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.

A book about a mob (fiction or nonfiction)

So, IMO, "mob" can be defined in different ways:
1) a large and disorderly crowd of people/a large number of people
2) a criminal set/gang
(Per Merriam-Webster)

Back when I was about 30 (almost 40 years ago) I remember reading a book about "the mob" written by Mario Puzo. I don't think it was The Godfather, but I cannot remember the title... I'm actually shocked I can remember the author's name! And I think it had a red cover... I just remember it was too grisly for my taste! I do not like blood, guts, and gore! ☹️🙄

Lists that might help:
Best Mafia/Mob Romance Books
The Mafia Connection Group’s Favorite Mafia Themed Reads
Best Mafia Books
1920's & 30's Mobster, Mafia, Gangster America (fiction and nonfiction)
True Crime - Organized Crime, Mafia
Best Novels with "Mobster" in the Title

Listopia: A book about a mob (fiction or nonfiction)

A book that makes you want to travel to Italy

I love the wording of this prompt! I can think of two books I've read that (for me) would qualify:
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Lists that might help:
Italy
Best Historical Fiction About Ancient Rome
Books Set in Venice
Reading Italy
Books with Italian location
The Italian Renaissance
Romance in Italy (and/or) Italian Heroes and Heroines
Italian Fiction
Historical Fiction - Italy
Italy in YA & Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Books Set in Italy
LGBT Italian Books - Libri LGBT in Italiano
Best books about Italy
Venice
Sicily
Italia by Region: Northern Italy
Italia by Region: Southern Italy
Italia Rurale / Rural Italian Fiction
Italia by Region: Central Italy
Italian Lesbian Books

Listopia: A book that makes you want to travel to Italy

A book with a trans or nonbinary protagonist

Definitions to help:
Trans (Transgender): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transge...
Nonbinary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-binary

Books I've read and would recommend:
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Melissa by Alex Gino

I have also read two books I could highly recommend with intersex protagonists:
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin
Intersex: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex

Listopia: A book with a trans or nonbinary protagonist

The leaves on our trees are in full color and with the wind these past couple of days our yards are now very colorful!

I have been concentrating on reading Sigrid Nunez’ backlist in preparation to meet her in mid-November. Her writing is, IMO, unique and intriguing, though unexpectedly very readable! Definitely thought-provoking and poignant.

And one of the authors I met last week, Hank Phillippi Ryan, was asked to compile a listing of “locked-room” mysteries! Great Locked-Room Mystery Novels: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/bo...

LISTS!!
Simon & Schuster: The Best Books for Spooky Season
https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/ha...

Penguin Random House: The Most Anticipated Kids’ & Young Adult Books of Fall 2025 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...

Penguin Random House: The Most Anticipated Biographies & Memoirs of Fall 2025 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/th...
The older I get, the more I appreciate reading about others’ lives!
***
ADMIN STUFF:
THE DECEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #25 A book where the main character is an immigrant or refugee
International Migrants Day is December 18, 2025
We are searching for a "year-end yeoman" to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or me to volunteer!

WE NEED YOU TO LEAD THE NOVEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #29 A book about a food truck
National Fast Food Day is November 16, 2025
https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Who among you is the “fearless foodie” willing to lead this discussion? Message either Nadine or me to volunteer!

THE OCTOBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #18 A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons!
National Black Cat Day is October 27, 2025
https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Dubhease is the “magical manager” who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you ever so much! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
1) For the Oct 30th & 31st posters: what category are you REALLY hoping for?
Ach! Whatever… Hoping for creativity!!
And then you can come back this weekend to answer part 2:
2) For the Nov 1st and after posters: what category jumped out at you as The Most? (Interpret how you will: most surprising or most exciting or most fun or just your favorite?)
ANXIOUS TO ANSWER THIS LATER!!

