Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 41: 10/3 - 10/10
Good morning all! I signed my settlement from my insurance company yesterday. As part of it, I'm not allowed to talk negatively about them. I'm actually bothered by that, because I am still friends with several people I worked with and would want to tell them (and HR) how horrible this experience has been. But I'm sure these guys are screwing people over all over the country. I guess I would just say that if any of you are buying ANY insurance plan to cover long-term potential issues, just be aware that you will be in a long-haul fight to get what is yours. Otherwise, things have been good around here. Kiddo got her Halloween costume last weekend, a witch. She looks great. Weather is much cooler, and I'm already missing warmth. I haven't subbed this week, I was asked twice, but didn't have the car. I've already found a car I want to buy when I get my money, if it's still there when the funds come in.
I finished Antigone. I don't know why, but it seemed like it took me forever to read this short play. I liked it, but I just kept putting it down.
Basically done with MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus. The last section is a transcript of the author's conversation with his father that started this process. I kinda feel like reading it will be like rereading Maus, so I might just skim it. The rest of the book about his creative process, how he learned about the Holocaust, why he chose mice, how he chose to draw the way he did, how the book was received around the world, etc was super fascinating. It got pretty bogged down for me when he started speaking about comics in general and some of his influences, but otherwise, it has been an excellent book!
The one part that was a gut punch to me was actually something he included that a relative had done. The relative created a family tree before and after WWII, and deleted all the people who died in the Holocaust. I've heard the phrase "it wiped out entire branches of family trees", but to see it visually was jaw-dropping and sickening.
Been listening to The Fox Wife and really liking it (much more than her book The Ghost Bride).
QOTW: Absolutely! Although I really hate it when I figure it out (usually). I want the author to surprise me, if I get it, then I kind of feel cheated. Even books that aren't mysteries, I try to figure out where things are going, how they're going to get there, who's going to come out happy or miserable in the end.
Happy Thursday all!Finished one of my classes this semester. Whoo. Hopefully I can chill a little now... Still two classes to go, but at least they're entertaining ones (British Literature and Poetry).
Also find myself getting sucked into videos about the drama surrounding NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers' Month) and the organization that runs it. Yikes... the controversy makes me hope that PopSugar opts not to have a "novel written during NaNoWriMo" prompt again, at least for awhile...
Books read this week:
The Old Woman with the Knife -- decent thriller whose premise (a sixty-five year old woman who works as a hired assassin) ends up more interesting than the execution
3mph: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World -- the true story of a woman who walked across the world to raise breast cancer awareness. Quite an adventure, but also a little too America-centric at times (though given that 9/11 and the war in Iraq happened during her walk…)
Phoenix Without Ashes -- originally the pilot for a TV show, turned into novel form. Ends on a cliffhanger, but still an entertaining start to what could have been a fantastic show.
Currently reading:
The Final Trial
The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World
Space Oddity
Burn the Dark
QOTW:
I am bad at determining "whodunnit" in anything mystery-related -- I always end up following the wrong clues. So I just sit back and let the plot unravel for me, and let myself be surprised at the end. Sometimes I get lucky and guess it, though... or it's just glaringly obvious...
Kindles were on sale this week so I bought one as my niece’s Christmas present. She just turned 13 this year, and she’s a big reader. Since they don’t have access to a free public library near them, I’m going to get her set up with a free Brooklyn Public Library card.I’m on vacation next week! I can’t wait for a week-long break from work, especially after my vacation this summer was ruined by getting a second-degree burn. I’m going to see Pink in concert on Saturday with friends, and I’m taking my niece to see Fiddler on the Roof on Tuesday. I’m very excited for both! I’ll be on a mini-vacation Wednesday-Saturday just to get away and recharge my batteries.
Finished
They Do It With Mirrors. Another wonderful Miss Marple mystery! I can’t believe I only have two Miss Marple books left to read.
Reading
The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland, and Selected Writings
DNF
The River We Remember. This is such a beautiful book, but I can’t concentrate on the story and the book is due back at the library, so I’m okay with coming back to this later.
QOTW
I’m so terrible at figuring out the mystery that I stopped trying. Ironically, when I don’t try, the right clues jump out at me, and I don’t fall for the red herrings as often.
Kenya wrote: "Also find myself getting sucked into videos about the drama surrounding NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers' Month) and the organization that runs it. Yikes... the controversy makes me hope that PopSugar opts not to have a "novel written during NaNoWriMo" prompt again, at least for awhile..."Same. I haven't been following the drama too closely, but I just can't imagine what they were thinking. I haven't done NaNoWriMo for several years. I don't know if I'd be very motivated to participate this year.
Mod
I haven't followed it closely, but I'm like a moth to a flame when it comes to bookish controversies of all sorts. Didn't they get rid of one or more people directly involved last year and then do a complete overhaul? So I thought the controversy was behind them. Is it still alive?
The Old Woman with the Knife -- decent thriller whose premise (a sixty-five year old woman who works as a hired assassin) ends up more interesting than the execution
I wanted to love that more than I did, and I wondered if it was just a poor translation that kept it feeling so flat.
Mod
Yay for having it settled!! That gag rule is pretty standard, I've had to sign something like that each time I got laid off.
Everyone pretty much knows that insurance companies suck, anyway. Look at the US stock market - what is the ONE sure thing to invest in that will always provide a good steady return? INSURANCE. They are money makers, and they make their money off of us.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Kenya wrote: "... Also find myself getting sucked into videos about the drama surrounding NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers' Month) and the organization that runs it. Yikes.. ..."I haven't follo..."
The controversy involves their policy on generative AI in writing (they claim being anti-AI is ableist and racist, when most writers are against using generative AI to produce writing), and on someone (view spoiler) (Spoiler warning for potentially triggering content). It was a freaking rabbit hole, I swear...
