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.
Showing 941-960 of 4,909
Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "I have been on the "struggle bus" these past 2 weeks or so, but feel as if I’ve finally turned a corner and am regaining a more positive outlook on life! Rarely do I get “down” but it happens once ..."I'm so sorry about Tigger. Our pets are such a huge part of our hearts."
I guess I'm lucky not to have had to deal with death of my furbabies to awful much. Maybe if she was older I could handle her illness better...
"The 2023 October Monthly Group Read is The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman! And, I evidently had this book confused with another one, so I have not yet read it and am anxious to do so!
This was originally published in two volumes, so perhaps you read volume one, but "The Complete Maus" would still show as unread?
Because I can't imagine confusing Maus with any other book!"
Ha! Ha! And I thought you knew me so well! LOL Trust me! I can get confused about pretty much anything! :)
Dubhease wrote: "Lynn: I'm sorry your are struggling."Thank you!
"It's been a week of heat advisories here. It's either smog advisories or heat advisories."
We have only been in the 90s a couple of days so far. Fortunately, we are getting regular rains, so that's good for the corn and soybeans!
"Next year I'm going to read a mystery/thriller a month. I finished The Hunting Party in three days. I posted too much in the discussion group. I haven't done one of these PS group reads before and clearly I didn't understand the assignment."
Mystery/thriller is one of my favorite genres! Oh, Dubhease! There is no specific way to participate in the Monthly Group Read discussions! Like you, I often finish the book immediately and then post my reactions. Some readers read a portion each week, etc, but there is no one way nor any restriction on how you participate. Your comments make me anxious to pick this one up now!
"Finished:
The Hunting Party
ATY prompt: A book found by inputting a favorite author on https://www.literature-map.com
Popsugar prompt: A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
Summer challenge: First letter of the book's title is in HORSE AROUND
Series - 9/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells
Nobel laureates - 4/7
Random books - 3/7
ATY - 26/40
PS - 24/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 5/12
Around the year in 52 movies - 26/52
10. A movie related to one of the Spice Girls' "personalities" - Look Both Ways (Baby)
26. A movie related to pride - The Menu (I'd already watched this, but I moved it to pride as it worked here and it wasn't scary.)"
You have definitely been busy! :)
"Currently reading:
The Starless Sea - 35% done
Buddy Reads:
God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God - 10/15 chapters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 12/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 1/21 chapters"
The Starless Sea was not a favorite read for me. I hope you enjoy it!
"QOTW:
"Re-tellings" as in a straight re-telling - e.g. it's the same story, but in modern times - I tend to find these boring. I do like a twist on a classic, like when someone takes a minor character and writes a book from their perspective. Or somehow changes things up - like a romance into a mystery. I seem to have a ton of Jane Austen related books on my TBR. Alice in Wonderland too.."
Agreed! I definitely appreciate a retelling that puts a different twist on the original. Changing the perspective is a ploy that often works for me as well!
Ugh. I always forget about Canada Day!! Thanks for mentioning it! (I'm still pretty US-centric, I'm afraid...)I have a paperback copy that I obtained used from my favorite local used bookstore as soon as this was selected as the monthly group read. I have read both The Guest List and The Paris Apartment and rated each 5 stars! I admire Foley's skill at interweaving characters and situations!
Laura wrote: "Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear about Tigger. Let's hope his steroid treatment works!"Thanks for the good wishes!
I have been on the "struggle bus" these past 2 weeks or so, but feel as if I’ve finally turned a corner and am regaining a more positive outlook on life! Rarely do I get “down” but it happens once in awhile. I do realize that most of this has been due to my Tigger’s illness. I finally decided that I will go into debt if this most recent/last ditch treatment doesn’t work and take her to Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine if necessary. Just having made that decision has been a huge relief. I know my husband would disagree, but we keep finances separate anyway, so whatever debt I incur is mine to service… (Learned that lesson with my first marriage! LOL) In the meantime, she just received an injection of slow release high dose steroid yesterday. So we shall see… Fingers and toes crossed! :)Other than that, positive interactions with students in my therapy pool classes over the past week have helped pull me up out of the depths of depression and negativity! I guess I feel so helpless with my furbaby's illness, that having a positive impact elsewhere helps me overcome that "helpless"/hopeless feeling!
