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.

I just realized that I never posted anything in the Weekly Check-In for last week! Sheesh! I have worked on it all week long as I had time… I have been busy elsewhere… I helped a friend who works at Purdue by participating in a research study for one of her graduate students and that took a whole two days away from my schedule. (The good news is that she gifted me a book as a thank-you gift!) I participated in the most recent AtY Team Readathon and read a total of 15 books/4489 pages during those 9 days! I don’t even have all those books documented yet, but have included what is done in this posting! In addition to the Indy Book Author event last week, I had two IRL book club meetings. I have been helping friends and neighbors as possible with various tasks. And I am now teaching all three days at the heated therapy pool (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) rather than just on Wednesday since one of my best friends at the gym has decided to give up teaching her evening classes. Since I’ve subbed for her in the past, the head of Aquatics asked if I wanted to take over as instructor for those two classes as well. I agreed to do so, even though I’ll miss her dreadfully!! (Plus I admit it was kinda nice to just be a student for those two classes!)

I stayed home this morning to at least post for this week’s check-in even though one of the nosepads on my glasses popped off last night while I was teaching, and fell down in a crack between the pool and the deck! So I’m off to get that replaced as soon as I finish this! And of course, I have several other errands as well! It just never ends!

I’ve decided the reason I always felt as if I was very much “behind” in my everyday life while working is due to the fact that…I WAS!! ;) It was NOT just my imagination!! LOL

ADMIN STUFF
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE! The July Monthly Group Read will be The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley Looking for a "bubbling bibliophile" to lead this discussion! Is that YOU?!? This book could be used to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas. It is set at New Year’s! You may have heard of “Christmas in July”! But this is “not Christmas in July”! :) Thank you to all 26 members who voted! And I love Nadine’s photo she included in the final poll!!

A huge THANK YOU to Sherri for serving as our “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!! You can also find the two April postings in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! I loved it the second time around!!

The May Monthly Group read discussion of Bunny by Mona Awad, as well as the thread to list the book(s) you’ve read to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, will be moved to the Current Monthly Group Read folder this weekend. Are YOU the "literary luminar" needed to lead the discussion of this book? WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO DISCUSSION LEADER FOR THIS ONE! Plenty of time to volunteer, folks!

In addition, we are currently on the lookout for one more monthly group read discussion leader:
A “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of the June Monthly Group Read! 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
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
What author or book has recently surprised you the most? Is there more than one?
I recently read 10 books in preparation for last Friday’s Indy Book Author event (https://indybookandauthor.org/ ) and was literally the only person dragging books in with me to be signed/inscribed by the participating authors!

Two of the authors had debut novels, so I hadn’t read any of their work, but the other three had backlists.

One of the authors was Megan Miranda, whose books I had always avoided, feeling they might be a bit too grisly for me. Since I am such a woosy reader! I informed her of this when I met with her and she just laughed and said, “Me, too! I can’t stand to be scared!” I placed my copy of All the Missing Girls in front of her, declaring I had read it in preparation to meet her today, and she just gushed! She was so thrilled that someone had bothered to read one of her books after purposefully avoiding them, and then had really enjoyed it! Now I am anxious to read my personally inscribed copy of The Only Survivors which I purchased that day! I was very pleasantly surprised that I now have another mystery/thriller writer to follow and read their books! (‘Cause we all know I need more authors to follow! LOL)

But the one author who most surprised and delighted me was Sadeqa Johnson (Sadeqa is pronounced SadeqUa! Just imagine a “u” in there!) I read her other three previously published books: Yellow Wife, And Then There Was Me, and Second House from the Corner, and totally enjoyed each one! Yellow Wife, in particular, was a rather tough read, due to its subject matter, but extremely well executed, IMO! So now I have all three of those as well as her newest release, The House of Eve, personally inscribed! She was blown away by the fact I had read her backlistl! :) She gave me a huge hug and thanked me!

I had also read 6 of Elinor Lipman’s books and those are now all personally inscribed as well as a copy of her newest release, Ms. Demeanor! And if you are ever able to attend an event where Ms. Lipman is speaking, just do it! She has another career option as a stand-up comic if the writing thing ever fails her! She injects quite a bit of humor into her books as well as some complications for the characters. I am very anxious to read this newest one!