I'm thrilled that it's cooling off. Also about 62 in here too (but that's because I left the windows open and I like it that way. Hope you get that new furnace soon)I finished one of the arcs I have You Have Gone Too Far by Carlene O'Connor which I enjoyed but I thought the ending was quite odd (but I don't want to spoil it by saying why it didn't work for me.
Speaking of mysteries with weird endings that didn't quite work for me Where the Body Was by Ed Brubaker, a very odd graphic novel.
Anyone else suddenly not getting any notifications? I'm getting none from this group (or any group or my friends, not sure what I might have accidentally toggled off and don't see anyplace to toggle it on) this does have the add to my update feed toggled on when I went to comment so I'm wondering if it's on their end.
QOTW As mystery is my biggest genre, that's half the fun for me. I enjoy trying to guess the ending (usually do), get that smug sense of self confidence from it. However I do get annoyed when the ending is weird, contrived or there was no possible way to guess that because there were no clues leading up to it.
Happy Thursday!This week I've been fighting a big cold.
Nadine, I remember listening to 1010 WINS all the time when I was still in New York. "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world."
Finished:
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo - 3.5 stars - no prompt. It was okay, and it kept me engaged all the way through, but I was never really invested in the central romance.
The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 9 by Natsu Hyuuga - 4 stars - no prompt. Things are getting crazy.
Comics/manga:
Rainbow Days 12
Currently reading:
Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro - no prompt. Looking forward to some fun middle grade for spooky season.
Upcoming/Planned:
The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling - no prompt.
The City in Glass by Nghi Vo - no prompt.
QOTW:
I do like guessing at what's going on, but I'm not right most of the time.
I've had Covid again. Well, my partner tested positive at the weekend after we'd had a couple of days of feeling absolutely exhausted. But that was the last test, and by the time we got more delivered, both of us were testing negative. Just feel a bit under the weather, so I'm glad it's nowhere near as bad as the first time and seems to have been defeated quickly. Thanks immune system!Only finished one book again and I don't think it fits any prompts:
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood. Not as cosy as I wanted and everyone is referred to as witchy or non-witchy. It really got on my nerves! The audiobook narrator over acted some of the characters in this, but the story was fine, just not what I was wanting out of it.
QOTW:
I can't help but try and work it out. I don't mind being wrong, but I hate it if it's obvious and I work it out too quickly.
Kenya wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Kenya wrote: "... Also find myself getting sucked into videos about the drama surrounding NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers' Month) and the organization that runs it. Yikes.. ...."I think the concept of trying to get a first draft done in a month is really useful, so I'm sad it's so firmly linked to the NaNoWriMo organisation. Maybe I will do NonNaNoWriMo to make some progress on book two.
Cornerofmadness wrote: "Anyone else suddenly not getting any notifications? I'm getting none from this group (or any group or my friends, not sure what I might have accidentally toggled off and don't see anyplace to toggle it on) this does have the add to my update feed toggled on when I went to comment so I'm wondering if it's on their end."I've noticed the same thing. It's annoying when you're actually trying to particpate in groups.
Happy Thursday! 2024 Reading Challenges: I’ve read 382 books and completed 32.6% of my ever-growing TBR.
52 Book Club: 51/52 (October Mini-Challenge: 0/3)
ATY: 50/52 (Fall Challenge 32/45)
Booklist Queen: 48/52
Diverse Baseline: 27/36
Popsugar: 47/50
Robot Librarian: 51/52
ICYMI Backlist: 10/12
Recently Completed:
All You Have to Do Is Call: 1970s pre-Roe historical fiction set in Chicago. I love books with strong female characters. NPR 2023 Books We Love. (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: All You Have) ★★★★
Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter: Once again we’re reminded that disrupting an ecosystem can be disastrous. Reasonable Doubt Book Club. (ATY #40 – involving a wild animal or endangered species) ★★★★
Jackal: (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Erin E. Adams/Diverse Baseline #28 – horror, mystery, or thriller by a BIPOC author/Popsugar #40 – horror by a BIPOC author) ★★★★
Where Sleeping Girls Lie (ATY #34 – related to one of Snow White’s Seven Dwarves: “Sleepy”) ★★★★
Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Eric Jay Dolin/Robot Librarian #30 – set during a war that’s not WWI or WWII) ★★★
The Charm Offensive (ICYMI Backlist #10 – published in 2021) ★★★★
Sea of Tranquility (ATY #28 – related to sea) ★★★★
I Was a Teenage Slasher: I never thought I could empathize with a serial killer. Great twist on the slasher trope! (ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: I Was) ★★★★★
The Long Game: Elena Armas’s rom-coms are just so long… I kinda get bored. (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: Long) ★★★
Currently Reading:
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story
Redwood Court
The Butcher Game (ATY Fall – PUMPKINSPICELATTE: Alaina Urquhart)
Red Side Story (ATY #51 – published in 2024/Booklist Queen #11 – an author you love)
Infectious Madness: The Surprising Science of How We "Catch" Mental Illness (ATY #34 – related to one of Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs: “Sneezy”/Diverse Baseline #30 – a BIPOC author)
I Flipping Love You (ATY Fall – HOTAPPLECIDER: I Flipping)
A House with Good Bones: Adventures Underground Book Club. (ATY Fall – PUMPKINSPICELATTE: T. Kingfisher)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (52 Books “Read It/Watch It” Challenge/ATY Fall – FAMILYGATHERING: Emily M. Danforth)
Our Infinite Fates: Goodreads Giveaway.
The Love of My Afterlife
So Thirsty (52 Books October Mini-Challenge #1 – a beverage on the cover)
QOTW: No, I usually just let the story develop as it will. I'm usually wrong if I try to guess.
It's finally starting to feel like fall over here, with consistent cool temperatures that finally prompted me to actually turn on the heat this morning. We got a visit from the fire department at my library for Fire Safety Week, which was fun, though not as exciting as last year, when they were showing off their new ladder truck.Finished:
The Man Without Talent and My Picture Diary - Technically I finished the first one last week, but I read these two in conversation, so I opted to wait until I finished both to talk about them. These books cover roughly the same period in the life of two married artists, though the first is a fictionalized account and the second is presented as simplified accounts. Still, it was interesting to see the contrasts.
