Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday!!!  

Spring has been in a holding pattern here: it's been a little bit warm, and then a little bit cold, and then a little bit sunny, and then a little bit of snow, then a lot of snow, and then some rain.  Today is COLD but no snow. (We're expecting several days of rain, however, so I won't be able to do my laundry for a few days!)


Admin stuff
The April group read, for healing fiction, is:  Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and Sasha has stepped up to lead the discussion.  Join here:   
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The May group read, which could fill "space tourism," will be:  Floating Hotel.  Let me or Lynn know if you are interested in leading the discussion!  

The nomination poll for June's group read (which could fill "road trip") is closed, and the final poll is here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...





This week I finished 3 books, 2 for Popsguar:

The Wedding People by Alison Espach - I never would have picked this up if it had not been on the Tournament of Books!!    And I absolutely LOVED it!   I'm so grateful I got that extra push to read it.   I checked off "luxury resort" in Popsugar and "big manor or mansion" in AtY.

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead - I  never would have read this one if I didn't need a book with a politician!  And I loved this book, too!!  I'm delighted to have discovered a new-to-me author.  I (obviously?) checked off "main character is a politician" with this one.

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley - this was a NetGalley book that came out last month (it took me too long to get to it!!) - it was a very slow and gentle historical road trip that pretended to have intrigue and suspense, but really it did not.  One star subtracted for the boredom, two added for the thorough research, for a total of four stars (if one starts at 3=neutral).  I could not find a Popsugar category for this (it would work for road trip! but I've checked that off already), but I checked off "historical fiction set prior to 1925" in AtY.


I have been filling in AtY categories as I find them, not intentionally picking books for that challenge (yet).  This week I listed all the books I've read this year that I had not used for an AtY category, to see if any of them could be used for "two books with opposites in the titles" or "two linked books from different genres" and I discovered that I've read two books with the word "first" in the title, one a thriller and one a sci-fi novel, so ... voila! I checked off "two books with a connection from different genres" in AtY, retroactively.

Popsugar 52% 26 /50
Must Reads 20% 2 /10
AtY 58% 30 /52
AtY bonus 10% 1 /10
2025 pub 26% 13 /50
NetGalley ratio 78%





Question of the Week

How do you feel about reading classics?  Do you normally fit one or two into your years' reading, or is this year's Challenge category ("A classic you've never read")  pushing you to read something you'd never normally read?


I usually read a few classics each year, so I like the gentle nudge in this year's challenge list to read a few more.

I'm reading Hemingway right now for "last sentence" - this is the first time I've read a book by him, and ... I'm not a fan.  I thought I'd love his writing!!  

Happy Thursday, everyone!

During this past summer, my air conditioner (which is over 20 years old) died on me twice and had to be repaired. Around that time, I started talking with my HVAC service about replacing it and my furnace (which was also more than 20 years old) with new, high-efficiency models.

The installation began yesterday with them tearing out the old appliances and putting in the new furnace. Naturally that took place on one of the coldest days of the month, and I spent the entire day without heating. They were able to finish the install, however, so I did have heat last night…along with a lovely new furnace smell (which is similar to the smell of a hot glue gun).

They’re supposed to be coming back this morning to tackle the air conditioner, and make a few adjustments to the furnace. I’m really looking forward to the project being over and done with though, and so is the cat. Darcy did not enjoy all of the noise they made yesterday. Hopefully with them working mostly outside today, he will feel a little more at ease.

At least being stuck at home for the install has given me plenty of time to read…

My quest to read all of the books I’ve purchased since the beginning of 2025 continued this week, and I’m really pleased with my progress so far. I managed to finish an additional 11 titles, and I’m feeling like my goal for the month (to finish all of the new books I’ve purchased by the end of April) is looking a bit more reasonable than it was when I set it.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 143/250
Mount TBR Challenge: 096/150

📚Physical TBR: 78/731
📱Ebook TBR: 11/218
🎧Audiobook TBR: 7/12
TBR Checklist Total: 96/961

TBR Books DNFed in 2025: 3

I did purchase one new book this week, which was The Butcher's Masquerade, by Matt Dinniman.

“New” Books Bought in 2024: 69
“New” Books Read in 2024: 47
“New” Books DNFed in 2024: 0

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — This is the third book in the Harry Potter series. While this was a re-read for me, I really enjoyed having a chance to listen to my copy of the audiobook for the first time. I think Stephen Fry is a really good narrator. 🎧: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This week I also continued reading the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. I am really enjoying this series! It’s been a lot of fun to read, and I love the main character. I had a chance to read books 9-19 this week, which includes the following titles:
~Key Lime Pie Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Carrot Cake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Cream Puff Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Plum Pudding Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Apple Turnover Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Devil's Food Cake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Cinnamon Roll Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Red Velvet Cupcake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Blackberry Pie Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Double Fudge Brownie Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Wedding Cake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2 — I am taking an extended break from this book during the month of April. 📚
~Christmas Caramel Murder — This is the 20th book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. I’m only a couple chapters into this book, but I’m enjoying it so far. I will probably finish it this afternoon. 📱
~The Lathe of Heaven — I’m currently only a couple chapters into this book, and I just don’t know how I feel about it yet. I think it’s an interesting concept, but I’m also not loving it. 📚
~Memoirs of a Geisha — This book is actually a re-read for me. The last time I read it was shortly after the movie adaptation was released. I’m enjoying the book just as much as I did the first time around, and I’m looking forward to watching the movie again after I finish reading. I will definitely be finishing this book later today. 📚
~Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — This is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. I’m currently about a third of the way into this audiobook, and I’m really enjoying it. 🎧

QOTW:
I enjoy reading classics, and usually manage to fit a few into my reading for the year. I had a chance to read Alexandre Dumas for the first time in 2023, and absolutely fell in love with his writing.

I’m taking a break from my current classic, The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2, but I’m planning to get back into it during the month of May. I’ll probably save volume 3 for next year, and move on to my collection of Jules Verne novels next.

K.L. wrote: "They were able to finish the install, however, so I did have heat last night…along with a lovely new furnace smell (which is similar to the smell of a hot glue gun)...."


oh yikes!! I did not know that! I think I've mentioned more than once that I have furnace troubles, and so I do eventually need to get a new furnace installed. Good to know that a "glue gun smell" is normal, if I get that!!

Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally drained and going to go rest after posting this. Then I gotta bake a cake. Because I'm still under covid quarantine (feeling fine), we can't do any family celebrations, so just me, her father and her tonight.

