Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 32: 8/3-8/10
Happy Thursday! It's been a rainy morning but looks like it will clear up so we can start our final weekend of Twelfth Night this evening! It was an excellent reading week for me, I dove into a new comic series (never needed, but always a good decision) and I've been able to sleep a bit later than usual which has been nice.Read:
LUMBERJANES v2-6 - This series is so wholesome and adorable. The art is a bit inconsistent, but so far my lowest rating has been 3.5 stars so I'm enjoying myself quite a bit! v4: Book with mythical creatures
All the Pretty Horses - 3.5 stars. This had a very easygoing vibe, paired with McCarthy's usual bleakness by the end.
The Reader - 2 stars. This seems to be the year of knocking books off my TBR that I thought would be good but ended up feeling quite detached overall. I need to see if they expand on Hannah's character in the film. On a celebrity book club list
The Silver Hand - DNF. I went in prepared to enjoy this, but the romance subplot took over and I did. not. care.
Blood Syndicate Season One - 3.5 stars. Back to the Milestone reboot series! The art was excellent and the writing definitely doesn't hold your hand. I need to bust out my Milestone compendium and read the original BS now.
Duo - 3 stars. I didn't like this as much as the other Milestone reboots, but from what I've read of other reviews it actually fleshes Kelly's character out more, and I appreciate that.
Allegedly - 4 stars. Whoops, I finished this in a day. Talk about a page-turner! And this has been on my TBR for years! How have I never read Tiffany Jackson before now?
PS 37/50
ATY 42/52
Mount TBR 36/60
Summer Reading challenge 13/50 + 2/3 bonus
Currently:
Bring the Fire
Soccer in Sun and Shadow
Beowulf
Starting this weekend:
Family Lore
QOTW: Do you wish you were reading more non fiction?
Whenever I find myself in a rut/book slump, it usually means I'm overloaded on fiction and need a NF break, so that tends to keep me grounded. I could always make room for more, though!
Happy Thursday, everyone!This was a great week for movies!
On Friday I went to see Meg 2: The Trench at my local movie theater, and I really enjoyed it. I thought it had a nice blend of action and humor, and it was fun to see how the characters had developed after the events of the previous movie. Ultimately, if you liked the original movie, then I think you’ll probably enjoy the sequel as well.
I also finally had a chance to see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in the movie theater on Monday evening, and absolutely loved it! If you’re a fan of the Indiana Jones movies and you haven’t seen this one yet, I highly recommend watching it before it leaves theaters. It was phenomenal!
It was also a great week for reading! I was able to finish several books this week, and made quite a bit of progress on my TBR list.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 654/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)
📚Physical TBR: 274/634
📱Ebook TBR: 8/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 294/883 (33.2% complete)
I may have gone a little overboard on the book buying this week, but since it’s my birthday month, I’m not apologizing for it…
This week I finally picked up a copy of Love in the Time of Serial Killers, by Alicia Thompson. I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while, so when I found it at Target, I couldn’t resist picking it up. I also ordered a copy of In Her Highlander's Bed, by Lynsay Sands.
Then, after learning that Mary Roach is going to be coming to my local library in the spring, I decided to get copies of all of her books so that I have time to read/re-read them before her visit.
I also bought one complete new manga series, which was Vinland Saga, by Makoto Yukimura; as well as Pokémon: Sword & Shield, Vol. 7, by Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto.
Although I did get a lot of new books this week, which definitely messed up my completion percentage, I also managed to check several titles off of my “New Books” list.
“New” Books Bought in 2023: 381
“New” Books Read in 2023: 353/383 (92.1% complete)
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Jolly Foul Play — This is the fourth book in the Murder Most Unladylike series. I thought this was a good story, but could’ve done with a little less friendship drama. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Mistletoe and Murder — It felt a little weird to be reading a book set at Christmastime during the middle of a heat wave, but I did enjoy this story. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Spoonful of Murder — This is the sixth book in the Murder Most Unladylike series, and is probably my favorite book of the series. I really liked seeing the girls’ roles within the Detective Society reversed, and seeing Hazel take on the role of the expert. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death in the Spotlight — This is the seventh book in the Murder Most Unladylike series. I thought this was a very clever mystery. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Cream Buns and Crime — This is a collection of short stories which take place at various points in the Murder Most Unladylike series. In between each story, the author and characters discuss topics such as: ideas for how to set up your own version of the Detective Society, famous mystery writers, fictional detectives, real life spies, and true crimes that remain unsolved. The author also includes recipes for some of the sweets that are mentioned in the series. I did enjoy the stories in this book, but overall, this was probably my least favorite book in the series. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Highlander Takes a Bride — This is the third book in the Highland Brides series, and begins just after the epilogue of the previous book. I really liked the main characters, and thought it was fun to see how their relationship developed over the course of the book. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Book of Night — I thought this book was well written, but I can’t really say that I enjoyed it. I just couldn’t get into the world, and didn’t particularly like any of the characters. 📚: ⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Omnibus — I really enjoyed having the chance to read this collection of comic books. I thought the stories themselves were clever, and loved the title character and her friends. I also thought it was great that Squirrel Girl’s approach to crime fighting was focused more on rehabilitating super villains, rather than just beating them up. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This week I also started reading the Vinland Saga manga, which I recently saw recommended on one of my favorite BookTube channels. It has been a very interesting read so far. Content Alert: (view spoiler) The volumes I read this week include…
~Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 1 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 2 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 3 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 4 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 5 — 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic — I am still struggling a bit with this book, because it is a very slow read, but I’ve managed to read a decent number of pages this week. I’m currently 46% of the way through this book. I’d like to try and finish it before next week’s update, but I don’t know if I will manage it. 📚
~Louise de la Vallière — This is the sequel to The Vicomte de Bragelonne. This has been a great read so far, and I’ve been progressing through the story much more quickly than I anticipated. I am currently on chapter 66, and will probably finish it over the weekend. 📚
~Moonraker — This is the third book in the James Bond series. I’m currently about halfway through, and enjoying the story so far. 📚
QOTW:
Not really, but I usually have a nonfiction book that I’m reading alongside my fiction books.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!! I have been having a great reading week. I walk the dogs, read my book, nap, read my book, maybe go to the beach, read my book, shower & have dinner, go to bed & read my book! (The..."Glad you're enjoying your vacation!
And your family is so unreasonable. Isn't the point of vacation to have unlimited reading time? *sarcasm*
Happy Thursday, y'all.So my roommate, who owns the house I'm renting a room out of, was laid off this week. I feel terrible for her, and admittedly slightly anxious about how this will affect my living arrangements. I'm still going to be paying rent, though, and dogsitting for her while she job-hunts and gets things figured out. I'm hoping things work out for the better for her.
Books read this week:
King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian -- oh hey, a Newbury Award winner that doesn’t have the animal on the front die tragically during the story! This was an enjoyable read.
Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s -- one of my favorite YouTube/TikTok personalities has put out a cookbook of some of the quirky and surprising recipes he’s discovered. I want to try some of these.
The Wonder Engine -- sequel to Clockwork Boys. A satisfying ending to a great fantasy duology.
The Shakespeare Stealer -- I could have done without the anti-Semitism, even if it was unfortunately common during the time period this book took place in (Shakespeare-era England). Otherwise, a decent adventure story.
DNF:
How to Disappear Completely -- maybe I’ve just read too many books about middle schoolers going through a rough time recently, but I need a break from this genre.
Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic -- just wasn’t doing it for me. Why do so many urban fantasies focus on the female lead banging every vampire and werewolf in sight?
Currently Reading:
A Half-Built Garden
The Watchmaker's Daughter
Waste Tide
Air
QOTW:
My issue is that the nonfiction in question has to be something I'd enjoy before I read it. I'm not a huge biography, self-help, true-crime, or historical reader. But if a topic interests me, I'll seek out nonfiction books about it. At the moment I'd estimate that about a quarter of what I read is non-fiction, and I'm pretty happy with that ratio.
Hi all, My cat had another great oncology visit, he's doing really well with no sign of regrowth! So happy our lil guy is ok.
This week I finished:
Sorcerer to the Crown- I finished this on Thursday last week, so not sure if I included it as finished or not. But it was good, i liked Prunella a lot.
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II - been getting in more nonfiction for the genre genius library challenge. This was really interesting, I hadn't really heard much about the code breakers.
Silver Nitrate - newest Silvia Moreno-Garcia, i liked it. Little bit of gothic horror vibes, but nothing too gross or overly upsetting. More just kinda spooky and supernatural. This was my book published in the second half of 2023 which means I am FINISHED! woo!
Currently reading:
Lady Tan's Circle of Women - will be for read harder's historical fiction set in an eastern country. I like it so far, based on a real person, but a fictionalized account of her.
Love in the Time of Cholera - audio book, I needed a book referencing time for another challenge, and genre genius has a classics set so this works there too.
QOTW:
I'm already reading more nonfiction this year due to the genre genius challenge. 3 books for each genre listed with biography/auto biography, Science Non Fiction, Historical Non Fiction, and Informational Non Fiction as the nonfiction genres. I think the Informational is meant to be a catch-all for nonfiction that isn't clearly science, history, or biography.
I don't particularly feel like i need to read more. I mostly read for escapism, so while I do like picking up some nonfiction now and then, i don't really want that dominating my reading.
Happy Thursday! Finished:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo - 3 stars - for a book that comes out in the second half of 2023. I wished I had liked this more, because Acevedo's writing was as beautiful as ever, but I just didn't really connect to any of the characters or care about what happened to them.
Comics & manga:
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Vol. 18
Run on Your New Legs Vol. 5
Honey and Clover, Vol. 7
Honey and Clover, Vol. 8
Honey and Clover, Vol. 9
Honey and Clover, Vol. 10
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Vol. 9
Currently reading:
Illuminations by T. Kingfisher - for a book that was self-published.