I have finished a few books, but have nothing documented as of yet. Will spend some time catching up on that, but wanted to get us started on the important stuff!
HAPPY THURSDAY!!
ADMIN STUFF
The 2023 October Monthly Group Read is The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman! And, I evidently had this book confused with another one, so I have not yet read it and am anxious to do so! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #18 A book that’s been banned or challenged in 2022
Banned Books Week is October 1-7, 2023! Website: https://bannedbooksweek.org/#:~:text=... Jennifer is the "official organizer" who will lead this discussion! THANK YOU, JENNIFER!
We are currently soliciting for just one more monthly group read discussion leader:
A "vivacious volunteer" to guide the September Monthly Group read discussion of Longbourn by Jo Baker. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading "classics"!
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! :)
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE
Question of the Week
How do you feel about “retellings” of classical books? Have you read any? Or do you purposefully avoid them?
I got to thinking about this due to prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic and our September monthly group read selection of Longbourn. It has been more than 50 years since I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, so I will reread it before reading this retelling. I have read some retellings over the past 5-6 years that I really enjoyed and a few that weren’t particularly enjoyable to me.
However, I do admit to being quite leery of them initially. I just wasn’t sure I could or would appreciate an author trying to “redo” a classic book… Fortunately, I discovered I actually have enjoyed most of them I’ve read. :) So this is one instance where branching out disproved my initial hesitation!
Popsugar: 42/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 50/52
RHC: 13/24
Listings to be added later… :)
Happy Thursday, y’all! I tried to finalize this and post last night at 12:30AM or so but just couldn’t stay awake to do it! Goodreads is not allowing me to link to titles today, so we'll just have to italicize book titles for now! GRRRR... ;)Lots of medical appointments and testing for my good friend this month, so busier than usual! Though I did find time to read for the Team Readathon!
Our Tigger is now on her third round of antibiotic. The mass in her neck has disappeared 4 times and then reappeared within 24 hours! Damn! My vet has already stated that due to the location of this mass, directly next to the larynx, she doesn’t believe she is qualified to try to surgically remove it which would mean taking her to Purdue and I’m sure that would cost at least $1,000. And we just don’t have it, especially since I’m looking at ¾ that amount to pay off to the vet already! I’m very worried, but trying to put only positive intentions and desires into the Universe for the complete annihilation of the mass. She is only 6 ½ years old! My youngest furbaby!
The book club I facilitate ended up not meeting this month. One member had to adjust her work schedule to accommodate her middle child/younger daughter’s surgery today and couldn’t attend at the last minute. Another member had a migraine that started that morning and just simply could not drag herself out. And another member had a family crisis and simply hadn’t been able to concentrate to read the book. Two of us met with this last member to help her deal with the family crisis and we will discuss this month’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea in July! The other 2 IRL book clubs in which I participate had rousing discussions of Upright Women Wanted and The Monsters We Defy this past week!
Just FYI:
Readers’ 54 Most Anticipated Books of Summer (https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...)
Another just FYI:
Interesting article regarding publishing and AI: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b... Though I admit my knowledge level isn't sufficient enough to totally understand all this article discussed! :)
ADMIN STUFF
The FINAL selection poll for the 2023 October Monthly Group Read is here! Please vote for your favorite amongst these four nominated titles:
The Hate U Give
The Complete Maus
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Homegoing
I have read all but one of these and couldn’t be more excited to see which one is selected! Voting will be available through next Tuesday, June 27!
The June Monthly Group Read of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. In honor of “Pride Month” as declared by US Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. (Also acknowledged in a 2019 tweet by Donald Trump.) Per Wikipedia this originated to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred at the end of June in 1969. June is increasingly recognized as “Pride Month” (for all LGBTQ+/non-cisgender folks) outside the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_pride This discussion can be found HERE in the Current Monthly Group Read folder! :) It seems there are not many who are currently reading this one. Please feel free to stop by if you’ve read it previously and would like to comment, or just to ‘lurk’ to satisfy your curiosity! (I think I ask boring questions!)
We are currently soliciting for just one monthly group read discussion leader:
A "vivacious volunteer" to guide the September Monthly Group read discussion of Longbourn by Jo Baker. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading "classics"!
