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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My book finally arrived! YAY! I will plan to read it over the weekend!
And...I am still waiting! I finally emailed about the delay today. According to shipping data this one book has been sitting in the same facility for 6 days! Ugh...It is Sunday and I just checked the tracking. Evidently, my email to Better World Books got someone's attention because this book just moved on yesterday from the facility where it had been for 6 days. 👏👏👏👏👏 It should arrive by Tuesday. Fingers crossed!
Happy THURSDAY!! Happy to report I’ve had no more harrowing 'near-death' experiences on the road since two weeks ago. I much prefer it that way! LOL We’ve had some rain, but temperatures appear to be finally spring-like most days. Glad for that. Freezing and below is just no fun for me! 😊As I posted in the monthly group discussion thread for Station Eleven, I am still awaiting the arrival of my copy! Other books I ordered arrived, but not that one! Of course!
In reading The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, I discovered many books listed that could be used to satisfy prompt #11 A book mentioned in another book. Many of the titles listed on page 75 in my paperback copy are juvenile literature written by (to me) more obscure writers from the late 19th/early 20th Century! Of course, that means I am now searching for some of those books! I did locate a few on Gutenberg…
I found this to be an amazing list of Stories About Women Who Changed the World!
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
New Historical Fiction for 2025:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
Did you hear that?!? It was my TBR listing blowing up!! 😊 Yet again…
ADMIN STUFF:
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION POLL 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 currently 8 titles under consideration:
Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)
Red Rising (Red Rising #1)
The Spare Man
Escape Velocity
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy #1)
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
The Princess and the Scoundrel
Floating Hotel
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 for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
VOTE HERE! This poll will be open through March 11.
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… 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 have a copy on its way to me, so will be reading this and have posted some introductory questions to begin some discussion HERE.
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Do you have one author whose books you just KNOW you will LOVE? You know, you just HAVE to have their newest release as soon as it is published? What is it that attracts you to this person’s writing?
For me, characterization is of the utmost importance! I want to KNOW these characters. I can forgive a less-than-exciting or less-than-well-detailed plot...
I ask this because I have been reading through Taylor Jenkins Reid’s backlist over the past 2-3 years and realize every book she has authored is a very enjoyable read for me! It got me thinking about those authors I enjoy enough to literally read anything they’ve written!
I have quite a list, but here are a few more…
*Janet Evanovich was one of the first! I read one of Stephanie Plum novels years ago and then immediately read through her backlist for that series and even read her earlier romance novels originally published under a pseudonym! I would literally schedule myself off work on the day of release of the next Stephanie Plum novel for quite a few years. I would purchase and read it that day and laugh out loud so much!
Erica Bauermeister and Alexander McCall Smith are two more…
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 33/50
Around the Year (AtY): 48/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 9/10
Read Harder: 14/24
52 Book Club: 40/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
*Running with Sherman; The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero by Christopher McDougall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was amazing! I am ever-so-grateful for prompt #17—A book about a run club. Even if I did groan a bit upon first reading it! I adore McDougall’s writing style and this is simply put—one of the very best books I’ve ever read! There is so much packed into it, beyond just the story of Sherman! Excellent bits of information sprinkled throughout that depict the sometimes harrowing experiences of being human! Poignant, informative, and just a beautifully entertaining read! I can’t remember the last book I laughed and chuckled over as much as this one! I remember seeing Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen being touted all over the place, but didn’t feel as if I really wanted to read it, but now I do!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #14, NEW #17, #20, #26, #28. #40, #43
ATY: #2, #3, #5, #16, #18, #20, #24, NEW #28/#29, #37, #40, #45, #48
RHC: #4, #17, #24
52 Book Club: #21, #22, #38, #39, #41, #51
*The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (Left-Handed Booksellers of London #1) by Garth Nix ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a solidly good read. I enjoyed the first half a bit more than the second half. I would recommend this book for those who love adventure—action, action, action! Glad I read it and if I happen across a cheap copy of the second in the series, I might read it, too!