I am currently at 45/50 for Popsugar (38/40 and 7/10) - I think I'll be able to finish sometime in September, yay!
Upcoming/Planned:
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher - not for a prompt
Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule - for a book based on a popular movie
QOTW:
Not really. I read a few nonfiction books a year either for challenges or because the subject interests me. I've always been a fantasy and sci-fi reader, though, and I've branched out quite a bit in the last 10-15 years, but those will always be my go-to genres.
Nadine in NY wrote: "The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi - this was great!! He packed a full novel’s worth of story and heartache and setting into this brief 80 page novella. And check out the gorgeous cover art, it’s so moody and clever and intriguing"Ooooh thanks for reminding me! Hopefully I can squeeze this in before the end of the year, I LOVE that cover.
I finished Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War as my book with a map. Really interesting.I'm reading Grass for His Pillow as a forbidden romance. Not my kind of book at all.
QOTW: Probably. I want to read about 25% nonfiction. This year, so far, I've read 8 out of 46 and only have one more planned nonfiction. But, it's certainly nothing I'm going to stress about.
Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s from the 70s. But I believe it was typhoid baby or typhoid sister that got me sick. So I was basically comatose on the couch Tuesday. Half comatose on Wednesday and just miserable today.
So I haven’t read anything at all. I’ve barely watched tv.
QOTW:
I’m not much of a nonfiction reader. I love mythology and eras of history but I don’t really read much of it. I definitely research things if I’m writing about them.
Jen,I just finished a reread of Star Wars: Light of the Jedi. What is best about the High Republic stories is that the people in charge of the government and the regular citizens alike actually care about their fellow beings. They are also the best Star Wars tales for diversity, inclusion, and representation to date. I give Light of the Jedi 3.5/5 stars on its merits as a story, but the setting and characters are great to spend time with. I will be interested to hear your thoughts after you read it.
Also over the last couple of weeks:
Star Wars: Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade (4/5 stars): This is a great "start of darkness" book for a Jedi turned Inquisitor. Fans of the Darth Bane and Revenge of the Sith stories should also like this one.
Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Volumes 4 and 5: I liked the tales in 4 more, but both were still the same high quality as in earlier volumes.
Batman: Dark Victory and No Man's Land: I was not thrilled with Dark Victory, as it felt like a lesser retread of The Long Halloween. No Man's Land is okay at its halfway point. It is an intriguing idea but not a status quo that I want to spend much time in.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green: It reads a lot like longer versions of his video posts on Vlogbrothers. It inspired lots of thoughts about the universe, our relationships to other people, and other deep topics.
Currently Reading:
The Astronomy Book by DK
Star Wars: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland
Star Trek: Twilight by David R. George III (Deep Space Nine novel)
Question of the Week:
I like the occasional nonfiction work (see The Astronomy Book above). I am more of a fiction reader.
Edited to add: One of the current sales at Amazon is for ebook versions of lots of Iron Man stories. I recommend the Fraction and Gillen runs, Infamous Iron Man, and Stark Wars.
Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s from the 70s. ..."
Ugh, so sorry you've not been feeling well! Get lots of rest <33
You'd think with not being in work I'd be getting more reading done, but my learning game dev project has kind of taken over. So by the time I put away the laptop and do the chores, my brain is a bit frazzled and I'm only reading a few chapters at a time. Still, I've read a couple of corkers:Bridge by Lauren Beukes for a book about a family. I loved this! Multiverses, a weird mystery, neuroscience, parasitology, and themes of found family versus biological family. Bestest best friend ever.
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher for mythical creatures. I loved Toadling, a great dark, subversive fairytale with a lot of charm. The knight was a bit flat but I think he was just there so Toadling could tell her story to someone.
QOTW:
I wish I was reading more, full stop. I do enjoy nature writing, popular science and microhistories, and have a big list that I would like to read one day, but fiction usually rises to the top. I used to set goals to read so much NF a month but I try not to pressure myself now.
Finished my timed reading challenge of 600 minutes in 6 days! Now I am challengeless. What will I do? Wah! Wah!Finished: Either/Or I didn't realize when I read this that it was a sequel. Now I'm going to have to read The Idiot! I thought the first half was fantastic, the second half kind of petered out. Talk about open endings!
Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe The thing I liked most for teaching purposes is that each chapter had notes summarizing the contents of that chapter. It was a pretty big book because it covered the entire evolution of our understanding with the universe starting with Aristotle (I think, I kind of skipped that chapter.)
Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works While I agreed with the premise, I felt like the authors didn't get into the nitty-gritty details of how to compensate when people find their suggestions challenging. It was more like, this will take a long time to navigate. Hope for the best!
Started: Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World This one captured my attention immediately! It's trying to give readers tools to talk to people who disagree with us about climate change even being an issue and its references are very up to date! A very useful book, I tthink.
The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards" Very biased. I agree with the bias, but nonetheless, it is there. Talks about progressive v. traditional schooling.
QotW: I don't really wish that I read more non-ficition because I already read a lot of non-fiction! In fact, I actually get somewhat exasperated with fiction because it's all made up, especially when the character isn't likeable. I read "adult" non-fiction and children's fiction.
Greetings from a wet rainy NYC! Holding steady at 37/50, but have 2 prompts in currently reading...
Finished:
Longbourn - so good!
Kitchen Essays
Currently reading:
Lolita
Les Miserables
Liar's Poker - I might make this the read for prompt for a sport - Wall Street trading in the 1980s was absolutely a blood sport.
Dear Mrs. Bird
Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes
QOTW: No, I do not feel I have to or need to read more non-fiction. My work is reading non-fiction essentially, so my leisure is whatever I am in the mood to read - mostly fiction. I don't ignore or avoid NF, and right now I am reading a biography along with several fiction books. I am happy with whatever level of NF reading I manage.
Happy Thursday! We're all rushing around busily trying to get ready for our road trip next week. My daughter-in-law and I are traveling from eastern Washington State to Chicago... in a minivan... with two children and a profoundly autistic adult. Wish us luck!Challenge Progress:
Popsugar: 44/50
Nadine's Mini-Challenge: 10/10
ATY: 48/52
ATY Summer Challenge: 12/12
52 Book Club: 49/52
52 Book Club Summer Challenge: 8/8
Completed:
Bunny: I think I liked it, but that was seriously one of the weirdest books I ever read. (ATY Summer #12 - a book related to birds, bees, or bunnies) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Lesson: Aliens teach us about the evils of slavery??? (52 BC #17 - a book by a Caribbean author) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Horrorstör: A haunted Ikea. Yeah, I get it. (ATY #44 - a book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress NONFICTION ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Time Squared: A Novel: Eleanor lives multiple lives throughout various eras controlled by some weird scientists. Confusing and unfocused. (ATY #47 - a book related to a geometric shape) ⭐️⭐️
Hello Stranger: I've never read a rom-com about face blindness before! (52 BC Summer #4 - a book that is light and sweet) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love: I don't think I was the target audience for this book. I expected more science and less self-help. NONFICTION ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before I Let Go (Skyland, #1): From divorce to reconciliation... I loved Yasmen and Josiah's story! It's the first in a series, and I'm looking forward to reading more. (PS #35 - a book about divorce) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession: Stephan Breitweiser pulled off more than 200 art thefts worth an estimated $2 billion often in crowded museums in broad daylight. Absolutely compelling read. NONFICTION ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Currently Reading:
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America NONFICTION
The Fashion Orphans
The Spellman Files (The Spellmans, #1)
The Apocalypse Factory: Plutonium and the Making of the Atomic Age (52 BC #31 - a book set in a workplace) NONFICTION
American Mermaid
Cutting Teeth
Dietland (52 BC #22 - a book with a body positive message)
QOTW: I try to read at least 20% nonfiction. I'm at 23.8% so far this year. I really enjoy memoirs, biographies, and histories. My book club - The Reasonable Doubt Book Club - reads nonfiction almost exclusively. (Occasionally we read science fiction.)
Mod
I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s from the 70s. ..."
Ugh get better soon!!
Mod
You can do it!!!! What’s bringing you to Chicago? Will Seth & the children listen to audiobooks with you?
Wow! I forgot that this was check-in day! Thursday came fast. I will post after I have caught up on reading. However, Nadine wrote, "it is currently 97% humidity. NINETY SEVEN PERCENT."
Ha Ha. That is the usual humidity where I live in lower SC...and I am not on the coast!
Nadine in NY wrote: "You can do it!!!! What’s bringing you to Chicago? Will Seth & the children listen to audiobooks with you?"My favorite nephew is getting married! Ashley and I have picked out some audiobooks to listen to, but Eli and Seth will probably watch movies on their tablets. We were very careful to pick audiobooks that are appropriate for all ages. lol
Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s from the 70s. ..."
I hope you feel better soon, Mandy!
Ellie wrote: "Bridge by Lauren Beukes for a book about a family. I loved this! Multiverses, a weird mystery, neuroscience, parasitology, and themes of found family versus biological family. Bestest best friend ever...."This looks good!
Summer is back! We have nice temperatures. Tomorrow will be a bit hot and humid, but then it returns back to acceptable 27 degrees Celcius.Mosquitoes - us: 20-0, mosquitoes - ducktape: 0-1. Every night we killed a couple of mosquitoes and every morning I found new bites on my body. But… this week I did ducktape on the sides of all the screens. No more mosquitoes!! Don’t know through which tiny-tiny-gap they were coming in, but now ducktape is keeping them outside. Ducktape rules!
PS: 31/50 (goal: 40/50)
Total 2023: 40/52
Finished
The Lords of Time by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not for PS
Perfect end of the trilogy. Plot and message in perfect harmony. Love this Spanish mystery style. And now I found out there are 2 more books!
Currently reading
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore (longest on TBR)
A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf
QOTW
No, although there are many non fiction books on my TBR. Non fiction requires more concentration and that’s just not always there. And I’m comfortable with whatever I read, I read a record amount of books this year, so I’m just proud of my reading!
Harmke wrote: "Mosquitoes - us: 20-0, mosquitoes - ducktape: 0-1. Every night we killed a couple of mosquitoes and every morning I found new bites on my body. But… this week I did ducktape on the sides of all the screens. No more mosquitoes!! Don’t know through which tiny-tiny-gap..."Oh, that's such a good idea! We have tears in our screens from cats jumping up and clawing them, so mosquitoes get into our room at night if we leave the window open. Duck tape might just do the trick!
Hi Everyone, I read three books for the week. 1. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. 5 stars. I love these books. Not for this challenge.
2. The Kiss Curse. 3 stars. Advanced prompt PS # 47 A book about a holiday that's not Christmas.
3. Whiskey When We're Dry. 5 stars. PS # 6 A book about a forbidden romance. I love it this late in the reading year when I can use one book for two different challenges. For those doing ATY this book is a western.
PS : 48/50
QOTW: 23 % of the 83 books I've read so far this year were nonfiction. I like nonfiction especially history, environmental, some self help, memoirs and poetry. I would like to read more nonfiction.
Hello! Wow! What a busy week!
I got myself registered for several classes last week at the Senior Life Services, and they started this week with a gardening session on fall planting (interesting and got ideas on plants to try) as well as ballroom dancing. Well, I have dropped the ballroom dancing since that first session. I was one of two single women and on single man. The others were coupled. And, I was matched up with the single man who stuck to me like glue even after the class and did not seem to pick up on social hints that I wasn’t interested! I just could not face another possible matching up with him and had no male friends who could attend with me. Thus, the decision.
I also had an episode of a heart arrhythmia and so am scheduled next week for an EKG and possibly a monitor. Of course it cleared up by the time I notified the MD.
Tomorrow I am leaving for my camping trip to the Gala of Royal Horses in GA this weekend. So I have packing to do and leaving home stuff to get done. My little 18’ trailer will be parked in the Vendor RV Parking area at the back among the barns and horses! So excited to have a spot in the midst of the activity!
Next week is signup week for the College Extension courses. I really want to get in the astronomy one, which fills up quickly. Hopefully, this will be my year.
Finished:
A Spool of Blue Thread - ATY Seasonal, other challenges. I have had this book on my TBR since 2016 and actively planned challenges since 2018! 3*. It was an interesting story, but I found it easy to walk away from it. And the title did not come into play until the end. I thought the story was going to be about Abby, and it was until she died…with half the book to go. There were parts of the story that harked back to earlier people and times seemingly at random. I think that was why it was so easy to put down and walk away from at times.
Frames – PS #11. 4*. A fun read set in Hollywood around a silent film and a murder. Apparently the film the story is set around really exists since it is listed as one the reader should check out in the Addendum!
Helen Vardon's Confession– Other challenge. Ebook. 4*. This mystery seemed to suggest there was murder but then to ask if it was murder. I really began to despair for Helen and did not see the end coming as much as I hoped it would.
The Devil's Bones – Other Challenge. 4*. This book is hard to categorize. It is fiction based on actual cases of Dr. Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist. It combines that world of fiction (story) with actual information on crimes. Truly fun reads for me.
Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book. Still on hold.
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 8%.
book:Dumplin'|18304322] – PS #10. 1%
Uncle Tom's Cabin Or Life Among The Lowly - ATY Seasonal. 11%
Exit the Milkman – Other Challenge. 34%
The Novel Habits of Happiness – ATY #32. 1%
Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing – ATY #31. 6%
On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Therapy – Other challenge
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal – PS #50
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club – ATY #33
Pudd'nhead Wilson – ATY #34
PS 29/50 (plus I have 9 waiting) and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 30/52 and 4/12 for Q2 Challenge, 6/12 for Summer Challenge {Finished Q1 challenge}
GR 167/200
RwS: 26/30
QotW:
I read non-fiction when a subject interests me or I want to learn more about a topic. Sometimes I wish I were better informed and read more non-fiction, but, overall, I am pleased with my reading.
Doni wrote: "Harmke wrote: "Mosquitoes - us: 20-0, mosquitoes - ducktape: 0-1. Every night we killed a couple of mosquitoes and every morning I found new bites on my body. But… this week I did ducktape on the s..."Hope it works for you too!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!! I have been having a great reading week. I walk the dogs, read my book, nap, read my book, maybe go to the beach, read my book, shower & have dinner, go to bed & read my book! (The..."I know you are enjoying your vacation! Remember if you manage to wander up to NYC for a day, we have to meet for lunch or some such -- and I know just the place in Grand Central Terminal so you get that tourist desitination off your list at the same time!
I can also provide a list of Indie Bookstores to tempt.
Happy Thursday! Finally, some rain today. We've needed it. I'm enjoying one day of downtime before the flurry of end-of-summer activities. We've got a wedding, camping trip, get-togethers, and back-to-school activities! Phew!Finished 29/50
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina for "#booktok recommendation". It was good! Weird and mystical, but I like it.
A Canticle for Leibowitz for "book recommended by a friend". A little heady and cynical, but gave good food for thought.
Currently Reading
How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self for "book with just text on the cover". Not bad so far!
As I Lay Dying for "book on a celebrity book-club list". Thanks Oprah for giving me the excuse to read a classic I've yet to read!
QotW
I tend to balance my reading list with both fiction and nonfiction. I like the variety! It keeps me from getting too bored or complacent in one genre.
Mod
However, Nadine wrote, "it is currently 97% humidity. NINETY SEVEN PERCENT."
Ha Ha. That is the usual humidity where I live in lower SC..."
WOW!!!! So every day the humidity is near 100%??? That’s crazy!!! I thought we had humidity but for us an average summer day is closer to 80%. A NICE day is 50% but that’s rare.
Mod
My favorite nephew is getting married! Ashley and I have picked out ..."
Enjoy the wedding!!
Ashley Marie wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s ..."
Thanks!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s ..."
Trying my darnedest
K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday. I’m not comatose anymore. Monday I went to work and thought the cough was from the building. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if the building was an agent of illness. It’s ..."
Thanks!
Happy Thursday All! Today is my last day of work because I've flying out tomorrow afternoon to Richmond VA to visit one of my good friends and doula sisters. It's been a year and a half in the making. I finished three books, none for the challenge.READ:
Bitter Root, Vol. 3: Legacy
Victory #1 and Victory #2This new series is so funny and exciting I just started reading it today and finished the first two volumes.
CURRENTLY READING:
Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells for Prompt #49 The longest book by (pages) on your tbr. I'm actually listening to this and I think it's 14 or 15 hours.
Ace of Spades I may use this for a prompt but I don't know. It's YA and I have to continually tell myself this when I read it.
Question of the Week
Do you wish you were reading more non fiction?
I read alot of nonfiction, especially when it comes to history, reproductive rights and doula work. I will admit that when I have to read some historical stuff like how I'm reading Ida B Wells autobiography it talks about lynching and other atrocities. It's depressing. One of my goals within the PopSugar Challenge has to use only Black authors for the prompts and that has and has not been a challenge within itself.
Nadine in NY wrote: "WOW!!!! So every day the humidity is near 100%??? That’s crazy!!! I thought we had humidity but for us an average summer day is closer to 80%. A NICE day is 50% but that’s rare."Sometimes it drops into the 70s but humidity in the 90s is common. I live right near the Savannah River which flows on the border of SC. Heat and humidity are our norms.
It's not been a slow reading week but I am tackling very long books so it feels like I've finished very little.I did, however, finish Not Famous in Hollywood by Leonie Gant for the prompt A book about or set in Hollywood. By mere chance this was sent by my freebie mystery email daily and how could I not sit down to this quick mystery. It wasn't half bad.
QOTW I'm comfortable with the level of non fiction I read. Often I read to relax and fiction does that for me more than NF. I read a lot of scientific papers in the course of my day so I am less inclined to hunt down NF in my leisure time.
That said when I do it's usually true crime, science related, true hauntings and history. I steer clear of memoirs and biographies (which is why it grates so much to see them come up as prompts so often)
Hi all! I have upset some higher power and the universe is out to get me! I got my denial letter from my long term disability, basically, they said that my symptoms are too extreme for the medical diagnoses (ie: I'm fat, lazy and/or faking it) and since my old job was "sedentary" anyway, suck it up and deal. Then I was doing the dishes the other night and the drain came detached from the pipe and we had a giant flood under the sink.
Today I had an hour to kill before my groceries were ready for pick up, so I just went and parked in the parking lot and read a book. But it's rainy, so I had my headlights on for an hour... dead car battery. Fortunately, some guys nearby were chatting and had a minute to jump my car.
I need to find some sage and clear out the bad vibes around here!!
I had 2 books I wanted to finish this week, but life has been a wee bit stressful, so I didn't make as much progress as I would have liked.
I've got about 100 pages left in The Ghosts of Medgar Evers: A Tale of Race, Murder, Mississippi, and Hollywood. Really liking it. I'm gonna wish all my favorite movies had a book like this to give me the inside story!
I started the novella The Optimist's Daughter, it's not bad, but so far the titular Optimist has been stuck in a hospital bed, which hasn't quite made for gripping reading...
I started an audiobook from this summer's Sync program, The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner. I don't usually like nonfiction audiobooks, but so far this has been interesting.
QOTW: I wish I read more of *everything* lol! I usually have 1 nonfiction going at all times, so I suppose that's good enough for what I'm able to read at the moment. As I mentioned above, I don't usually like listening to nonfiction for some reason, so they have to be paper books.
I haven't updated in a while since I finished the challenge. This week I also reached my Goodreads goal too. Fun updates: I got recruited to serve on the board of trustees for my local library and I joined their book club. I've never gone to a book club before so I am excited to give it a try. We are reading Demon Copperhead which wouldn't be my choice but it may be nice to try something new.QOTW:
I have to be in the right mood for nonfiction but I tend to choose very good nonfiction books, unlike my taste in fiction. I read a little more nonfiction every year and I would like that trend to continue.
Happy Thursday! Today was the last day for the person who is training me on my new job, so starting tomorrow I'm technically fully in the role- which is very quick! My bosses seem like they are very open to me asking lots of questions, which is good, because I definitely will! Finished:
Forget Me Not- a cute romcom, nothing groundbreaking, but I liked the main characters
-no prompt
Open Throat- a very short book told from the POV of a mountain lion. I kept hearing about this, so I gave into the hype. I thought it was an interesting idea, but at the end I found myself thinking, "...ok, and?"
-no prompt
Currently reading:
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion- just started the audiobook for this, only halfway through the first essay. This is another one I've heard so much about I feel like I need to at least try it out
The Count of Monte Cristo- still working, but not much progress this week
QotW:
I've actually been doing a lot better about reading nonfiction since last year. Pretty much ever audiobook I pick up now is nonfiction, so I usually finish one or two a month.
Another week of more rain. There has been so much rain this summer around here. I'm so sick of rain. I went to see the Barbie movie this week. It was a pretty fun movie and that ken song is super catchy. Finished:
Cinder (PS meant to read in 2022) 4 stars. This was a fun book. A Cinderella retelling but with androids and the plague and moon people.
Currently reading:
The Atlas Paradox (no prompt)
The Starless Sea (ATY object repeated on cover)
Upcoming:
How High We Go in the Dark (ATY book set in a different century book 3)
Beartown (PS about a sport)
QOTW: No I think I read just enough nonfiction. I read it when a topic really interests me. I lean more toward fiction because it is an escape.
Yikes, totally losing track of my days. Forgot yesterday was Thursday! I have been so busy with a top secret project that I haven't been able to focus on anything else, let alone my time. Seriously, where have the days gone?!
*****
Ugh, so getting tired of this heat. I wish we were getting into fall weather already, or at least I wish temps were lowering to the mid- or low 80s. I'd happily take that rather than these 100+(F) temps we've been having. It's literally suffocating at this point since we're not used to having the heat this late in the year.
*****
Well because of my top secret project, I have not had any time to read. Hoping to start sometime today though. I have a book coming in so it's just the incentive I need to get back to reading.
*****
QOTW:
Do you wish you were reading more non fiction?
This is pretty much all I read. I have a hard time reading fiction. While I have fiction books, I never get to them. I consider those a challenge should I ever want to try.
Give me something related to NF and I'm all in. I've already got two NF books lined up for the next week or two:
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet
My NF genres range. It all depends on what I'm in the mood for.
If you look at my bookshelves at home, it's strictly NF. (My F books are placed in crates because I don't read them that much. I just have a few of my favorites or F TBRS out.)
My current percentage is 80% NF. I wish the number were higher and it probably will be. If I can get it to 85 or 90 by the end of the year I will be happy.
Doni wrote: QotW: I don't really wish that I read more non-ficition because I already read a lot of non-fiction! In fact, I actually get somewhat exasperated with fiction because it's all made up, especially when the character isn't likeable. I read "adult" non-fiction and children's fictionThis is one of the reasons I don't care for fiction. I'm not a fan of made up worlds or made up stories. I prefer things I can actually learn. Made up worlds don't make any sense whether they are romance or sci-fi or fantasy, etc. It just does not make sense to my brain for stuff like that.
On another note, this is what makes this years PS challenge so hard. It's been difficult to find nonfiction books that fit the prompts. That's been my main goal, to read only NF books for the prompts, but some are difficult than others.
Mod
One of these days!!! It will be so much fun!! But it won’t be this week. Today we go to the beach for the last time (always bittersweet) and tomorrow we go home. I look forward to being home again, but I will miss my mom and I’ll miss this beach town and my morning walks to the bay.
Mod
LOL yes that’s it!!! I complained to my mom that I “only” read three books this past week (and two of them were short) and she said her goal is one book a month.
Sorry about the denied benefits . I don’t understand it. You literally had an organ transplanted. How could you be faking it???
Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "QOTW: I wish I read more of *everything* lol! ..."LOL yes that’s it!!! I complained to my mom that I “only” read three books this past week (and two of them were short) and sh..."
My realistic goal is a book every 2 weeks, but my brain sees no reason I can't "read ALL the things!!!!" hehe
My kidney is humming along fine, it's the fatigue and shortness of breath from my bouts with covid (and maybe transplant/meds?) that are knocking me on my butt, and they don't believe they're as debilitating as they are... :/ But I will soldier on, I'm nothing if not stubborn!
