L Y N N’s Comments (group member since Nov 10, 2018)

L Y N N’s comments from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.

Doni wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "This fits right in with the philosophies of Ibram Kendi, Ta-Nehisi Coates and others who state that you are either antiracist or you are not antiracist. By definition anyone living in this society with white skin automatically benefits from the foundational racism and either works to undermine the racist dogma or not...."

I actually found Kendi's and Diangelo's explanations significantly different because Kendi articulates racism as being something that ANYBODY can be and Diangelo talks about how racism is positioned within a racist society, so that those who have the most power are the ones who are racist. I find that Diangelo's explanation makes more sense to me, while Kendi's is more descriptive of being prejudiced rather than being racist per say."
What a perceptive comparison! I can understand that perspective! I suppose what I appreciate more than anything is that these writings prompt me to be thoughtful of society overall and its varied impacts. Thank you for sharing!

Doni wrote: "Oh no! It erased my whole response!

Note to self: if the links stop working, save your work!"

I swear Bezos bought Goodreads to make is woefully inefficient! Ugh. Just glad to know I am not alone in this frustrating program!

Laura wrote: "Happy Thursday! I thought my laptop had completely bricked earlier this week. Windows wouldn't load and wouldn't reinstall. Luckily I was able to factory reset the whole thing, and everything seems to be working now. So glad I keep all my documents in the cloud!"
I still use an old-fashioned thumb drive! Don't want to have to pay for cloud storage! LOL

"Challenge Progress: I finished the 52 Book Club challenge (and all its mini-challenges), Popsugar and Nadine's mini-challenge, A to Z (by author's last name), and ATY's main challenge. The only thing I have left is ATY's winter challenge. Three more books to finish WINTER WONDERLAND! I'll finish tomorrow."
AMAZING!

"QOTW: I count book by the date completed (not the date started), so I've already started books for 2024. The first one I finish will probably be Romantic Comedy which I'll count for PS 4 - a book about a writer. I'm really enjoying it so far! I picked it because I'm behind on my BOTM selections... It's time to order new books!"
I also count them as of date completed, but you definitely have a wide selection going into the new year!

Kenya wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Popsugar: 49/50 SOOOO CLOSE! ONLY ONE MORE!
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 14/24

FINISHED
*Watership Down (Watership Down #1) by Richard Adams ⭐..."

Watership Down is SUCH a good book! I'm glad you liked it. Sadly I haven't found another one by the same author that I enjoyed as much. (Plague Dogs in particular is too long and brutal...)"
Yeah, I don't know if I'll actively pursue more of his writing, but I did enjoy this one, though it contained a certain amount of brutality as well...

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

It’s so hard to believe that 2023 is almost over! Where did the time go?

I have not done a tremendous amount of reading since my last update, for which I blame my new Crunchyroll subscription, but I was able to finish the final title on my “New Books” list, another TBR book, and a few library ebooks and audiobooks."
Sounds to me like you finished quite a few! 😁

"While I have not bought any new books since my final manga preorders, I did get a ton of books for Christmas. In addition to several books that have been on my wishlist for months, I also got a massive trio of boxes from eBay, containing books from the Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms series. I’m really looking forward to reading all of my new books!

Of course, that does mean that I will have significantly more books on my TBR next year than I was anticipating. That’s totally fine, but I think I’m going to increase my TBR completion goal from 40% to 50% to compensate.

I already know that I won’t be purchasing nearly as many new books next year, so I should be able to handle reading more TBR titles."
All kinds of new books!! And you're already adjusting your reading goals! You are a good example for some of the rest of us...mainly myself! LOL

"Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Iron Flame — While there were parts of this book that I really enjoyed, I also I felt like it suffered from second book syndrome. As a result, I had a hard time staying invested in the story until I was about halfway through the book. I ended up taking a lot of breaks while I was reading, and it took me much longer to finish than I had anticipated. That being said, I am planning to continue the series, and I’m hoping that the next book will be more in line with the experience I had reading Fourth Wing. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"
Thanks for the trigger warning info in the spoiler!

