L Y N N’s
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(group member since Nov 10, 2018)
L Y N N’s
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from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.
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Sorry for the very late posting this week. (Though you may be accustomed to that by now!) Let’s see…how to inform you of my stressors this week:(1) My car had a bent wheel (a canyon disguised as a pothole) and I’ve been driving on the spare and then the rear tire on the same side developed a slow leak and I discovered a roofing nail in the sidewall when I aired it up. Thanks to my soon-to-be neighbors directly across the street having a new roof installed, I’m sure… Fortunately, someone informed me at least 25 years ago to not remove a nail from a tire because sometimes that is what keeps it inflated and able to hold air at all. If you remove it, you then have a FLAT tire with which to deal. Thank goodness for AAA! They had my tire exchanged with my spare and I was back on the road within 45 minutes! When I got it in for service this week, the wrong-sized wheel was in the box that was labeled as the correct size wheel. So, now they have to reorder that and I will return this next week to get the rest of the wheel and tire work completed. *sigh*
(2) We lost our 3rd feline furbaby within what, two years? Or perhaps a bit more? I don’t know. I’m very tired of holding my baby while she exits this physical world. She was our oldest furbaby left and the smallest and “specialest” kitty. She is the one we brought in after my husband discovered her and her mama in our empty doghouse when “Sissy” was just 2-3 months old. Her face was a bit misshapen, with rather unexpected facial characteristics and she’d evidently suffered from a neurological infection or something similar. We eventually discovered she was deaf. Initially, she couldn’t even walk halfway straight or very long and if she got scared and tried to run she just went in very small circles. We left them both inside for the duration of their lives. At Sissy’s initial veterinary examination, my vet and good friend was quite dubious when I suggested that if we kept her inside (my felines never go outside) and provided her with regular feedings of nutritious food and water, and lots of TLC, she could develop new neuropathways and improve in her mobility, etc. She looked at me and said, “Lynn, she’s all kinds of f’d up.” But just 6 months later Sissy was a totally different kitty. She wasn’t much bigger, but she could walk in a straight line, run without going in circles, and jump around just as you would expect. So I know we gave her 15 years of life she would never have had if my husband hadn’t discovered her and her Mama and brought them inside. But, damn! It’s so difficult to let them go… It was another untreatable infection. *sigh* As I told the vet through my tears, “Her body may be gone, but her spirit lives on.”
(3) My son is currently institutionalized for mental health diagnosis and treatment. I believe I’ve mentioned my aunt suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, so there is a genetic inheritance possible, though after comparing notes with his brothers, etc., we all feel this is a result of his addiction which seems to have ventured beyond just alcohol into speed. (And who knows what else?) Anyway, I met with him Thursday evening and my comment to staff as I left was, “This is not my son. This man is almost a stranger to me.” I was talking with a friend who has a son with a connective tissue disorder, and I told her I’m not sure which is worse, physical or mental challenges, but she agreed she felt the physical would be easier to handle overall. They have yet to determine a diagnosis, but having worked in mental health, I do realize that can be very difficult I have communicated as much of his medical history as I am privy too, especially regarding the first time his addiction was discovered at age 16. So…please appreciate your life and the lives of your children, and may you all be healthy. Addiction is so tough. And unfortunately, he gets it from both sides. My father was supposedly quite an alcoholic, my maternal grandfather quite literally drank (and smoked) himself to death as a diabetic, my ex had two cousins die in their early 50s from addiction, and he is an alcoholic. Those are very tough odds to overcome. Having just read Matthew Perry’s autobiography I will never forget this one sentence: “My mind is out to kill me, and I know it.” My son is in his mid-40s and I’m scared for him…
I’m almost 69 years old and honestly, I no longer have nearly as much emotional stamina as I have had in the past. I just keep telling myself I have no choice. I must persevere. Thank goodness I have an amazing hobby which provides me with an escape and social interaction! Through Goodreads, especially this group, as well as my IRL book clubs. I am still able to work out and teach, and have an additional social network through the gym. I am also blessed with several very close friends who are excellent listeners. All of these are irreplaceable to me as coping mechanisms! As a result I have much joy and enjoyment in my life! Thank you!!
I rarely post about book adaptations, but I am very anxious to watch The Penguin Lessons in the theater at the end of this month! The book club I facilitate read it almost 6 years ago and we all enjoyed it immensely!
According to Goodreads readers, the 45 Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers:
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
This is one of my absolute favorite genres!
ADMIN STUFF:
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis 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 JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION 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!