Lindsey has bravely volunteered to serve as the “fearless facilitator” to lead the discussion of the August Monthly Group read, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. (Celebrities are ‘august’!) This was selected by Reese Witherspoon, and Lindsey actually led a discussion of this for the Reese Witherspoon Goodreads group!! So she is very well prepared! THANK YOU, LINDSEY!
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! :)
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE
Question of the Week
Do you have any specific authors you follow and plan to read their newest releases? Tell us about one! (Enquiring minds want to know! LOL)
I have read quite a few of Marie Bostwick’s books and loved them all! The book club I facilitate read the first book in her Cobbled Court Quilts series and then 2 of us read the rest of the series and loved it! Her newest book, Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, was released May 30. (I admit to being totally enthralled by the title alone! LOL) Here is an interview she did with Esme (Yes, that is the main character!): https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog... This is a truncated version, but there is a link to the full interview included. Warning: her books are all about character development! There is plot and she does cover domestic issues, etc., but they are mainly about characters and their relationships/interrelationships!
Popsugar: 42/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 50/52
RHC: 13/24
FINISHED:
The Amersham Rubies (Molly Murphy #0.5) by Rhys Bowen ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was a delightful read! Thank you to Bea who posted about this series! Not counted for any challenges.
I read a ton of books last week, but have not found the time to document them all. Here are the ones I plan to document now and then I’ll add the others into future postings as I find the time to do so…
*Greenglass House (Greenglass House #1) by Kate Milford ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was an excellent mystery and I will definitely be reading the remaining installments I particularly appreciated the diverse characters and inclusion of adopted children, interrelatedness of clues and characters, etc.
POPSUGAR: #1, #3, #9, #17, #19-2020: prompt #33 A book with at least a 4-star rating on Goodreads, #28, #31
ATY: #3-A book related to first contact, #5, #6, #13-Trees, #14, #19, #22, #24, #37, #42, #45
RHC: #23, #24: 2016 Read a middle grade novel
*The Lady in the Lake (Philip Marlowe #4) Raymond Chandler ✶✶✶✶✶ was a well-plotted mystery and for once, I had most of the solution figured out, though that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the read. Interesting unique characters. Definitely close to a "noir" classification for me.
POPSUGAR: #1, #4, #17, #19-2015: prompt #24 A book based entirely on its cover (green), #28, #35, #50
ATY: #3-A book about a “fish out of water”, #10-Posh, #14, #23, #28, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #10, #23, #24-2021: Read a book you’ve been intimidated to read
*The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky ✶✶✶✶✶ was an excellently realistic depiction of mental health crises in the wake of childhood trauma. I believe the epistolary format helped make the heavy theme a bit more understandable. Very glad I read this. And it was a debut novel! I will probably watch the movie.
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:
*Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey ✶✶✶✶✶ was not at all what I was expecting and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I might. Definitely provided much fodder for book club discussion!
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:
CONTINUING:
*Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses by Paula McLain
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
PLANNED:
*The 5th Horseman (Women’s Murder Club #5) by James Patterson
*The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross #25) by James Patterson
Jun 13, 2023 10:09AM
Maya wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "This book won a 2020 Alex Award: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Aw... The Alex Awards annually recognize "ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults..
(view spoiler)"
I would agree with you. Fortunately for me, I found the (view spoiler) Though I didn't find that spoiled it for me as an adult (an "older" adult) at all. But I still enjoy YA and children's literature!
Jun 13, 2023 10:03AM
Maya wrote: "Laura wrote: "I loved this book, and am using it for the "book you wish you could read again for the first time" prompt. I enjoyed the characters, the humor and fun, and the creative use of quotes ..."My Dear F***ing Prince" is a hilarious title and totally feels like something Alex would say."
Agreed! :)
Jun 08, 2023 07:18PM
L Y N N wrote: "Per the Wikipedia article about this book, McQuiston first came up with the idea for what would become Red, White & Royal Blue during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. While watching a season..."
This made total sense to me! I could identify certain aspects of all these factors in the book!
Ron wrote: "Don't you just love when books "speak" to you when you're randomly looking around at a bookstore?Normally I spend an hour or more at BN, but as I was in one section two in particular stood out and after going around a couple times and going to other sections, I couldn't get the two out of my head so I picked them up:
Unlikeable Female Characters: The Women Pop Culture Wants You to Hate
Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé"
That is one of the BEST feelings!!