"QOTW:
I typically read more than one book at a time, so I’m actually planning to start several books on January 1st, including…
~Assistant to the Villain
~The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet
~Emma
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1
~Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Feast of the Moon"
What an eclectic list!

Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Barack Obama has released a listing of his favorite books read in 2023:..."

Quite a few of Obama's titles were on the Tournament of Books long list (and even one still on the short list) ... so, does Obama follow the ToB? or do the Tournament runners follow Obama? Probably a bit of both."
I don't know if he follows anything like ToB or not. I rather doubt it? I guess I just can't imagine him not simply reading whatever he is interested in reading...but who knows? LOL

"I don't really read the same books he reads, he is - perhaps obviously - far more interested in global issues and politics than I am."
I don't lack the interest, I just simply get drawn into reading more fiction that nonfiction... Hoping to alleviate that somewhat in 2024.

"I am currently reading All the Sinners Bleed, and I've got The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store on hold - I've never read anything by McBride before."
I did read and enjoy The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother and would like to read more of his writing!

Dubhease wrote: "Happy Thursday, Lynn.

I don't think the monthly reads are a failure. The fact that this month was Bookshops and Bonedust, lead me to suggest Legends and Lattes for my daughter (who is so picky about books that she picks her own every year). After a frustrating HOUR of showing her a ton of books, she finally picked that. So, even though I didn't do the group read, it still benefitted my life."
Thanks so much for sharing that information! How cool is that! Please understand that I didn't mean to imply I believe the Monthly Group Reads are a failure, I am just interested in trying to make some improvements to the process to hopefully encourage more participation. I am grateful to Nadine for posing the questions since it has demonstrated to me that this means more to members than I had felt it did!

"I read a book that fit no prompts just because I was falling behind on Karen McManus' backlist. The Agatha Christie book, which is more spy story than mystery will bring me up to an even 50 for AYT. I love that I read 10 extra books for both PS and AYT."
YAY YOU!! You obviously chose realistic goals since you have managed to complete them!!

"QOTW: The first book I'm reading is The House Across the Lake because I bought it for myself for Xmas. I have been trying to read it all year but the amount of holds on it was too high. Like Karen McManus, I've fallen behind on ready Riley Sager."
Excellent!

Popsugar: 49/50 SOOOO CLOSE! ONLY ONE MORE!
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 14/24

FINISHED
*Watership Down (Watership Down #1) by Richard Adams ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Admittedly, I became a bit hesitant after the first 50 or so pages of this book, but it took off from there and I never looked back! I find it extremely interesting that Adams started this as stories he would tell his daughters on long car trips. Then he finally sat down and wrote it all into a book! He stated there was nothing symbolic in his writing, though he obviously included some overall themes such as compassion for others, the downfall of a totalitarian regime in its lack of motivation and enjoyment of life for the oppressed, and I especially enjoyed the concept of kindness toward others, regardless of who they are and the ways in which those recipients may return the favor by giving aide in the future!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
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*White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was excellently written and argued! This fits right in with the philosophies of Ibram Kendi, Ta-Nehisi Coates and others who state that you are either antiracist or you are not antiracist. By definition anyone living in this society with white skin automatically benefits from the foundational racism and either works to undermine the racist dogma or not. I believe that is true. Though 5 years ago I might have tried to argue otherwise… 😊
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

*Next Year in Havana (Perez Family #1) by Chanel Cleeton ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I find it impossible to adequately describe just how phenomenal this book was for me! I literally felt as if I was there for each character—feeling their emotions, seeing what they saw, experiencing what they were experiencing! Cleeton’s descriptions of pre-Castro and post-Castro Cuba are not to be missed, IMO! Highly recommended! Definitely continuing with this series!
POPSUGAR: NEW #
ATY:
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CONTINUING:
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
Four more days to finish this last book for the Popsugar 2023 Challenge!! YES!!
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
This one will definitely need to wait until 2024!