POPSUGAR: #6, #14, #18, #28, #40, NEW #45
ATY: #2, #5, #15, #16, #21, #23, #32, #37, #41, #45, #46, $48, #49
RHC: #4, #16, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #7, #18, #22, #27, #39, #42, $51
*Furia by ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a beautiful read, addressing so very many issues for females in Argentina in very realistic voices of well-defined feel-as-if-I-know-you in real life characters! And while I have grandchildren who play soccer, I never had and I really don’t know much about it, so I found that part of the book to be very interesting as well!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #20, NEW #22, #24, #25, #43,
ATY: #2, #3, #5, #7, #15, #16, #24, #43, #48
RHC: #4, #24
52 Book Club: #13, NEW #15, #22, #33, #41-Red, #43, #45, #51-368 pages
CONTINUING:
*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
Checking in with an update. I ordered books last week which turned into four different shipments, one of which was this book by itself...All the other books have been delivered, and this is still slowly (but surely?!?) working its way to me! Ugh. As soon as it arrives, which I hope will be no later than tomorrow, I'll read it! LOL
Ron wrote: "Lynn wrote:Cool! I remember you typically read nonfiction! Glad for your hearty recommendation
LOL yes, as a nonfiction reader, me rating this book as a 5-star read says quite a lot. I loved it so much that last year when I did a re-read of it, I got a new copy so I could annotate it and I went crazy with annotations!
This is one of those cases where I can't decide which I like more: the book or the series adaptation"
Ah. I rarely watch adaptations unless it is in a movie format since I don't have TV. And I do take your high rating of this seriously, especially given that it is fiction! 😁
Doni wrote: "Guys! Pre-ordering new releases drives me nuts! I've been waiting anxiously for The Strange Case of Jane O. to come out, which it did on Tuesday. But I had forgotten that I pre-ordered it from Powells, so now, instead of being able to read it right when it comes out, I'm having to wait for it to ship. I know, first world problems, but I thought you guys could relate."I learned to pre-order through my local independent bookstore so that I can pick it up on the day of publication!
"The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America read for politician is main character."
Too true...
Laura Z wrote: "The Secret Garden: Frances Hodgson Burnett was a huge part of my childhood reading. My grandmother had those books at her house, so I think I read them every summer. (Popsugar #30 – reminds you of your childhood) ★★★★"Awww...I adore this book!
"Just for the Summer (ATY #42 – sunset vibes/Booklist Queen #24 – a 2024 bestseller) ★★★★"
I intend to read this series before I die! LOL
"The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women (ATY Anniversary #4 – related to the periodic table of elements/BGG Decades #3 – 1920s)"
This was such an intense read. I felt so sorry for these women! You just never know...what seems safe one day may prove to be deadly.
"Ready Player One (ATY Spring Challenge #8 – RAINSTORM: Ready/Booklist Queen #52 – reread of a favorite/Cover Lovers #44 – cover features a key or keyhole)"
I loved this and the sequel!
"QOTW: As much as far-flung places can be romantic, I prefer books set in familiar places. I've moved quite a bit in the last few years, and I've really enjoyed embracing my new homes through books"
Very wise!
Joanna G wrote: "I've described one other book this way, but I say it spoke to my soul (the other book was The Women Could Fly)."Oohhh...this looks interesting!
"QotW
Since sff is my favorite genre, they're generally going to be really far-flung!."
REALLY far! 😉
K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!This really hasn’t been much of a week. I’ve been fighting allergies for the past several days, and the only medication that seems to be helping is Benadryl. Unfortunately, Benadryl usually knocks me out, so I’ve spent a significant portion of the week sleeping."
Have you tried taking it at night? That has worked for me...
"~Parable of the Sower — I am currently five chapters into this book, which I am buddy reading with one of my really good friends. It’s really good, but the accuracy of the author’s predictions is more than a little terrifying. 📚"
Yep! Unbelievable what all she foresaw as possible, isn't it? I am reading Parable of the Talents a bit at a time. Same thing so far...