The New Adventures of Encanto, Vol. 1: Time To Shine - The stories were really cute, especially the two that focused on the parents as kids.
Exquisite Corpse - This one was weird, with two twists I didn't see coming. But it was a quick read.
Thunder Song: Essays - (A nonfiction book about indigenous people) Mixed feelings on this one: There were some really fascinating essays here, especially the ones that focused on her background and the history of where she grew up, but some of the essays fell a little flat for me. A few reviews I read suggest this book was written to fill in some gaps from her previous book, which I haven't read, so that might be why.
No More Dead Dogs - (A book that was published 24 years ago, the 24th book of an author) I didn't read a lot of Gordon Korman's stuff when I was growing up, but I kind of wish I did now. This book was a hoot from start to finish, even if the ending shoehorned in a bit of romance that really was not necessary.
Currently reading:
How to Survive a Killer Musical: Agony and Ecstasy on the Road to Broadway
Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment
In a Sunburned Country
The Spellshop
Odd Blood
My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life
QOTW: I don't usually try to solve the mystery, but if enough clues are dropped, I might put them together.
Laura Z wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "Anyone else suddenly not getting any notifications? I'm getting none from this group (or any group or my friends, not sure what I might have accidentally toggled off and don..."Okay so it's some glitch on their end which I can stop making myself nuts trying to fix it. But yes, this is highly annoying
Happy Thursday!So I have 3 weeks of work left before I have two months off to do some travelling. Which is so exciting. But I have 13 library books right now that I have to read and return before I go. It's going to get intense, especially with all the other prep and packing I need to do!
No prompt fills again this week, been concentrating on the library books for which I've maxxed renewals.
Finished
The Princess Saves Herself in This One Last week, I'd read The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One and liked it enough to get this one. Didn't like it quite as much, but The Witch Doesn't Burn did set a high bar!
Morning Star I found it a tough read just because of how aware I was that everyone except the MC could (and probably would) die. Which is probably a good sign, that I was that invested and didn't want people to die. Still, it was more a tense time reading than a fun one. Since it was originally just the trilogy, it ends in a good spot so I haven't decided yet if I'll move on with the series.
Star Island Just meh. I didn't really understand why certain things happened or what was the point overall.
The Space Between the StarsI've said before I'm a big fan of 'crew of space misfits' books, in the genre of Redshirts or The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. This one made me think I need to revise that to 'lovable crew of space misfits' because they certainly were a bunch of misfits who were in space for at least part of the book, but none of them were that likeable, so it was a bit of a slog. It also didn't seem very realistic regarding it's world - it's set after a plague that wipes out all but one in a million, so it's small bands of survivors, but somehow everything still functions? There are never any real concerns re food or water supply or quality, and apparently, electricity and the Internet still run. Seems like there would be some more hurdles to deal with rather than just debates about what any new society should look like.
Currently Reading
Capture the Sun
Made for You
QotW
I do try to solve, although I'm not great at it. I am pretty good though at identifying which seemingly innocuous details are actually clues / things that will become significant. Despite that it doesn't usually help me get to the solution!
Happy Thursday! Not much to report, so F FWD to reading.FNL: 37/40
PS: 20/40
Total: 56/52
DNF: 1
Finished
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes ⭐⭐⭐
4* for the historical timeline, 2* for the temporary one. That one was really bad.
Currently reading
The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy
QOTW
I always try to predict what’s going to happen. I’m not really trying to solve the mystery, just thinking about what happened or would be the next step.
I hope everyone in the path of Milton and recovery of Helene are wellI finished 2 books:
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
PS: n/a
ATY: cozy mystery
52: n/a
Robot librarian: n/a
Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
PS: 24 year old
ATY: n/a
52:n/a
RL: n/a
QOTW: I don't read mysteries very often but when I do I generally figure it out even though I don't actively try to solve it. I think that's why I don't care for them.
Mod
YES that's right! I can't believe I forgot that slogan!!
Mod
I'm getting notifications but a lot of people are not. They made some changes and now a lot of people are having trouble, it's not just you! And apparently when you report the problem you get no helpful response.
Happy Thursday! We got a memo at work that starting January we're going to have to be in office at least three days a week. So that's disappointing. Supposedly it's to make communication easier, and build work relationships, but most of the people who I communicate with aren't even in the state. Lowkey I think they just want to show investors/share holders that we're busily working. So that's a bummer...Finished:
Back in a Spell-I liked the first two books in this series, but this one not as much. There was just something missing both with the love story and the mystery. I'll still read the next book in the series though
-no prompt
Under the Oak Tree: The Comic volume 1- pretty graphic novel, this was a nice distraction, not anything amazing
-no prompt
Monstrilio- I liked this so much more than I was expecting to, it got me emotional at the end.
-40 A horror book by a BIPOC author
Bury Your Gays- a fun horror story, that also covers bigotry and trauma. The Smoker character gave me the creeps so bad I had to set the book at one point
-no prompt
Currently reading:
The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power- listening to this short story collection, but it's a little lackluster. Going to give it a few more stories, because I've been meaning to check out some of these authors
Potions and Proposals- need to review this for netgalley but have not been feeling motivated
QotW:
Sometimes I do, but for a while all the thrillers/mysteries I was reading were so obvious (it was always the perfect husband who was secretly a monster). I haven't been reading as many mysteries lately but I like when they can keep me on my toes, without having an answer that comes completely out of left field
Cornerofmadness wrote: "Anyone else suddenly not getting any notifications? I'm getting none from this group (or any group or my friends, not sure what I might have accidentally toggled off and don't see anyplace to toggle it on) this does have the add to my update feed toggled on when I went to comment so I'm wondering if it's on their end...."I'm still receiving notifications for discussion threads I don't participate in much, but not these new weekly discussion. I think they've toggled the default to not receiving notifications and you have to mark it in order to change that...