That annual event is one of the highlights of my year!! And the proceeds go to support scholarships for students in need from the area around the Christamore House (https://www.christamorehouse.org/miss...) in Indianapolis.

Popsugar: 39/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 48/52
RHC: 12/24

FINISHED
*Angel & Hannah: A Novel in Verse by Ishle Park ✶✶✶✶ for the IRL Bite-Sized Book Club. This was much more realistic than I expected, detailing life lived in an environment of abject poverty. It was not an easy read, but it definitely prompted good discussion and consideration of others’ life experiences, which I feel is always beneficial, IMO! Park is excellent at using sparse language to depict events/situations.
POPSUGAR: #2, #4, #6, #15, #16, #19-2015: prompt #27 A book you can finish in one day, #29, #31, #50
ATY: #1-NYC, #3-A book about a “fish out of water” (Hannah), #4, #5, #10-Scary, #11-Addiction, #28, #34-192 pages, #37, #38, #43, #50
RHC: #14-258 ratings, 2016: Read a book with a main character who has a mental illness-Addiction

*The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid ✶✶✶✶✶ was quite thought-provoking and evocative. I could personally connect to Changez’ feelings in many ways and was sympathetic to his confusion and mixed emotions regarding his life in the US and his life in Pakistan, as well as the many worldwide conflicts and potential conflicts of the times in the post-9/11 world. Was he? Or wasn’t he? Each reader must decide for themselves… I love books like this that force me to think and consider from multiple and varied perspectives.
POPSUGAR: #1, #2, #4, #6, #19-2015: prompt #13 A book set in a different country-Pakistan, #28, #43
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #4, #5, #10-Scary, #14, NEW #21, #24, #26, #28, NEW #32, #34-184 pages, #37, #43, #50-#3 A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list- A book that won a diversity award in the 21st Century-2008 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, #52
RHC: #3, #24-2016 Read a book that is set in the Middle East

*Second House from the Corner by Sadeqa Johnson ✶✶✶✶✶ was a story I could relate to personally on several levels and so well written! I felt as if I knew these characters personally and could easily sympathize/empathize with each of their unique situations and inter-relationships. Johnson is a superb writer, IMO! Definitely an author whose new releases will be must-reads for me!
POPSUGAR: #19-2015: prompt #16 A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet, #31
ATY: #3-A book about someone who has been “banished,” #5, #10-Baby, #12, #13-Leaves, #14, #22, #26, #28, #37, #47-window on cover, #52
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #24 A book where all point-of-view characters are people of color

*Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman ✶✶✶✶ was a good solid and enjoyable read though at times it was a bit unbelievable/inane. It was quite sweet and poignant in its own way. That said, I love Lipman’s writing and will persevere to read all her backlist as well as newly published books!
POPSUGAR: #17, #19-2019: prompt #26 A book published in 2019, #28, #31
ATY: #3-A romance novel, #5, #10-Baby, #12, #13-Stripes, #14, #18-DNA testing, #19, #22, #26, #44, #45, #52
RHC: #10, #24-2015: A romance novel

*The Red Pony by John Steinbeck ✶✶✶✶ was not at all what I expected. This is a rather short short story collection. Dialogue seemed rather stilted. Descriptive language was distinct and created a rather detailed image of the landscape and surroundings.
POPSUGAR: #2, #9, #19-2019: prompt #31 A book about a family, #28, #31, #34, #37, #46
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #12, #20, #26, #28, #33, #34-120 pages, #45
RHC: #21, #24-2015: A collection of short stories

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

Nadine in NY wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! Gorgeous weather here in NY this week! Easter and the kiddo's birthday were great! We saw Mario Bros movie. It was cute, but I like the 90s version better. Today the kidd...

QOTW: So funny that you asked this now. This past week, Cornell's President and Provost quickly rejected a proposal by students to have trigger warnings on classes and reading materials. (google Cornell and trigger warnings, it'll come up)

I thought the same thing!! I just read about this Cornell decision last night. Lynn, did you know this was coming? Did you see the future???"
Of course not! I rarely know what's going on in the world! LOL

Nadine in NY wrote:
I've never read anything by Lo. If I like Telegraph, I'll be reading Ash, too, because I love a good fairytale retelling."