"QOTW:
I hadn’t really thought about this before, but I do tend to gravitate toward books set in far-flung locations. I also enjoy reading stories set in fantasy locations."
I hadn't even made that distinction, just clumping fantasy locations in with "far-flung." But I enjoy both as well!
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all. Still sick. Got pink eye on top of this cold/flu thing, so that's fun. Nothing much going on as a result. Been "warmer" here this week- into the 40s, and the robins and redwing blackbirds have returned! Otherwise, I've mostly been watching cooking shows and spring training baseball."Ugh. I hope you get healthy soon!
Megan wrote: "This may be my earliest check-in ever! 🤓 I'm home this morning to get my roof replaced...but I really think it's not going to happen today since it's been raining lightly off and on. ANNNNDDDD, I just got the call that I've been bumped to tomorrow, so I guess I'll hit "post" and head into office 🙃 At least the temps are higher this week and there's no rain the forecast for tomorrow. Hopefully, the fourth time's the charm!"Oh, my! You sound much more patient about this than I would be... I hope you were correct and it is done now!
Ron wrote: "The end of February, what?! That makes no sense at all. 2 months down already is crazy."Agreed!
"Things have been busy lately. Babysitting and then school is almost done. Also been working with a new psychiatrist this month. So not only do I have my regular therapy appointments, but I also have psychiatry appointments every 2 weeks as well. On a new anxiety medication.
This week because my official diagnosis report lists ADHD, they had me go in and take an ADHD test called a TOVA test. I get my results for that next week. I've been told I might have ADHD several times before but I dismissed it. Now though I'll have to face it whatever the results show. My psychiatrist told me she wants to get my anxiety under control first before we tackle the ADHD part."
From my own experiences working in mental health as well as helping friends and acquaintances, I think it is very smart to tackle the anxiety first and foremost. You never know what other symptoms the anxiety may be exhibiting. For example, one friend was suffering from dizziness/vertigo and they had her go through all kinds of testing, etc. Even after I had suggested to her PCP at the time (2 1/2 years ago) that her anxiety had increased dramatically. His response was to DOUBLE the dosage of Prozac. Based upon my own work in mental health, I knew that was most likely a really bad idea. You rarely ever (in my experience) just double the dosage of these drugs! Sure enough, she could only stand it for 3 days and dropped it. I have never been able to get her to go to a mental health professional, or else I imagine this would have been resolved much more quickly. Her new NP actually got her started on a low dose of Buspirone to complement the Prozac and voila! No more dizziness or vertigo! It has been a life-changer for her. I hope you experience such relief of your symptoms as well!
"School is almost over so that's a relief. Need to figure out my next steps with that, but I'm taking it easy."
Be good to yourself!
"I am loving this years Pop Sugar Challenge! I've been reading more books this time around than I have in a while. I think because there's more leeway for nonfiction whereas I've struggled with that in the past."
I thought of you as soon as I read through the prompts. I felt they were much more amenable to nonfiction books this year!
"I've read 19 books for the challenge so far which is more than I've done on any of the past challenges which is excellent."
Wow. Excellent progress!
"With the month now pretty much over I finished 11 books which is excellent. In January I read 12. Even though I consider myself a mood reader, I find that doing monthly TBR lists is actually working out in my favor. I have yet to hit a reading slump and I'm loving the book choices."
Whoo! Whoo! Success!!
"I won't list all of the books I read, but I will list my top 3:"
Boo! I get so many suggestions from you! I would love to see them all! LOL 👍😁 But I get it. It takes time to do this!
"Currently Reading:
Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life - Another science book. This asks the fundamental question from a scientific POV. I love this book! Currently on chapter 5. Chapters 3 and 4 were heavy with chemistry (a class I struggled with in school) but I am loving every minute of this book. It's different reading a subject when you're not told to."
I guess I was a pure nerd in school, because I loved reading to learn!
"Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us"
Two more on my TBR listing!
Nadine in NY wrote: "I read this book for the 2015 challenge (for "number in the title") and it was this book, along with Big Little Lies (for "antonyms in the title") that convinced me that reading challenges were awesome! Because I absolutely LOVED both books, both authors are now two of my favorite authors, and I NEVER would have read either book if not for the reading challenge."I thought I remembered this was one of your favorite authors! I have yet to read a Moriarty book...
"2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!) - I'm not re-reading this, I just popped in here to say how much I loved this book!"
Very cool!
"3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting? No I found the title to be very OFF-putting! It sounded so boring!"
LOL See? I find it to be a bit intriguing... "Where or what exactly is Station Eleven?" was my first thought upon reading the title.
"4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book? No the cover image was confusing, I couldn't figure out what it was trying to show me until I started reading the book."
Huh. Well, I may be completely wrong in my own interpretation.
"5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per Goodreads: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult YES these are all things I love to read, and I've almost always loved to read (except for "adult" back when I was not an adult!)"
Ha! Ha! I read Solzhenitsyn's books at age 13! What a weirdo I must have been! Even back then! 🙄😁
"6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book? I did NOT expect to like this book. I think the marketing was all wrong for this one, because I expected it to be dry and boring, and instead I LOVED this book, I love her writing, and I've loved every book I've read by her since. (I still have one book left from her backlist that I haven't read yet.)"
I am so anxious to see what my reaction is to this one!
"In a way, the 2015 Challenge was life-changing for me (ok that's A LITTLE hyperbolic, but ... just a little) because it helped me learn that there were a lot of other authors and genres out there that I would really enjoy if I just gave them a try. I became a lot more willing to read outside my comfort zone, and then I got excited and I starting pushing myself to try new genres and new authors. I used to be very set in my ways, "I know what I like and that's what I read" and I was even a bit snooty about some genres that it turns out I love."
I have also had "snooty" opinions about literature in the past! And I totally agree with you regarding reading challenges totally opening up my mind and imagination to so many new, exciting, and varied possibilities!
Amy wrote: "I have read this twice already in 2015 and 2016 but it has been long enough that I am excited to read it again. I like that it's been a whole decade since the first time. I wonder if I'll still lov..."Wow. Anxious to see how that goes for you!
Ron wrote: "I did my re-read of this book back in December but I am more that happy to join the discussion with you all. This is one of my favorite books and I'm not a big fiction reader.I'll answer the ques..."
Cool! I remember you typically read nonfiction! Glad for your hearty recommendation!
Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, all.I got my book tattoo! Yes, it hurt getting it, though the pain was more annoying than anything else. Right now it itches as it heals, but I'm very pleased with the result."
Cool!
"How to Age Disgracefully -- for “a book about a character going through menopause.” What a delightful cast of characters! Hilarious and heartfelt."
Ah. Now this looks like one I would enjoy!
"The Bandit Queens -- for “a book about a married couple who don’t live together.” Couldn’t get into it. Are there any books set in India that DON’T portray the country as a miserable place?"
This was intense! I didn't agree that it was humorous. ABUSE is NOT humorous! You might try the Vish Puri mysteries written by Tarquin Hall. I read the first one, The Case of the Missing Servant, I read it years ago when I was still working at Borders. I now own the second in the series but just haven't gotten to it yet.
Theresa wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Galatea by Madeline Miller- this turned out to be more of a short story than the novella I was expecting, and it was a lot more disturbing than Miller's other b...Madeleine Miller has longterm COVID and it has derailed her life and writing. She's written about it:
https://authorsunbound.com/au_news/ma.... Also there are posts she's written about it on Instagram - 2 years out and 4 years out.
Hopefully there will be more books as her writing is beautiful and books powerful. Galatea certainly made my eyes open, and my head nod, muttering 'of course' under my breathe.
According to WIKIPEDIA, as of December 2021, she was working on her next novel about Penelope."