Doni wrote: "Nadine's: 10/10"Ooohh...I need to finish this as well!
"Finished: Umm... apparently, I haven't finished anything this past week! How is this possible?"
It can and does happen! :)
"Started: Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways Interesting design experiments. Some of them are too far out of my comfort zone to do them."
This sounds like an invaluable resource!
"Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory Is anyone else losing their memory as they age?"
Maybe I should get the audiobook and run it all night long and then perhaps by osmosis I'll remember better... Ya think? LOL
"A Philosophy of Madness: The Experience of Psychotic Thinking This one is so good so far! Instead of treating psychosis is something to be remedied or "explaining" it through neurophysical means, this book explores the relationship between philosophy and psychosis. The intro is written as a very reliable narrator, which helps as the book progresses into representing psychosis."
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!
"Questions: I have never done a group read, but I've always wanted to. I've wanted to lead a discussion too, but I wanted to at least participate in a discussion as a not a group leader first. However, the books that are selected are not ones that particularly appeal to me. So I'm still waiting to participate.."
That is totally fair. I hope that changes for you!!
"QotW: I don't think I've every gone into a book WANTING to hate it. What comes to mind is Twilight. I heard about Twilight before it became all the rage. I was in a bookstore in Montana and a teenage girl was talking to her father about what a good book it was. I thought it sounded interesting. But then it became wildly popular and looked down upon. I'm not sure I ever even gave it a chance.
It also took me a very long time to give Harry Potter a chance. My high school English teacher said it was a good Christ story. (He used a different term, which I can't remember atm, but that's what it meant.) I read the first book in the series and was like, "Meh." It took me about 20 more years to finish the series. And yes, it was good, but you won't find me re-reading the whole series every year like some people do!"
I admit to never giving Twilight a chance either. But really, I just don't do vampires as a rule! But...I adore HP!! :)
Mandy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!Holy crap! I'm being bombarded by webinars for training on the new system for the library. It's so freaking time consuming. I'm already sick of h...
Nevada!"
Really?!?
Erin wrote: "Happy Thursday! An earlier than normal check-in for me!This week has been rough. Last check in I was talking about how excited I was for the three day weekend, because work had been nonstop. And then the next morning I found out that my company needs to make drastic spending cuts- and my job is one of the things they cut. So that sucks. I'd had an inkling that something like this might happen- I think I actually mentioned it here back in March- but I had so much work lined up I thought I was good for at least another month. I took the weekend to be sad about it, and angry, and now I'm focusing on getting my resume cleaned up and ready to send out."
Oh, ugh. I'm sorry you have to go through the job-hunting exercises. Though I admit I always liked interviewing. (Yes, I am weird! LOL)
"On the upside, I've taken a lot of nice walks this week. Some people have beautiful front gardens I get to admire. I've got a lot of reading in. Made some banana muffins. And later today I'm going to the SFMOMA- they have free entry the first thurday each month. First time I'll be there since covid."
Sounds great! Enjoy!
"The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories- really interesting collection of Chinese SF/F short stories all written and translated by women or nonbinary writers. There's also some interesting essays about the art and challenge of translation. Definitely worth checking out if you like fantasy- there's some sci-fi but leans more towards fantasy/magical realism"
Definitely looks like I need to check out this collection!
"Bunny- when this first came out, it did not sound like something I would like. I definitely didn't love it, but I found it more interesting than I thought I would.
-24 A book with a rabbit on the cover"
Glad it wasn't a total loss! :)
"Currently reading:
A Promised Land- my audiobook loan expired, so I'm finishing the last 200 pages with my physical copy. You know, I listen to a lot of political podcasts, but god politics are depressing"
You made me laugh! I still want to read his own words about his experiences though!
"Down to two short story collections: Gods of Want: Stories and Exhalation"
These both look to be great reads!
"QotW:
No, if I think a book is going to be bad, or something I hate, I stay away. Time is short, there are too many good books to get too. The only time I'll pick up a book I don't think I'll like is if I've heard enough good things about it that I'm willing to see if my initial impression might be wrong."
Yes! Me, as well!
Nadine in NY wrote: "In New York and New Jersey, school ends at the end of June."I had no idea about that!
Theresa wrote: "Shockingly weather in NYC has been lovely for the last couple of weeks. I have friends upstate and in Massachusetts talking about high temps that are usually what we get. I'm not complaining! It could stay like this all summer and I'd be happy."If only it could and would! :)
"Finished:
The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s - ATY school subject in title - art."