Yep! I own Huntress and Ash and hope to get to them in May!

Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote:
"oh my goodness somehow I did not realize that Telegraph Club is set during Chinese New Year and thus works for the "holiday" category!!! I've been planning to read that book this year, because my younger daughter just read it and recommends it, and I figured I'd just slot it in for "queer lead" but I was feeling wishy-washy about that, because that's such an EASY category to fill, I'm trying to leave it open for another book that just doesn't fit anywhere else. And yes I was planning to read Jackie Lau for "holiday" but ... maybe I'll switch it up and use Telegraph instead."

Congrats on your daughter's excellent taste in books!! :)

Glad to help! I can also recommend Lo's A Scatter of Light which I recently read. Though I wouldn't recommend reading it as a sequel to LNatTC. Uncertain which one you might prefer...

We have a July Monthly Group Read nomination poll!! See the details under Admin Stuff below!

It has been a rather strange week for me. I’m doing the AtY Team Readathon and that has been going well.

However, on Monday evening, just before our class was to begin in the heated therapy pool, the Aquatics Manager called me into her office. (I wondered what I had done to get myself fired! LOL) The instructor teaching the High Intensity classes at 6PM on Mondays and Fridays decided to quit as of the end of April and I was being offered that position. My immediate thought was “Nooooooo!” because that instructor is one of my favorite people at the gym and overall just one of my favorite people! I enjoy her so much! And…selfishly…I look forward to NOT teaching on those two nights! But it looks as if each of the three nights I work out I will be teaching as of May 1. It’s okay. I have subbed for her several times since returning from COVID shutdown of the gym, but I will miss her dreadfully! Ah, well…such is life. Change always happens, it’s just a matter of when and how.

Other than that life is pretty much the same although it does appear summer weather has finally arrived in my ‘neck of the woods’! We are expected to have a high temperature above 80 degrees F today! Followed by a string of days in the 70s!

ADMIN STUFF
THANK YOU to Sherri for volunteering as our “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!! You can also find the two April postings in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! I enjoyed this even more on a reread!

Head on over to the nomination poll for the July Monthly Group Read HERE! (Sorry, but my computer refused to post an image, so it’s just a plain old poll! ) This will be a book that could be used to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas. You may have heard of “Christmas in July”! But this is “not Christmas in July”! :) You can be thinking of books you may wish to nominate! As usual, please double-check the listing of books NOT eligible HERE! We want to avoid nominating ineligible books!

We are currently on the lookout for two more monthly group read discussion leaders:
A "literary luminar" to lead the discussion of the May Monthly Group Read! Hmmmm...would this happen to be YOU?!? ;) Bunny by Mona Awad that can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, in honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty!
A “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of the June Monthly Group Read! YOU could do that!! :) 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
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
Let’s talk Trigger Warnings! Are they useful? Are they necessary? Or are they simply spoilers?
For example:
What are the trigger warnings for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, which was our March Monthly Group Read?
Answer:
Content warnings: Death is a central subject, with most of the book taking place in a land populated by spirits; minor violence and injury; mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation (not graphic); discussion of miscarriage and child loss.

There are those who feel these are unnecessary and those who feel the opposite.

From my own experiences facilitating book clubs, I do know it is very beneficial to be aware of triggers for all the members when selecting books. For example, I have one person who simply cannot read of a dog dying. That has eliminated some books from consideration as book club reads and it is necessary, IMO! It is a very traumatic thing for her!

However, I do realize they can also serve as spoilers and that’s not good either. I have begun including them in a review, but as a spoiler so anyone reading the review won’t be unexpectedly surprised with unwelcome information!

I don’t believe there is an easy answer to this since different things trigger trauma for different people. What are your thoughts?

Popsugar: 39/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 46/52
RHC: 12/24

FINISHED:
I finished four more books but haven’t had time to document them, so will include them next week! 