Thus far, eight books have been nominated:
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Detour (Transportation #1) by Reesa Herberth
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie (Peach Pie Experiment #1) by Erin Soderberg Downing
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, please write it in. Please check the book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2023-present) are eligible. Remember to consult the listing of these books that are NOT eligible HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
NOTE: This is the NOMINATION round, which is step one. We will select the top results from this round to create a new poll for a Final Vote to select ONE book for the June 2025 group read.
*** This poll will run from March 26th through April 8th. *** You can vote HERE!
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...
Which of you is the "humble hero" to lead this discussion? Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I adore this book and series and have been telling myself I want to sit down and read all of them and take some notes. These are interconnected stories and some of the characters recur throughout the series… I and all the members of my book club found it to be fascinating!
THE MARCH 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ IS…Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025! No one has volunteered and I am leading a discussion HERE. I ended up appreciating the positive aspects of this dystopian world as well as the interconnectedness of characters! I’m definitely open to reading more of her writing!
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Since it's week 13 ... Do you ever superstitiously try to skip the #13?
Love the question! It made me laugh…and I need lots of laughs this week!! Thanks for that, Nadine!
Through the years I have managed to stay in several hotels with no floor #13! I was a child on vacation with my aunt and uncle the first time I noticed that at age 8! I don’t adhere to this superstition and find I emphasize #13 whenever possible! 😊
To be continued...
Anxious to address your comments, DeeRae! Thank you for those!I have been dealing with trauma and haven't had the energy to keep up with other responsibilities. But I am back! 🤗
I will finish this up later today or tomorrow. Sometime this weekend!
I finished. I had a few things figured out, but there were certainly surprising revelations for me as I read!While not an all-time favorite, it was certainly memorable and thought-provoking, as I would expect for dystopia.
Final questions and thoughts to be posted this weekend!
Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "I listened to a portion of an interview with Everett about this book and he was emphatic that this book is not just a reworking of the original or a retelling from a different character's perspective or a response to the original, but rather, just as Twain was uniquely equipped to write the book from HF's perspective, so is he uniquely qualified to write the story from Jim's perspective. He literally read HF 15 times until it became "nonsense" to him as preparation for writing James. ..."I mean, I would call it a retelling. If he didn't intend for it to be read as a retelling or a reworking, then what DOES he call it? It's been over 40 years since I last read Huck Finn, but a lot of it came back to me as I read James. I'd say the first half of James follows the HF plot very closely, and then the second half veers off sharply into new territory."
Ha! Well, I do contend that Everett is quite unique among authors I've met and spoken with. He claims it is rare that he ever remembers much about a book once it is released. He's just unique in many ways. I got the impression he didn't want it to fall into a "retelling" categorization. Who knows why? 😊 I think he likes to feel as if his work in unique.
"Ooof! This book seriously hit too close to home for me.
Her story (and your story) isn't really all that different from mine, and I SHOULD have felt like I really identified with the book, but I just did not. I think because I did not have to let go of so many things - I didn't give up a job, or move, or give up on anything really, except for that dream of growing old together. I had to let go of that one, and that did hurt a lot. I'm over it now."
I am not over it. And honestly, I have given myself space to not be over it if I'm not... I admire those of you who do retain a decent relationship with your ex(es). I just don't see that ever happening for me. And that's okay. 😬 My preference is to never have to see or speak to him again. I'm done.
"Just curious. What book?
Vampires of El Norte! I really loved that and I feel like my daughter will as well. But you've marked that one as "do not read" - why?"
HORROR, m'dear! I did start reading Everett's The Trees last year and don't know that I'll continue with it. Perhaps in small doses. Only because that was his new release at the time of the author event I attended, so had him sign it. But that is my exception to "horror"/"do not read"! 😁
Jen W. wrote: "Not much going on with me this week. We've started planning our September trip already,. I think we both just want to go on vacation already!"Jealous of but happy for those who get to escape everyday life for a bit! Hope it proves to be immense fun!
"The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill - 3.5 stars - for the 2024 prompt redo, a fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author. This was a slow, introspective book about a trans man named Darby going home to the small town he couldn't wait to escape as a teen and reevaluating his life. This one adds in a former best friend turned romantic interest and a dose of magical realism in the form of the old bookstore where Darby used to work, where he gets thrown back in time whenever he enters the store and meets himself as a teenager."
This sounds rather fascinating!
"QOTW:
What about paperbacks? If I'm reading a physical book, I prefer a paperback. But they are less durable than hardbacks, and more prone to damage. I have an ancient paperback somewhere of Villains by Necessity by Eve Forward that I literally read the cover off of — the glue on the spine just gave way and the entire cover came off. I also still have one of my oldest books, a well-loved and well-used paperback of The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley.