Library TBR: 1/12Purchased TBR: 23/33
Finished: Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy I really enjoyed this one.
Started: I started so many books, I barely finished any!
Stuntman!: My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life
When at Times the Mob Is Swayed: A Citizen’s Guide to Defending Our Republic
Revisionaries: What We Can Learn from the Lost, Unfinished, and Just Plain Bad Work of Great Writers
The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions
The Tensorate Series
The Life Impossible
QotW: I don't really read mysteries. When I do, I know that whoever the MC is setting up to be the likely candidate will not be it.
Happy Thursday!Hope everyone in Florida is okay <3
I am so exhausted. The whole getting up early for bunny meds, and my best friend being here (which I ADORED and I miss her so much already but people will always be exhausting to me), and early morning appointments, and my mom coming back from her last-minute holiday today... I am wiped. And have been for ages.
My birthday was a lot of fun, though. Dinner was delicious! Can't believe I'm already 30. Hell, I still feel like I'm 22. (I don't. I feel 12 and 75 all at the same time, but I love the song so I had to xD)
I have another appointment at 10:15am tomorrow, which for me might as well be 5am. It's online, at least, I put my foot down on that, but it'll be tough. Then Saturday I finally have a day of nothing and then Sunday will be spent entirely at the cinema for a 'Alternative Cinema Festival'. Let's see how I fare with that haha!
In gaming news, I am one treasure map/chest away from completing everything I can in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag! It's gonna take a while to get it (I didn't realize there were maps to be found in this particular way so I'm catching up with many many trading missions that take 8-10 hours each xD) but I'm working on it. Only thing after this I could do is the Legendary Ships, but I don't think I'll even attempt those, hahah!
A huge thank you to my best friend for doing all the swimmy bits for me, though! Couldn't have done it without her!
Read
Nothing yet, been too tired to read much so it's slow going!
Currently Reading
When Jackals Storm the Walls
This book feels so disjointed and I hate it because it's 100% my own fault for only being able to read small snippets when exhausted. It's a huge build up too so uuughhh why brain & body whyyyy
QOTW
I don't read a whole lot of mysteries, but I do know I don't actively try to figure out what's happening in a book, but it's running in the back of my head, because whenever something is revealed I immediately know whether I'd figured it out or not!
Mod
I'm sorry that stinks. The same thing happened to me at my old job, and my entire team was in another state so it made no sense at all. There was only one guy on site that I would interact with, when he was running tests for me I would go to his lab and spend time there. No need for me to spend the rest of the day at my desk listening to cubicle mates talk about programs I dont' work on and clip their fingernails ewwww
I basically refused to go in unless I was in the lab. I ended up getting laid off so that didn't work out for me LOL but I have few regrets. I wish them all the worst hahaha. (They ended up laying off the guy in the lab, too, about six months after they got rid of me.)
Happy Thursday!I was on track to finish a book this week, but instead all my inter-library loans came in and now I'm spread between 4 books and a book of poetry. The good news is that 4 of these books have PS prompts, which will bring me to the 30 books I said I'd read.
I 'm starting a 4 day weekend! So, lots of reading and relaxing in my future.
Series - 9/12
Nobel laureates - 4/5
Mysteries/Thrillers - 9/13
ATY - 40/45
PS - 26/30
Summer - 12/12 - Finished!
Currently reading:
Windows and Stones: Selected Poems - 45%
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing - 55%
Not a Happy Family - 78%
One of Us Is Back - 30%
How to Sell a Haunted House - 15%
Buddy Reads:
none at present
QOTW: I always do. I consider a mystery well written when I can't figure it out. I love this question since my personal challenge this year was to read 13 mysteries/thrillers and get them off my TBR.
Nadine - if no one else volunteered, I can do Dorian Gray. Fun fact, Dorian was my boy name (that I never got to use) when I was having kids.
Quick check-in for me...I finished two books, but neither seemed to fit any of my open prompts, so no movement. I'm at 21/45 and 2/5 for this challenge, and 73/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.Finished:
* A Dream in the Dark written by Robert Justice and narrated by J.D. Jackson, which was excellent; and,
* Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke, which was one of my book clubs' picks for this month. I don't know. I just didn't connect with this one and am not sure how much I'll be able to retain between now and the discussion at the end of the month.
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* Guide Me Home by Attica Locke, which is my latest Goodreads Giveaways win;
* Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia written by Janet Wallach and narrated by Jean Gilpin, which is my other book club's pick for October; and,
* Bad Day at the Vulture Club by Vaseem Khan.
QotW:
Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels? Mystery is my favorite genre (as evidenced by my current list of in progress books 😉), but I don't ever start one with the intention of trying to solve the mystery. My analytic brain can't help itself though and I do usually start trying to figure things out, especially if I'm really into the story. I prefer not being able to deduce the ending and just focusing on enjoying the reading journey, but sometimes it is very satisfying to have figured things out🕵🏼♀️
Happy check-in! It has been shorts weather here except for one super windy day but nothing compared to down south. I really hope all those in the paths of these hurricanes and tornados is doing okay. I have family with a place outside of Sarasota. They were safe in Canada and their place seems fine on the outside so far.I too have had all the holds come in at the library. I got through lots this week but there's still a lot left to read. :)
Finished Reading:
The Salt Grows Heavy ⭐⭐
I'm not sure what happened. It was a Little Mermaid retelling apparently, but I didn't see that other than the main character is a mermaid. This counts as body horror so this was a bad book for me to pick.
A Thief Among the Trees ⭐⭐⭐
It's always nice to see characters drawn after you've read about them. This is a An Ember in the Ashes prequel.
The Yakuza's Bias, Volume 1 The Yakuza's Bias 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mangas following a second in command Yakuza who become a Kpop otaku. Easy way to accomplish the Kpop prompt for anyone still looking for a book.