*All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda ✶✶✶✶✶ was a superbly written, formatted, and plotted mystery! This is one I’m sure I won’t forget! Such complex and complicated characters who fit right into the plot points so well! These characters might be braver than most people, but I admit I have qualms about their actions and behaviors… As I think most readers would. So glad to be meeting her later this month and getting her newest release. She will definitely be a go-to author for me in the future!
POPSUGAR: #4, #7, #17, #19-2016: prompt #23 A book published in 2016, #28, #31, #39
ATY: #3-A book about a “fish out of water” (Everett in Cooley Ridge), #5, #10-Scary, #13, #14, #20-Analeise was an artist, #28, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2020: prompt #10 A book that takes place in a rural setting

*The Way Men Act by Elinor Lipman ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was an absotively possilutely delightful read! One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in quite a while! I laughed so much!
POPSUGAR: #19-2021: prompt #21 A genre hybrid (fiction, humor, romance), #28, #31, #35
ATY: #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #4, #5, #13, #14, #19, #22, #26, #29, #37, #45
RHC: #24-2018: prompt #10 A romance novel by or about a person of color

*Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was such a tough read and yet at the same time compelling and exceptional! I was reminded of Toni Morrison’s books in subject matter and grisly details, but found this writing style to be much more straightforward and forthright. Definitely give it a read, if you are at all interested!
POPSUGAR: #4, #6, #9, #17, #19-2021: prompt #18 A book about a subject you are passionate about, #31, #34
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place and time and its culture, #4, #5, #6, #10-scary, #14, #22, #24, #26, #28, #37, #43
RHC: #23, #24-2016: A book of historical fiction set before 1900

*Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was even a bit more enjoyable the second time around! So heartwarming!!
POPSUGAR: #2, #4, #5, #19-2022: prompt #1 A book published in 2022, #29, NEW #41, NEW #44
ATY: #1-city of Thune, #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #5, #13-cups. #15/16/17-14th Century, #43, #48-the dire-cat Amity
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #9 Read a book you’ve read before

*Emma by Jane Austen ✶✶✶✶✶ was an enjoyable read overall. Austen’s writing ability extends to very different scenarios and is successful in drawing the reader in. I admit I found this one very easy to put down and return to later. I get bored with such idle people who live for gossiping and visiting with nothing else much to occupy themselves… 
POPSUGAR: #2, #16, #17, #19-2021: prompt #25 A book that was published anonymously, #28, #31, #34, NEW #37
ATY: #3 A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #10-posh, #14, #26, #27, #29, #37, #45
RHC: #24-2015: A book published before 1850 (1815)

****I find it very interesting that these two books above are VERY different in almost all aspects, yet both deal with that same theme of the protagonist refusing to realize that the person with whom they are best matched for a relationship is literally right under their noses…until they finally see it!! LOL****

CONTINUING:
*Angel & Hannah: A Novel in Verse by Ishle Park
*The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
*Second House from the Corner by Sadeqa Johnson
*Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
*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:
March-April Buddy Read:
*Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

EDITED TO ADD:
There is an AtY team readathon April 8-16!
Information HERE! Sign-up HERE!

I have now successfully survived 67 years in this lifetime! Wow. It always amazes me to think how long a human body can remain functional! Due to helping friends and neighbors and various celebratory lunches, my reading time was extremely limited this past week. I am hoping to make up for that over the next two weeks!

I have two IRL book club meetings on the 11th and 18th and then the Indy Book & Author event on the 21st. Fortunately, the book club reads are rather short, so that helps! I still have another 4 books I would like to read before the April 21 event. As usual, probably too many books planned, but that’s okay! (Plus I inevitably pick up a different book or books to read on impulse!)

ADMIN STUFF
Drum roll, please!!! Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston has been selected for the June Monthly Group Read! Yay! I’m anxious to read this! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. Since June is “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

THANK YOU to Sherri for volunteering as our “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!! You can also find the two April postings in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! I’ll probably pick this up and quickly reread it this week or next… Sherri has posted some initial questions, so head on over!

A nomination poll for the July Monthly Group Read will be posted next week for your consideration! That book could be used to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas. You may have heard of “Christmas in July”! But this is “not Christmas in July”! :) You can be thinking of books you may wish to nominate! As usual, please double-check the listing of books NOT eligible HERE! We want to avoid nominating ineligible books!

The March Monthly Group Read discussions have been moved to the 2023 Monthly Group Read folder HERE.