2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 42/50
52 Book Club: 47/52

2024 Popsugar: 47/50

FINISHED:
*On Wings of the Morning (Dillon, Oklahoma #2) by Marie BostwickMarie Bostwick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ is such an amazing sequel to Fields of Gold! Not at all what I expected…in such an awesome way! Although there was a bit more organized religion included in this book than I would prefer, I think it worked. (I also realize that as an avowed atheist I might be hyper-sensitive to such…) I loved Morgan and his forceful nature to finally ‘reveal all’ and no longer allow secrets to reign in his life or the lives of those he loves! And yet, as with most people I know, he still had regrets regarding those who had passed from this lifetime before he visited with them to fully express his feelings/forgiveness/gratitude…
POPSUGAR: #6, #14, #20, #26, #33, #40
52 Book Club: #18, #22, #28/#29, #36, #38, #43, #46, #51

*Sempre Susan: A Memoir of Susan Sontag by Sigrid Nunez ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was so very well-written and informative, but in a very personally intimate way, as might be expected from a woman who had an intimate relatively long-term relationship with Sontag’s son and lived with them…
POPSUGAR: #6, $8, #14, #20, #33, #35
52 Book Club: #21, #25, #43, #44, #46,

*The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was set during the COVID pandemic and yet just a rumination on human relationships, particularly when forced to remain in place with in-laws or strangers! Very creative and enjoyable, though in its own way, thought-provoking as well! A nurse from Colorado actually moved to New York as the first wave of COVID hit that state. How brave and courageous was she? And I’m sure there were millions who risked (and perhaps sacrificed) their own lives to care for others. A pregnant woman forced to remain in place at her in-laws and eventually give birth to her firstborn while living out-of-state (across the U.S.—east coast to west coast). How upsetting that might have been. And of course, Eureka, the oh-so spoiled (though still captive) parrot!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #14, #20, #24, #28, #43, #46
52 Book Club: #18, #33, #42, #43, #46

*A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was mostly autobiographical and quite poignant while being extremely readable and realistic. Though I am anxious to speak with her about her relationship with a certain Russian… 😉
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #8, #20, #24, #28
52 Book Club: #33, #35, #43, #46, #47

CONTINUING:
*Naked Sleeper: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez is proving to be a quite unique read. I am about halfway through and am really wondering exactly how this will end…
*Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick is not what I was expecting! Bostwick is so savvy at connecting titles…
*The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
*East of Eden by John Steinbeck
*The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
*The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong for an IRL book club meeting
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty

PLANNED:
*All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert for an IRL book club meeting last Sunday which ended up getting canceled due to several members being ill. So I will be reading this one in November. I hope also to finally read Eat, Pray, Love!
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

A book about college

This leaves it pretty wide open! I can't remember any titles of books I've read that would fulfill this prompt... But I have wanted to read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer for years... My husband researched sexual assault/aggression on college campuses in completing his Ph.D. research. Alcohol is almost always involved...

Lists that might help:
Campus Days
Books About College Life
Best Fiction Set in Academia
Study Abroad
College Sports Romance
College Romance
A College Romance
University Mysteries

Listopia: A book about college

A book with an underwater civilization

Ooohhh...Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne! I own a copy that I've been meaning to read for years!!

A list that might help:
Underwater Cities


Listopia: A book with an underwater civilization

A book that makes you feel FOMO

I never remember what FOMO stands for... 🙄😁 Fear of Missing Out!! (Thanks, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of...) Perhaps this is due to the fact that I typically do not care if I am "missing out"! A good example? I've not had TV for over 25 years. No fear from me! LOL 😊

I'm kinda flummoxed on this one...though a quick search uncovered this obvious title:
Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice by Patrick J. McGinnis

A list that might help:
FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out

Listopia: A book that makes you feel FOMO

A travel ghost story

Oh! I read a book in 2022, The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo that was not a book I would have typically selected, but I did it as part of a buddy read and surprised myself by truly enjoying it. Lots of travel and adventures!

Listopia: A travel ghost story

A book that takes place during harvesting season

Another prompt where I can appreciate the wording!

I just read Ann Patchett's newest release, Tom Lake, a few months ago. It totally fits this prompt! I loved this book! It is set during a pandemic and this family with only the help of a few others are forced to try to work as hard as they can to salvage the orchard harvest for the year. In 'normal' times they would have hired quite a few people to help them pick apples and other fruits they grow. I highly recommend it.

Lists that might help:
Autumn Seasonal Reads
Harvest Time (picture books)
'Harvest' in titles
Growing Or Picking Food - Fiction

Listopia: A book that takes place during harvesting season

A book about debt

I recently read Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe and, IMO, it would fulfill this prompt. Plus, it was quite thought-provoking and poignant in many ways. Definitely much more interesting to me than I assumed it might be...