PLANNED:
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey for an IRL book club
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich

Happy Thursday and welcome to the final week of 2023! I always hope the new year will prove to be “better”! Though I am so grateful for the basics! I do not live a war zone, nor have I been displaced from my home/city/country. I have a basic income that is self-supporting. I have reliable shelter. I have access to a diverse food supply with enough money to purchase pretty much what I want to eat. My family members and close friends are okay and as healthy as can be expected. So much for which I am grateful! And I have almost made it through another year! The older I get the larger that accomplishment feels!

Barack Obama has released a listing of his favorite books read in 2023:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope by Sarah Bakewell
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country by Patricia Evangelista
This Other Eden by Paul Harding

These books were listed as favorites on his Summer 2023 listing but did not make it to the final 2023 list above:
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
What Napoleon Could Not Do by D.K. Nnuro
Blue Hour by Tiffany Clarke Harrison

I am always amazed at the diversity of his reading! I do not always agree with his selections, but find them to be interesting and inevitably discover several to add to my TBR listing!

I actually went through the Week #22 Weekly Check-In discussion thread again to make sure I caught all suggestions regarding the Monthly Group Reads. Nadine and I have created a listing of suggested questions to use and it has been added it to the 2024 Monthly Group Read folder for everyone’s reference. It is HERE! Our intention is that this listing will not only aide discussion leaders, but could also help any members who are participating in the discussion.

I gather mainly that participation is limited due to several common factors:
*The selected book is not on a member’s TBR listing and/or is not a book a member is interested in reading
*The book is not available from a library in time to read that month
*Time just runs out and although a member planned to read that book and participate in the discussion, it just didn’t happen

I am gratified to know that some members actually do go back and read through the discussion threads later for various reasons. And I do agree with members who stated that although there are a rather limited number of members participating in the discussion, the thread can still be pertinent to other members who are not participating. That’s kinda cool!

With all that said, I must admit it is much more fun to lead discussion when there are active participants! Though I do realize that life sometimes intervenes and we just aren’t able to read as many books as we would like to at times!

ADMIN STUFF:
First and foremost, the December Monthly Group Read of Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree is HERE! This book could be used to fulfill 2023 prompt #32 A book published in the last half of 2023. And the thread to list a book you have read that fulfills prompt #32 is HERE!

The January 2024 Monthly Group Read is Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah! This is one I’ve been wanting to read, more out of curiosity than anything else! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #19 "A book set in the future." Surely there is a “rambunctious wrangler” just waiting to volunteer to facilitate this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

And we have extended these next two polls for another week! They are scheduled to be open through Tuesday, January 2! Since several members mentioned they have missed polls in the past, we thought we would extend these two another week to see if there are more members who vote than when the polls are only open for one week. Plus, with the end of the year and the holiday season, it kinda makes sense to provide extra time. We’ll see if that makes a difference!

Poll #1 is a nomination poll for the March Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems. World Poetry Day is on March 21!
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, simply write it in. But please check that book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2022-present) are eligible. Please 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 for your reading enjoyment! 😉 (Though I don’t recall any poetry books selected as Monthly Group Reads since I joined!) There are now 10 books from which you can select!
VOTE HERE! There have been quite a few write-ins, making it much more interesting!

Poll #2 is a FINAL SELECTION poll for the February Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #1 "A book with the word "leap" in the title." (Since “Leap Day”/February 29 does occur in February!) 😊
There are just three titles from which you may select one:
Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow #4) by Donna Andrews
Lemmings Don't Leap: 180 Myths, Misconceptions, and Urban Legends Exploded by Edwin Moore
All three of these look like books I would enjoy! I’m rather fascinated by that last one!
PLEASE VOTE HERE!

The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!