My current buying habits are, if it's a book I know I want to own in a physical format, I will usually buy a nice hardcover copy. I usually read the ebook copy from the library or my own collection, since I also buy ebooks on sale frequently, to avoid wear on the book. The exception is if I already have other books in the series in paperback, in which case I prefer them to match."
You use quite a mix of formats! I can relate to books literally falling apart!
Ellie wrote: "We've had the warmest day of the year so far today."That was us just last week!
"The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. After a run of depressing reads I was ready for a book where conflicts are solved quickly and everyone is nice. Usually these things irritate me in cosy fantasy, but I did enjoy this one. I thought some of the magic scenes were nicely done and it had the best sentient cactus character!"
I assume I will enjoy this one as well!
"Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, James Sturm + Joe Sutphin. Beautiful adaptation of a book I read to death as a kid. And there's a map in it which means I can probably work out how to get to Watership Down in real life! It's not that far away."
Interesting adaptation!
"QOTW:
I feel like we’re getting more straight to paperback releases in the UK these days, especially in certain genres for midlist authors. I prefer paperbacks since they take up less space and are easier to read. I do buy hardbacks because I want to support businesses that aren’t foreign corporations while reading new releases. If bookshop dot org offers their ebook platform in the UK, I’m much more likely to buy new releases as ebooks from indie bookshops and save the paper copies for fancy editions or books I really want a copy of."
I like your logic!
Laura Z wrote: Project Hail Mary: Reasonable Doubt Book Club. (52 Books #42 – a nonhuman antagonist/ATY Spring #15 - PASTELS: Project) ★★★★★"
I loved this book!
"What Happened to the McCrays?: I wanted to read something hopeful, so I checked the last sentence… and it made me smile. (52 Books #33 – a standalone novel/Booklist Queen #19 – a heartwarming story/Popsugar #2 – want to read based on the last sentence) ★★★★★"
Oohhh...this looks like one I would enjoy!
"Black Woods, Blue Sky: It pales in comparison to The Snow Child, but I still really liked it. (ATY Spring #2 – BLOOM: Black/BGG Book Lovers #3 – a modern retelling) ★★★★"
I loved The Snow Child and wondered about this one...
"Julia (ATY Spring #7 – JELLYBEANS: Julia)"
I keep meaning to get to this one!
"The Last Bookstore on Earth (ATY Spring #4 – BABY ANIMALS: Lily Braun-Arnold/Booklist Queen #18 – a debut novel)"
Interesting premise, especially given that I'm reading Station Eleven now.
"QOTW: If nonfiction books are no longer offered in a paperback version, I'll probably buy fewer of them. (I already tend to borrow them from the library.) I think publishers would do better to offer them only as paperbacks... except for a few exceptional titles."
That's an idea!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday! Welcome to Spring!! We have been having very spring-like weather, which means we are having ALLLL the extremes: excessively warm days, cold days, rain, snow, sun, overcast skies, blue skies, wind, strong wind, extra strong wind, and even tornado warnings."Definitely a mixed bag!
"My ex had a tree come down which took out his power, which meant his sump pump didn't rum and his entire lower floor flooded, so he's a stressed out mess right now dealing with tree removal and insurance and cleaning up, which means (yes let me make this all about MEEEE!) he can't come over and see if he can fix my dryer which just stopped working. I guess we are lucky temps are above freezing so we can hang our laundry outside on the line now while we wait for the dryer to be repaired."
You make me laugh! I still cannot imagine having such an amicable relationship with my ex! Glad that can work for others though!
"James by Percival Everett- I didn't expect much from this book, even though I've loved other books from Everett, I'm not a fan of Huck Finn. I only read this because it was in ToB. It surprised me by feeling fresh and new and fierce. I checked off "unlikely friends" with this one."
I am anxious to read this, but only after rereading HF. I listened to a portion of an interview with Everett about this book and he was emphatic that this book is not just a reworking of the original or a retelling from a different character's perspective or a response to the original, but rather, just as Twain was uniquely equipped to write the book from HF's perspective, so is he uniquely qualified to write the story from Jim's perspective. He literally read HF 15 times until it became "nonsense" to him as preparation for writing James. Everett is quite a unique entity among authors, IMO. 🙂 I find him to be fascinating, perhaps because we are the same age...
"Liars by Sarah Manguso - I never would have read this if not for ToB, and I enjoyed it. I didn't LOVE the writing style, but the story will probably stick with me. I could not find a challenge category for this one."