Lists that might help:
Characters In Debt From Student Loans
Financial Literacy

Listopia: A book about debt

Just FYI: I will be out of the house and busy today, but will complete creating placeholders for the soon-to-be-announced 2026 Popsugar Challenge tonight and tomorrow! Whoo! Whoo! So anxious to see what they've created!!

A book with a character who has curly hair

Oh, my! I have read quite a few books this year with characters with curly hair! If only I can remember specific ones...
As I recall, at least one character in The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers has curly hair...

This list might help!
Curly Haired Heroines of Romance

Listopia: A book with a character who has curly hair

A book with a character who navigates infertility

I cannot remember a specific book I've read that would fulfill this prompt! I trust you-all will fill the listopia with some good ones!

Some lists that might help:
Infertility
Fiction about Infertility
Books about infertility
Fiction: Surrogates, Surrogacy
Surrogacy and Infertility
Adoption Books

Listopia: A book with a character who navigates infertility

A book that explores influencer culture

This prompt makes me feel old. 😒 Help discover some good ones for the listopia!

Lists that might help:
Fiction Featuring Social Media Types: Bloggers, Podcasters, Etc.
Teen Influencers
Online Influence Books
Fiction about Influencers
Fictional Youtubers

Listopia: A book that explores influencer culture

Alex wrote: "I missed this yesterday! My allergies decided to hit full force so I have medicine head. I wish I knew what it was about leaves dying that I'm allergic to..."
I'm guessing it is the mold that results! At least that's what several different allergists have mentioned to me regarding fall and the leaves lying on the ground...

Laura Ruth wrote: "Denise wrote: "I say if it works for you, it meets the prompt.."

That's my view! It's not like the Popsugar Police are going to come after us."

Definitely not! It is, IMO, up to each unique reader to determine what book may fit a specific prompt!!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Britany wrote: "FWIW, I like your updates too Nadine. ;)"


thank you :-) I will officially stop worrying that I'm annoying everyone."

Annoy away!! LOL

Theresa wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Three Junes"
I have owned a copy of this book for more years than I can remember. I really should read it!..."

Finished it yesterday - highly recommend. I too had it for years and ..."
That's so funny! I may just have to pick it up sooner rather than later!!

I attended the Guilded Leaf Book Author Luncheon in Carmel, Indiana, this morning! I met Marie Bostwick, Hank Phillipi Ryan, and a debut author, Jessica Guerrieri. There were three other authors whose books I was not interested in reading. Each author’s presentation was fascinating, as usual!!

I did end up reading all the books I wanted to finish prior to this event except for 3, 2 of which I am over halfway through (On Wings of the Morning (Dillon, Oklahoma #2) and Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick) and only one totally unread (The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick). I think I might have finished them all if I hadn’t been so ill! But that’s not bad! She mentioned The Book Club for Troublesome Women was her 22nd book to be released, and I have now read 13 of those with 4 more to go for a total of 17! Whoo! Whoo!

In November I have an author event to attend with Sigrid Nunez, and currently have 7 of her books I would like to read before that event… I adored The Friend and Mitz: The Marmoset of Bloomsbury! I am even taking a night off from teaching at the gym to attend this one! (Unheard of for me! LOL)

This has been a enormously busy week with another full day tomorrow and I am anxiously anticipating a whole two days over the weekend to just rest, cook a little, clean a bit, and READ!!

Oh, and we have new neighbors directly across the street from us and they have two Great Danes, Seth and Loki! Cool, huh? We now have 8 dogs living around our block. It can get a bit lively with barks around here now! LOL And, unfortunately the other night as I was returning home and unloading the car, I stepped in dog poop. In my own driveway… (NOTE: We have three CATS! No dogs!) Of those 8 dogs there is only one small one, and that is the one who obviously had pooped in our driveway. (Unless a stray happened by…) Firstly, I was glad it was a small dog and not a large pile of poop, but secondly, I am rather angry since a small dog (I can only assume the same one…) had pooped on our front porch one day just last week. Grrrrr… But I will do my best to just accept it all. The soles of my running shoes now look brand new!! (Since I had to ‘super-scrub’ them!)

***
ADMIN STUFF:
THE DECEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #25 A book where the main character is an immigrant or refugee
International Migrants Day is December 18, 2025
We are searching for a "year-end yeoman" to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or me to volunteer!