I finished reading Lavender House for LGBTQ but not coming out. It was a great noir-ish murder mystery! I didn't realize it was a series, but I'll read the next book for sure.

Started Chasing Fireflies. It's a reread for me, but it's been 10 or more years since I first read it. I don't remember hardly anything about it, just that I loved it. It starts off with a nonverbal kid (caused by horrible abuse), but I already filled that prompt. I aim to use it for healing fiction. It's labeled as Christian fiction, but I feel like the author doesn't ram it down your throat.

Started Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling, can't remember what prompt I was going to use it for.

And yesterday my hold of Call Me By Your Name came in. It's got another hold on it, so I need to get on it. I'm only 20 minutes in, and I'm already *really* not liking it. I'll give it a bit more, but it's pretentious as hell. What 17 year old has never heard someone say goodbye as "later", but plays Bach on the piano in the style of Liszt?? I'm reading it as a buddy read in another group, but even that may not keep me at it.

QOTW: I enjoy reading classics! It's funny, in several different trips to the library, I've picked up:
To the Lighthouse
As I Lay Dying
The Satanic Verses
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Brideshead Revisited
A Gathering of Old Men
So it would seem like I'm in the mood for classics! Granted, they're newer classics, but still. And then I got covid and haven't been able to think as well, so we'll see if I get to any of them!

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally drained and going to g..."



Happy birthday to your tween!!! (and best wishes for your grandfather)


And yesterday my hold of Call Me By Your Name came in. It's got another hold on it, so I need to get on it. I'm only 20 minutes in, and I'm already *really* not liking it. I'll give it a bit more, but it's pretentious as hell. What 17 year old has never heard someone say goodbye as "later", but plays Bach on the piano in the style of Liszt?? I'm reading it as a buddy read in another group, but even that may not keep me at it.


Oh I hated that book!! But I Armie Hammer reads it, right? I thought he did a great job, anyway. (I listened to it BEFORE we all learned he was trying to eat people haha)

Happy Thursday! Loving the gorgeous weather we've been having! We still need hoodies or sweaters in the morning, but the afternoons are sunny and warm. The kids and I have been spending a LOT of time outside. We put all the cushions out on our patio furniture, and it makes such a cozy reading spot!

2025 Reading Challenges:

52 Book Club: 33/52 (April Mini-Challenge: 0/2)
ATY: 27/52 (ATY Anniversary Challenge: 5/10, ATY Spring Challenge: 21/30)
The Book Girls’ Guide: 24/74
Booklist Queen: 35/52
Cover Lovers: 25/50
Popsugar: 24/50

My Ever-Growing TBR: 37/248 – 14.9% (My goal is still 33.3%.)

Recently Completed:

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls (ATY #10 – witches, goddesses, or nuns) ★★★★

Heiress Takes All: Reese’s Spring YA pick. (ATY #48 – set in a manor, mansion, or estate) ★★★

Be Frank with Me: The pun isn’t obvious, but the story revolves around a young woman hired as a companion to an eccentric – probably autistic – 9-year-old boy named Frank. (52 Books #1 – a pun in the title/BGG ICYMI Backlist #4 – published in 2016) ★★★★

The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Other Far-Flung Outposts of the USA (BGG Read Around the World #4 – islands) ★★★

The Overnight Guest (BGG Read Around the USA #4 – Heartland/Cover Lovers #8 – a wintry scene) ★★★★

Memorials (ATY #48 – a character dealing with death/Booklist Queen #35 – an intriguing cover) ★★★★

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About: I don’t think I needed a whole book to explain the “Let Them” concept… ★★★

Florence Adler Swims Forever (BGG Decades #4 – the 1930s) ★★★★

A Natural History of Dragons: Reads like a Victorian naturalist’s memoir. No magic… dragons are just part of the environment. (ATY Spring Challenge #2 – BLOOM: Marie Brennan) ★★★



Currently Reading:

Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials
Medusa
The Tower (ATY Spring #6 – TULIPS: The Tower)
Games and Rituals (ATY #1 – object on cover that starts with A, T, or Y: Toothbrush)
Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious: The very definition of circular reasoning. (52 Books April Mini-Challenge #2 – a book that makes you roll your eyes)
The Boyfriend Candidate (ATY Spring #10 – WARMING: Ashley Winstead/Popsugar #21 – a main character who is a politician)
A Master of Djinn: Adventures Underground Book Club. (52 Books #27 – features a magician)
Longbourn: Jane Austen Book Club.
Lore Olympus: Volume Seven (ATY #4 – set underground, undersea, or in an underworld)
The Duchess War (Popsugar #45 – a left-handed character)
Like Mother, Like Daughter (ATY Anniversary #7: all five vowels in the title and/or author’s name: Like Mother Like Daughter/Cover Lovers #21 – a lighted window on the cover)



QOTW: I try to fit a classic into my reading every year, and I appreciate having a prompt that encourages me to actually do it. This year I’m going to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

April Purchased TBR: 2/4
April Library TBR: 0/3

Finished: Non-Obvious Thinking: How to See What Others Miss Meh

Run Away with Me It was fun to read something by Selznick that was geared toward a little older age range than his usual stuff. I love how his illustrations are the only thing on the page. It really demands my attention. Kinda like getting a little movie clip at the beginning and end of the story.

Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life I haven't read anything else by Maggie Smith but I enjoyed this book. It inspired me to write several poems.

Started: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World
Who decides who decides? How to start a group so everyone can have a voice
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone could be used for prompt AI recommend
Reflections: On the Magic of Writing A re-read

QotW: I used to read more classics when I was a kid. Now, they don't interest me as much. The classic prompt was a stretch for me because I didn't want a huge project (like War and Peace) in addition to the huge project I had already given myself (the Zohar.) I ended up reading My Name Is Asher Lev which was fine.

K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

During this past summer, my air conditioner (which is over 20 years old) died on me twice and had to be repaired. Around that time, I started talking with my HVAC servic..."

Yikes... that doesn't sound like fun. At least things are fixed now? And yay for a little extra reading time?

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally drained and going to g..."

Best of luck to your grandfather. Sending good vibes his way.

And happy birthday to your daughter!

Happy Thursday all!

Had minor surgery on my foot this past weekend -- had to have two toenails removed. Healing has been a bit slow, but it's improving at least.