Ooof! This book seriously hit too close to home for me. I enjoyed it enough I would definitely read others written by her. Want to know how my first marriage ended? Read my review! LOL I'd forgotten just how forthcoming I was in writing it in the immediate aftermath of reading the book! LOL
"Nowadays, in the rare instances when I buy a book for myself, I do not have a strong hardcover/softcover preference. Quite often now I notice that a book is more or less the same price on Amazon for hard or soft cover, which is always a surprise, because when I was younger the paperback was around $2 and the hardcover was around $20."
I suspect that may be more related to the fact that Bezos forces publishers to sell at lower prices than the hardcover real prices being that low.
"(I often read e-books, and sometimes I even prefer the e-book format, because it takes up less space in my home, and for comics I can easily zoom in to read that teeny tiny print that comic book letterers seem to love ... but my kids dislike e-books!)"
Hah! The exact opposite of what I would expect! LOL
"BUT ... MOST of the books that I buy these days are for gifts, primarily gifts for my daughters, and my daughters both prefer hardcover, so I seek out the hardcover versions whenever possible. I'm trying to buy a book right now for my older kid's birthday - the hardcover is no longer in print, I guess, because only used copies are available on Amazon. If publishers don't bother keeping a version in print, then it must not be a real moneymaker for them."
Just curious. What book?
AF wrote: "Hello from the PNW! Rain, rain, rain. That's all we get for days on end.Last weekend I made a goal to read ten books by the end of March. I want to be halfway done with the popsugar challenge by ..."
I love your bucket list! Fascinating!
It’s as if winter is rearing its ugly head again here in central Indiana. Ugh. I had gotten a good start working outside, but today is too damp and cold. I realize that sooner rather than later spring will arrive for good. I await that return to higher temperatures! In case you missed it, here is a listing of the 84 Most Anticipated Books of Spring as listed by Goodreads readers: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...
I’m uncertain how they compile this…it would be interesting to know.
ADMIN STUFF:
THE FINAL SELECTION POLL TO SELECT THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS LIVE! 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...
There are 4 titles under consideration:
Floating Hotel
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Red Rising (Red Rising #1)
The Spare Man
VOTE HERE! This poll will be open through March 25. Just 19 members have voted thus far!
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...
Which of you is the "humble hero" to lead this discussion? Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I adore this book and series and have been telling myself I want to sit down and read all of them and take some notes. These are interconnected stories and some of the characters recur throughout the series… I and all the members of my book club found it to be fascinating!
THE MARCH 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ IS…Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025! No one has volunteered and I am leading a discussion HERE. I am over halfway through and enthralled to uncover all the suspected connections!
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What about paperbacks?
Short question but a long paragraph of details! 😊
https://103gbfrocks.com/indiana-reade...
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories...
Following up on last week’s posting with Audie Award winners, I discovered a couple of articles regarding some publishers supposedly considering no longer releasing some nonfiction books in a paperback format. Traditionally, publishers make much more profit from hardcover sales. Hence the 6-month to one-year wait for a paperback edition to be released. However, I wondered if this first article was just one independent bookstore owner over-emphasizing a threat to paperback publication. But the second article is an interview with Jeffrey Trachtenberg, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who covers book publishing and media. Interestingly, he specifically mentions Turner Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee, which is releasing everything (hardcover, paperpack, ebook, and audiobook) simultaneously on the official release date. Their strategy? The best window for marketing a book is within the first four weeks following its release. They believe the loss they may experience in hardcover sales will be more than made up in increased paperback/ebook/audiobook sales. And this article mentions the increase in audiobook sales.
What do you think? If only hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats were available, would that force you to change your purchasing habits? I have seen several members state they tend to read a paperback and then perhaps purchase a hardcover to keep on their shelves.
Of course, I realize this may change very little for those of you who use libraries to borrow books. (Of course, here in the U.S., library funding from the federal government is now under threat…)
***
My answer: Honestly, any time my options are limited, I am angry. I rarely ever purchase brand-new books and am always thrilled to obtain a paperback for $3-$5! Though I believe I am in the minority regarding my love of reading hardcover books as well. I strictly avoid digital format, probably mostly due to my age and having only become accustomed to computers, etc., as a young adult. I may well have felt differently if I had been exposed to the electronics as a young child onward. But I wasn't, so I still much much much prefer a book in my hand. While I have listened to a few audiobooks and enjoyed them, I am not an aural learner and find I retain much less in the aftermath, compared to reading an actual book. My learning preference is tactile and hands-on, hence my preference for the physical book. I would be sad to lose the option of paperbacks. Definitely. But publishers and the world will do what it does and I will somehow adjust! 🙄😃😉
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 33/50
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:
None. A very frustrating week for me.
CONTINUING:
*Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is absolutely fascinating thus far!
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
*Personal Days by Ed Park is entertaining, yet seemingly rather pointless overall.
*Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park is a very uniquely formatted book a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
*Parable of the Talents (Earthseed #2) by Octavia E. Butler
*Shift (Silo #2) by Hugh Howey
*Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
*The Trees by Percival Everett (#40)
*Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (#42)
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
*Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking has me thinking so very much that I have delayed reviewing it until I can finalize my thoughts…
*The Birthing House by Kathy Taylor
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club #21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club #22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club #23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23 1/2 Lies (Women’s Murder Club #23.5) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*The 24th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #24) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Ron wrote: "Yes, I was surprised this turned out to be one of my favorite fictions as well. I'm not really into theater stuff which is why it surprised me. Last year when I read it was the first time I annotated the book so it really added to my perspective."You know, I truly enjoyed composing very detailed reviews on a blog, but it just took up so much of my "reading" time that I decided I would prefer to read more and review less as I entered old age! 😉 I feel as if time is running out! LOL
"1. Do you agree with Jeevan's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
This is a complicated issue. (view spoiler) so in Jeevan's case I would certainly go with family because boyfriends/girlfriends are sometimes not in it for the long haul. If she had been his wife that would be a different issue."
Then I would agree with the interpretation of their relationship as evidenced in the series since that was my impression just from reading the book. Agreed about family taking precedence.
"2. I am immediately questioning his brother's circumstances. (view spoiler) (An effective tension builder in the story!) What is your guess at this point?
I was curious too. I do wish the book had gone more into it.
(view spoiler)"
Interesting that this was better delineated in the series adaptation. We are left wondering in the book, IMO.
"3. Do you have a friend you would trust as much as Jeevan is trusting Hua? Especially with regard to such a deadly evaluation?
2 years ago I would have said 'yes, absolutely.' Now though having cut them off (long story), I sadly don't have any close friends that I can truly trust or turn to anymore. After that fallout I had with my friends, I have a harder time trusting people I'm close to. I had that issue prior to the fallout, but it got worse after I ended things with them. Let's just say they weren't there when I needed them in my darkest time so I could no longer depend on them when I needed them most."
Oh, my! We have that in common. My breakup came after 30 years of being BFFs. It was tough and yet I had kinda seen it coming for the last 5 years or so. In my case it was her complete lack of respect for me and my own beliefs. Ugh. We had dealt with those differences successfully for so long and then all of a sudden she was determined to convert me to her way of thinking. And she knew that any relationship I had in the wake of my divorce was based upon mutual respect or it was over. So...it was over! Rather than deleting her from my cell phone contacts, I had to block her since she kept texting me with her attempts to convert me. Strange... I would say in the wake of my divorce I learned to never again trust any person as much as I had my ex-husband. And perhaps it was a good thing for me to learn to keep more of myself to myself...
"On a side note, I find it another interesting contrast between the book and the series adaptation. In the series (view spoiler)"
Oh, my! That puts a totally different spin on it!
"4. It's obvious Jeevan has been prone to panic attacks in the past. Why do you think he was able to avoid panic and remain capable of rational thought and decision-making now? Or are his decisions "rational," in your opinion?
I loved this aspect of Jeevan. It reminded me of the days back during our pandemic and how I had an anxiety attack. It was barely within the first day or 2 of lockdown. I was already in my room for the evening and I was freaking out since my sister and her spouse had people over (I was terrified of others around because not knowing if they had the virus). I left my room and was freaking out in the dark. My sister tried to rationalize but I got in my car. I yelled at her (something I never do). I called my parents in the car and they were the only ones who could get me to calm down enough (we lived in separate cities at the time.) - Going back to the book, Jeevan's panic attacks were certainly something I could relate to.
As for his actions, there is nothing rational when it comes to panic attacks. Like I said, I yelled at my sister and that's something I never do and I felt so guilty after. I told her I didn't know what happened and why I just lost it even though she didn't deserve it.
Jeevan acted like many of us probably did during our pandemic in some ways, getting prepared with supplies (remember those long lines at the stores with only a certain amount of people going in at a time?) and stocking up for those 'just-in-case' moments. Some people may have handled things calmly and rationally, and others like me and Jeevan who went through it with occasional mental breakdowns."
