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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This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the December challenge 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!
Please include the following information about this book:
Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?
This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the November challenge to fulfill prompt #39 A fiction book written by a trans or nonbinary author.November is Transgender Awareness Month! Transgender Awareness Week is November 13-19, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20! Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was murdered in 1998.
Please include the following information about this book:
Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?
This is the comprehensive listing of 2024 Monthly Group Read selections! I always get so excited about these every year!! I spent hours researching to identify more unique connections to each month, reflecting the much more unique prompts for 2024! (I am in love with this year's challenge!!)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!
This will be updated as time progresses to include all books selected and discussion leaders for each month.
Many many thanks to those who will volunteer to lead monthly discussions throughout 2024!
JANUARY Prompt #19 A book set in the future
Ellis Island opened on New Year’s Day 1892, which was also a leap year! Most all who made it to Ellis Island were simply hoping for a better future. The NEW YEAR is usually focused on the future with setting resolutions, etc. January 1 is also WORLD DAY OF PEACE! More of which this world needs in the future, IMO!
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
FEBRUARY Prompt #1 A book with the word "leap" in the title
Since this “extra day” occurs in February in this “leap” year, it is just too obvious to resist!
Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker
Kimberly Barker is the “leaping literary luminar” who has volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you, Kimberly! 👏👏👏👏👏
MARCH Prompt #48 A collection of at least 24 poems
World Poetry Day is on March 21!
Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman
Joanna is the "marvelous manager" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you so much, Joanna! 🎉🎊🎆🎇
APRIL Prompt #29 A book with a neurodivergent main character
April is Autism Awareness Month!
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose
MAY Prompt #41 A memoir that explores queerness
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is May 17
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Jai is the "guru guide" who volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you so very much, Jai! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
JUNE Prompt #18 A book set in space
National Meteor Watch Day is June 30!
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers
And who is the "cool Captain" who will volunteer to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
JULY Prompt #44 An autobiography by a woman in rock 'n' roll
National Day of Rock ‘N’ Roll is July 7!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
I’m certain there is a “savvy superstar” among our members to lead an amazing discussion of this one! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
AUGUST Prompt #23 A book that features dragons
National Lizard Day is August 14!
The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon #1) by Kay O'Neill
SEPTEMBER Prompt #6 A book about pirates
Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19!
John Baur and Mark Summers created this international day in 1995.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Jennifer W is the "fascinating facilitator" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! THANK YOU, JENNIFER W! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
OCTOBER Prompt #8 A book by a blind or visually impaired author
White Cane Awareness Month! White Cane Awareness Day is October 15!
The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman
I will post some questions to hopefully get the conversation going!
NOVEMBER Prompt #39 A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author
Transgender Awareness Month! Transgender Awareness Week November 13-19, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20! Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
And who is the "vivacious volunteer" willing to lead this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!!
DECEMBER 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!
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I'm certain there is an "End-of-Year Innovator" to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the October challenge to fulfill prompt #8 A book written by a blind or visually impaired author.October is White Cane Awareness Month! White Cane Awareness Day is October 15!
Please include the following information about this book:
Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?
A Horror Book Written By a BIPOC AuthorNo fist-pump here! Boos and hisses instead! I do NOT read horror. I will most likely substitute a mystery/thriller novel instead as I have done with other challenges! I consider it my prerogative to avoid anything that gives me nightmares, etc.! I might find a "gothic" novel that wouldn't be too scary. Just not sure how I'll fulfill this one yet...
There is a Goodreads listopia which should be a huge help:
"Book Riot 2022 #19: Read a horror novel by a BIPOC author"
Listopia is HERE
A Fiction Book Written By a Trans Or Nonbinary AuthorYet another fist-pump from me! I own a couple written by Charlie Jane Anders:
All the Birds in the Sky
The City in the Middle of the Night
I can highly recommend Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and Melissa ( was previously entitled George) by Alex Gino! Author and main character are both trans.
I know there are some nonfiction books out there that qualify by simply substituting the word "nonfiction" for "fiction"! However, we may not want those listed on this prompt's specific listopia since they technically do not fulfill the prompt as written... But please do not hesitate to list them in the comments below!!
We can start with our own Goodreads listopia from 2020:
"Popsugar 2020 - A Book By a Trans or Non-Binary Author"
And another listopia that will help:
"Trans Books by Trans Authors"
Although the prompt doesn't specify that any characters must be trans, etc., this listing is still valid due to the authors being trans/nonbinary.
Listopia is HERE
A Cozy Fantasy Book I have read so much more fantasy in these past few years than ever before! IMO. To Shape a Dragon's Breath (Nampeshiweisit #1) by Moniquill Blackgoose qualifies! I really enjoyed this book! And I am anxious to read more in the series...as soon as they are written and published! LOL
And one of my favorite books ever, The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune!