One more month until Italy! I should make sure my Kindle has enough books on it...

Books read this week:

Life As We Knew It -- for “a book where nature is the antagonist.” The science feels a bit iffy, but this is a surprisingly emotional look at a family struggling to survive in an increasingly hostile world after a cataclysmic event.

West With Giraffes -- for “a book about a road trip.” What an emotional roller coaster! And now I want to go to our local zoo and see the giraffes…

Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir -- not for the challenge. A graphic memoir by Stan Lee before his passing, and while I’m sure it’s pretty biased, it’s still interesting seeing how some of the world’s most famous comic characters came to life.

DNF:

The Donut Legion -- found myself losing interest. A book about a UFO cult shouldn’t be this boring…

Currently reading:

Godkiller -- for “a book about found family”
Tales of the City -- for “a book mentioned in another book”
Chain-Gang All-Stars -- not for the challenge
Black Bird, Blue Road -- not for the challenge

QOTW: I read classics on occasion, but they have to appeal to me.

Oops, I kept forgetting to check-in last week. I've not been all that busy but I'm super tired. It's peak Birch pollen season, so I suspect it's allergy related.

Finished:
We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida. Not my favourite Japanese cat book. Odd and felt more like interconnected stories about people's problems being solved by the trouble the cats cause in their lives. There's a lesson in here somewhere about not knowing what you want from life, I think.
PS: 23. A book that is considered healing fiction
ATY: 22. A translated novel from Asia
Cover Lover: 15. something you might see in a hospital

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. I enjoyed this but I didn't think Haymitch's story added anything new. Was a bit rinse and repeat.
PS: 5. A book with a snake on the cover or in the title
Cover Lover: 34. a piece of jewelry

The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal. Felt a bit aimless, with a lot of time spent discussing how to celebrate various religion festivals and dealing with a contraceptive shortage. My least favourite in the series so far.
PS: 9. A book that features a character going through menopause
ATY: 14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. I thought the story about the family trying to cope with the mother's dementia was so sad. The romance was cute, a bit intense too soon, and there was an overly convenient solution to the life issues, but I enjoyed it.
ATY: 52. A book with sunset vibes on the cover
Cover Lover: 35. a sunrise or sunset

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher. Only T. Kingfisher can set out to write a fluffy romance and end up with a sub-plot about severed heads. Was super fun and I'll be picking up the rest of the series soon.
PS: 48. A book that features a married couple who don't live together
Cover Lover: 24. a weapon

QOTW:
I occasionally read classics but I prefer the themes and style of modern fiction. I don't read something just because it's a classic, I have to have some interest in what it's about.

Hello and happy Thursday from a sunny but still chilly Columbus! The weather has been so depressing, rain and cold and the forecast doesn’t look like it’ll be warming up quick enough. There’s been some major drama at the tattoo shop next to where I work so it’s been an interesting week of watching more information come out about it. Happy to not be involved at least 😵‍💫

Finished:
Ender’s Game for a book riot prompt. This is one of my tbr books that I’ve never really had a ton of interest in reading but since it fit a prompt I went ahead and took the plunge. This was a fine enough book. Having raised a boy the thought of these kids being super geniuses and very serious about space training was kind of silly even if I got why it was written that way.

The Penultimate Peril not for a prompt, almost done with the series I’ve been reading with my son!

Currently Reading:
Hera
We Shall Be Monsters
House of Leaves
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible

DNF
Utopia Avenue I just got several chapters through this crazy long book and wanted to cry realizing how little I had actually read, how long it would take me to finish, and how little I cared about what was happening in the book. I think this is the first time I stopped reading a book with no intention of picking it back up.

Recently Watched:
The Substance. What a trip lol. As I was watching it I realized I have a jelly gel color that matches the substance almost exactly so I’ll probably do that color sometime this summer.

Challenges:
Popsugar - 9/40; 0/4; 0/3; 2/3
Read Harder - 6/24
Classics - 3/12
European Tour - 3/10
12 Friends - 2/12
Yearly Goal - 29/180

QOTW:
I love classics! I’m a huge Brontë and Austen lover. I love a good classic gothic novel. I think Anna Karenina and Tess of the D’Urbervilles are two of my all time favorite books. I try to do 12 prompt classics challenge every year. I feel like I’m starting to run out of easily accessible classics lol. Some of the titles I really would like to read aren’t in a digital format which is challenging for my lifestyle right now.

Greetings from a cold rainy NYC. It's been quite chilly with a lot of rain. No snow here - though temps keep dropping into the mid 30s frequently. But then the sun will come out for a while in a stunning blue sky, and all that light will shine down on the newly budded and flowering trees (from all the rain). Daffodils and narcissus are appearing in the beds where sun hits, with buds in those in shady areas. Forsythia too, along with cherry blossoms and other flowering trees. I'll be heading to the NY Botanical Gardens next week for the annual Orchid Show but also to tour the grounds where early cherry blossoms, magnolias, and more are already in full bloom. Can't wait.

PS 22/60
ATY 32/52

Finished:
The Crescent Spy - no PS but ATY fire prompt - it's set in Battle of New Orleans during the CIvil War, which was a naval battle and fire boats play a huge role.
The Ambivalent Corpse- PS cult prompt - Nazis in South America in contemporary times - might be stretching it a bit but IMHO not really. ATY - adult friendships - old/new, good/bad.

Currently reading:
Foreign Affairs
Death of an Avid Reader

QOTW: I read classics pretty regularly, especially if you count modern classics which all should. I've not exactly settled on what classic I'll put for this - possibly what I am currently reading, a Nobel Prize winner which is really a modern classic I think - Foreign Affairs. But, should this fit some other prompt I need, I have others I'll be reading during the year, including an old school fantasy for Feminerdy Book Club and a Dickens.

Kenya wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally dra..."

Thank you! He came through the surgery, so now I can focus on the fun side of things!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally dra..."

Thank you! Sometimes, I think she went straight from 3 to 14....

And ugh!! You and I usually have similar reading tastes... Yes Armie Hammer reads it (every time I see his name, I read it Arm and Hammer!), and I am not so fortunate to not know some of the creepy/weird/criminal stuff he may have done!

Question of the week: Yes, I do try to fit in a few classics each year. My sister is an English teacher so I read them periodically. I just like to feel well-rounded lol and see what the fuss is about.

Finished The Silent Companions (AI rec) & Come & Get It (Essential reader)

Started and made good progress on: Death on Eat Street (food truck); An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good (short stories) (also perfect for me, as I work in a nursing home); Margo’s Got Money Troubles (happily single); & finally The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (local book club).

Dani wrote: "Hello and happy Thursday from a sunny but still chilly Columbus! The weather has been so depressing, rain and cold and the forecast doesn’t look like it’ll be warming up quick enough. There’s been ..."

How are you enjoying HoL? It is a tome, but it is such a worthwhile experience.

I gave myself a year to read House of Leaves - hey, iykyk. I decided I wouldn't even do the PS Challenge last year, so that I could read this with no pressure.
I read every possible millimeter of every footnote, every document, every reference, every appendix, and did my own translations when I was not happy with what was in front of me. I loved every moment of it !!! My reading buddy had to drop, but I read it in 6 weeks. Best. Book. Ever.
And I still had time to do the PopSugar Challenge 2024.

I wish you as much joy and satisfaction as I experienced!

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally drained and going to g..."

Belated happy birthday wishes for your daughter. And all best wishes for your grandfather.

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all!

Had minor surgery on my foot this past weekend -- had to have two toenails removed. Healing has been a bit slow, but it's improving at least.

One more month until Italy! I sho..."

Oh no, hope you have a swift and smooth recovery! And super excited for you for your trip to Italy!

Happy Thursday all!

This is a 2 week check in, because last week was super busy.

We had a seasonal warm spell, and we have returned to wintry weather again, because … New England. The pepper plants and some new string bean plants are doing well in my kitchen, and here’s hoping there will be another warm stretch so they can live on my back porch.

The HANDS OFF! Protest/ March in Boston was amazing!! I met people older than I am, who protested the Vietnam War (we can’t believe we have to protest some of the same s%*t), and I ran into friends I have made at other protests/marches/ sit-ins. I wasn’t the only person hobbling with a cane; I met a couple of women using wheelchairs. Camaraderie! It was an amazing gathering of people of every age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, any hermeneutic you can think of. So proud of my city and its people: no violence and lots of expression and passion. We just made “good trouble, necessary trouble”.

So excited for everyone who is travelling! Can’t wait to hear all of the adventures.

Finished:
The Club Lots of great twists and turns, interesting characters, and really enjoyable descriptive writing. The plot was a little over the top, and yet, having worked in the biz, completely believable. The guests were royal PIAs, and it made me unbelievably grateful *not* to be working in a hotel anymore.

The Hurting Kind: Poems I am such an Ada Limon fan now. Her connections between nature and humans are right up my street, and I cannot wait to read more by this talented poet.

March: Book One I’ve always loved John Lewis and this has been on my TBR forever. I was reading this to psych up for the Hands off! March. Total serendipity to read just before Cory Booker’s record-breaking speech. March: Book One hit even harder as Senator Booker referenced John Lewis often and admirably. Lewis’ ethics and persistence was astounding and I loved him preaching to his chickens as a small boy! I can't wait for my holds on Books 2 and 3 to come in.

QOTW:
I read classics through junior high school, high school, and college. I read lots in English and in Latin. So, I still try to squeeze in a couple per year. Believe me, I love the diversity and representation that is finally available to us in books, and yet I still have a deep appreciation for the writing styles and the allegorical foundations in classics.

I wasn't feeling well last week and, while I could have posted a check in, by the time I thought about it (on Friday or Saturday) I just didn't have the energy. I'm glad I'm feeling better and remembering to check in today, but it's been a long day at work and I would really like a nap (or to at least curl up with my book!). Maybe once I cross one or two more things off my to-do list...

I'm also dealing with a sprained finger, so please forgive any typos.

Read
Significant Figures: The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians
Tales from Silver Lands

PS challenge progress: 33/50

Currently Reading
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants
The Mistletoe Secret
The Clue at Black Creek Farm

QOTW
I do read classics. I don't make it a point to do so necessarily (although I don't necessarily dislike them), but I read at least a couple a year.

Happy Thursday!

Another slow work week, but this time, with me on antibiotics. Fun times! I'm glad it's slow so I can take time off when I need to rest.

Finished:
Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen - I finished my reread of the final published version. I love this series so much.

I am currently at 18/50 for Popsugar (16/40 and 2/10).

Currently reading:
To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb - not currently for a prompt. I'll be honest... this one's not really grabbing me. Maybe it's because I'm reading it right after a book I loved and was so excited to read, but this feels rather generic and slow so far. And the "romance" between the leads is being telegraphed very obviously in a way that feels off to me. Considering DNFing.

Upcoming/Planned:
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi - not currently for a prompt.

QOTW:
I don't have a strong opinion on classics. Like any other type of book, I enjoy some, I don't enjoy others. I try to read them when they appeal to me.

Nadine in NY wrote: "oh yikes!! I did not know that! I think I've mentioned more than once that I have furnace troubles, and so I do eventually need to get a new furnace installed. Good to know that a "glue gun smell" is normal, if I get that!!"

Yeah, there are oils that burn off when the furnace is heated for the first time, which is what creates the smell. The guy who did the installation for me did mention that those gasses burning off can cause the fire alarms to go off in the house as well, but fortunately that didn't happen.

Kenya wrote: "Yikes... that doesn't sound like fun. At least things are fixed now? And yay for a little extra reading time?."

Everything is fully installed and working perfectly! I wasn't thrilled to be stuck at home for two days in a row, but I definitely appreciated the excuse to sit and read.

In case you didn't know, there is an official trailer out for the Murderbot television adaptation. It's going to be streaming on Apple TV+ beginning on May 16th. I saw the trailer this morning, and it looks fantastic!

K.L. wrote: "In case you didn't know, there is an official trailer out for the Murderbot television adaptation. It's going to be streaming on Apple TV+ beginning on May 16th. I saw the trailer this morning, and..."

I saw a promo image of the Murderbot series, and it threw me because for whatever reason I pictured Murderbot as female but they appear to be played by a male actor. But I suppose that's my brain still struggling with binary thinking when it comes to gender... (If I remember right Murderbot goes by they/them in the series.)

April has been living up to its reputation, as its been very rainy as of late. Fortunately not today, but there's a chance of rain overnight, and then into the weekend. We'll see.
I had a staff development day at my library, which is always a fun time, not just for the activities, but for some bonus crochet time 😉

Finished:
Thirst - A read for the local book award committee. I read this a couple years ago, but I didn't mind reading it again. A quick read, but an important one.
The Sound of Music: The Complete Book and Lyrics - Ever since I read Hope in the Valley, I wanted to read the script for the original musical of The Sound of Music to validate my annoyance with the author for failing to mention that the musical is very different from the movie. And I'm glad I read this particular edition, since it includes a foreword by one of the librettists' son, who asserted that they resist licensing versions that try to hew closer to the movie version. But beyond validation, it was interesting to see just how different the two versions are.
Mabuhay! - (PS a book about a food truck) Since I recommended this to Nadine for this prompt, I decided to bump it up in my reading queue myself. And it was a lot of fun! The struggles the siblings were going through were bog standard middle school, but the story around them made up for. I enjoyed learning about Filipino folklore, and I really want some of the food they served 🤤
Wish Monster - A very good middle grade horror, though particularly scary. It was more of an existential horror, what with the consequences of the wishes, and what that ends up meaning for the main characters.

Currently Reading:
The Sound of Music Story: How A Beguiling Young Novice, A Handsome Austrian Captain, and Ten Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time
Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War
Onyx & Beyond
The Night War

QOTW: I don't make a point of reading classics, but I don't shy away from them, either.

Happy Thursday everyone! This is my first time posting on one of these check-in threads, as grad school has been keeping me busy! But the finish line is in sight: just 3.5 more weeks until I graduate! The weather's been breezy and chill lately, which was a nice break, though it’s already starting to heat back up with that classic hot-and-humid combo. It was good while it lasted. On a less fun note, my local library was hit by a cyber attack nearly two months ago, and they still haven’t been able to get the online catalog back up or acquire any new books. I've been trying to get my hands on The Dream Hotel since it came out, but the surrounding library systems either have long hold lists or are too far away. A librarian told me I’m probably better off just buying it since there’s no timeline for when things will be back to normal. In the meantime, I’ve been physically browsing the shelves and checking out ebooks through Libby to get my fix.

This month, in honor of Arab American Heritage Month, I’ve been focusing on books by Arab authors during my downtime—and so far, no duds! I also managed to complete one of my many reading challenges for the year. I’ve mostly been filling in prompts as I go without much planning, but now that I’m down to the super specific ones for ATY and Popsugar, I might start getting a bit more intentional with my picks to wrap them up. Lately, I’ve been prioritizing books from my TBR (both on Goodreads and at home) to help shrink that ever-growing list. At this rate, I might even hit my yearly goal of reading 20 books off my TBR by the end of this month!

2025 Reading Challenges
Popsugar- 36/50
ATY- 47/52; Bonus- 7/10
Read Good Challenge- 12/12 COMPLETED
Buzzword- 4/12; Cover- 4/12
1001 Books- 5/10
TBR- 17/20

Finished
The Brutal Language of Love: Stories- read this because the author is of Arab descent, and I remember this being one of the books Roxane Gay included in her NYT top 10 best books from the 21st century ballot last year. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this short story collection.
ATY #28- Two books with a pair of opposites in their title: Book 1

That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story- read this because the author is of Arab descent and a fellow local! It was a quick, funny read!

The Thing About Jellyfish- a middle grade novel about a girl using her jellyfish obsession to process the death of her former friend. I wasn't the target demographic, but I still liked it.
ATY #20- a book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral in the title
Buzzword- animals; Buzzword Cover- cover features an animal
TBR Shelf

The Book of Disappearance- read this because the author is Arab and this book was longlisted for the International Booker. It was a short read, but nevertheless an impactful one.

Jovita Wore Pants- this children's book from the Bluebonnet list appealed to me because it covers the Cristero Rebellion, an event my great-grandfather lived through and would tell us stories about. I loved learning about the titular little known female fighter!

Ketanji: Justice Jackson's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court- this was another children's book from the Bluebonnet list that appealed to me. Another inspiring female story that I enjoyed, as expected.

Kareem Between- read this because the author is of Arab descent and this middle grade novel written in verse won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. As a daughter of immigrants, I resonated a lot with the main character and I liked how the author used football terms as metaphors to describe his inner feelings.
Popsugar #30- a book that reminds you of your childhood
ATY #16- fits a prompt from 2016 ATY list (book with first name in title)

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection- I learned a lot about this disease. It could have been a very dry read but Green's writing keeps it engaging and highlights the disparity in care between the rich and poor through the story of Henry.
ATY #33- a book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
Read Good Challenge- book with an ugly cover
TBR shelf

Currently Reading
In Praise of Hatred- just started this, so far its been a slow read. Plan to use this for the ATY opposites in title Book 2
Behind You Is the Sea- I am listening to this on audio and am loving it so far. This book was shortlisted for the PEN/Faulkner award this year.
A Room of One's Own & The Voyage Out- I finished A Room of One's Own last month, but have been putting off The Voyage Out. Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style requires a lot of my attention, so I'll probably get back to this after I graduate.

QOTW
I try to regularly include classics in my reading because I genuinely enjoy them and find it fascinating to see what makes these books so enduring. One of my lifelong reading goals is to work through the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list, so I usually pick my classics from there. For the "read a classic you haven't read before" prompt, I chose Wuthering Heights, partly because I wanted to read it before starting The Favorites. I ended up loving it, even more than The Favorites, surprisingly!

It is surprisingly, annoyingly hot these past 2 days in Los Angeles.

I did not finish any books but I made progress in several:
Wandering Stars
Tehrangeles
The Complete Poems
War and Peace
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List

QOTW:

I love the classics and read them regularly. I am in a classic books club that meets monthly so I read 10-12 a year at least. Right now I am in a challenge to read a book published very decade from 1820-2025 so I will be reading several for that. Right now I am reading William Blake for that challenge. I have a year long buddy read of War and Peace I'm working through.

Happy Thursday!! I was away last week, but I'm back now! The weather whiplash has been intense (among other things.....)

Finished 14/50

A Swiftly Tilting Planet for "book mentioned in another book". It was my favourite so far, though I'm not sure about the ending.

Into the Storm: Violent Tornadoes, Killer Hurricanes, and Death-Defying Adventures in Extreme Weather for "book about a road trip" And what more epic road trip can you have than one about the life of a tornado chaser?? I'm a huge fan of Reed Timmer and his work! So I enjoyed reading his autobiography!

Currently Reading

Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families for "book you got for free" Just 11 days more to go!

First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew (not for the challenge)- nearly finished! Will be done with this reread this weekend.

In the House of My Pilgrimage: Violence, Noetic Healing, and Personhood for "book with less than 3 stars on GR". It has NO stars because it has not been rated! I get to be the first!!

The Rithmatist for "book about an unconventional education". This is definitely unconventional! I love Sanderson. This book is pretty cute so far!

QotW

I LOVE classic literature! I've got a few coming up which I'm excited about! But I'm with you: I don't like Hemingway either.

Happy Thursday!! I was away last week, but I'm back now! The weather whiplash has been intense (among other things.....)

Finished 14/50

A Swiftly Tilting Planet for "book mentioned in another book". It was my favourite so far, though I'm not sure about the ending.

Into the Storm: Violent Tornadoes, Killer Hurricanes, and Death-Defying Adventures in Extreme Weather for "book about a road trip" And what more epic road trip can you have than one about the life of a tornado chaser?? I'm a huge fan of Reed Timmer and his work! So I enjoyed reading his autobiography!

Currently Reading

Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families for "book you got for free" Just 11 days more to go!

First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew (not for the challenge)- nearly finished! Will be done with this reread this weekend.

In the House of My Pilgrimage: Violence, Noetic Healing, and Personhood for "book with less than 3 stars on GR". It has NO stars because it has not been rated! I get to be the first!!

The Rithmatist for "book about an unconventional education". This is definitely unconventional! I love Sanderson. This book is pretty cute so far!

QotW

I LOVE classic literature! I've got a few coming up which I'm excited about! But I'm with you: I don't like Hemingway either.

Happy Thursday!

I finished a book this week, but I started 2 more. It was a case of holds coming in at the same time. However, April is a third over and I've already started 3 out of my 4 planned April reads. I'm somewhat on the ball this month.

I finished the whole time quintet/kairos book series of Madeleine L'Engle. I really loved it. The only reason I started it was because I'd bought A Wrinkle in Time for my child and they said it was confusing. After reading the first book together, they were done with the series, but I was hooked.

Someone added all the time quintet to the healing fiction listopia. Since I find the whole concept vague, I'll just trust that person and tick that annoying prompt off.

Finished:

An Acceptable Time
Popsugar prompt: A book that is considered healing fiction
ATY prompt: A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
Anniversary prompt:

Series - 2/10
Reading Across Canada - 3/10
Nobel laureates - 1/5

PS - 13/40
Regular ATY - 10/40
Anniversary ATY - 5/10

Currently reading:
Ulysses - 55%
The Vegetarian - 55%
Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run - 20%
The Crystal City - 25%

Lent:
Interior Castle - 20%

QOTW: I love classics. Jane Austen, Edgar Allen Poe, and Oscar Wilde are some of my favourite writers. If you count Lewis and Tolkien as being classics then throw them in too.

If you consider Agatha Christie's books to be classics - I'm working my way through those.

I finished The Chef as my book about a food truck. It started out not too bad, but by the end, it was just plain not good.

I'm now reading The End of the World Running Club as my book about a run club. I'm enjoying it more than I thought it would. About 2/3 of the way through.

QOTW: I feel like I read at least one classic a year. Maybe more. I enjoy them. Some more than others. Not at all a fan of James Joyce of William Faulkner. Love Charles Dickens.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!!  

I'm reading Hemingway right now for "last sentence" - this is the first time I've read a book by him, and ... I'm not a fan. I thought I'd love his writing!! ..."

Ugh. I forgot about Hemingway. Had to read The Old Man and the Sea for high school, and I only got halfway through. The only required reading I didn't finish. I'll say it again: Ugh.

Happy Thursday! Had a fun weekend seeing my family and friends. Got some books as gifts- that tbr keeps growing!We had some warmer weather this week, and my allergies went crazy. More warm weather this weekend, so I"ll have to be better at taking my allergy medicine.

Finished:
The Last Graduate- loved this! can't wait for my hold on book 3 to come up on libby!
-18 A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons

Vanishing World-unsettling look at a world where the societal norms of family and love have changed and keep changing, and the book just gets more unsettling ad it goes on. Finished this last night and then just sat there staring at the wall.
-no prompt

Currently reading:
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes- this is very upsetting and sad, and I find myself only able to read a chapter at a time.

QotW:
I went through a phase after college where I wasn't reading too many classics. I was burnt out on them. But I'm trying to read a couple a year now. Definitely mixed results- some I love, some I'm just glad to get off my tbr

Quick check-in for me. I finished two books. While I wasn't able to find a good PS prompt for either of them, I was able to use them both for other reading challenges I'm working on this year. I'm at 8/40 and 0/10 for this challenge, and 20/85 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Finished:
* Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour; and,
* She Memes Well written and narrated by Quinta Brunson.

Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims; and,
* Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien.

Soon To Be Reading:
* The Backyard Bird Chronicles written and narrated by Amy Tan, which is one of my book clubs' picks for April. I'm really glad that the audiobook included a .pdf with all of the drawings so I don't miss out on the artwork🦉

QotW:
How do you feel about reading classics? Do you normally fit one or two into your years' reading, or is this year's Challenge category ("A classic you've never read") pushing you to read something you'd never normally read? I don't know that I actively seek out classics but a few usually find their way onto my annual reading lists. Doing a quick skim, I have finished two already, so we'll see how many more get added before the end of the year! 🤓 I'm planning to use the copy of Evelina: Or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World by Frances Burney that I own for the PS prompt. A friend recommended it a few years ago and I found a freebie copy that has been sitting untouched in my Kindle since I downloaded it, so the PS prompt is giving me a nudge to finally crack it open 📖

Survived the flooding here and now we're on rollercoaster temps going from 80s to 20s to 50s and so forth.

I did manage to read Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis for PS 3. a book about space tourism This was weird, took a while to get into but then it got better.

Also read a graphic novel Blacking Out by Chip Mosher, set in the 70s, our protagonist is a drunk ex cop who loves his violence and the woman who brought him home drunk because she wanted him so much. eye roll

QOTW I try to read the classics I was not allowed to read in h.s. and in my lit classes (i.e. I'm slowly reading the classic horror and SF stuff like Verne, Wells etc) I read so many classics when I was young, never cared for a lot of it. The old genre stuff can be interesting

Katy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!!  

I'm reading Hemingway right now for "last sentence" - this is the first time I've read a book by him, and ... I'm not a fan. I thought I'd love his writing..."

Hate that particular Hemingway. Ugh is right. I did read a few years ago his The Sun Also Rises liking it quite a bit. I had just read The Paris Wife which tells the story of his writing that one, and showing how close tonon-fiction it actually was. It is very spare and modern in language and style so that won't fly for those who like rich description. It also has one of the best most evocative final sentences I have ever read.

It still does not make me a fan of Hemingway or his work.

Cornerofmadness wrote: " try to read the classics I was not allowed to read in h.s. and in my lit classes (i.e. I'm slowly reading the classic horror and SF stuff like Verne, Wells etc) I read so many classics when I was young, never cared for a lot of it. The old genre stuff can be interesting..."

I think it is important particularly to read the classics in your favorite genres to appreciate not just how they have evolved, but they have inspired the best of the current authors. For example, just about every single detective and mystery writer names Agatha Christie as a key inspiration. Not only did she define so many of the elements of the genre, she has never been out of print and remains the most published author globally. For horror read Frankenstein. For romance and especially historical romance, read Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen.

There is a reason so many books are classics. Of course there are duds, but those should not stop you reading different ones.

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally drained and going to g..."

I hope your grandfather's surgery goes well and he makes a good recovery, Jennifer.

I didn't like Call Me By Your Name either. At all. For a while it seemed like everyone in my social media circles was raving about it, and I really didn't get why. I won't say any more while you're still working through it, but I'll be interested to see what you have to say about it when (if) you finish.

Life update: My husband is away this week, so it's just me and the dog at home - but we did have a weekend visit from my daughter and grandson so that I could babysit while my daughter did a paid wrestling gig. It was her first stag do booking, and apparently it went really well and the stag party were lovely and very respectful. I'm really happy for her.

Reading update: I finished 7 books this week, which is far more than my usual, but they included two books of poetry and a graphic novel, which tend to be quick reads for me. Still, it was a nice dopamine boost to be able to tick off so many prompts.

Katabasis for two books with the same title, part 1. Very powerful writing.
Yoghurt and Jam: or How My Mother Became Lebanese for a book that starts with a Y. This one was just okay.
Howl and Other Poems for a book recommended by an AI after I told it I liked The Dharma Bums. This was actually a spot-on choice - not just a Beat classic, but exactly the kind of Beat writing I like, which is a trickier thing.
Der Tod in Venedig (Death in Venice) for a classic you've never read. A difficult book in some ways, but a very beautiful one.
Was tun, wenn jemand stirbt: Handbuch für den Trauerfall. Not for the challenges. Useful if you expect to become responsible for the funeral arrangements and estate of someone living in Germany.
Uhura's Song for a book where music is integral to the plot and for the Star Trek Series Challenge. In the top 5 Star Trek novels ever, in my opinion.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold for healing fiction. I'll leave my comments for the discussion threads on the April Group Read.

Stats:
Finished for the PopSugar Challenge: 6 this week, 25/50 total
Finished for the Star Trek Series Challenge: 1 this week, 7/18 total
Finished outside the challenges: 1 this week, 6 total
GR Bookmark Challenges completed: Community Favorites Challenge (6/6)
All books finished this year: 7 this week, 37 total
DNF or paused: 0 this week, 8 total

Currently Reading:
Annihilation, which I may end up using for nature as the antagonist. At the point I've reached so far, the nature of the antagonist isn't entirely clear, but there's definitely a bio-organic element to it.
Smart Legal Contracts: Computable Law in Theory and Practice. This is pretty heavy going, which I expected, but it also feels less relevant to my work than I'd hoped. I'm not sure yet whether I'll finish it. If I do, I'll use it for a book I got for free.
A Choice of Futures for the Star Trek Series Challenge
The Valmiki Ramayana Vol. 2 for spiritual bedtime reading

QOTW: I like reading classics because they're usually classics for a good reason and help to provide an understanding of how each genre developed. Although I got a decent grounding in German, French and English classics from my education, though, there are inevitably also some large gaps, and I got no grounding at all in Scots literature, despite it being the native language of my place of birth. I also learned Spanish after leaving school and therefore got no grounding in classics in that language. I often get so daunted by the vast number of classics I haven't read that I get paralysed and end up reading something contemporary instead. I really like having challenges like this one to give me the extra push I need to get over that.

Sasha wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Very emotional day around here. It's my daughter's 7th (!!) birthday today! But also, my grandfather is undergoing serious intestinal surgery. I'm already emotionally dra..."

Thank you. So far, things have gone well.

I'm still undecided about how much more to give Call Me, but it's interesting that you just read Death in Venice and liked it, because Call Me is giving me Death in Venice vibes. I found Mann's writing in Venice to be lovely, but the subject matter gave me the ick.

Kenya wrote: "K.L. wrote: "In case you didn't know, there is an official trailer out for the Murderbot television adaptation. It's going to be streaming on Apple TV+ beginning on May 16th. I saw the trailer this..."

I also always saw Murderbot as female in my head. Until I started to listen to the audiobooks, and the narrator is male.

Happy Friday everyone!

Meant to post yesterday, but it kind of got away from me in an unexpected way.

Book News:

I ended up going to the library for the first time in over a year which I didn't expect. Even checked out a few books. They said people can check up to 30 books at a time! That blew my mind. And they're not due for a month.

My reading has been slaying this month. By the end I should have read at least 15 books which is awesome. Normally I average between 11 and 12 per month.

Also started volunteering at a used bookstore which has been interesting. Kind of hard as a reader though because I want to rescue all the books that capture my interest especially ones that look brand new. Someone donated a lot of Star Wars books and I wanted them all. LOL! 1 hour is the most I can do without getting overwhelmed. As someone whose special interest is books due to being autistic, it makes it harder.

*****

Currently Reading:

(My own copies)

Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight: The Highs and Lows of the Twilight Saga - This book is so fun so far! I don't agree with the author all the time, but she's one of the few people I can stand to hear alternate perspectives from.

Using this for the 'magical creatures that aren't dragons' prompt.

The War of the Worlds - Last time I read this was around 2005-2007.

Using this for the 'left handed' prompt since the author was left handed.

Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics - Initially I checked this out from the library (yesterday) but I realized it's a book I'm gonna want to annotate. I can't exactly use up a full notebook or over 200 sheets of clear sticky notes so it was easier to order a copy.