Rationality is a fairly subjective evaluation, IMO. To be determined by each unique person. Your answer made me re-evaluate Jeevan's reaction as somewhat panic-stricken and perhaps not completely "rational." Perhaps it is not so rational to purchase SEVEN whole grocery carts full of food and then wheel them into the hallway outside your brother's apartment! All past midnight and unannounced! 😃
"5. This book was first released in September 2014. Definitely “pre-COVID.” We are reading it in the “post-COVID” world. Do you think your reaction might be different depending upon which time period you read it—Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID?
Oh, this is such a fascinating question!
I first read this book in 2022 when the HBO series adaptation came out. It was supposed to have been released a little earlier if I remember correctly but the pandemic pushed the release date back a bit and people weren't in the mood for pandemic storylines at the time.
To answer the question more directly, I do think it would have changed things for sure.
I don't think I would have seen Jeevan as a nut-case. I've been dealing with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks my entire life. We once had a threat of a gunman on campus (turned out to be a false alarm.) when I was in high school and I remember having a panic attack then. I was hyper-ventilating (I had to use a bag to breathe into and my teacher helped me get distracted by telling me to focus on the book I was reading. I remember the exact Star Wars book I was reading at the time and that was over 15 years ago.)"
Well, I didn't feel Jeevan was a nut case. In fact, I felt he was reacting in a very practical manner. Much moreso than I might have... Anxiety and panic attacks can be so debilitating! Scary stuff! Glad your teacher was able to help you cope at that time.
"I've also been a germaphobe since my high school days so I didn't have a problem with all of the precautions that they were requiring us to do. Wearing a mask was just an extension of my germ rituals so I didn't have an issue the way most people did."
While I have not been that careful earlier in my life, I had absolutely no problem with masking and wearing gloves/using a handwipe as I shopped, etc. That all made total sense to me. But I usually try to do what I can on my own to stay healthy and avoid western medicine/pills whenever possible! 😊
"I do think had I read this pre-Pandemic though I would have viewed this book along the lines of any other science fiction or medical horror novel. In my sophomore year of high school year I had to read The Cobra Event . It was a book I did not want to read because pandemics and what they do to the human body terrified me. I tried to get out of the assignment but my teacher did not want to create a new lesson plan so I was forced to read it and I had nightmares for weeks. So I would have put 'Station Eleven' along the lines of 'The Cobra Event' only without all the gore and creepy stuff.
Reading it post-Pandemic though adds a new layer because it almost makes it real since we've been through our own. There's so much that speaks to the humanity of it all within this book."
What a poor example of a teacher! Yikes! I'm so sorry you were forced to do that! I think for me personally, reading this prior to COVID would have changed my perception in quite a few ways. But having lived through a pandemic helped me relate much better to this book without freaking out or feeling it was a bit over the top...
"-Comfort
-Fear/Pain
-Art/Reality
-Creation/Destruction
-Sacred/Beauty"
Each its own subject for discussion!! How perceptive of you!
Okay, let's get started... (Sorry for all the spoiler notations, but I try to be sensitive to those who haven't read this yet but plan to do so in the future...) 😊
1. Do you believe Charlie and the sixth guitar/Jeremy and their daughter Annabel (view spoiler)
I do! I refuse to give up hope!
2. Arthur and Miranda both grew up on Delano Island, a somewhat isolated small rural community. At dinner, Arthur asks Miranda whether she enjoys living in Toronto: “The revelation of privacy, she can walk down the street and absolutely no one knows who she is. It’s possible that no one who didn’t grow up in a small place can understand how beautiful this is, how the anonymity of city life feels like freedom.” This is echoed in the Symphony where all members travel, live, and perform together 24/7, much like living in a small rather isolated community. What do you believe may be some of the pros and cons of “small town” vs “big city” life?
Having lived in small rural communities all but the first 4 years of my life, I would agree with this sentiment. I can relate to how difficult it might be to literally live, eat, and breathe with the same group of people 24/7 as the Symphony members do. Whew! That would be tough, especially for me! Though I do appreciate that instant anonymity that comes with visiting a large urban environment. It does feel freeing to me in many ways. There can be more of a sense of community among residents of a smaller more isolated environment, but it can also be a good thing to feel freer to be yourself among those who don’t know you as well. I think you can explore who you really are or might be when among more people. Plus it gives you a broader range of behaviors to observe and perhaps imitate, if you desire to do so.
3. How would you describe Miranda and Paul’s relationship?
Ugh. In my opinion, (view spoiler) But perhaps this is just based upon my own past experiences.
