are NOT eligible for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
NOTE: This is the NOMINATION round, which is step one. We will select the top results from this round to create a new poll for a Final Vote to select ONE book for the November 2024 group read.
ANOTHER NOTE: Group reads are more lively when there is a discussion leader to guide things; keep this in mind and try to nominate a book for which you'd happily lead the discussion.
Nine books have been nominated thus far, so every vote will be very important!
Vote HERE!! This poll will be active through Tuesday, August 13!!
THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson!!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #6 A book about pirates. Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19! John Baur and Mark Summers created this international day in 1995.
One of you must be the ”vivacious volunteer” needed to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or myself to secure your spot!! Having never read this classic, I'm pumped to do so this year!
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
Which 2024 Popsugar challenge prompt seems to be the most elusive for you? Perhaps you haven’t even selected a book to fulfill it yet…
For me, this is prompt #32 A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot. (I’m not a huge romance reader…) I haven’t yet decided upon a book, but as I just now scrolled through the listopia, I noted several that I own and have yet to read, so I just need to get to it! 😊
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 33/50
Around the Year (AtY): 50/52
Read Harder: 17/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
FINISHED:
*The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon #1) written and illustrated by Kay O'Neill ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was absolutely amazing!! Highly recommended! Though I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels, I super enjoyed the artwork in this one, as well as the story! Superb!
POPSUGAR: #2, #11, #23, #38
ATY: #1, #3-A book title that seemingly refers to one or more characters in the book, #6, #8-New Zealand, #14, #17, #24-Orange and Green, #26, #33, #34-bashful (Minette), #36-Hesekiel and Erik, #37, #49
RHC: #1, NEW #13, #16, #24-2015: prompt #20 Read a graphic novel, a graphic memoir, or a collection of comics of any kind
52 Book Club: #4, #9, #19, #24, #26-Graphic Novel/Fantasy, #28, #30, #32, #43
CONTINUING:
*Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
*Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking has me thinking so very much that I have delayed reviewing it until I can finalize my thoughts…
*The Birthing House by Kathy Taylor
*All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely starts with a bang! Just as I would expect!
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin