Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 16: 4/10 - 4/17
It is certainly feeling more like spring here (finally!). Temperatures have remained "steady" in the 60s and 70s (pretty good for where I'm at). We're expecting rain - even the potential of large hail and severe storms again - this weekend.Completed
A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
The Clue at Black Creek Farm
PS Challenge Progress: 33/50
Currently Reading
The Mistletoe Secret
Provenance
Bless Me, Ultima
QOTW
I really enjoyed The Last Murder at the End of the World, which I used for the "a dystopian book with a happy ending" prompt. I was very on the fence about it when I first picked it up although the premise did intrigue me, but I very quickly got to a point when I didn't want to put it down.
Happy Thursday! Stopping in before packing for a trip to St. Louis... It's been ages since we've seen family, and we're really excited to meet our grand-niece Ava.2025 Reading Challenges:
52 Book Club: 35/52 (April Mini-Challenge: 1/2)
ATY: 29/52 (ATY Anniversary Challenge: 6/10, ATY Spring Challenge: 23/30)
The Book Girls’ Guide: 24/74
Booklist Queen: 36/52
Cover Lovers: 26/50
Popsugar: 25/50
My Ever-Growing TBR: 40/249 – 16.1% (My goal is 33.3%.)
Recently Completed:
Games and Rituals: I really don’t think short stories are for me. I either don’t get the point or I want to know much, much more about the characters. I’m rarely truly satisfied. (ATY #1 – object on cover that starts with A, T, or Y: Toothbrush) ★★★
The Tower (ATY Spring #6 – TULIPS: The Tower) ★★★
Longbourn: Jane Austen Book Club. Pride and Prejudice told through the eyes of servants. There’s a lot of laundry, but it’s still oddly compelling. ★★★★
A Master of Djinn: Adventures Underground Book Club. (52 Books #27 – features a magician) ★★★★
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) ★★
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) ★★★★
Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials ★★★
The Boyfriend Candidate: Really fun! I was kind of dreading the “politician” prompt. (ATY Spring #10 – WARMING: Ashley Winstead/Popsugar #21 – a main character who is a politician) ★★★★
Medusa (Booklist Queen #14 – a mythology retelling) ★★★★
Lore Olympus: Volume Seven: I’m glad that Persephone/Kore is finally going to therapy, but some of this series is getting very repetitive. However, the end of this volume was great! (ATY #4 – set undersea, underground, or in an underworld) ★★★★
Currently Reading:
The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family
After I Do (Cover Lovers #36 – cover features a cityscape/Popsugar #48 – a married couple who don’t live together)
Show Don't Tell (ATY Spring Challenge #8 – SPROUT: Show)
Tacos for Two (ATY April Mini-Challenge #1 – related to the phrase “let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding”/Popsugar #29 – about a food truck)
Pictures of You: BOTM. (BGG Book Lovers #4 – characters becoming part of the story/Cover Lovers #20 – cover shows someone fully or partially submerged in water)
Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet: Reasonable Doubt Book Club.
Memorial Days (ATY #51 – published in 2025)
Mirror Mirror (ATY Read It Watch It #2 – a fairy tale retelling)
The Story She Left Behind (ATY Spring Challenge #11 – SPRING BREAK: Story)
The Duchess War (Popsugar #45 – a left-handed character)
Liars (52 Books #13 – title is 10 letters or less)
Fortune Favors the Duke
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection (ATY Spring #14 – EARTH DAY: Everything/Booklist Queen #9 – nonfiction book about health)
Six-Gun Snow White
QOTW: Nadine, I completely agree with you on The Boyfriend Candidate. Such a fun way to fulfill the "politician" prompt! I looked through my other prompts, but they seem to be filled by books I probably would have read anyway... or I didn't really like them that much.
Library TBR: 14/22Purchased TBR: 6/10
Finished: Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone Didn't get much out of this. I liked the tensions she structured the chapters around, but the content of the chapters didn't necessarily seem to follow the tensions.
The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World I mean, it was very anarchic. If you don't hold that against him, it was a pretty good read.
It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism Read because I went to Bernie's Smash the Oligarchy. I liked it, but I was more impressed with AOC.
Citizens or Consumers: What the Media Tell us about Political Participation Had some interesting comparisons.
Intersectionality Good!
Intersectionality: Origins, Contestations, Horizons Didn't like this one as well as the previous one.
The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy I really liked the chapter on participatory budgeting.
Hitler's American Model: The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law Disturbing but important.
I read most of these books on Friday "night," staying up until 6 AM. How silly!
Started: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn Got about halfway through this, realized I didn't care at all about what was going on, and gave up.
Thinking Forward: Learning to Conceptualize Economic Vision Good abstract thinking.
QotW: I really enjoyed A Short Walk Through a Wide World and The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear and The Pushcart War, none of which I would have read were it not for the prompts.
Mod
Purchased TBR: 6/10
Finished: Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone Didn't get much out of this. I liked the tensions she structured the chap..."
WOW! You had a very serious and in-depth Friday night!
Last week's QOTW about classic novels reminded me that I have a classic novels bucket list scratch off poster in my closet that I'd abandoned for several years. I decided it would make a great addition to my office. The artwork for the novels is bright and fun. I think it looks great hanging in there. Maybe looking at it every day will motivate me to read more classics so I can scratch off more covers.Finished
Furies: Stories of the Wicked, Wild and Untamed (a book featuring a character going through menopause). I liked these stories, but only a few of them are really memorable. I had planned to use this book for another prompt (two books with the same title), but I think the menopause prompt is harder to fill.
Reading
Cleat Cute (a book about soccer)
Assistant to the Villain (a book with a nonverbal character)
QOTW
No, but I’m only just now starting to pick books based on which prompt they fill. Until now, I’ve read whatever I wanted and found prompts for them.
Happy Thursday!Finished:
To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb - 3 stars - not for a prompt. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I'd hoped. I spent a lot of the book bored and waiting for something interesting. The last third of the book does get better, which I why I gave 3 stars rather than 2, but overall, this was pretty 'meh'.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi - 4 stars - for a book where nature is the antagonist. I did not expect to cry at the book about the Moon turning to cheese, but here we are. At times silly and at times poignant, despite the goofy premise, this book is more about human nature and what we would do in the face of potential disaster.
I am currently at 19/50 for Popsugar (16/40 and 3/10).
Currently reading:
Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis - not currently for a prompt, although I'm considering switching this into my highly anticipated 2025 read and moving my current book for that to another prompt that fits it, if I can't find another prompt this fits into. (Maybe happy dystopian? I'll see how it ends.)
Upcoming/Planned:
Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff - not currently for a prompt.
QOTW:
I had not had Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop on my radar before, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I read it for a book where an adult character changes careers.
Happy Thursday all!Foot is healing nicely after the surgery. Hoping it's completely healed by the time I leave for Italy in May. Don't want to ruin my first trip to Europe with hurting feet.
Three weeks left of school this semester too. WHOO!
Books read this week:
Tales of the City -- for “a book mentioned in another book.” Boy, was this overrated. I kept going thinking it was going to get better… it didn’t.
Chain-Gang All-Stars -- not for the challenge. The book’s message is an absolutely timely and necessary one, even if the story is haphazard and not well written.
Godkiller -- for “a book about found family.” Good fantasy with a strong female lead and good disabled representation, even if the pacing was a little weird.
The Seventh Bride -- not for the challenge. A witty and fun retelling of “Bluebeard” by one of my favorite authors. I haven’t read a bad one by T. Kingfisher yet!
Black Bird, Blue Road -- not for the challenge. Fantastic fantasy book about Jewish mythology and two siblings trying to outwit and outrun the Angel of Death.
Currently reading:
The Book of Gothel -- for “book with two or more books on the cover or ‘book’ in the title”
The Saturday Night Ghost Club -- for “book you got for free”
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth -- not for the challenge
Iron Hearted Violet -- not for the challenge
QOTW: I was frustrated with some of the Advanced prompts this year, but stumbled upon Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses thanks to the "chronic pain" prompt, which I REALLY enjoyed. I'll have to look for more by this author...
Happy Thursday everyone. Can't believe we've got only a couple weeks until April is over. Personally, things are in limbo. Looking for a job and unsure of school status. I won't find anything official until the end of May when the real terms end (I was doing mini-mesters.)
In the mean time I've been volunteering at a used bookstore just a couple hours a week. It has been pretty fun but as a reader it's hard for me to not want to rescue all the books that capture my interest. Last week someone brought in some books that looked like they hadn't even been used, mainly Star Wars books, and I wanted them all. This week someone brought in some old comic books and I wanted those too.
Someone did ask me a fun question though. They couldn't figure out my race/ethnicity so they flat out asked "what are you?" so I got to get into that conversation which was neat.
*****
Book News:
Man, by the looks of things I'll end off April with having read 16 books. I haven't read that many in a month in I don't know how long! That's awesome.
Tomorrow I am planning to do my May TBR this way I can have a week and a half to enjoy my picks. I have 4 priority reads, 2 books that I checked out from a library. Then I'll choose 6 books from my wrapped TBR which are numbered 1-20.
In terms of this years PS Reading Challenge, I have been loving it more than other years. I've said before, that past challenges usually gear toward fiction reading. This year I've had better luck with nonfiction. I've completed 33 prompts which is more than I've ever done. 25 have been nonfiction books and 8 have been fiction.
****
Currently Reading:
The War of the Worlds - I'm almost done with this. Only 20% left give or take. It's so hard to read this book from a 21st century lens when it was written nearly 130 years ago.
Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics - This book has been so cool and just might be my favorite book of April.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder - Finally getting to this one.
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism - Slightly controversial, but I like the difficult topics that people struggle with. I plan to just give this a star rating without a full review so as to not offend anyone.
*****
Question of the Week
Have any of the 2025 prompts lead to an unexpectedly enjoyable read this year?
Oh love this question! I've had some awesome luck with the PS 2025 prompts this year. I've never completed these challenges so well before because much of the prompts have aimed toward fiction genres so it's hard to fit in nonfiction books.
This time around though I've been lucky with some fun ones.
Here are some of the ones I've enjoyed:
You got for free- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire - Got this book for Christmas in 2024 and it turned out to be awesome!
Set in or around a body of water- Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage - Kept seeing this book at the bookstore last year so I caved. It ended up being amazing! Beautifully written.
Containing magical creatures- Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight: The Highs and Lows of the Twilight Saga - I follow this author on social media and her book ended up being so much fun as well.
About a chosen family- Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me - I went a bit unconventional because the author states that the books and her book community are her chosen family. I found myself relating to so much of it.
Happy Thursday! 2 week check in for me because the end of last week was very busy, and by the time I had time to do a write-up, I decided it made more sense to just wait.
Finished
Behold the Dreamers Powerful in the moment, but it's already faded. Used for about an immigrant / refugee.
Squire: A Graphic Novel I liked this graphic novel a lot but things did feel compressed - characters totally change their minds and positions based on one incident, when I feel like it would be a more gradual attitude adjustment. No prompt.
The Mercy of Gods A fun start to a new sci-fi series from the guys who wrote The Expanse. None of the characters were that likable but the plot was interesting enough to keep me going. No prompt.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed A book club pick, but a highly enjoyable memoir of a therapist's practice and her own therapy sessions. Made me realize there's a lot more to the process of therapy than I thought! No prompt.
The Catch Me if You Can: One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World I'd wanted to read this for awhile, and thought it would fit nicely into the POC joy, not trauma prompt. The author has travelled to every country in the world, and this book is a compilation of her write ups on some of them. I didn't love the write-ups and her travel style is not mine - she's all about luxury hotels, and especially later in the book, a lot of her country visits seem to be quick stops just to check the country off, while she's working on arranging future travel, but the photography was stunning. (Although annoyingly, every once in awhile in the text she'd talk about getting a certain shot, but then wouldn't include it.
Currently Reading
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear
Little Ship of Fools: Sixteen Rowers, One Improbable Boat, Seven Tumultuous Weeks on the Atlantic
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
QotW
While I've definitely read a few books I've loved this year, I can't say any of them are due to prompts. All of my best loved reads so far have been things I wanted to read otherwise, though I might have sometimes managed to fit them into a prompt.
To be fair, I am making more of an effort to read things that I had already TBRd rather than picking them up to answer the challenge. I'm tracking it this year. Of my 27 prompts completed so far, 15 were books I'd already intended to read otherwise.
But I also still have some of the more difficult prompts left, that will require me to choose a specific book in order to fulfill them, so I remain hopeful!
It's been more Spring-like lately, and the trees are finally starting to show some green! This Saturday is even supposed to be in the 70s, but I'll believe that when I see it.I'm in my church's handbell choir, and we'll be performing this Sunday, so we had an extra rehearsal this Tuesday. I enjoy playing handbells, but I also enjoy having the time off after a performance (we only play on Easter and Christmas, so we get the summer off).
Finished:
Sea Legs: A Graphic Novel - (RH A book based solely on its setting, PS A book that fills your favorite prompt from 2015 - based on a true story, CL a bird) One of my committee reads, but I'd actually already checked it out before I knew that, since the author is a local. It's based on her childhood, but I think it either would have been better as a straight-up memoir or more fictionalized than it seems to be.
Onyx & Beyond - I was expecting this to build up to something bigger than it did.
Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair - Adorable!
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
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War
Vanya and the Wild Hunt
The Night War
Kwame Crashes the Underworld
QOTW: I haven't sought out any books specifically to fill a prompt yet, due to my other reading obligations. Even so, I've already filled half the prompts (and can tell that some of my upcoming reading will fill at least two more).
Hi all! Things are good here. My grandfather went home the other day, thank you to everyone who offered well wishes! He's managing a lot better than I thought he would. Kiddo is a little bored on her spring break, but I think we're managing. Tomorrow is supposed to be around 70 and it's not supposed to rain. If that holds, maybe we'll go to another playground. We also need to dye Easter eggs tomorrow. I'm freed from quarantine Easter day and plan to go see my dad and extended family. My stepsister and her daughters will be visiting from out of state and we haven't seen them since last summer. I have read very little this week. I'm finding it's hard to concentrate. At least some of that is having a kiddo at home! but I wonder if some of that is brain fog from covid... not sure.
I listened to another hour of Call Me By Your Name, it's not improving and I think I'll return it and check out another audiobook.
I read a tiny bit in Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling.
QOTW: Not really, yet anyway. I've just been reading what I want and seeing where it fits. I'll have to get more intentional with some of the prompts, if I get to them. Then maybe we'll see.
Blessed Holy Thursday for those celebrating Holy Week. It's been a crazy week for us, so I haven't done much reading.Finished 14/50
First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew (not for challenge): This was a reread for my parish book club for Lent. Still good!
Currently Reading
Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families for "book you got for free". Nearly done!
In the House of My Pilgrimage: Violence, Noetic Healing, and Personhood for "book with less than 3 stars on GR". It's really deep so far!
The Rithmatist for "book about a nontraditional education". Really neat so far!
QotW
I actually enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale (book with books on the cover) and How to Age Disgracefully (book with a character going through menopause) more than I thought I would!
Happy Thursday, everyone! This past week I started a new antidepressant, in the hope that it would help me cope with my OCD symptoms (which have steadily gotten worse over the past several months), but quickly discovered that it was not a good medication for me. After sleeping 12-15 hours a day for several days in a row, experiencing frequent dizzy spells, having zero interest in food, and feeling so spacey that I was afraid to get behind the wheel of a car, I decided to discontinue the medication entirely.
I’m currently waiting for the last of the medication to leave my system, so a lot of the same side effects are continuing to be a problem, but I am feeling better. But since this is the second SSRI I’ve had the same issues with, it’s looking like medication is not going to be a good option for me. At least I gave it a try.
Despite all of the medication issues, I did have a good week, reading-wise. I had a chance to read around the same number of books as I did last week, and I’m feeling really good about my progress on my “New Books” list. I don’t know for sure if I will manage it, but I am currently on track to finish all of the books I’ve purchased since the beginning of the year by the end of the month.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 155/250
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
Although I was planning to buy one new book this week, I decided that since I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to start another new mystery series (even one that features The Golden Girls), I would try to get a copy of the book through my local library instead. Fortunately, I was able to reserve a copy of the ebook through Libby. It’s going to be a wait time of several months, but that’s okay. I’m certainly not going to run out of reading material anytime soon, and it’s one fewer book to read during my quest to finish all of my new books before the end of the month.
“New” Books Bought in 2024: 69
“New” Books Read in 2024: 59
“New” Books DNFed in 2024: 0
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Memoirs of a Geisha — This book was a re-read for me. The last time I read it was shortly after the movie adaptation was released. I found that I enjoyed it just as much on a second reading as I did the first time around. I’ll definitely be re-watching the movie adaptation again soon. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This week I also had a chance to finish reading the remaining books in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series…minus the novellas, which were published in collections including works by other authors. I may eventually read the novellas as well, but I do not currently own them, so it will probably be a while before I get around to them. Overall, I really enjoyed the books in this series! The author did a great job of blending mystery with humor and romance, and created a great cast of characters. I especially loved the antics of Hannah’s cat, Moishe. I had a chance to read books 20-29 this week, which includes the following titles:
~Christmas Caramel Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Banana Cream Pie Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Raspberry Danish Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Christmas Cake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Chocolate Cream Pie Murder —📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Coconut Layer Cake Murder —📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Christmas Cupcake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Caramel Pecan Roll Murder — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Pink Lemonade Cake Murder — (view spoiler) 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Geisha, a Life — I’m really glad that I decided to read this memoir after re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha, because it was a fascinating look at the reality of being a geisha in Kyoto. (Let’s just say that Arthur Golden got some stuff wrong when he wrote his novel.) I actually read most of this book in a single day, because I didn’t want to put it down. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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. 📚
~The Lathe of Heaven — I am still only two chapters into this book, and haven’t decided if I want to continue reading it. This may end up being the first new purchase I DNF this year. 📚
~Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — This is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. I’m currently a little less than two-thirds of the way through the audiobook, and really enjoying listening to it before bed each night. 🎧
~Dragonfall — I just started this book today, and it’s been pretty good so far. 📚
QOTW:
I’m not doing this year’s challenge, so the prompts haven’t really influenced my reading in any significant way.
Passover, Easter and Spring (or Fall if in Southern Hemisphere) greetings to all! I took off yesterday to spend time at the NY Botanical Gardens which is having its annual Orchid Show in the Conservatory Garden, plus daffodils, magnolias and cherry blossoms are still to be enjoyed. I also saw that the borders of lilacs are in the early bud stage - a personal favorite flower. Must keep an eye on the bloom schedule so I can go for another visit. PS - 22/60
ATY - 34/52
Finished:
Foreign Affairs - used for ATY Cityscape/building on cover (one of the editions has Parliament and Big Ben) but would also fit ATY adult relationships very well. No PS prompt. It is a Pulitizer winner from 1985 though and @Nadine - you will be amused to the references that clearly are supposed to be Cornell University and Ithaca, NY. Or even Syracuse though since the author is a professor at Cornell and lives in Ithaca and it's supposed to be an ivy league college, it's not Syracuse.
Death of an Avid Reader - again no PS prompt but perfect for ATY a haunting. Enjoyable cozy historical detective story.
Currently reading:
Murder in the Bastille
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Sheepfarmer's Daughter
Sylvia's Lovers
QOTW: Since I don't really preplan or search for books at this stage to fit prompts, I don't have an answer to this. I'm actually not one who is surprised really when I read a book I own from my TBR Towers or have listed on GR as Want to Read. I have a massive number of TBR Towers with a huge diversity of books and I read widely so it's pretty easy to just fill prompts without having to think about it, and mostly that's from my TBR.
That will change soon though as my general reading is not filling the prompts for this years' challenge all that easily. I am going to have to dig through those TBR Towers soon to identify books that will fit so I pick them up sooner or later. I don't expect to have much trouble finding ones and of course, since I own them, I'm pretty much sure to be happy with them.
Now, when you pose the question 'was I disappointed', the opposite, then I'll have many answers.
However, there are 3 books I picked up for non-PS reasons to read this year that ended up not only being surprisingly wonderful (5 or 4 star reviews, respectively) but ended up fitting prompts:
Up Country - set in Vietnam in the 1990s - fit roadtrip
Lessons in Chemistry - unexpected as I had a very different sense of what the book would be - change careers prompt
My Favorite Scar - current Edgar nominee and fit the last line prompt
I completed one (massive) book this week, The Complete Poems. I'll use it for a decades challenge but not for PSCurrently reading:
Tehrangeles
The Book of Lost Names
A Separate Peace
The Wedding People
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
and my year long:
War and Peace
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
QOTW:
The only book I read specifically for a prompt is Out of My Mind, and I enjoyed. It wasn't a surprise though as I was familiar with the book from some teacher friends who use it in their classrooms
Happy Thursday! I'm continuing to prioritize books by Arab authors for Arab American Heritage Month. My grandparents came to visit last week, so I only managed to finish three books—and just one of them counted toward my challenge.My library still has not been able to process new books due to a cyber attack two months ago, so I went ahead and bought The Dream Hotel at Target. I had a gift card from a former student, so technically it cost me nothing—score!
2025 Reading Challenges
Popsugar- 36/50
ATY- 48/52; Anniversary- 7/10
Buzzword- 4/12; Cover- 4/12
1001 Books- 5/10
TBR- 19/20
Finished
Behind You Is the Sea- I know this is billed as a novel, but it felt more like a short story collection and every chapter/story was a hit for me! It follows different characters all connected to three Palestinian-American families living in Baltimore. A spectacular read!
In Praise of Hatred- this was an okay read. While I learned a lot about Syrian history and politics and enjoyed some of the timely themes, it was really slow and had a lot of characters to keep track of. Also, the translator's note at the end revealed the translated version has a different ending than the original, so now I'm curious what happened in the original and why was it changed in the English translation.
ATY #29- Two books with a pair of opposites in their title: Book 2
Celestial Bodies- just finished this International Booker-Prize winner today on audio. I wish I had read this in print, because the narrative jumps timelines and follows multiple generations of two families and it was hard to keep up with all of them through audio. Overall, I thought it was a solid multi-generational story, and like the previous read, I learned a little about Omani history in the process.
Currently Reading
Minor Detail- this is around 100 pages, so I will most likely get through it quickly
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between- picked this up because My Friends was one of my favorite reads of last year. Matar's writing is just exquisite, and I can definitely see how his personal life influenced My Friends
A Room of One's Own & The Voyage Out- on pause for now until I finish grad school.
QOTW
I don't normally read fantasy or YA, so for the prompt about reading a book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons, I picked up The Wild Huntress, a BOTM pick that had been sitting on my shelf for months after I ordered it without much excitement. But I ended up really enjoying it! I even went on to read one of the author’s backlist titles, The Bone Houses, for another PS prompt (a book featuring a character with chronic pain), and I liked that one too.
Wow Nadine. I'm so impressed that you and Lynn always seem to finish multiple books a week and I feel accomplished if I read 3-4 books a month.I failed to really advance Teresa of Avilla or Ulysses. I'm in what is considered the hardest chapter of the book and it's a slog.
I am doing better in my April reading - finished my Nobel book, made strides in my prompt of the month and series book. And started my Canadian book - I'm up to Manitoba.
Last year, Nadine and I talked about how there should be a scale for when you finish a book (or a movie) and think WTF did I just read/watch. We proposed it should be the Awad scale because Bunny is a 5 out of 5 on the Awad scale. I have to say that The Vegetarian is about a 3.5 on the Awad scale. Sometimes books by Nobel laureates are boring - this one wasn't. Confusing - yes. Boring - no.
Finished:
The Vegetarian
Popsugar prompt: n/a
ATY prompt: A translated novel from Asia
Anniversary prompt:
Series - 2/10
Reading Across Canada - 3/10
Nobel laureates - 2/5
PS - 13/40
Regular ATY - 11/40
Anniversary ATY - 5/10
Currently reading:
Ulysses - 60%
Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run - 85%
The Crystal City - 65%
A Complicated Kindness - 30%
Lent:
Interior Castle - 25%
Buddy Reads:
none at present
QOTW: I am enjoying Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run way more than I thought I would.
I had some sad news over the weekend and thought I'd share since I've mentioned this bookstore previously. Kathy Harig, who owned the indie bookstore Mystery Loves Company in Oxford, Maryland, passed away over the weekend (details have been limited - no obituary to share yet). A former librarian, Kathy was an active advocate for mystery writers in the DMV area and did so much to promote the tiny town of Oxford after she and her husband moved there from Baltimore. My Mom and I have so many wonderful bookish memories thanks to her pitch-perfect recommendations (she introduced me to so many of my now favorite authors) and the events she hosted at the store and other venues in Oxford. We'd been talking about how much fun it was going to be seeing her again for Laura Lippman's latest launch in June since Kathy's shop/luncheon events were always the first or second stop on the new book tour. As fate would have it, I learned of Kathy's passing by seeing a post by Laura Lippman on Bluesky.
Kathy was also the reason my Mom and I started attending the cozy mystery conference, Malice Domestic, which she supported for many, many years. It was always nice catching up with her in the book sellers room and supporting her store with new book purchases. I'm so lucky to have had a chance to meet her and will cherish the bookish memories she gave us. She was a gem!
And now for the usual check-in stuff...I'm going to be finishing a book later today, so I'm counting it as finished for today's update. It didn't fit an open prompt, so I'm at 8/40 and 0/10 for this challenge. I'll be at 21/85 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge when I finish my current read.
Finished-ish:
* Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien, which I have really enjoyed. Really love this cozy series!
Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims; and,
* The Backyard Bird Chronicles written, illustrated, and narrated by Amy Tan. Her illustrations are gorgeous and she has such a pleasant voice - it's a lovely, relaxing read. This is one of my book clubs' picks for April.
QotW:
Have any of the 2025 prompts lead to an unexpectedly enjoyable read this year? I normally read through the prompts after I finish a book to see if it fit anything, rather than the reverse, so I can't say that's happened yet. I have done a little pre-planning though to identify books I own (or my book clubs are going to read) and could fit prompts since my goal this year is to read more of the books I own, rather than finishing all of the prompts in the challenge.
I *did* make sure that my favorite read of the year so far fit an open prompt though! I used Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller for "a book featuring an activity on your bucket list" even though I don't have a bucket list. I set up an unofficial, carefully curated lending library in my office and think it would be fun to host an official Little Free Library in my community, so figured that was close enough for the bucket list prompt 🙃
Happy Thursday! They announced the lineup for the book festival happening in town next month, and now I'm trying to figure out how many books by the authors going I can fit in before the festival! I don't know as many of the authors as I did last year, but I'm still excited. Also the different panels are going to be indoors this year, which I'm excited about cause I got very sunburned last year...Finished:
Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes- this was a great memoir about the author's life as a refugee after fleeing Cambodia. It was really good, very upsetting
-no prompt
First-Time Caller- a cute, sweet romcom, I liked it!
-no prompt
23:45- a manga about an introvert being haunted by an outgoing ghost. This was fine, but I wish it had been fleshed out more
-no prompt
Currently reaction:
Strong Female Character
Miri Lives in the Cat's Eyes
Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space: A Literary Mixtape
QotW:
Most of the books I've picked up for prompts were ones I'd already wanted to read. But the "less than 3 star rating" pushed me to pick up Saha sooner than I would have, and I thought it was much better than the average rating it has.
Also the "unusual education" pushed to me reread A Deadly Education, which I already knew I loved, but I needed the nudge to restart the series so I could finally finish it. I also loved book 2, and I'm just a few weeks out for book 3 to be ready on Libby
Hello and happy sunny Thursday from Columbus! The weather is really improving and I’m very excited for tomorrow, lovely weather and then I’m going to the Tenebrae service in the evening. I hope everyone who celebrates has an amazing Easter!Finished:
We Shall Be Monsters for one of the two books with the same name prompt. Fun little fantasy adventure that had a touch of darkness. I thought I’d like this more than I did but it was fine.
Currently Reading:
Hera
The Covenant of Water
House of Leaves
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
Recently Watched:
Not watched but I have been binging the podcast Radio Rental.
Challenges:
Popsugar - 10/40; 0/4; 0/3; 2/3
Read Harder - 6/24
Classics - 3/12
European Tour - 3/10
12 Friends - 2/12
Yearly Goal - 30/180
Nadine in NY wrote: "Spring moves forward slowly, which I am happy about. My scilla is a brilliant blue carpet under my sugar maple, and pin..."That sounds so beautiful, Nadine!
Life update: The last few days have been difficult. The UK Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not legally women, despite a 2006 statute that seemed to say that was the case. Although I'm nonbinary, which was never a legally recognised gender here in the first place, it felt like a body blow, and I was not doing well for a while. I know other trans people have felt similarly. So much unnecessary hate and hostility in the world is hard to take, especially as an autistic person with rejection-sensitive dysphoria.Reading update: I finished 5 books, one of them a kids' book that I read with my grandson and really enjoyed:
that pesky rat
The Canterville Ghost (not part of the challenges, but would work for a short, lighthearted classic if anyone still needs one)
Mabuhay! for a book about a food truck - okay, but not my favourite of the graphic novels I've read so far this year
A Choice of Futures for the Star Trek Series Challenge, and I decided to use it for the chosen family prompt because as it turns out, the trope of the ship's crew as a family plays a key part in one of the main character arcs
Annihilation for nature as the antagonist - I was sceptical about this at first, but it was really good
I also dnf'd Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympic Team because the structure felt too padded for my taste, and Black, Buddhist, B-Boy, & Beyond because I'd started it ages ago and just never really felt motivated to finish it.
Stats:
Finished for the PopSugar Challenge: 3 this week, 28/50 total
Finished for the Star Trek Series Challenge: 1 this week, 8/18 total
Finished outside the challenges: 2 this week, 8 total
GR Bookmark Challenges: Community Favorites Challenge (6/6)
All books finished this year: 5 this week, 42 total
DNF or paused: 2 this week, 10 total
Currently Reading:
The Secret Book of Flora Lea for book in the title
The Haunting of H. G. Wells for magical creatures that aren't dragons; the creatures in question are angels, which I realise aren't necessarily magical, but the blurb leads me to think that these ones are
All Systems Red for a book by a neurodivergent author and my current audiobook
Smart Legal Contracts: Computable Law in Theory and Practice for a book you got for free
The Valmiki Ramayana Vol. 2 for spiritual bedtime reading
QOTW: Yes, very much so! "A book that an AI chatbot recommends based on your favourite book" led me to read Howl and Other Poems. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it because other Beat poetry hasn't really impressed me, but this was so powerful and captured what interests me in the Beat generation so perfectly, it blew me away. And "A book with silver on the cover or in the title" led me to Babel, which might as well have been tailored for me specifically. I wouldn't have picked it up on my own because the "dark academia" tag and the length of it would have put me off.
Mod
For the last few years (but not this year) I've prioritized my reading based on cultural appreciation months, and I confess I'd completely missed Arab American Heritage month!!!
If I had known, I would have started a post about it over in our general 2025 folder!! Oops.
Anyway, I'm impressed that you're doing that, and I thought The Dream Hotel was really interesting, memorable, worth buying, and it will work for "married couple that lives apart" if you still need that!
Mod
I failed to really advance Teresa of Avilla or Ulyss..."
LOL it's the nature of the beast perhaps to always think we are not reading enough, or not reading as much as our bookish peers!
If you'll notice, I am not reading an absolute BRICK like Ulysses!! That's both high in page count AND high in mental focus.
You, too, can read multiple books a week if you stick with short and fluffy books like I do! :-)
Mod
I'm sorry for the loss to your community, but also a little jealous that you had such a great book organizer/promoter in your town.
Happy Friday!Once again Thursday got away from me and I didn't realize it until it was 2am, haha! Woops.
My cold was the mildest I've ever had, making me wonder if there's truth to the whole 'exercise boosts your immune system'. So that was nice! The yet another Mysterious Stomach Cramps episode I coulda done without, though. Same goes for the panic Lucy (bunbun) gave me when she started sitting and laying really weirdly. I guess the pain in her back is getting worse. It's been a rough week.
Reading wise it hasn't at all been awful, at least. My audiobooks are flying by while working on my diamond painting. Had to add more to my TBR because I ran out of planned audios, haha! Painting is almost done, though! Hoping for tomorrow, after which I only have to wait for the extra diamonds to come in, as there's one color I don't have enough of.
I also walked with my audiobook on, which was very nice, as it made it easier for me to walk at a slower pace, meaning I can walk for longer without pain. It brought me to 60% of the Hobbit!
In other fun news, my friend offered me to stay at her place next week, so my back and forth Disney trip I was kinda dreading due to my energy levels being depleted, has now become a 1,5 day trip with me getting actual sleep! Both during the night inbetween days and the day of coming home! I now even have the seat on the bus back that has no seats behind it so I can put it back as far as I want to!
Read
The Bones Beneath My Skin
TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors, and even when his books don't reach Cerulean Sea or Whispering Door level, I still love them. This was wonderful, Art has become one of my favorite characters ever!
The Cousins
Finished this while riding out my second Mysterious Stomach Cramps episode. It was part of a bookbox, and not my genre at all so I left it on the shelf. Glad I finally got to read it, due to my self-imposed die shelf game. Even got a twist I didn't see coming!
Sunrise on the Reaping
Audio. Wow. I wasn't the biggest fan of Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and this book just drove home why. I would have much rather gotten Lucy Gray's POV, or even a dual one. Sunrise made me ache for more; more answers, more 'what happened then and then and then'. It sucked me in, the way the original trilogy did, and I cannot wait for the movie next year.
I counted this for the AI prompt. Didn't use AI, but figured loving the original trilogy could prompt anyone to recommend this new book to me.
The Hunger Games
I finished this today so technically this should go in next week's but eh. I feel like I often post books twice because my memory's shot.
After Sunrise I wanted to reread this and Catching Fire, to see everything in a new light, a new perspective. So far it's been tough. But after Sunrise, I really wish it had been Haymitch going back into that arena with Katniss for reasons I think will be obvious to others who have read Sunrise. Of course it only works in hindsight, so a reimagining would be nice, hahah! A "What if?'!
ANYWAYS, this book holds up amazingly well. And Tatiana Marslay does an amazing job narrating it. Can't wait to start Catching Fire tomorrow. Whether or not I'll reread Mockingjay, I'm not yet sure of. Either way, movie rewatch will be next!
Currently Reading
Ben Hur
Still going strong with my 3 chapters a day. I am already reading some extra chapters to make up for the Disney trip next week, only 2 chapters extra to go. At 60% and can appreciate the story for what it is so far.
The Priory of the Orange Tree
The final book on my April TBR! It's a reread so I can read A Day of Fallen Night right after. 20% in so far, but continuing after posting this!
QOTW
Given I'm not reading for prompts (yet), just reading what I want and seeing where/if it fits, I can't say that I have.
Today I picked my May TBR so I can have a week and a half to simply enjoy looking at them before I actually get started on the reading for that month.
I forgot to check in yesterday. Silly me.I finished The End of the World Running Club as my book about a run club. I was unexpectedly enjoying it until the end. I didn't care for the end and the ending of a book can really ruin the whole thing for me.
I am now reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I don't think this will make a lot of difference in the grand scheme of things, but I read Prisoner of Azkaban for untraditional education and I was going to read this one for magical creatures that aren't dragons, but I'm going to switch them. Because Prisoner of Azkaban had a hippogriff, and all this has had so far is blast ended skrewts.
QOTW: As I said earlir, I was unexpectedly enjoying the End of the World Run Club. and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Crime and Punishment, which I read for a classic I hadn't read yet, and I really enjoyed that. Everything else I've enjoyed I was probably expecting to enjoy.
Happy check-in! It snowed yesterday so it's an okay time to be stuck inside with a cold.Finished Reading:
Elektra ⭐⭐⭐
This got me the final goodreads bookmark. Anyway this is actually 3 povs and Elektra's was not really interesting.
Mabuhay! ⭐⭐⭐ (PS food truck)
Thank you @Joanna for suggesting this for a tough prompt. It was a cute graphic novel that I wanted to eat all the food mentioned within.
Swept Away ⭐⭐ (ATY sunset vibes)
A dud book from an author I like. I got bored and the ending jumped the shark.
Exit Strategy Dramatized Adaptation : The Murderbot Diaries 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
No Art :(
Sweep of the Blade Sweep with Me Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐
One more in the series left.
A Crown This Cold and Heavy ⭐⭐
Not much plot progression for the overall series.
PS 23/50
ATY 32/52 Anniversary 2/10
Goodreads 104/250
QOTW:
Mostly I've been reading what calls to me and fitting it in.
I never would have read Mabuhay! and I might not have read Ghost which I really recommend for the run club prompt.
Happy Easter to those who celebrate. Stats
Books Read: 72/250
PS: 19/50
ATY: 21/52
ATY Anniversary: 2/10
ATY Rejects: 8/28
ATY Rewind: 1/10
GR Choice: 8/30
TBR: 2/10
Books I finished:
The Atlas Paradox ⭐⭐⭐
PS: Left handed character.
To quote a GR review "Nothing happens. No seriously, nothing happens" - that's the whole review, and it pretty much sums up the book. Given how much I loved the first it was a major disappointment.
Mabuhay! ⭐⭐⭐
PS: Food Truck
It was a cute fun middlegrade graphic novel and now I'm done the prompt. Thanks for the suggestion.
Cat + Gamer, Volume 5 ⭐⭐⭐
I'm continuing to read through this series. I was hoping it would help me get out of my reading slump, and it definitely put me in a better mood.
In Progress:
The Other Miss Bridgerton
Daughter of No Worlds
QotW
I've read some good books, but only 2 I'd call surprises: The Ice Guy & The Cool Girl T01 (AI recommendation) & Pearl, Vol. 1 (Same Title). Pearl is a crime story about a tattoo artist who gets drawn into yakuza drama, which is nowhere near my usual genres. But the artwork was gorgeous and I ended up really enjoying it. And the Ice Guy josei manga was in my wheelhouse, but the surprise was that the Goodreads recommendation algorithm actually worked.😉
Hey everyone! Happy Easter! I practiced Lent this year and I am very proud to say that my boyfriend and I did not consume meat on Lent Fridays. I have always messed up but i promised myself to fully commit and I did it! Now the giving something up for 40 days, I didn't do that. Baby steps!!Since my job is doing a big move, they have been getting rid of artwork. There was an auction but it kept getting pushed back so the artwork/frames that was only worth $20 or below, they gave them out for free. I grabbed two! One is a ship and the other is a pencil sketch of the Brooklyn Bridge.
My boyfriend and I were watching Wrestlemania yesterday, he got me into wrestling even though I knew some stuff from when I was younger during being babysat. We fell asleep on the final match so during the replay of it on Peacock, they edited out one of the wrestlers giving the middle finger to another, it was pretty silly.
All my New Yorkers, yesterday was so beautiful out! I am done with cold weather. 9 months of cold and 3 months of hot, you would think I would leave the city but I can't. I'm too attached.
My boyfriend got a new tablet to replace one that he had. I learned it was a kindle and I asked if I can take it. He said yes and now I have a Kindle! I have debated on getting one myself but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use and try it out. I see the hype.
Reading Updates: I just want to mention that I have not found a 5-star read yet. I have gotten some 4.75/5 though. I have finished 3 books this week, however none completed a prompt for this challenge.
1) The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke (4.75/5)
2) Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko (3.5/5)
3) Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha (4.5/5)
QOTW: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling. I do enjoy middle grade and this one is no exception. It is such a sweet story.
Mod
NPR article: 10 Emerging Writers Win Whiting Awards:
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-...
These names were all new to me!
Interesting listing provided by Penguin Random House of THE MOST CHECKED OUT LIBRARY BOOKS per the New York Public Library:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
I found this particularly interesting since I just finished reading The Lions of Fifth Avenue set in the NY Public Library. I know many of you read library books…
ADMIN STUFF:
THE JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTON POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #12 A book about a road trip. Take a Road Trip Day is June 20, 2025!
These are the final three books from which to select (presented in alphabetical order):
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
*** This poll will run from April 10th through April 22nd. *** You can vote HERE!
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Floating Hotel by Floating Hotel This book could be used to fulfill prompt #3 A book about space tourism. National Space Day is May 2, 2025! https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat... Surely we have a "fearless facilitator" out there to lead May's discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
THE APRIL MONTHLY GROUP READ SELECTION IS Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1) by Toshikazu Kwaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #23 A book that is considered healing fiction
World Health Day is April 7, 2025: https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Sasha Wolf is the "humble hero" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! YAY!! Thank you so much, Sasha!
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Have any of the 2025 prompts lead to an unexpectedly enjoyable read this year?
The first one that comes to mind is Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall which I read to complete prompt #17 A book about a run club. It was such an excellent read!! And so much more informative and intriguing than you might imagine!
Then I read a book I got for free from one of my local used bookstores which unexpectedly was a perfect fit to fulfill prompt #21 A book where the main character is a politician—Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy #1) by Stephanie Burgis. “Fabian” is actually the imperial archduke, though he is incognito upon arriving at Queen Saskia’s, accpeting a position to organize her library… So this is a romantasy option for that prompt!
Another book I unexpectedly really enjoyed was Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez to fulfill prompt #22 A book about soccer. This felt so very genuine for depicting the life of a female in Argentina, given the oppression of females, and those who refuse to be put in a box!
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 38/50
Around the Year (AtY): 50/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 10/10 FINISHED
Read Harder: 15/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a heartfelt rendering of two spouses connecting in the aftermath of learning of their respective spouses’ affair with each other. A bit mind-boggling, and yet quite believable and genuine-feeling. And that evidence! Wow…I would love to know what happened after this, but I think each of their lives will remain separate and yet forever linked in a way. I am gathering this was self-published on Amazon. Great start in what I term a superb writing career! It is a short story.
POPSUGAR: #6, #8-85 pages, #20, #24, #28
ATY: #2, #5, #7, #8, #15, #16, #19, #26, #37, #41, #46
RHC: #24
52 Book Club: #10, #33
*You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was such an enthralling read for me! I firmly believe our minds are capable of so much more than we can even imagine! Especially during sleep. I have such appreciation of Oakley’s ability to interweave these characters’ experiences and lives and the ending was unexpected and so satisfying with an appropriate mixture of sadness and hope for the future! So poignant overall!
POPSUGAR: #6, #20, #28, NEW #42
ATY: #2, #5, #15, #16, #23, #26, #34, #37, #40, #41, #45, #48
RHC: #4, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #33, #39, #48, #51
*The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was fascinating! I had known that Hedy Lamarr was somehow involved in developing some basic technology that enabled “future”/current technology, and that she was somehow involved with Nazis during WW II, but no details or basic knowledge of these aspects of her life. She was a survivor! Of so many oppression and so much! But she never gave up…she only persevered! Regardless… It seemed this book hit the right balance for me. I highly recommend it!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #15, #25, #28, #31, #32, #50
ATY: #2, #3, #5, #15, #16, #23, #24, #30, #34, #37, #41, #44, #48
RHC: #4, #5, #17, #21
52 Book Club: #10, #33, #43, #48, NEW #50, #51
*The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was almost too realistic! Seriously. These characters depict the complexity of being human and the resulting effects of our behaviors and decisions. It was quite an enthralling read. I especially appreciated the diversity among the characters and their interrelationships. I kept wondering how this would all connect together, but I needn’t have worried! It was seamless! I adore historical fiction mystery novels!
POPSUGAR: #6, #20, #24, #25, #35
ATY: #1, #2, #5, #15, #16, #17, #19, #20, #36, #37, #41, #44, #48
RHC: #4, #5, #16, #21
52 Book Club: #5, #10, #33, #41, #43, #51
CONTINUING:
*No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
*The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
PLANNED: (for the Indy Book Author event in April)
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
Mod
One of my favorites!
L Y N N wrote: "*The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was almost too realistic! Seriously. These characters depict the complexity of being human and the resulting effects of our behaviors and decisions. It was quite an enthralling read. I especially appreciated the diversity among the characters and their interrelationships. I kept wondering how this would all connect together, but I needn’t have worried! It was seamless! I adore historical fiction mystery novels!..."I can assure you that the history, the setting, and even many of the rare books and treasures are real! In fact, NYPL opened a year ago a permanent gallery on the main floor called Treasures and it features some of those mentioned in the book, like the Shakespeare Folios. There will be change ups from time to time as the rotate so different 'treasures' are on display but some will be permanent - like the original Winnie the Pooh characters.
If you come to NYC, need to check out that exhibition -- it's free at the main library at 42nd and Fifth. Just go up the steps between Prudence and Patience.
Ok guys, looking for support... or perhaps an intervention. Someone near and dear to my heart asked me how many books I've gotten over the past week. The answer: 23. 9 of them gifted for my birthday. 10 from the library. I know I have an addiction, but it's not as bad as many other addictions. Right? Right?
@Doni That’s a totally reasonable number, especially considering the celebration of your time on Earth. Sounds like people know what you love.
Mod
LOL you are FINE!! I routinely leave the library with a big pile. It's normal!!! (and then I feel guilty when I return half of them unread because I ran out of time on the loan, even with renewals)
Doni wrote: "Ok guys, looking for support... or perhaps an intervention. Someone near and dear to my heart asked me how many books I've gotten over the past week. The answer: 23. 9 of them gifted for my birthda..."My mom sometimes gets at me about the number of books I buy (or bought - for the last few years I've cut that down, but now my library borrowing has jumped way up), But I always used to say to her, "isn't it better that I'm spending money on this rather than other things?" And that's the way I look at it. Even if I am addicted to getting books (I've also semi-frequently done 10+ book library hauls), it's so much better than so many actual vices / addictions I could have!
I'm going to the library tomorrow for the first time in April (finally out of quarantine!), and I expect to bring home as many as I can carry! That's usually my limit, fill my bag until my arm aches and then check out! lol I'll come back with a count. I've got at least 4 that I plan to get, and then whatever catches my eye.ETA: I came home with 6, and my arm was killing me. 2 of them were over 500 pages, though, so that was part of it. :D
Doni wrote: "Ok guys, looking for support... or perhaps an intervention. Someone near and dear to my heart asked me how many books I've gotten over the past week. The answer: 23. 9 of them gifted for my birthda..."It is perfectly normal. Encouraged even.
Got two new books today. One I pre-ordered in December that I've been excited for. It's the book The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery: Flourishing as a Neurodivergent AdultThe other is a book for the A to Z Reading Challenge I'm doing. I needed a letter that started with 'Z' and I didn't want any religious or fiction books with that letter.
I came across a mathematics book called Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea . Even though it's completely out of my wheelhouse, I am terrible with math, the topic sounded interesting because aside from math it seems like a mix with a history book and a biography book.
Awww, thanks for the reassurance. I knew you guys would get me!
@Doni my first thought was to be jealous... so went to the library today and got more than usual. 😁Happy Birthday btw!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Doni wrote: "Ok guys, looking for support... or perhaps an intervention. Someone near and dear to my heart asked me how many books I've gotten over the past week. The answer: 23. 9 of them gifted for my birthda..."LOL you are FINE!! I routinely leave the library with a big pile. It's normal!!! (and then I feel guilty when I return half of them unread because I ran out of time on the loan, even with renewals)."
I will ditto Nadine! I frequently come out with a bag full of books and often take some back after renewing one or two times and still haven't read them.
As for buying books, I managed to curb that years ago...but mostly because food and essentials are more important to spend my very limited funds on.
Plus think of your extensive library hauls as you doing your part to support the library and keep them open. I'm pretty sure most libraries need people to use them and borrow from them to show those with the funds that they are a needed resource.
Mod
That's what I tell myself. I worry that I'm hurting the book's feelings LOL. But ... Even if I didn't read that book, I increased its circulation rate, which is a mitzvah
I am loving my volunteer work. It's only a couple hours a week but it's something at least. I volunteer at a used bookstore. I simply love what I'm doing so I don't think about praise or accolades or whatever.So I was surprised when my boss gave me a gift card. Apparently it's Volunteer Appreciation Month so I thought that was sweet.
Nadine in NY wrote: LOL you are FINE!! I routinely leave the library with a big pile. It's normal!!! (and then I feel guilty when I return half of them unread because I ran out of time on the loan, even with renewals)."I used to do that, not with books, but movies from the library. I would feel guilty about not watching things - more because if I have them other people can't sign them out.
However, I also hate when Libby tells me that there are people waiting on my book. I only have it for two weeks. They can wait their turn.
Erica wrote: "@Doni my first thought was to be jealous... so went to the library today and got more than usual. 😁Happy Birthday btw!"
<3
Ron wrote: "I am loving my volunteer work. It's only a couple hours a week but it's something at least. I volunteer at a used bookstore. I simply love what I'm doing so I don't think about praise or accolades ..."How lovely! I'm glad you can do something you love and that you're appreciated for it, as you should be!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Deerskin (other topics)Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea (other topics)
The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery: Flourishing as a Neurodivergent Adult (other topics)
West With Giraffes (other topics)
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robin McKinley (other topics)Christopher McDougall (other topics)
Stephanie Burgis (other topics)
Lynda Rutledge (other topics)
Morgan Matson (other topics)
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Spring moves forward slowly, which I am happy about. My scilla is a brilliant blue carpet under my sugar maple, and pink and purple hyacinths are popping up in all the random corners of my yard where I've stashed them over the years. Today is a good laundry day, I washed my towels and I'm going out to hang them on the line now, but yesterday it snowed again.
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 final poll for June's group read (which could fill "road trip") is here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...
This week I finished 3 books, 2 for this Challenge.
The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan - I read some great reviews of this one so I put it on hold and WOW did I hate it. The writing was just so clunky. The blurb lies, this is nothing like Jane Harper or Tana French - I should have known better. I'd give it less than one star if I could. Two thumbs down. No challenge category.
Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman - very enjoyable!! Mrs Blossom is a modern day Mrs Pollifax! (thankfully without the dated racism that was in the first Mrs Pollifax book) This was a NetGalley book, it comes out in June, and I recommend it; I didn't realize that this was a spin-off of Lippman's Tess Monaghan books - I like Lippman's stand alone novels a lot, but I read the first Tess Monaghan and didn't like it at all, it was so sexist and judgy. Lippman has come a long way since then!! This book was great!! Even better, Mrs Blossom takes a cruise on the Seine and visits Giverny, which is something I'd really like to do (I actually started planning a trip to Normandy and Giverny back before my marriage imploded), so I have found my "bucket list" book, at last!!! I'm so delighted that I stumbled upon the perfect book. Bonus: I loved the cover art, too. I hope this becomes a series, I'd love to read more with these characters.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez- this was my "title starts with Y" book, and I loved it so much I stayed up until 1:30 to finish it.
I'm still struggling through Hemingway! I read two chapters each night, and then set it aside and read something else (which was Yours Truly until I finished it the night before! Now I've moved on to Exciting Times, which actually has a weirdly similar writing style, but a very different attitude.)
Popsugar 56% 28 /50
Must Reads 20% 2 /10
AtY 60% 31 /52
AtY bonus 10% 1 /10
2025 pub 28% 14 /50
NetGalley ratio 80%
Question of the Week
Have any of the 2025 prompts lead to an unexpectedly enjoyable read this year?
Just last week I finished The Boyfriend Candidate, for the politician prompt - I probably never would have read this book otherwise, and I really enjoyed it! I discovered a new contemporary romance author I enjoy!
And I almost definitely never would have read The Yakuza's Bias, Volume 1 if not for me deciding to seek out more K-Pop books for the "repeat a 2024 prompt." I didn't even know what a "bias" was until I read that LOL! And now I"m thinking I'll read volume 2 for the "music" prompt this year.