Question of the Week:
Which book do you plan to read first in 2024? Why this one?
I keep vacillating on this decision! Though I imagine that when I awaken on January 1, 2024, I will simply pick up one of the books I really want to read and…read it!
Some possibilities:
Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest, books 2 and 3 in L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon series
Frederik Backman’s Beartown Trilogy (I want to reread the first one.)
Books 2-5 in Kate Milford’s Greenglass House series: Ghosts of Greenglass House, Bluecrowne, The Thief Knot, and The Raconteur's Commonplace Book
L. Penelope’s Earthsinger Chronicles series (I want to reread the first one.)
Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series (Again, I want to reread the first one.)
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich

Continued below...

This is the December Monthly Group Read discussion of The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #36 A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person
National Mudd Day is December 20! What is National Mudd Day, you may ask? It references a fascinating bit of history I doubt many of us know. Dr. Samuel Mudd was a doctor who helped John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirator David Herold immediately following Lincoln’s assassination on the night of April 14, 1865. Mudd performed surgery on Booth and allowed them to spend the night. He didn’t report the men’s visit for another 24 hours, though it was assumed he would have heard of the assassination well before that time. Mudd was arrested 12 days later and eventually convicted to a life sentence by a military commission for the crime of aiding and conspiring in a murder, missing the death penalty by only one vote!
Dubhease is our "End-of-Year Innovator" who has volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎇🎉🎊

HERE is a listing of potential discussion questions. These are meant to not only help those who volunteer to facilitate these monthly discussions but also to provide ideas for members participating in discussions!

Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read. It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number). That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...

TO ADD SPOILER TAGS:
Use this for spoilers, just remove the spaces:
< spoiler > write your spoiler here and close with < / spoiler >

Posts here should only be contributions to discussion about this book.

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER FOR DISCUSSION

Please feel free to use any of these questions to prompt discussion of the Monthly Group Reads. Any or all of these can be used as inspiration to create your own unique questions. And, as always, just feel free to comment about the book as you read or once you finish. Many times such comments are excellent starting points for great discussions!

1) What, if any, expectations do you have for this book?

2) Was this book already on your TBR listing?

3) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling this specific Popsugar prompt?

4) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting?

5) What about the cover image? Does it motivate you to read this book?
Or does it make you hesitate to read it?

6) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre?
(e.g. Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Mystery…)

7) Is the overall theme of this book of particular interest to you?

8) Which character is your favorite character? Why?

9) Is there any one character with whom you can identify? Why?

10) Is there any one character you find to be particularly annoying? Why?

11) Is there a character you believe is “too good to be true”? Why?

12) Is there a character who seems to be purely evil or mean? Why?

13) Is there a character you would like to have as your best friend? Why?

14) Is there one character who reminds you of someone you know in real life? In a good way or in a bad way?

15) Is there one character you would go to great lengths to avoid? Why?

16) Did the plot work for you? Was it too slow-paced or too intense? Or just right?

17) Have you read any other books written by this same author? Did you enjoy it/them?

18) Would you read any other books written by this author in the future? Why or why not?

19) Do you find this author's writing style to be enjoyable or problematic? Why?

20) Do you know or have you heard anything specific about this author? Does that make you want to read this book more? Or less?

21) Would you like to see this book adapted into a movie or TV series? If so, are there any particular actors you would select for the roles?

22) Would you plan to watch an adaptation of this book?

23) If there is already a movie or TV series that was inspired by this book, have you watched it? Did you enjoy it?

24) Did the plot feel realistic, or did it require too much ‘suspension of disbelief’?

25) What do you think inspired the author to write this book?

26) Would you recommend this book to others? Why? Or, if not, why not?

27) Are there any trigger warnings you would list for this book? (Please use spoilers.)

Jennifer W wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Group read question: I've participated and lead a group read before. I like them. I don't really like how books are nominated. Though I'm sure it's much easier for the mods to do..."