What Does It Feel Like? ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sophie Kinsella wrote a short book fictionalizing her life and recent battle with brain cancer. It was sad but still had her usual humour.
Lore Olympus: Volume Seven ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These can not be published fast enough for me.
Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These also aren't translated fast enough for me.
Adulthood Is a Gift! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Her comics on millenials in this vs. her first collection are interesting. She's now 30 and thinks she's old but knows she's not.
Buried Deep and Other Stories ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Short story collection by a fave author. The stories I loved were 5 stars and the others were meh.
PS 45/50
ATY 52/52 Summer 36/36
DBC 30/36
Goodreads 240/250
QOTW:
Mysteries aren't my usual reads but I do try and figure things out in any book.
Kiddo is on Fall Break this week so I have been busy watching him. He came down with a sickness and subsequently so did I. I dropped him with his father this morning and even though I have two days to actually get my work done I was so exhausted I just came back home and lounged around all day. Which means I will have to get about 15 hours of work, at three different stores, done in two days. At least I got all my weed-wacking done last weekend so I don't have yard work to do as well.I too have been starting a bunch and not finishing much, while also getting more books from library when I still have a bunch that are due in like four days.
2024 Challenges:
Popsugar: 44/50
ATY: 52/52
Robot Librarian: 47/52
Booklist Queen: 50/52
A to Z: 26/26
Physical TBR: 2/99
Kindle TBR: 3/122
Goodreads: 186/100
Book Clubs:
PS Monthly: 23/56
Reese: 32/100
Oprah: 13/103
Jenna: 9/70
OSS: 7/39
Finished:
2 finished, 0 Completed Popsugar
40 Men and 12 Rifles: Indochina 1954
This was an interesting look at the beginning of the Vietnam war from the Vietnamese side. It is a graphic novel and it follows one man as he basically gets sucked/forced into the war, fighting for Mao's side, or was it Ho?
Leslie F*cking Jones (Audiobook)
To much swearing, even for me and I swear a lot. Also it just seemed like she wasn't even reading the novel but just telling us her story. When Dolly did it it was okay but for some reason this did not work here.
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Currently Reading
While We Were Dating
Red, White & Royal Blue
Treasure Island
On the Backburner
Libby
Physical Library Rentals
Modelland
Queen B
The Enchanted Hacienda
Wicked as You Wish
An Unreliable Magic
Lo & Behold
Click
Camp
Act
Break
This Is Not The Jess Show
Amulet 3
Amulet 4
Amulet 5
Amulet 6
Amulet 7
Amulet 8
Amulet 9
Swan Song
A’int I A Woman
Magazines: (13/150)
Read since last check-in: 0
Question of the Week:
I don’t usually try to solve it but, occasionally I might put it together with the right clues.
Hello from Columbus! I had a really busy day so I’m just now getting around to typing an update. Nothing much to add here, I’m tired lol. Finished:
Starry Eyes for the second chance romance prompt. This book was aggressively YA. And that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, but it just really hits you in the face with how much of a YA romance this was written to be. Quirky characters, adventure mishaps that leads to unlikely sparks and kindled romance, teen stressed about things happening at home. So many familiar elements, but it was pretty decent.
The Shining for an author that’s hearing impaired prompt. This is my second full King novel and man, I just think I don’t like his novels. I’ve historically enjoyed his short stories but after It and now this, I don’t know if I want to give it another go. I went into this wanting to be unsettled and maybe a little spooked and I got pages of the self-hating and self-pitying inner monologue of a below average man. Idk maybe Jack’s writing really was a genius as he made it out to be but I have my doubts. Kubrick really elevated this work and I wish I had left it at that.
All that aside, this wasn’t *horrible*. I didn’t hate this the way I hated It, I’m just disappointed.
Currently Reading:
The Historian
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
House of Leaves
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Challenges:
Popsugar - 31/45; 3/5
Read Harder - 16/24
Classics - 9/12
European Tour - 9/10
12 Friends - 12/12
Yearly Goal - 126/150
QOTW:
Hm, kind of but in a pretty passive way. I like to make guesses but I prefer being wrong.
Erin wrote: "Happy Thursday! We got a memo at work that starting January we're going to have to be in office at least three days a week. So that's disappointing. Supposedly it's to make communication easier, an..."Being made to go in when the people you're working with aren't in the same place is the worst. I had that in my last job (although it was only one day a week) and it was so awkward. I was just sat there by myself and it made it harder to get work done, because the open plan office was so noisy.
Hey everyone, so glad to be back on my laptop again. I loved my mini trip but it wasn't as easy posting using my phone/tablet. And I missed my home library, my safe space.Things have been going okay. It was nice to get away for a week and just kick back.
Book News:
I'm not gonna be sharing my 'what I'm currently reading' since that's a bit sporadic at the moment.
What I do want to mention is that the prompts were given for the upcoming (and sadly final) Nonfiction November! I've been participating in this going on 6 years so I am stoked.
Lately, I've just been buying books to fit the prompts since I don't want to read what I already have. I found some neat ones.
November is also Native American Heritage Month so I'm planning to get in some reading regarding Indigenous topics.
So here's the list of books that have already come in and a list of the ones I'm waiting to arrive.
Arrived:
Fake Geek Girls: Fandom, Gender, and the Convergence Culture Industry
Indian Wars Everywhere: Colonial Violence and the Shadow Doctrines of Empire (American Crossroads)
The Plot Against Native America: The Fateful Story of Native American Boarding Schools and the Theft of Tribal Lands
Adapting Superman: Essays on the Transmedia Man of Steel
The Rise of the Latino Vote: A History
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum (graphic novel)
An Indigenous People's History of the United States (graphic novel).
Books I'm Waiting On:
Environmental Ethics: The Central Issues
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
American Indians and the Fight for Equal Voting Rights
Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code (Studies in Popular Culture
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Question of the Week
Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
I don't really read mystery novels in a sense. The closest I've come to them are the Richard Castle and Rizzoli & Isles books and those are more like cop dramas rather than actual mystery books.