We are currently on the lookout for two more monthly group read discussion leader:
A "literary luminar" to lead the discussion of the May Monthly Group Read! Hmmmm...would this happen to be YOU?!? ;) Bunny by Mona Awad that can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, in honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty!
A “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of the June Monthly Group Read! YOU could do that!!  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
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
If you were going about your normal day, how many owls would you have to see before you thought something was wrong?
Like you, Nadine, I laughed! Then I laughed at your response of not knowing “the answer”! ;)

Having lived and driven through “countryside” most of my life, I have seen up to two owls in one day. Only once, however! I usually see them perched on electric lines along the roadside. I have HEARD owls during the night quite often. I lived in a location for about 2 years that had a quite vocal owl that was boisterous throughout the night!

I guess if I saw 3 owls in one day I would certainly note that as a peculiarity. Any more than 3 would get my attention immediately! This question makes me think of the Hitchcock film The Birds! And I didn’t realize this 1963 film was loosely based upon a 1952 short story with the same title, authored by Daphne du Maurier, which totally makes sense. She definitely knew how to create a somber, disturbing, and somewhat horrific setting and atmosphere! Now I’m imagining as many owls as there were birds in that movie! YIKES!! If I have nightmares tonight, I’m blaming you, Nadine! LOL

Popsugar: 38/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
I wanted to have this one finished by the end of March, but obviously, that did not happen. I imagine it will be May before I read those last three books! I have planning to launch a mini-challenge of my own for the last half of 2023 at the beginning of June. It will most likely include only 3-5 prompts.
AtY: 46/52
RHC: 12/24

FINISHED:
NONE! :) SHOCKING!!

CONTINUING:
*Emma by Jane Austen
I am reading this from a compilation of 7 complete and unabridged Austen novels and this book is one huge brick! That automatically limits my reading time in it since I can’t hold it up, etc.! I plan to finally finish it this week! I also admit I do not find Austen’s writing to be compelling and rather a book that I can easily put down and return to later!
*All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
This is one of the authors who will be at the Indy Book & Author event on April 21. I really wanted to read one of her mysteries before the event since I have always assumed her books would be a bit too scary for me. But at halfway through this one, I think it will be okay for me…
*The Way Men Act by Elinor Lipman
This is another of the Indy Book & Author event authors! This is the 4th book of hers I will have read. I loved two of hers and really enjoyed the third. Pretty sure whatever Lipman writes I will enjoy!
*Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
I’ve been wanting to read this book for what seems to be a long time, though it was only released at the end of 2021! As far as I know, Johnson is only the second darker-skinned author to participate in the Indy Book & Author event. The first was Kiley Reid in 2020 with Such a Fun Age. (And unfortunately, that event was canceled due to the pandemic.) It seems especially pertinent since the purpose of this event is to raise funds for scholarships offered to residents in the lower SES area of Christamore House. The over-whelming majority of these students are non-white, so I’m thrilled to see the selection committee diversifying the authors beyond just including a white male every once in awhile. I can only hope this becomes a yearly tradition and eventually expands beyond just ONE non-white author per event! Only 25 pages in and this is indeed a compelling read!
*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:
March-April Buddy Read:
*Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (March and April)
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the October challenge to fulfill prompt #18 A book that has been banned or challenged in 2022. Banned Books Week is October 1-7, 2023!
Website: https://bannedbooksweek.org/#:~:text=...

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 September challenge to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic. Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading "classics"!

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 August challenge to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that's not Christmas. You may have heard of “Christmas in July"! But this is “not Christmas in July"! :)

Please include the following information about this book:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?

What is The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea a retelling of?
According to the New York Times...
Answer: The Tale of Shim Cheong
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a feminist retelling of the Korean folk story The Tale of Shim Cheong. In the original, a dutiful daughter sacrifices herself to the Sea God to help her blind father regain his sight, only to be rewarded for her selflessness and returned to land.
Okay, I admit I am amazed that Oh was able to compose this story from that original. Wow. Talk about creative!

Here are some links that might interest you:

Author Interview: https://diversebooks.org/qa-with-axie...

Goodreads Q&A: https://www.goodreads.com/book/569781...

Blog review: https://readingasiam.blog/2022/02/22/...

NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/10/108567...