Too bad your vacay is already over!
I’ve been reading for the 2022 and 2023 challenges this year. I realized that I needed to be more deliberate about finding books for the 2022 prompts because they are specific and outside of my wheelhouse. I don’t really like planning ahead so I decided I would find a book for 1-2 prompts before my weekly trip to the library. Hopefully, that works out and I can start completing more of those prompts again.Finished
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (a book about a vacation). I really love the nuance of Lisa Jewell’s characters. I can cheer for someone and also see they’re deeply flawed, or be seriously creeped out by someone and realize they’re not evil. The plot was a little weak, but I’m glad to have wrapped up this family’s story.
Reading
The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapokowski
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
QOTW
I love this question! I just started a nonfiction book today for this very reason. I used to read more nonfiction. I had a job that required me to do nothing for long periods of time and professional reading was an acceptable way to pass the time. My job now does not allow for this. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read nonfiction, and I would like to get back to it.
I missed last week's check-in, so I'm doubling up this week. I finished two books and a short story, though none fit any of my open prompts. I'm slightly ahead of pace though, so that's a-ok 😊 Plus, I've identified a few possible titles (trying to use books I already own as much as possible) for each of the remaining prompts, which should help. I'm at 30/40 and 5/10 for this challenge, and 73/75 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* The God of Good Looks by Breanne Mc Ivor, which was in my NetGalley backlist. I really enjoyed it! I'm glad I requested it;
* The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman, which I also enjoyed -- this is one of my favorite series; and,
* Death Leaves a Bookmark by William Link, which was a short story featuring Lt. Columbo (the author is the co-creator of the character).
Currently Reading:
* The Buenos Aires Quintet by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, which, technically, remains unopened on my nightstand for yet another week;
* The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds written by Michael Lewis and narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris. This is one of my book clubs' picks for August;
* The Irish Boarding House written by Sandy Taylor and narrated by Aoife McMahon. This is my other book clubs' pick for August; and,
* Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan, which I picked up on a whim at the library a few weeks ago. I loved her first mystery series and am really liking the new series so far.
QotW:
Do you wish you were reading more non fiction? I feel like my mix of fiction and non-fiction reads is about right for me at the moment. I'm at about 70% for fiction and 30% for non-fiction so far this year. That's about average for me based on a quick look at my last three years of books.
A quick update from me cuz I've got a pounding headache and really shouldn't be looking at a screen, but I got a card to order for a friend who's getting married next Friday so here I am. Reintroducing Zira and Crowley is ...a process. She's doing better than before we pulled them apart, but they're still not fond of each other. Fingers crossed it'll settle soon!
Mickey's chicken hutch is disabled bunny proof! All we have left to do is put some coverings to the side of the outside bit so the rain can't spit up sand onto Mickey. We've already started luring him to it. It's slow going, but the Trails of Parsley are helping!
PUZZLE UPDATE! I finished Part A of the puzzle, and have two huge chunks (Bambi and Thumper) of Part D already done as well. I was out all day today and can't wait to start on Flower tomorrow!
Current total time spent: 81:15:34.
(for those clueless, I'm talking about the 40.320 piece puzzle 'Memorable Disney Moments')
Read:
Fanfics! Good Omens fanfics!
QOTW
I don't know. I am very much a moodreader, which means I have no control over what I read. I have fantasy binges, middle grade binges across genres, and sometimes nonfiction binges. Like when I read 3 autobiographies back to back earlier this year, haha! I really want to read my Art of Disneyland Paris and Good Omens TV Companion, though!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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Yesterday we visited Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ for the fifth (sixth? seventh? No idea really) time, we love this place so much!!! It was 90 degrees and we felt like we were dying but at least the humidity wasn’t bad, we still had a great time. I highly recommend it.
https://www.groundsforsculpture.org/
The humidity is back again today. When I got back from walking my dogs just now, I checked my weather app: it is currently 97% humidity. NINETY SEVEN PERCENT. It’s soup. It’s going to rain with lightning this afternoon so I guess it’s not a beach day. Get out the Monopoly board!!
Admin stuff? I have no idea! I’m on vacation!
This week I finished 3 books.
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi - this was great!! He packed a full novel’s worth of story and heartache and setting into this brief 80 page novella. And check out the gorgeous cover art, it’s so moody and clever and intriguing - Tor hires the best artists!! Five stars.
Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto - I love this cover,
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline - I loved this book! It was everything: happy, heart-breaking, relatable, awkward. I do wish it had a more definitive ending, but I also like that she left herself open for a sequel ( maybe). Five stars.
Question of the Week
Do you wish you were reading more non fiction?
This week’s question was suggested by my mom! She’s a big NF reader.
So, yeah, I guess I do wish I had time to read more non fiction. I have a lot of microhistories I’d like to read someday, and it’s hard to find the time when I have so many OTHER books on my stack.