Oh, my! I had no idea! That's just awful!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!How is February already over? I feel like it just started last week. I think maybe I was buried by snow for so long that I lost track of the passage of time, I was both snow blind and time blind. I am happy to report that not only have we FINALLY experienced 24 hours without snow falling, we even got some SUN and BLUE SKY yesterday! Few things are more beautiful than a blue winter sky and white snow blanketing the ground."
Glad for your lack of snow! LOL I realize February is a short month, but I agree that it seems as if it literally flew by!
"Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros- well ... it was ... not great? not as good as the previous two books. It had a lot of filler, a lot of rambling. But yes I'll still read the rest of the series, of course I will. I checked off "character with chronic pain" (ironically one night when I was reading this *I* was not feeling well, and I actually had to stop reading, because reading about HER pain while I was feeling my OWN pain was just too much!)."
Oh, my! I hope you're feeling better now!
"Galatea by Madeline Miller- this turned out to be more of a short story than the novella I was expecting, and it was a lot more disturbing than Miller's other books. I confess I'd never spent much time thinking about the story of Pygmalion, but hell yeah he was a creep and he deserved this portrayal. This was one of the books on my "must read in 2025" list, and I checked off "book < 250 pages" for Popsugar, and "book by an author you've enjoyed" in AtY."
I was just wondering today when she might be releasing another book! Though I'm not huge into myths/folklore, I have been riveted by her retellings! Having attended an author event with her, I am very appreciative of her lifelong interest in and study of folklore and myths, which have led to her writing!
"Question of the Week
Do you prefer reading books set in far-flung locations you've never visited, or familiar locations?
I do get a kick out of books set in familiar locations (although invariably I'm so distracted by the small details they get wrong that I can't enjoy the book), but if I have to pick one, I'll choose far-flung locations."
You crack me up!
I am so pumped! The annual Indy Book Author Luncheon event is scheduled for April 25 and the tickets went on sale today! They sell out within 3-5 minutes. My good friend and I were both online and trying to purchase tickets. I missed it, but she was able to purchase two of them! So I spent the next hour listing the authors and noting what other books of theirs I own, etc. Then I ordered some of their backlist titles to read prior to the event! I always get so excited for this!! And they finally seem to be diversifying the authors a bit beyond white females, which I appreciate. And Victoria Christopher Murray’s Harlem Rhapsody is one of the featured titles for which I am very excited since it is set during the Harlem Renaissance! So now I want to read more of those books, too! Why must we humans sleep? I mean, really! Just think how much more reading we could accomplish without that necessity!! 😊Other authors and new releases at this event include:
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin A debut novel!
A list! I discovered some interesting titles here: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=...
ADMIN STUFF:
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION POLL 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 currently 8 titles under consideration:
Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)
Red Rising (Red Rising #1)
The Spare Man
Escape Velocity
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy #1)
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
The Princess and the Scoundrel
Floating Hotel
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 for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
VOTE HERE! This poll will be open through March 11.
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… 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 have a copy on its way to me that should arrive within 3-5 days, so will be reading this and have posted some introductory questions to begin some discussion HERE.
THE FEBRUARY 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ WAS A Deadly Education (Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #14 A book about a nontraditional education. World Thinking Day is February 22, 2025. Erin is the “crafty chronicler” who brilliantly lead this discussion and we want to thank you so very much, Erin!! 👏👏👏👏😃👍 YAY YOU!!
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Do you prefer reading books set in far-flung locations you've never visited, or familiar locations?
I appreciate both. Though I admit there is a bit of a thrill when I can actually visualize a location/site from memory!
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 30/50
Around the Year (AtY): 47/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 9/10
Read Harder: 14/24
52 Book Club: 39/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
*Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun, translated by Elisabeth Jacquette ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a short collection of very short stories. All were poignant and thought-provoking, and several were very scary—people starving and living on the street or in barely habitable shelters.