4. Do you agree with Elizabeth when she says to Miranda, “I think this is happening because it was supposed to happen.”
Oh, my. This is SUCH a loaded question for me! My gut reaction? “Hell, no I don’t agree with her!” In my opinion and life experience, you either make yourself available for an intimate relationship or you don’t. It’s truly just that simple for me. I had this discussion with my ex-husband about 10 years prior to my divorcing him. Evidently, that was only MY opinion, and obviously, not his opinion, since he more than made himself available to someone else! Hence, the divorce which was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself!
5. Was the identification of “Station Eleven” what you expected? What significance do you think this may have in the rest of the story?
Not at all! Though I admit I am now fascinated to imagine what possible connection this may have with the remainder of the book! (view spoiler) Yes, you set those limits, girlfriend!! 😊 Claim your life for yourself! And now I am anxious to know (view spoiler)
Second set of questions, after reading Section 2 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Section 3 "I Prefer You with a Crown"!1. Do you believe Charlie and the sixth guitar/Jeremy and their daughter Annabel are still alive?
2. Arthur and Miranda both grew up on Delano Island, a somewhat isolated small rural community. At dinner, Arthur asks Miranda whether she enjoys living in Toronto: “The revelation of privacy, she can walk down the street and absolutely no one knows who she is. It’s possible that no one who didn’t grow up in a small place can understand how beautiful this is, how the anonymity of city life feels like freedom.” This is echoed in the Symphony where all members travel, live, and perform together 24/7, much like living in a small rather isolated community. What do you believe may be some of the pros and cons of “small town” vs “big city” life?
3. How would you describe Miranda and Paul’s relationship?
4. Do you agree with Elizabeth when she says to Miranda, “I think this is happening because it was supposed to happen.”
5. Was the identification of “Station Eleven” what you expected? What significance do you think this may have in the rest of the story?
Oh, my! I just finished reading the third section and am so excited! I adore books that weave interconnectedness throughout the story line! More questions tonight or tomorrow. And replies to Ron's answers to come as well! Your connections to this book are so intriguing!
Ron wrote: "In one of your posts I could only see the first question.Unbelievable...
I see all 5 in the next so I'll answer those either later today or tomorrow :)"
Looking forward to it. I am intrigued that this is one of the few fiction books that you love!
I'll go first! (Hopefully this is all visible to others!) 🙄🙂1. Do you agree with Javeen's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
I was a bit surprised by this initially, although it doesn't appear that he is necessarily intensely committed to their relationship. I can certainly understand that he is unable to rent an appropriate vehicle to transport his wheelchair-bound brother late at night, etc., and applaud his foresight in obtaining water and other groceries, preparing for isolation.
2. I am immediately questioning his brother's circumstances. (view spoiler) (An effective tension builder in the story!) What is your guess at this point?
Is it possible that an incident occurred in their past that makes Javeen feel especially guilty and/or beholden to his brother? Was Javeen somehow inadvertently involved in the cause of his brother's disability?
3. Do you have a friend you would trust as much as Javeen is trusting Hua? Especially with regard to such a deadly evaluation?
Wow. I guess if my D.O. called me with this information, I would be all in for following his instructions. Or perhaps a couple of friends who are also medical professionals, but it would be so disruptive to up and leave all of a sudden. That would be a very tough decision for me to make with only one person's input...
4. It's obvious Javeen has been prone to panic attacks in the past. Why do you think he was able to avoid panic and remain capable of rational thought and decision-making now? Or are his decisions "rational," in your opinion?
I think there are those who would consider Javeen to be delusional and/or easily manipulated, rather than rational. But I thought he was being very rational and decisive in the wake of mind-blowing information!
5. This book was first released in September 2014. Definitely “pre-COVID.” We are reading it in the “post-COVID” world. Do you think your reaction might be different depending upon which time period you read it—Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID?
For me, I think this makes a huge difference. If I had read this within those first 6 years following its release, prior to the COVID outbreak, I think I would consider Javeen to be a nut-case! Someone easily threatened and scared into spontaneous knee-jerk reactions.
Can anyone else see all five questions in the above posting? I see only one! I have even rekeyed this in 3 different times and tried again and again to copy and paste it in the comment, to no avail. But I know in the past, my computer doesn't display a full comment when it is visible to others. Thanks in advance for your help!