As someone who is biracial (half Indigenous/half Mexican), it was always hard for me to find Latin representation when it came to superheroes.

Currently Reading:

(library books)

The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now - This has been on my TBR for a while. When I saw it at the library I figured I'd try it out and decide later if I want my own copy. Barely on pg. 14 and already so sad! We really take the internet for granted.

This book also fits for the PS Challenge prompt: "Character with a chronic pain". While the book is nonfiction, it talks of a kid with a rare disorder who has to constantly take medication so I figure that fits within the word 'chronic'.

Dinosaurs and Other Ancient Animals of Big Bend - This will probably be a book I get my own copy of at some point.

*****

QOTW:

How do you feel about reading classics? Do you normally fit one or two into your years' reading, or is this year's Challenge category ("A classic you've never read") pushing you to read something you'd never normally read?

I struggle with classics sometimes. Pride & Prejudice used to be one of my all-time favorites since I was about 14 when I first read it. Then I read it last year and I was like 'why?' The characters are so vain, all they care about is marriage and status. There's satire (which is something I don't understand. As an autistic things like humor, satire, and sarcasm are things I don't comprehend.) I don't understand what I liked about it back then. The romance and complicated relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy maybe?

There are seldom classics I actually enjoy though. Hard to find any by BIPOC authors. That was my issue, the classics we ever read in school were white authors and that always bothered me.

I'm currently reading The War of the Worlds. This one I love though the last time I read it was back between 2005-2007 so it's been a long time. I'm curious as to how time has changed my perspective on this one.

Hi all! It's been a busy week so I'm extra glad for some warmer temps this weekend. We can spend some time relaxing and enjoying fresh air for a change. I've been working on a playroom in the basement which I'm almost done with. Nothing too crazy, just some fresh paint, new wall lights, some cube shelves, and some cute wall decals, but it really brightens up the space. I got a magnetic wall decal so my little guy can play with his magna-tiles on the wall and that's been a big hit. He's not really old enough to build stuff so for him just being able to put stuff on the wall is fun.

Finished

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism: I'd been meaning to read this since it came out and I'm so glad I didn't let it fall off my TBR. I listened to the whole audiobook yesterday and just devoured it. It's such an interesting way of looking at the way language shapes groups and communities. The only thing I didn't love was the author has an annoying writing tick of saying "we'll talk more about that in chapter x", "we'll discuss that shortly", etc etc.

QOTW

I read some classics but at this point I'm mostly interested in the genre classics. And of course it depends on how you define classic and all that. I would say I am a person who reads classics occasionally but I don't go out of my way to read them. Some classics are classics for a reason, but I don't think they've all stood the test of time, and no book will work for every reader.

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all!

Had minor surgery on my foot this past weekend -- had to have two toenails removed. Healing has been a bit slow, but it's improving at least.

One more month until Italy! I sho..."


oh my gosh that is very YIKES!!! can you walk? can you wear shoes??

Lilith wrote: "The HANDS OFF! Protest/ March in Boston was amazing!!..."



What did "hands off" mean?



The Hurting Kind: Poems I am such an Ada Limon fan now. Her connections between nature and humans are right up my street, and I cannot wait to read more by this talented poet.

She is my favorite living poet! I was lucky to discover her a while ago, one of her poems was displayed in a NYC subway car as part of the "poetry in motion" campaign



Believe me, I love the diversity and representation that is finally available to us in books, and yet I still have a deep appreciation for the writing styles and the allegorical foundations in classics.

There are diverse classics too! You just have to look harder to find them because - like everything in history - they have been erased

K.L. wrote: "In case you didn't know, there is an official trailer out for the Murderbot television adaptation. It's going to be streaming on Apple TV+ beginning on May 16th. I saw the trailer this morning, and..."




I am so excited about this!! I think Skarsgard will be the PERFECT Murderbot. I do not currently have access to Apple TV on my TV though, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I think I saw that you can watch Apple TV through Prime? I do have Prime linked to my TV ...

Or , we watch it on my daughter's laptop.

Worst case scenario: I watch it on my iPhone!!

Andrea wrote: "my local library was hit by a cyber attack nearly two months ago, and they still haven’t been able to get the online catalog back up or acquire any new books...."


That happened to my library back before Covid, it took them months to recover. Luckily I happened to have a huge backlog checked out, so I got a bunch of extra time on the books I had borrowed.

It was a triple whammy, because after that, they shut down for (planned) construction, and then there was Covid.


For the "read a classic you haven't read before" prompt, I chose Wuthering Heights, partly because I wanted to read it before starting The Favorites. I ended up loving it, even more than The Favorites, surprisingly!

Oh that's really interesting!! Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite classics, but I did not re-read it right before reading The Favorites. I wonder if it would have changed my response. (I loved The Favorites.)

Happy Thursday Friday!

Well, my ability to concentrate on reading made it difficult for me and was beginning to be a source of stress since I had several library books checked out. Timewise, getting those books read and returned on time was possible if I could have kept up the usual amount of reading, but my concentration was not there. So, I made the decision to return three books unread and release one that was on hold. I will re-request those when I return.

The funny thing is that last night found me searching my shelves for a book to read between now and Monday!

I have as much under control as I can have in my plan for my trip.
The only possible hitch will be with Uber. I got the pickup planned but the app insisted that I put in a flight…and now says that it will notify me of my driver info within minutes of the plane landing. I did choose a flight that lands when my shuttle bus should have me arriving, so that should be OK…unless for some reason that flight does not come in on time. Deep breath.

I got my garden planted by this past Sunday. And, I have a neighbor who will keep an eye on it. I really don’t think there will be much to do as all the plants will be in growing phase while I travel.

Finished:
The Novice's Tale – ATY #1 (cover shows something starting with A, T, or Y), PAS. 4*
Twenty Blue Devils – PAS. 4*
Born of Water – PAS. 3*
My Father's Notebook – PAS. 3*

Currently Reading:
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – 27%. Did the first exercise.
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle. 13%.
After Alice Fell – PAS. Kindle. 76%

Just Starting:
Dolled Up for Murder – PAS.

On Deck: (owned)
Kate: The Journal of A Confederate Nurse – PAS. Taking this one with me.


PS 17/50
ATY 11/52, Anniversary 7/10, Winter 11/15
GR 63/200

QotW:
I am grateful for the slight push to read a classic. I have had my planned classic on my TBR a long time. I do own the book, which is why it usually gets pushed aside.