Ooohhh...that looks so interesting! On my TBR listing!
"Currently Reading:
Where the Crawdads Sing"
On of my favorites!
"QOTW: can't say I have ever picked up and started a book hoping that it was bad. Light, fun, smutty, escapist - any number of other descriptions, but not bad. Perhaps it has something to do with someone's definition of 'bad"? As in not literary fiction?"
Huh. Good suggestion. Perhaps...
Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!Holy crap! I'm being bombarded by webinars for training on the new system for the library. It's so freaking time consuming. I'm already sick of hearing about the new system."
Oh, my! I remember times when I've felt like that! One University where I worked, we had to attend training sessions and the very first one was 1 1/2 hours of listening to administrators simply TALK about the "new system"! OMG! Just get us trained to use it all right all ready! Sheesh!
"Anyway, other than the complete rant session i want to have about work, It's been stormy here for the last week as well. I haven't been able to open a window at night for the last week because it's rained on and off for the last week. last night was a downpour for about an hour.
This morning I took a great picture of the fog bank. it was so cool. it only lasted about an hour dawn.
I can't walk anywhere in my back yard in my flip flops without getting drenched in the mornings. everything is dew-covered and sopping wet. The weeds are loving it. The salt grass is growing taller than my dogs!"
We aren't overly dry here yet, but it's getting that way...
"Nadine's Mini Challenge 7/10"
You ahve read a ton of books! And you and I are at the same place with Nadine's challenge! :)
"QOTW:
I don't think i've ever wanted a book to be bad before. Usually I am more disappointed that a book hasn't lived up to my expectations. Or that the content was different than what I thought it was going to be by the synopsis.
I did think Cemetery Boys wasn't going to be as good as it was, but I didn't want it to be bad.
Low expectations isn't the same, I think."
I would agree...
Ashley Marie wrote: "Ron wrote: "As always, I'll be trying to find nonfiction books related to LGBTQIA+ material, preferably ones that are not memoirs."Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community
Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color
Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison Industrial Complex
And the Category Is…: Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community
Some nonfiction (not biographies/memoirs) from my TBR!"
Ooohhh...great suggestions!
Ron wrote: "It's also BLM Month as well so I'll see what books I can find on that subject."Great reminder, Ron! Thanks!
Jai wrote: "Happy Thursday and Happy Pride Month!! I'm absolutely excited about the start of Pride and all the fun events and just being happy to be Queer and celebrated."Whoo! Whoo! And that is the point, is it not? :) HAPPY YOU!
"I read one book this week. I've been starting and stopping books and nothing is holding my attention very much.
I finished Camp Midnight Volume 1 It's a cute graphic novel about a teenish girl getting sent to the wrong camp and hijinks ensure. I'm pretty sure it's middle grade but I was cracking up in a few parts."
I LOVE middle grade books!
"CURRENTLY READING:
All Boys Aren't Blue I started the book this morning. I'm listening to it. It's being read by the author. And I'm even more excited because he will be coming to my city to have a talk at one of the local libraries and giving out signed copies!!"
Oh, my! I am so jealous!
"Soul of the DeepI picked this back up after a few months. My interest has came back."
I have the first one on my TBR listing!
"Question of the Week
Have you ever gone into a book hoping it will be bad? When are situations where you go into a book feeling one way or another about it, rather than neutral?
I don't ever go into a book hoping or thinking it will be bad. If I thought that I wouldn't even read it. I go into every book with high hopes."
Same!
Ron wrote: "I didn't finish any books this week. I'm a mood reader so sticking to a book or two doesn't work for me. I tend to jump around. I'll be reading one book and then on to the next so I can't stay consistent when it comes to weekly reading."I hear ya!
"Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future"
That sounds like valuable insights into our culture! Added to my TBR listing...
"Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music"
And another one!
"The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History"
Already had that one on my TBR listing!
"Question of the Week
Have you ever gone into a book hoping it will be bad? When are situations where you go into a book feeling one way or another about it, rather than neutral?
I don't think this has ever happened to me, at least I do not recall. Certainly an interesting question though. I don't get a book unless I have high hopes for it. There's no point in going into a book with low expectations."
I think most of us would agree!