There is one Goodreads listopia which should be a big help:
"Best Cozy Fantasy Books"
Listopia is HERE
A Book Written During NaNoWriMoIt is a recent repeat, but still a good prompt, IMO! One of my favorite books ever is Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree!!
We can build off the listopia from last year:
"Popsugar 2023 #41 - A Book Written During NaNoWriMo"
And there are two more listopias that might help:
"Published NaNoWriMo Books"
"Published YA Books Written During NaNoWriMo"
Listopia is HERE
Nov 28, 2023 09:13PM
36 - A Book Written By an Incarcerated Or Formerly Incarcerated PersonYet another fist-pump from me!! Since I read them many decades ago, as a young teen, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's books:
The First Circle
The Gulag Archipeligo 1918-1956: An Experiment In Literary Investigation I - Ii.
Cancer Ward
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
They are all grueling and heartbreaking reads, but necessary, IMO!
Goodreads listopia to help:
"Written in Prison"
And now for our own listing!
Listopia is HERE
A Book with Magical RealismAnother fist-pumper for me! The first author who comes to mind for this is Sarah Addison Allen! I own a copy of First Frost (Waverley Family #2) that I have not yet read. I also want to read her most recent release, Other Birds!
By definition this eliminates nonfiction, I think...
We have much help from listopias! Starting with one of our own from the past!
"Popsugar 2021 #28 - A Magical Realism Book"
"Favorite Magical Realism Novels"
"Magical Realism"
But we'll create one for this year's prompt which should include some of the newer releases that qualify!
Listopia is HERE
A Book with at Least 3 POVsI know I've read quite a few that would qualify but my mind is blank at the moment! I personally really enjoy these books where the reader gets inside various characters' perspectives!
Oh, I do remember and looked to verify that The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley qualifies!
I am flummoxed about any nonfiction. But I hope there are some that would fulfill this prompt...
Let's build a list!
Listopia is HERE
A Book With an Unreliable NarratorThe only negative thing about this prompt is that there are some books that if you KNOW going into them the narrator is unreliable, it can be a big "spoiler," IMO! But with that said, let's compile a listing! My most recent read that qualifies and I found to be very compelling was The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth! Definitely recommended!
There are definitely Goodreads listopias to help:
"Novels with an Unreliable Narrator"
"Books with Unreliable Narrators"
"Liar Liar: YA Books with Unreliable Narrators"
I can't imagine anything that would work in nonfiction, but perhaps there are some.
Listopia is HERE
A Book with an Enemies to Lovers PlotI know I just read one of these... The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern! I just reread it and loved just as much the second time around. They are opponents in a treacherous competition...
There are Goodreads Listopias to help:
"Best enemies to lovers"
"Best Gay Enemies/Rivals/Opposites Become Lovers"
"Enemies to Lovers: Adult Romance"
Another one of my recent reads to fulfill this prompt is Delilah Green Doesn't Care (Bright Falls #1) by Ashley Herring Blake which I enjoyed so much I now own the second and third installments in this series. There is sexual diversity represented in these books as well! Plus I just realized this one would fit prompt #31 as well! For all us double-dippers!
Not sure what might work for nonfiction...
Listopia is HERE
A Book with a Title That Is a Complete SentenceWow. This is the sixth prompt posting I've done and I admit I am impressed with the creativity of this year's challenge! YAY!!
Okay, now down to business. I can imagine there are many nonfiction books that would work since many of them include subtitles that (IMO, at least) qualify as complete sentences. One I've really been wanting to read is Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty! That one goes on my plan!
There are three Goodreads listopias that should help:
"Titlemania III: Whole-Sentence Titles"
"Complete Sentences"
"Complete Sentences - Part 2"
Oh, how could I forget one of my favorite books ever! A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! Highly recommended!
Another that I recently read was Never Let Me Go which was scary, but IMO, very well-written!
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is a book I can only highly recommend!
Listopia is HERE
A Book with a One-Word Title You Had to Look Up in a DictionaryUhm... I'm rather at a loss for words on this one! I like it, but nothing immediately comes to mind!
HERE is a Goodreads Listopia for "One-Word Titles" which will probably help! And did help me!
Shōgun by James Clavell is one I would definitely look up!
Stargirl (Stargirl #1) by Jerry Spinelli I loved that book!
Dubliners by James Joyce is one I wanted to read this year and never got to, so I may cheat just a bit and read this one! (Since I don't really have to look up Dubliners in the dictionary...but it is MY challenge!)
Night by Elie Wiesel is a nonfiction option! I'm sure there are others...
Listopia is HERE
A Memoir That Explores QueernessHmmmm...the only reason I hesitate is that no one book is coming to my mind right now! However, I love the prompt! Oh, wait! Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde! I have been wanting to read that!!