Hi all! Hoping everyone affected by Milton is doing ok. I have family in Florida and they were luckily not directly hit and are doing fine. Minor damage but thankfully that's all. Lots of books in progress but nothing finished this week:
The God of the Woods
The Little Lost Library
Bookshops & Bonedust
QOTW: Oh I am absolutely a person who tries to solve the mystery! I get annoyed when a mystery isn't set up that way. What do you mean the detective found a clue in the second to last chapter that tells them the murderer is a person we haven't even met? Boooooo. For me, the puzzle is a big part of the fun.
Nobel Prize in Lit got announced and it is Han Kang. I haven't read any of her work but I've heard good things about The Vegetarian. Anybody read it or any of her others?
@Jennifer W – Congratulations on finally getting the settlement. I am sending lots of good will that you can now start forging your future in hope.@L Y N N – My condolences on the lost of your furry one. May your memories bring you comfort.
@ Doni – I have added two books from your currently reading list to my Friends Recommend TBR. You might not be recommending them yet, still The Mystic Heart and The Tensorate Series sound interesting to me.
@ Jackie - I read The Vegetarian and gave it 3*. I sometimes have a hard time connecting with Asian writers and this was one of those times. A good story but a bit out there for me.
Happy Friday, y’all. Although property-wise I skated through Helene with little damage, it has amazingly been stressful for me. I found this past week, after electricity came back on, that I was exhausted…emotionally. Partly, I think due to the ongoing news of the destruction everywhere else, the complaining on the local Aiken group feeds on FB, and the impending destruction in FL. All I wanted to do was veg…and watch mindless TV.
The only good part was part of that vegging out was binge-watching A Discovery of Witches on Acorn TV. But, it was over a bit too soon (only 3 seasons corresponding to the three books). Believe it or not, it gave me hope.
As of today, I have decided to limit my access to the news to just the early morning and (if I am still up at 11p) the evening news. And, I will get back to looking for the good around me…and believing again in hope.
I haven’t read much this past week…and have found myself a bit restless with the books I have started, although I will probably finish one today.
Most of the extension courses I signed up for are finished…or will by Monday. That frees up a lot of time that I haven’t the faintest idea how to fill just now.
Yard work, cleanup, is on hold. Still not allowed to water the yard and where debris sat on my backyard, the grass is all but dead.
Weather-wise, it is cooler. This morning it was actually in the 40s with an expected high in 70s. That is a little bit below normal for us in this SC area.
Finished:
Lovesong: Becoming a Jew – PAS. A memoir. 4*, primarily for the black perspective.
Currently Reading:
The Gray House (Kindle) – BIG book of over 700 pages. Owned. When there is no light, a Kindle makes a good way to read since it has its own built-in light. 30%. No headway on this one over the past week.
Heaven Has No Favorites – PAS. 55%
Just Starting:
West with Giraffes – ATY #40. CD Audio. I have decided to listen while working on a zigsaw puzzle.
Skin – PAS. 2%. Gosh but I am a bit nervous that this one will be too scary already! 2%
In This Grave Hour – ALCM. 1%
On Deck:
East Wind: West Wind – PAS
Parable of the Talents - PAS
PS 32/50 (No headway on this challenge, although I own 4 of the remaining books and have one on hold)
ATY 39/52 (Still working on #40…audio CD. Only source for listening to it is my laptop…not something that I am on all that much.)
GR 167/200
QotW: Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
I used to do so. Now, it depends. If the protagonist is a detective and is the character that I am identifying with in the story, then yes. Otherwise, I let the story develop even if I have questions in my head or my brain is screaming “He’s the bad guy!”. I love it though when the ending is truly surprising to me.
Mod
OMG this is the FIRST TIME EVER that I've already heard of AND READ the Nobel Prize winner.
The Vegetarian was good, I gave it 4 stars, but it is EXTREMELY weird and upsetting. Far weirder and more upsetting than I was prepared for. This woman is mentally ill and she is truly going through some shit. Some of the book is flashbacks to her childhood, and in one of those flashbacks is a horrific scene where a dog is abused. I was not prepared.
It's worth reading, because my experience with the book was very different from what I was expecting.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Looks like I have We Do Not Part downloaded from NetGalley - I'd better get on that, it will be HOT now! (Just as soon as I finish the book i'm currently reading, which is short but soooo sloooooowwww)
Mod
Fun fact, Dorian was my boy name (that I never got to use) when I was having kids."
No one else has spoken, so it is yours!!! Thank you for volunteering :-)
That leaves November's group read One Last Stop still open for a discussion leader!
Nadine in NY wrote: "No need for me to spend the rest of the day at my desk listening to cubicle mates talk about programs I dont' work on and clip their fingernails ewwww..."Oh eww! Yeah, it just doesn't make sense to have me sit there and still only talk through zoom.
Ellie wrote: "I was just sat there by myself and it made it harder to get work done, because the open plan office was so noisy...."
Our office is completely open too- so distracting. Last time we were all there, we were working on our own spreadsheet listening to someone's conversation across the building. Someone today brought up that there's a lot of confidential information discussed on calls, and not enough secure office space to have those calls. So we'll see how that works!
Thank you, Bea. I hope you can work on recharging.
Happy Friday! Boss was out of town again this week so it meant more 9-5 work for me, but that also meant getting a few QT mornings with hubby so I can’t complain too much. And the weather has cooled down into the 60s this week - perfect fall vibes for October. With weather in mind, my thoughts are with my friends and everyone in Florida in the path of Milton (not to mention everyone still recovering from Helene). Book-wise, I know it’s early October but I’m already planning for Nonfiction November. Plenty of my owned backlog fits the prompts offered this year, which is encouraging especially as I’ve been slacking on my Mount TBR challenge. And I'm hoping I can make room for a Dorian Gray reread in December! I love that book so much.