5 Reasons to read The Girl from Beneath the Sea: https://bookathonblog.wordpress.com/2...
Do you agree with her?

Bea wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "I just appreciate the monthly group reads to encourage me to read (usually) enjoyable books I might not have otherwise read! :)"

I have to admit, L Y N N, that prior to joining this group, I had never heard of, much less wanted, to read any of the monthly reads we have had so far. And, yet I have enjoyed each one; stretching my reading mind just a bit."

That is AMAZING!! Kudoes to you for trying these books! :)

Since Wednesday was frighteningly busy, I stayed up and am posting this very early on Thursday morning/very late on Wednesday night! ;)

It does look as if spring may finally have arrived for good. At least I’m hoping for no more snow or freezing temperatures!

ADMIN STUFF
Ooh! Ooh! A new poll! Help us select the ONE book for the June Monthly Group Read selection HERE! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. Since June is “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
All 4 of these books look to be good reads!!

The March Monthly Group Read is The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh! You can find both February discussions in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title in honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, UK, and the U.S. I encourage anyone currently reading this or who has read it to stop by and post any comments/questions you may have. Or even if you just want to know more about the book. It is there for your pleasure and enjoyment! I’ll leave the March postings in this folder until Monday and then they will be moved to the “2023 Monthly Group Reads” folder into the future!

THANK YOU to Sherri for volunteering as our “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!! You can also find the two April postings in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! I hope everyone who chooses to read this enjoys it even half as much as I did! I am honestly looking so forward to rereading it! (That's rather unusual for me!)

We are currently on the lookout for one more monthly group read discussion leader:
A "literary luminar" to lead the discussion of the May Monthly Group Read! Hmmmm...would this happen to be YOU?!? ;) Bunny by Mona Awad that can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, in honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty!
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 often gift books to others?
I just received an early birthday gift from a very dear friend at the gym. It is an EJI publication, The Transatlantic Slave Trade. EJI (Equal Justice Initiative) is the organization founded by Bryan Stevenson (author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption). https://eji.org/reports/transatlantic... I find this cover image to be heartbreaking. She knows that Stevenson is a person I admire so very much and that I find his work in social justice to be effective, informative, and so inspirational! I introduced her to his book and the EJI concept and when she was in Alabama for a granddaughter’s graduation from college, she made it a point to visit EJI. She often comments that if not for me, she would have died without knowing much of her own people’s history! She knew that I LOVE to read, and that slavery and social justice are two issues I love to learn about, and that I adore Stevenson and his mission(s) in life! I made sure she and her husband were able to attend the live event when he was in Indianapolis. The only catch was that they had to sit with me! LOL Anyway, it just got me thinking whether I gift books to others…and I rarely do. Though I loan books out to others all the time! (I also make sure they get returned! :))

I think unless I feel relatively certain a specific person will enjoy a specific book I don’t often give a book as a gift. I have read before that experts recommend NOT gifting a book unless you can be certain the recipient really wants to read it. Otherwise, it may never get read!

Just wondered what everyone else thought!

Popsugar: 38/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 46/52
RHC: 12/24

FINISHED:
*I Can't Complain: (All Too) Personal Essays by Elinor Lipman ✶✶✶✶✶ was absolutely delightful! She relates many aspects of her life with humor and grace. Very enjoyable!
POPSUGAR: #19-2020: prompt #47 A book with more than 20 letters in the title, #28, #31, #50
ATY: #3-A book with an eye-catching title, #5, #6, #13, #19, #29, #34-161 pages, #44, #45, #52
RHC: #21, #24-2015: A collection of short stories

*Repo Madness (Ruddy McCann #2) by W. Bruce Cameron ✶✶✶✶✶ is a book I have been reading from at night just before bedtime for about a week and I reached a point where I just wanted to finish it! So I did! I enjoyed the first book, but I think this one might have been even better. Cameron is one of my favorite writers and this series is a bit of a departure for him. He has yet to continue it, but if he does I’m there for any future installments! One scene had me literally laughing out loud for soooo long!
POPSUGAR: #1, #19-2020: prompt #24 A book about a subject you know nothing about, #28, #31, #46
ATY: #2, #3- A book from genre that inspired, or rekindled, your love of reading—MYSTERIES, #14, #18-Forensics, #37, #42-Alan, #43, #45, #52
RHC: #23, #24-2020: prompt #9 Read the last book in a series