There is one Goodreads listopia which should help:
"Lesbian Memoirs"
Nonfiction folks rejoice!! 😁
Listopia is HERE
The 24th Book of an AuthorI think the easiest way to identify books to fulfill this prompt is to locate a series with at least 24 books. Here are some of those:
X (Kinsey Milhone #24) by Sue Grafton (will also fulfill prompt #50 for double dippers)
Cross the Line (Alex Cross #24) by James Patterson
The 24th Hour (Women's Murder Club #24) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Expected publication date February 29, 2024)
From a Far and Lovely Country (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #24) by Alexander McCall Smith
Blood Orange (China Bayles #24) by Susan Wittig Albert
Lark! The Herald Angels Sing (Meg Langslow #24) by Donna Andrews
Going Rogue (Stephanie Plum #29) by Janet Evanovich
Listopia list is HERE
A Collection of At Least 24 PoemsMy workout buddy and fellow instructor at the gym has a book of poems and there are more than 24 of them. However, she is not yet listed on Goodreads, so I'll have to make sure she gets that done! I don't read poetry very often, so will have to rely on you-all for suggestions!
One Goodreads listopia that might help:
"Best Poetry Books"
Listopia is HERE
Doni wrote: "We're having Thanksgiving Brunch today! Yesterday, I picked up vegan donuts out of the back of someone's car and it felt like a drug deal."I'm having trouble envisioning someone selling donuts out of their car... Though you definitely made me laugh! 🤣
"Evil and the God of Love Ended up being more skeptical of this the second time through, but still a really good read!"
I can only assume, given the title and Goodreads blurb, that this is attempting to reconcile the existence of evil with a "God of Love" in control of the world? Just curious...
"Fingerpainting on the Moon: Writing and Creativity as a Path to Freedom This is a book I rescued post-sale many years ago based mostly on the title. It was just okay."
Yes! That title is amazing!
"Virgil Wander For Robot Librarian's prompt, building on cover. I enjoyed this, but not the ending."
This was already on my TBR listing.
"From Teaching to Thinking: A Pedagogy for Reimagining Our Work re-read"
Looks like a good one to reread periodically! Especially for an educator!
"QotW: This is the first time I've encountered the term "panster." I had to look it up. I'm a combination of both. I enjoy planning possibilities when the challenge first comes out. But my favorite is when I've picked up a book just because I'm interested in it and it turns out to fulfill one of the prompts without my having realized it ahead of time!"
Thank you for not making me feel like the ONLY one who had never encountered "panster" before either! Thank goodness for Google!! Like you I adore it when I read a book unrelated to any challenge prompt and it fits one beautifully!! How serendipitous!!
Joanna wrote: "Remy's DilemmaMy self-pubbed book, picked this up a few years ago at my comic shop when the author was selling them when I went in. It was okay, I guess, but was excessively wacky for my tastes. It's about a guy who believes the world is about to end, so wants to complete a bucket list in the time available to him, but ends up leaving destruction and mayhem wherever he goes, leading to him being pursued by police. It's supposed to be funny, and he's an unreliable narrator, but I wasn't sure how far that went. (view spoiler).
Also, I realize the character is not the author, but the way the main guy approached women was just over the top sexist - just relentlessly hitting on women in crude ways, and unable to take no for an answer, just seeing that as flirting, even though one woman actually beats him up. I was just like 'is this supposed to be funny?' Because it wasn't. So, overall, not a win, unfortunately."
Sounds like one I had better skip... I would want to be the woman who beat him up!! 🙂 Just ask my male elementary school classmates! LOL
"Starless
By contrast, I loved this book. To the point where I have to rearrange my Christmas gift plans because I always give my best friend a book I've read over the past year and loved. I already bought one for her, but this was so good I want to gift her this instead or in addition. Amusingly enough, this was my prompt fill for book recommended to me by a friend, so I'm keeping the chain going by passing the recommendation along!"
Amazing how those coincidences can occur!
"Joseph and His Brothers
Oof. I didn't deliberately save my longest-from-my-TBR until the end,"
Ha! I'm just starting on my longest book as well! You make me feel better! Thank you! LOL
"QotW
Like many above, I'm a planner, but then that gets quickly abandoned. This year I didn't do a full formal plan for Popsugar since I knew it was going to change, but I missed it. So I will be doing that again once the list releases."
Yeah. I can't see myself NOT planning. Nope.
"Something a little different I'm doing this year though is pulling some books I want to read now. So, everything on my Goodreads TBR that I added before 2015, and a few things I own in hard copy that I really want to get read. So this year, I will be starting with that pile and seeing what prompts I can fit them into, rather than going from the list out. And maybe that will make me more eager to actually follow through on my plan."
That sounds like an excellent strategy! Oh, wait. Yeah. I knew that sounded familiar... Let's just say I hope you have better luck with that strategy than I did! LOL