Read this week:
Lone Women - 4 stars. My first Victor LaValle and surely not the last. Wonderfully narrated by Joneice Abbott-Pratt, whose work I previously listened to on The Manifestor Prophecy. Horror book by a BIPOC author
House of Hunger - 3 stars. I loved the aesthetic here even if the story itself didn’t necessarily do its share of the work.
That Ain’t Witchcraft - 5 stars. The choice to ramp up the crossroads’ importance had my attention (Supernatural, anyone?) and this was my favorite Antimony book. The stakes went ridiculously high. I cried. It was perfect.
PS 42/50
ATY 49/52
Mount TBR 27/48
Currently:
The Kaiju Preservation Society - I’m so glad this is laugh-out-loud hilarious every time I pick it up (which seems to be about once a week 😬); it’s become my Weekly Yard Fire book, at least until the sun goes down and I pull out the Kindle.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - I’m only in ch3 and I’m already conflicted - I like it a lot and one or two of the characters already bother me. Book about video games
The Republic of Thieves - Slower going this week but ugh I love their schemes.
Defy or Defend - It lurks. It waits. Will I ever return? Soon. Maybe.
QOTW: Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
I used to, and I definitely still keep tabs on suspects, but as far as the How, I think I let that go after I read ORIENT and got *intensely* angry with Agatha Christie, lol
Belated checking in as I'm on vacation in Montana - staying in Big Sky while exploring Yellowstone National Park. It has been fantastic but little reading other than maps and a guidebook has occurred. Still 49/50 PS - though progess has been made on that book of poetry I need to read.
Finished - just one book:
Grumpy Monkey Play All Day - newest one and just a delight!
Current Reading - same as last week with most progress in the book of poetry!:
Selected Poems
This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland
Undead Girl Gang
I fly back to NYC tomorrow, and since the flight is midday, not the crack of dawn, and I will have slept rather than pulling a work all nighter, I expect to get some serious reading done as I have a layover too, not just the flight.
QOTW: ABSOLUTELY! Always have since that very first Nancy Drew. I love puzzles and mysteries are puzzles. Mysteries are my favorite genre actually. There are few authors who manage to surprise me with who did it although I often don't figure all the bits out.
One more book should be arriving today and then I'll be set with my Nonfiction November TBR. I've been planning for that more so that I haven't allowed myself much reading time for October (only read 4 books this month).
Nadine in NY wrote: " a horrific scene where a dog is abused..."And I'm out. Thanks for the warning!
I think I've missed three check ins! The HORROR -- life has been busy friends, and my reading has been reflecting that. Multiple hurricanes came through and devastated my hometown of Tampa / St Petersburg FL twice and Helene hit the Western mountains of NC (current home state). Work has been WERKing me -- way too much these last few weeks, and I've been trying my best to date (which also sucks). HAH! I just need more time in the days...Challenges:
71/75 GoodReads Challenge
38/50 PopSugar Challenge
Finished:
1.) Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (#3 24 Yr Old) ⭐⭐⭐⭐: This was such an appropriate memoir for a twenty something, brought back so many core memories of this decade. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
2.) Leaving by Roxana Robinson (No prompt) ⭐⭐⭐⭐: I adored the writing, but was so frustrated with these characters - they drove me crazy. The passages about the female MC and her dog Bella will be ones I will never forget.
3.) The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (No Prompt) ⭐⭐⭐: Liked this, but will forget it quickly I fear. Just didn't connect with it as much as I had hoped.
Currently Reading:
1.) Such a Bad Influence
2.) Project Hail Mary
QoTW: Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
Absolutely!! However, I love when I'm way off.
Erin wrote: "Happy Thursday! We got a memo at work that starting January we're going to have to be in office at least three days a week. So that's disappointing. Supposedly it's to make communication easier, an..."We went back 3x a week in September and can confirm, I hate it.
Britany wrote: "Erin wrote: "Happy Thursday! We got a memo at work that starting January we're going to have to be in office at least three days a week. So that's disappointing. Supposedly it's to make communication easier.We went back 3x a week in September and can confirm, I hate
"
I had to go back 3 times a week in September and I hate it too. I lose 1.5 hours of sleep for every in office day and waste 2.5 hours in my car, polluting the environment. For what? Some downtown businesses think they are entitled to part of my pay cheque?
When I started working from home, I channeled that 2.5 hours I saved in commuting time into getting more sleep and spending 30 minutes a day reading. I bumped the amount of books I read a year from 15 to over 40.
Mod
I remember being AMAZED at how well rested my kids and I were when we all had to work and school from home! We didn't have to get dressed or eat breakfast or pack lunch before leaving the house, we didn't have to drive or ride the school bus, we could just roll out of bed and turn on the computer and immediately be working while making coffee, etc. I don't understand why companies failed to see the value in that. I started work earlier and kept working later because I could, I could log in while the coffee was brewing, I could check in while making dinner ... And I was only 20 minutes from the office, if I needed to be in the lab I could get there quickly. (And the campus is big enough that WALKING to the lab from my office took about ten minutes anyway! so it's not like 20 minutes was outrageous lol)
Mod
I have a good friend who just learned that her granddaughter has left the U.S. to return to her boyfriend and the biological father of one of her two small children (Who is 5 and her younger sister not yet 2 years old.) who is in Gaza. Needless to say, her anxiety is through the roof right now and I really wish she had not found out about this. Who knows what this woman is imagining might happen to her… Being a U.S. citizen means nothing. There is NO protection for anyone in that region. I can only hope she and her children at least survive. Seemingly, no one knows how she gathered enough money to make the trip. When she first arrived back in the U.S. a bit more than 5 years ago, 5 months pregnant, her whole body was bruised from the physical abuse heaped upon her by this same man. *sigh* I mention this because it is a nightmare scenario, IMO, and will hopefully help all of us be a bit more grateful for our own lives as well as the lives of those we love. It makes my heart break that this woman feels she will be more comfortable with all the inherent danger of living in that region. I rather hope she is unable to obtain a visa or any formal permission to remain there and will be forced to return to the U.S. But who knows? My own concerns seem very small in comparison… And that reminded me of Ta-Nehisi Coates's newest release, The Message. I caught a bit of an interview with him about this book and am fascinated by the fact that one of the stories describes his visit to Palestine prior to the Hamas attack and resulting "war." I so admire his writing and really am curious to read of his experiences.