THE NOVEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #29 A book about a food truck
National Fast Food Day is November 16, 2025
https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Who among you is the “fearless foodie” willing to lead this discussion? Message either Nadine or me to volunteer!

THE OCTOBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #18 A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons!
National Black Cat Day is October 27, 2025
https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Dubhease is the “magical manager” who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you ever so much! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #32 A book about an overlooked woman in history
Emma M. Nutt Day is September 1, 2025
A fascinating story of the world’s very first woman/female telephone operator!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Nutt
Join the discussion HERE

THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Name one category that you are hoping to see on the 2026 Popsugar list.
A book involving puppies, parrots, penguins, or pachyderms
Ha! Ha! I proposed this for the 2026 AtY challenge (Though I originally included “pirates” which I deleted here since we had a pirate prompt in 2024!), creating listopias, etc., and that’s when I decided I was wasting way too much of my time working on prompts to suggest for that challenge, and that I really wanted to decrease the number of challenges I was going to work on in the future so I could increase the amount of reading time I can devote to books I just want to read!! I’m almost 70 years old! Time is running out! LOL 😉

2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 42/50
52 Book Club: 47/52

2024 Popsugar: 47/50

FINISHED:
*The Other Woman (Jane Ryland #1) by Hank Phillippi Ryan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was one of my all-time favorite mystery books due to the intricate and complex plotting and the bit of maybe-romance between Jane and “Jakey”! I’m usually not extremely gifted at “solving” a mystery before the protagonist does…but Ryan had me literally shaking my head and attempting to figure out who was who and what the characters’ interrelationships could possibly be… That was about 2/3 of the way through the book, and amazingly, once I returned to the text the protagonist was asking herself many of the same questions I had just pondered myself… When I mentioned this to her as a first for me, she was quick to note that once she begins writing a book, she never knows exactly what is going to happen, so it is not uncommon for her (and the protagonist) to muse about the possible links... Cool! For pure mysteries, I think Ryan just made my absolute favorite author list!!
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #16, #20, #24, #26
52 Book Club: #8, #10, #36, #39, #41, #43, #46, #48

*Just in Time by Marie Bostwick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was so enjoyable! Definitely a ‘feel good’ book, IMO! Bostwick is a master at weaving in grittier aspects of life (addiction, infidelity, physical disability), yet ending with a HEA that just works! Not all of her books are as much HEA as this one, though each book has positive vibes! I just adore her writing!
POPSUGAR: #6, #20, #24, #26, #28, #33, #40, #43, #48
52 Book Club: #2, #8, #13, #22, #33, #36, #41, #46, #51

CONTINUING:
*On Wings of the Morning (Dillon, Oklahoma #2) by Marie Bostwick is such an amazing sequel to Fields of Gold! Not at all what I expected…in such an awesome way!
*Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick is not what I was expecting! Bostwick is so savvy at connecting titles…
*The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
*East of Eden by John Steinbeck
*The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
*The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong for an IRL book club meeting
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty

PLANNED:
*All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert for an IRL book club meeting last Sunday which ended up getting canceled due to several members being ill. So I will be reading this one in November. I hope also to finally read Eat, Pray, Love!
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

Theresa wrote: "It's such a joy to have these proper cool autumn days and cold autumn nights! Lots of green trees still."
This seasonal weather change has advantages and disadvantages for me:
*I can be outdoors again without the seasonal allergies kicking in
BUT now I am still reacting to dust, molds, fungus, etc. once I'm stuck inside the house all the time...
*My osteoarthritis kicks into high gear making for more aches and pains throughout the day...
But this planet still keeps turning, regardless! LOL

"Finished:
Where They Last Saw Her - this was so good! I picked it up to read because I needed crime fiction set in Minnesota for a challenge, it sounded good, and I love the cover. It was fantastic! I gave it 4 stars -- the author is an indigenous author of note and she's addressing the issue of the high rate of missing and/or murdered indigenous women and girls in US and Canada and the bystander culture that operates around this. About a third into it I realized it fit the Run Club prompt! The narrator Quill and her friends are clearly a run club and that is important to the plot. That was NOT a prompt I ever expected I'd find a read for it from just what I happened to be reading!"
Now that is serendipitous!! I have a copy of this on its way to me!!

:Three Junes"
I have owned a copy of this book for more years than I can remember. I really should read it!