*A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo ✶✶✶✶✶ was a good solid read, though, IMO, not as compelling overall as was Last Night at the Telegraph Club. which was one of my all-time favorite reads. These characters were more mature and encountered even more life-altering decisions, etc. I guess it was inevitable for me to compare this to LNatTC, though they really are two very different books, even if they both depict female-to-female relationships. I particularly appreciated the way in which the title was incorporated/illuminated!
POPSUGAR: #3, #6, #17, #19-2020: prompt #15 A book about or involving social media, #22, #31, #34, #35, #46
ATY: #2, #3-A book related to first contact, #5, #6, #13, #14-Haley, #18, #19, #26-as in LGBTQ+, #37, #41, #45, #52
RHC: NEW #16, #22, #24-2015: A book by or about someone who identifies as LGBTQ—both

CONTINUING:
*Emma by Jane Austen
These people crack me up! If only I had had such a lazy lifestyle!! LOL Although I roll my eyes off and on at these people’s narrow lives, I am amazed at how enjoyable I find Austen’s writing to be!
*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:
March-April Buddy Read:
*Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (March and April)
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Not much to report regarding my life this week. (Perhaps that is one reason for my delay in this posting!) I have just been reading and enjoying whatever time I can do so! Though I have decided that after April I will concentrate on NOT participating in as many buddy reads or short-term challenges outside of those offered in this group. I will also continue to participate in our Monthly Group Reads, but I really am at a point where I want to actually dig in and read some of the many books I own. High priority will be concentrating on series. I look forward to actually reading the books in a series all the way through. The first of these will be Backman’s Beartown trilogy! Not sure which will be next! (And yes, I own MANY books!! LOL)

I have been using my new range to cook quite a bit and enjoying that! The broiler is amazing, compared to our old unit! That was kinda exciting! (Yes, I am old, and yes, I do love to cook!) I rather enjoy the fact that as I age and am now retired my life is much simpler in many ways. I can just concentrate on my own interests to a greater degree than has been possible before...

Speaking of which, I had my first massage in almost 8 months and was I ever sore in the aftermath! My massage therapist of the past 19 years endured 3 surgeries throughout those 8 months and I just didn't want to go to anyone else, so I waited. Anxious to get another one in the next 2-3 weeks so I won't be as sore afterward! In all fairness, she did ask if she should be a bit "softer" since it had been so long, but I declined her offer. (Maybe I should have said, "Yes, please!" LOL) One of the things I have appreciated most about her work is that she can really dig in and loosen things up!!

ADMIN STUFF
Ooh! Ooh! A new poll! Nominations for the June Monthly Group Read selection is HERE! The selected book can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. Since June is “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
*****NOTE*****
I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT YOU MUST CHECK OUT THE LISTING OF BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS NOMINATION POLL HERE FIRST!!!
It is a waste of time and energy, as well as very disappointing, to nominate and/or vote for books that are eliminated because they are ineligible! And I am relieved to report that as of today, all nominated books ARE eligible! YAY!! Today is your last day to vote! We'll have a final selection poll ready to go on Thursday morning!

The March Monthly Group Read is The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh! You can find both February discussions in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title in honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, UK, and the U.S. I encourage anyone currently reading this or who has read it to stop by and post any comments/questions you may have. Or even if you just want to know more about the book. It is there for your pleasure and enjoyment!

THANK YOU to Sherri for volunteering as our “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!! I hope everyone who chooses to read this enjoys it even half as much as I did! I am honestly looking so forward to rereading it! (That's rather unusual for me!)

We are still searching for one more monthly group read discussion leader:
A "literary luminar" to lead the discussion of the May Monthly Group Read! Hmmmm...would this happen to be YOU?!? ;) Bunny by Mona Awad that can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, in honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty!
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
Okay, Nadine, I think you deserve the prize for the coolest QotW…maybe in forever! :)
Take a quiz! https://www.torforgeblog.com/2023/03/... What did you get? How do you feel about your result?
Recommendation: Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow (Ugh. No thanks!)
Here was my summary:
To you belongs an exquisite duality. One arm deftly pens canny inscriptions whilst you delicately craft enchantment from causal strands curling gossamer through the air. The other arm is painted all the way up with gross engine grease way past where calloused fingers loosely grip an oft-used lug wrench.
Do you get what I’m saying here? You’re equal parts witchy and mechanic. Ethereally gritty, with a booksona to match.
Might be a reach, but you probably have at least one cool tattoo. Probably 2+

Ironically if I’d had the time and money and my skin proved not to be sensitive to the ink, I would definitely have tattoos!! And who knows, I may yet!!