Harper Collins listing of 23 Books About Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans for younger readers! Some really interesting new-to-me books on here!
https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/h...
ADMIN STUFF:
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 IS One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #39 A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
And who is the "vivacious volunteer" willing to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!!
THE DECEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #36 A Book Written By an Incarcerated Or Formerly Incarcerated Person
National Mudd Day is December 20! What is National Mudd Day, you may ask? It references a fascinating bit of history I doubt many of us know. Dr. Samuel Mudd was a doctor who helped John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirator David Herold immediately following Lincoln’s assassination on the night of April 14, 1865. Mudd performed surgery on Booth and allowed them to spend the night. He didn’t report the men’s visit for another 24 hours, though it was assumed he would have heard of the assassination well before that time. Mudd was arrested 12 days later and eventually convicted to a life sentence by a military commission for the crime of aiding and conspiring in a murder, missing the death penalty by only one vote!
I know virtually nothing about this book, so I will probably join in the monthly read discussion! Dubhease is the "End-of-Year Innovator" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! YAY Dubhease! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!
***
Question of the Week:
Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
My immediate thought upon reading this was, “Well, yeah! Duh…” Then I read Nadine’s answer and I cannot imagine just reading a mystery without attempting to solve it as I read... I particularly enjoy historical fiction mysteries and am anxious to complete Kate Mosse's Labyrinth today! Trying to solve the mystery is much of the fun for me! Do I always solve them? Rarely. But that isn’t the point! LOL 😉 Sometimes it is simply the journey that is most enjoyable! 👍
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 36/50
Around the Year (AtY): 51/52
Read Harder: 17/24
52 Book Club: 45/52
FINISHED:
*The 19th Christmas (Women’s Murder Club #19) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was one of the more enjoyable novels in this series, IMO! And a new character that I can only assume will be recurring now in the series…
ATY: #2, #3-A book with a child character, #5, #11, #12, #14, #15, #17, #25, #32, #33, #37, #43
RHC: #23, #24-2023: prompt #23 Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel
52 Book Club: #3, #6, #14, #30, #33
*20th Victim (Women’s Murder Club #20) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a rather pleasing installment in this series! Though I did expect some sort of follow-up with the new character introduced last time! We got to see Lindsay in some really physical action! I like that! A woman who can literally punch back and mean it!
POPSUGAR: #27
ATY: #2, #3-A book with at least 247 pages, #5, #12, #14, #15, #17, #25, #32, #33, #37, i#43
RHC: #23, #24-2023: prompt #23 Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel
52 Book Club: #3, #6, #14, #30
CONTINUING:
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse for the BBC World Book Club interview with the author October 23, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release! I imagine I will definitely continue this series!! This is SO my jam!
*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
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman
*21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club #21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club #22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club #23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23 1/2 Lies (Women’s Murder Club #23.5) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The 24th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #24) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Drive (other topics)Pete's a Pizza (other topics)
The Princess Bride (other topics)
Stardust (other topics)
The Shining (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Meg Shaffer (other topics)Liu Cixin (other topics)
Maxine Paetro (other topics)
Kathy Taylor (other topics)
Stephen Hawking (other topics)
More...
Today is 10/10!! When I was a little kid, the popular AM news radio station out of NYC was "1010 WINS"* so I cannot hear "1010" without hearing that radio slogan. They would have the sound of teletype machines chattering in the background when they announced "this is 1010 WINS!" as if they were actually in the middle of the news bullpen while broadcasting. This confused me so much as a kid.
In northern NY all of the trees are brushed with gold now, and the maples and dogwood and Virginia creeper (and poison ivy LOL) have red leaves mixed in with the gold. This is the time of year when the light in my kitchen is golden because it is reflected off the maple tree in my backyard.
It's getting cold, and I never did get my furnace replaced, so I'm in a pickle of my own making now. At this moment it is 61 F in my livingroom. Sigh. I did this to myself by not dealing with it all summer. Luckily my ex is taking pity on me and picked out a new furnace for me to approve - I was just paralyzed by choice!
Admin stuff
October group read of The Thursday Murder Club is ongoing here, with Lynn as the discussion leader:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Dubhease has volunteered to lead the December group read of (The Portrait of Dorian Gray) - thank you!!
We still need a discussion leader for the November group read of (One Last Stop) - speak up now or Lynn might have to lead all of them!!
This week I read 1 book.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack - I expected more from this book, it was neither as funny nor as entertaining as I expected it to be. It was just okay. I doubt I'll continue with this series.
Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 70% 7 /10
AtY 100% 52 /52
2024 pub 108% 54 /50
NetGalley ratio 80%
Question of the Week
Do you try to solve the mystery when you read mystery novels?
I do not, which is odd, because I do try to solve it when I watch TV or movies. I started thinking about it when I was reading "Vacation" and the author kept breaking the fourth wall to ask if I'd solved it yet. At first that annoyed me, but finally it spurred me to try to figure it out, and okay that WAS kind of fun. (I got it half-right.)
* I just looked it up to make sure it was really from NYC and not Newark, and I learned that "WINS" was named for Hearst's International News Service, which was a rival of the more well-known UP and AP news services. INS merged with UP to create today's UPI news service. I never realized it stood for anything, I just thought they chose WINS because it made a word. 1010 WINS is oldest continuously operating all-news station in the United States, operating as an all-news service since 1965. Anyone else grow up having to listen to it? I believe their range was quite broad, and back then everyone listened to AM.