I will say that anytime I nominate something, if it wins, I *plan* on leading the discussion. Some of the earlier groups I was a part of had that as a nomination requirement."
Oh, ugh. I do not think that is a very good idea. I feel as if anyone should be able to nominate a book without fear of being forced to lead the discussion!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Kendra wrote: "I find that I read the book and then have to wait around for everybody else and then by the time the questions are posted, I've already moved on to other books and it can be hard to go back. So maybe either have a set date to finish, or post the questions in the beginning so I can fill them in while I read.,..."


I have this problem too! and it's why I rarely participate in the group reads. I just can't figure out how to pace myself for a buddy read. I do a lot better in book club situations, where everyone has read the book and the entire book gets discussed.."
As I read through all these comments on Monthly Group Reads I do realize that some members prefer a set reading "schedule" of so many pages/chapters per week. However, I tend to inhale a book once I start reading it and generally am unable to pace myself throughout the whole month. It is a conundrum...

When other leaders have parsed the book out through the month, I simply read it and then comment as questions are posted, whether I can remember very well or not! LOL

Bea wrote: "Monthly book reads: I started out this year joining each as I was so excited to be participating in this group. But, after a few months, I just found that most of the books, although interesting an..."

I am sorry it didn't work out better for you!

Doni wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Having worked as a professional mental health advocate and had an aunt who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia (and with whom I had a very close relationship) this book looks like a must-read. Though it is a brick!"..."

It IS a brick, but well worth it. I thought it was very well-written and made difficult ideas accessible. Then again, I'm used to reading philosophy, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt! :)"
No way! I take your recommendation very seriously! Actually, I love reading philsophy, but don't do much of that!

JessicaMHR wrote: "Hello all!

I just wanted to post about the group read questions.

I have participated in a few and even attempted to lead one once and I do like the idea of talking about a book with others who ar..."
I get it. I get it about all of your comments! Thanks!

Happy Thursday yet once again! One of the last Thursdays in this year! Weather has been a bit cooler and now we’re back in the 50s during the daytime. I admit I hate the colder weather any more. My old arthritis-riddled body just can’t take it. I came home Tuesday after spending most of the day running errands and at book club, etc., informing my husband that until the highs were back in the 50s he was in charge and could do all the grocery shopping, errand running, etc! He laughed… 😒

I survived 3 IRL book club meetings within 7 days! Whew! I’m kinda book clubbed out for now and glad I won’t have another until January 9! And the January meetings are spaced out much more than they were in December! 🤗

ADMIN STUFF:
First and foremost, the December Monthly Group Read of Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) by Travis Baldree is HERE! This book could be used to fulfill 2023 prompt #32 A book published in the last half of 2023. And the thread to list a book you have read that fulfills prompt #32 is HERE!

And we have the results of the final selection poll for the January 2024 Monthly Group Read! It is… Drum roll, please! It is…Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah! This is one I’ve been wanting to read, more out of curiosity than anything else! This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #19 "A book set in the future." Surely there is a “rambunctious wrangler” just waiting to volunteer to facilitate this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

And, for your voting pleasure, we have two more polls!

Poll #1 is a nomination poll for the March Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems. World Poetry Day is on March 21!
If you do not see the title you would like to nominate, simply write it in. But please check that book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2022-present) are eligible. Please 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 for your reading enjoyment! 😉 (Though I don’t recall any poetry books selected as Monthly Group Reads since I joined!)
There are three listed to start us off:
Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare
milk and honey by Rupi Kaur
VOTE HERE!

Poll #2 is a FINAL SELECTION poll for the February Monthly Group Read. This book could be used to fulfill 2024 prompt #1 "A book with the word "leap" in the title." (Since “Leap Day”/February 29 does occur in February!) 😊
There are just three titles from which you may select one:
Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow #4) by Donna Andrews
Lemmings Don't Leap: 180 Myths, Misconceptions, and Urban Legends Exploded by Edwin Moore
All three of these look like books I would enjoy! I’m rather fascinated by that last one!
PLEASE VOTE HERE!