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #28
ATY: #2, #5, NEW #8, #16, #44, #45, #48
RHC: #24
52 Book Club: #41, #43
*Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a solid read. For me, having been through withdrawals as a result of Percocet in the aftermath of knee replacement surgery, this book hit very close to home. It reiterated the fact that I will be forever grateful for the fact that Percocet was NEVER a good drug for me. It did virtually little to nothing to alleviate the post-surgical pain and caused me great harm: an inability to sleep, a constant restlessness that prevented me from ever being able to calm down and concentrate on much of anything, and horridly terrifying nightmares. Oh, my! The nightmares were so awful!! They were so loaded with blood, guts, and gore that I would awaken nauseous, feeling as if I wanted to vomit. If Percocet had indeed made me feel “good” or “better” I cannot imagine ever being able to get through the withdrawal symptoms without reverting back to the ‘drug of choice’. It took a good 6 months for me to feel as if I might be able to finally overcome the trauma of withdrawals. So I can perhaps relate a bit more closely to Perry’s predicament than many other readers. I get it. I am frustrated about those who still believe addiction is simply a matter of “choice.” It is not. Perry was very fortunate to be able to function as well as he did throughout his relatively short life. I also watched as two of my ex-husband’s cousins died in their early 50s as a result of addiction. It’s awful. There is nothing anyone else can do, except keep loving them for as long as they are on this earth in physical form. And remember the positive aspects of the life they lived. This proved to be an excellent book club read! So many strong reactions and so much pertinent discussion resulted!
POPSUGAR: #6, #16
ATY: #2, #5, #15, #16, #23, #24, #26, #32, #34, #37, #41, #44, #48
RHC: #4, NEW #7, #21, #24
52 Book Club: #10, #18, #37, #42, #43, NEW #44
*After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was another awesome book written by Reid. This was one of her earlier efforts and a bit more “romance-y” than I expected, but still a very engaging and enjoyable read with just the right amount of suspense, IMO! I have just 3 more of her books to read and I will be caught up with her backlist! Perhaps in time for the June 2025 release of Atmosphere!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #20, #23, #26, #43, NEW #48
ATY: #2-A book involving the pursuit of happiness, #5, #7, #15, #19, #33, #34, #40, #41, #43, #45, #48
RHC: #24
52 Book Club: #10, #13, #18, #33, #51
I am finishing Running with Sherman later today and am so grateful for the 2025 Popsugar prompt #17 A book about a run club! (Though I groaned a bit upon first seeing this prompt on the 2025 listing! LOL) Without that prompt as motivation, I might never have had the absolutely superb experience of reading this book! Loving McDougall’s writing, the storyline, and the bits of information sprinkled throughout! Just an excellent read that I very highly recommend!
CONTINUING:
*Parable of the Talents (Earthseed #2) by Octavia E. Butler
I’m taking this one slowly, a bit at a time. I can easily imagine just such a society and that scares me!
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by Rebecca
Solnit
*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
My answers...1) Was this book already on your TBR listing?
Yes, it was. I am curious as to whether I will enjoy reading this specific book and/or this specific author.
2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!)
Not really. I want to (finally) read The Violin Conspiracy and will probably use that to fulfill the prompt.
3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting?
Yes. It piques my curiosity. What or where is Station Eleven? And what connection does that title have to the storyline?
4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book?
I assume it depicts one of these post-apocalyptic settlements... I guess it attracts me since I want to know more about these settlements and this world.
5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per Goodreads: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult
I enjoy Science Fiction! I don't purposefully avoid Dystopia/Post-Apocalyptic books, but I don't purposefully seek them out, either.
6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book.
I really don't know. I think this is the main reason I have not yet read it, although it was released in 2014! It doesn't appear to be something I would LOVE reading and I get the feeling that Mandel's writing may be a bit more 'edgy' than I typically enjoy. But we shall see!! I am very excited to give it a try and see what I think! Since I am reading Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Talents a bit at a time, I'm anxious to see how Mandel's writing style compares...