I read the first section "The Theater" last night. Wow. Some scary stuff. (view spoiler)1. Do you agree with Javeen's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
This week has been almost impossibly busy. Each day has been jam-packed! I’m too old for this fast pace! LOL 😉Add to that this ridiculous (IMO) “springing forward” an hour has truly wrecked me! I arrived home on Thursday afternoon and slept for 4 hours!! Yet on Tuesday night I got such a strong second wind, I ended staying awake until 3:45AM on Wednesday! Very weird…I rarely ever listen to audiobooks, but I know many of you do, so here ya go!
Here is the full listing of 2025 Audie Award winners and finalists: https://www.audiopub.org/2025audies-1
A podcast about the 2025 Audie awards from NPR’s Andrew Limbong:
https://view.nl.npr.org/?qs=108cbb132...
I do enjoy this podcast!
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WAS MARCH 8! This is a bit off-topic from books/reading, but I found this article regarding Female artists at work between the 16th and 19th centuries to be very interesting:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/t...
If I had the money and physical wellness, I would travel to Italy, France, and London for some of these! One was located in New York, but it ended March 9. (Sorry! 🙄)
A list of Empowering Movies About Sisterhood:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news...
ADMIN STUFF:
THE FINAL SELECTION POLL TO SELECT THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS LIVE! 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...
There are 4 titles under consideration:
Floating Hotel
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Red Rising (Red Rising #1)
The Spare Man
VOTE HERE! This poll will be open through March 25.
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...
I adore this book and series and have been telling myself I want to sit down and read all of them and take some notes. These are interconnected stories and some of the characters recur throughout the series… I and all the members of my book club found it to be fascinating!
THE MARCH 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ IS…Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!
No one has volunteered and I JUST received my copy!! I will be reading this over the weekend. (FINALLY!) I have posted some introductory questions to begin some discussion HERE.
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Have you decided what is on your bucket list?
All I can really do is laugh about this question! I guess I am currently doing the main item on my bucket list—reading just as much as I can! 😊
Regarding my selection to fulfill this prompt, I read the first installment in Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilt series, The Quilter's Apprentice, and enjoyed it enough I will continue with the series. Ironically, after having sewn a lot of clothing when younger, and completed projects using knitting, crocheting, embroidery, basket weaving, and macrame throughout the years, I always planned to do hand-quilting in my old age. However, that has proven impossible given the arthritis in my hands, but it was on my bucket list all along, so that counts, IMO! LOL 😁👍
BTW, what do you mean by the phrase “cleaning house”? I am unfamiliar with that… 😉
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 33/50
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:
*I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated by Ros Schwartz ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for an IRL book club meeting Tuesday. Wow. I debated awarding this 10 stars. I doubt this book will ever leave my brain. This is a mind-bender. To say this book is thought-provoking is a vast understatement. Good? Bad? I think this is one of the few books I doubt anyone could read without having a distinct reaction to it and, if possible, even more questions than posed within Harpman’s simple and direct prose makes it even more enthralling, IMO. Great for initiating discussion!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #8, #14, #20, #31, #35
ATY: #2, #3, #4, #5, #13, #14, #15, #16, #23-singing, #24, #26, #36, #37, #44, #45, #46, #48, NEW #52
RHC: #4, #16, #19, #24
52 Book Club: #12, NEW #25, #33, #37, #38, NEW #40, #43, #48
*Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (Life of a Cactus #1) by Dusti Bowling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was just as amazing as I expected it to be after having read the sequel, Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus, almost 3 years ago. This is a phenomenal depiction of those of us who are not considered “normal”/differently-abled banding together to support each other and just provide companionship and friendship! Highly highly recommended! Especially for younger folk, the intended audience.
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #23, #26, #28, #40, #43
ATY: #2, #5, #15, #20, #23, #24, #26, #32, #33, #40, #41, #45, #48
RHC: NEW #20
52 Book Club: #2, #19, #22, #25, #36, #43
CONTINUING:
*Personal Days by Ed Park is entertaining, yet seemingly rather pointless overall. I’m a bit bored about halfway through, so taking a break to read Station Eleven for the monthly group read discussion. (I'm already all in on SE at only 11 pages in!)
*Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park looks to be a very unique book in format and story line…
I plan to attend an author event with Mr. Park this next week.
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
*Parable of the Talents (Earthseed #2) by Octavia E. Butler
*Shift (Silo #2) by Hugh Howey
*Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
*The Trees by Percival Everett (#40)
*Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (#42)
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
*Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking has me thinking so very much that I have delayed reviewing it until I can finalize my thoughts…
*The Birthing House by Kathy Taylor
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
PLANNED:
*21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club #21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club #22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club #23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23 1/2 Lies (Women’s Murder Club #23.5) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*The 24th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #24) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