Both polls are scheduled to be open through next Tuesday, December 26!

The comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Reads resides HERE for your perusal and reference throughout 2024!

Question of the Week:
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge)
Oh my! Sheesh! So many!
In reverse chronological order…
...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer I realize I have not yet finished this one, but I will! And it is a reread some 35 years later! I know I'm gonna love it again!
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
To Shape a Dragon's Breath (Nampeshiweisit #1) by Moniquill Blackgoose
Next Year in Havana (Perez Family #1) by Chanel Cleeton
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
Longbourn by Jo Baker
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
Delilah Green Doesn't Care (Bright Falls #1) by Ashley Herring Blake
Greenglass House (Greenglass House #1) by Kate Milford
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The Storyteller's Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan by Hildi Kang
The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
The London House by Katherine Reay
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink

Favorite Series:
(Those from which I read at least one book in 2023 and are ongoing for me!)
The Rescuers by Margery Sharp
Finlay Donovan by Elle Cosimano
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
Wrexford & Sloane by Andrea Penrose
Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Track by Jason Reynolds
Two Rivers by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope by Ann Cleeves
Shetland Island by Ann Cleeves
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
The Harwood Spellbook by Stephanie Burgis
The Darling Dahlias by Susan Wittig Albert
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Fractured Fables by Alix Harrow

Popsugar: 48/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 14/24

FINISHED
*West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was such an excellent reading experience! All book club members proclaimed it to be a favorite read! I can be so dense sometimes! Reading this book made me realize that I had never actually put it together that both the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl occurred in the 1930s. Basically simultaneously. It’s not as if either one occurred in a vacuum. I’m sure each influenced the other, but to have both economic tragedies strike at once! Horrid! Unemployment over 20%. Unbelievable. This book was complex yet compulsively readable! Highly recommended! And now we are all obsessed with giraffes!!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale ⭐⭐⭐ was definitely way too “romance-y” for me. If this had not been a book club read I would have DNFd it. Too many sexual details to suit me, and although there was much snarky banter and some entertaining dialogue, as well as a fully developed background for the male protagonist, I get bored when the two main characters are seemingly obsessed with each other so that every thought is consumed with the other person. This book just wasn’t for me, particularly on the heels of such an excellent read as was The Great Believers. I think I was still suffering from a book hangover!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:

The Audition (Seraphina #0.5) by Rachel Hartman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was a surprisingly clever read! I so enjoyed the characters and will plan to proceed with the series! Not counting for any challenge. (I admit I only read this because I was rather bored with Wrapped with a Beau last Thursday afternoon and starting planning for the 2024 Popsugar challenge! LOL 😊)

CONTINUING:
I finished these first two, but have yet to review them! Yes, STILL!! LOL
*White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
I have decided to reread this every year or two. I need reminders of just how invasive our culture is for those who are NOT white-skinned.
*Next Year in Havana (Perez Family #1) by Chanel Cleeton
Though I made considerable progress in both of these two books below needed to finish 2023 Popsugar, I still have a significant number of pages to read in order to complete them both…but I am determined to do so by 12MIDNIGHT on December 31, 2021, if not before! 😊
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
*Watership Down (Watership Down #1) by Richard Adams
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
This one will definitely need to wait until 2024!

PLANNED:
*10th Anniversary (Women’s Murder Club #9) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
11th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #11) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum #30) by Janet Evanovich

poshpenny wrote: "HELLOOOO!!

Popping in because I have lost complete track of time so badly that I missed the new list dropping by a couple+ weeks. I'm sure I've missed the best part of the "WTF is this prompt UGH..."
OMG! So good to see you return!! :)

I've been out of commission due to 3 IRL book club meetings within 7 days! But I'll return to this discussion tomorrow! Glad we have at least a couple of readers participating!! 👍😋

Doni wrote: "To Shape a Dragon's Breath was already on my TBR!"

I just read that for a book club last month and really loved it! Ready for more in the series!!