Popsugar: 38/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 46/52
RHC: 11/24

FINISHED:
*The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams ✶✶✶✶✶ was so very well done, IMO! Well-written. Well-organized. A bit of heartbreak included in this, but overall a very uplifting read, IMO! Especially recommended if you enjoy reading about books’ impact on readers! I enjoyed it just as much as I assumed I would, plus a bit more! (TW: (view spoiler)[suicide (hide spoiler)])
POPSUGAR: #2, #4, #19-2015: prompt #13 Set in a different country-England, #29, #31, #48
ATY: #3-A book that was shelved as literary fiction, #5, #6, #8, #13-books, #19, #35
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #3 Read a book about books

*Hope to Die (Alex Cross #22) by James Patterson ✶✶✶✶✶ was one of the more enjoyable installments in this series. I’m still ambivalent about this series, but am plugging away. Again, if these weren’t such fast reads I seriously doubt I would have continued.
POPSUGAR: #2, #19-2022: prompt #26 A book with a misleading title, #28, #31
ATY: #2, #3-A book involving friends, family, or a found family, #5, #10-Scary, #14, #22, #28, #33-James, #37, #43, #45, #52
RHC: #23, #24-2015: A book written by a person whose gender is different from your own

*The Rising Tide (Vera Stanhope #10) by Ann Cleeves ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ is the last Vera Stanhope book! I am sad about that! Especially because Cleeves truly changed the group dynamics in this book! Wow. I admit to being thrilled about the fact that she is continuing the Two Rivers series with the third book due to be released September 5! Cleeves is simply one of my all-time favorite mystery writers!
POPSUGAR: #6, #17, #19-2021: prompt #34 A book about a social justice issue, #28, #29, #31, #35, #46
ATY: #2, #3-A book about a “fish out of water”, #5, #10-scary, #14, #18, #20-the only road to access the island at low tide on cover, #26, #27, #28, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #18-Ken/dementia, #23, #24-2015: Author over the age of 65 when published

*The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman ✶✶✶✶✶ was a delightful read, even though it did tackle anti-Semitism in many of its guises. Anxious to meet the author and read more of her books, especially the most recent release which I will obtain at the Indy Book Author Event in April.
POPSUGAR: #6, #17, #19-2021: prompt #34 A book about a social justice issue, #28, #31, #34, #48
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #13-mushrooms, #23, #37, #45
RHC: #24-2016 Read a book about religion

CONTINUING:
*Emma by Jane Austen
These people crack me up! If only I had had such a lazy lifestyle!! LOL I sure hope I wouldn’t prove to be as obsessive and weak as Emma’s father!!
*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:
March-April Buddy Read:
*Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (March and April)
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

I think it can be a rewarding discussion with or without a "leader" for the monthly group reads...

But I, myself, always feel that anyone and everyone should feel free to submit their own reactions/comments/questions as we read. Unfortunately, I fear that many who may well read the book and even participate in the discussion don't do that very often.

I think I feel as if it is better to be safe and have a leader facilitating discussion rather than not...

I just appreciate the monthly group reads to encourage me to read (usually) enjoyable books I might not have otherwise read! :)

Nadine in NY wrote: "From what you two say, I think I'll set this one aside for now. It sounds like the things that bug me will continue throughout, and those who loved this book are not bothered by the same things tha...

i'm going to try The Downstairs Girl for this category. If that one also doesn't work for me, Karin Slaughter has a least two books with "girl" in the title"
Ooohhh...that book looks soooo good! I'll be anxious to see what your opinion is!

Nadine in NY wrote: "I have been trying to read this book for a few weeks now, but the writing style just grates on me and I can't seem to get past page 15 or so. It's that style that has become unfortunately very popu..."
I'm guessing you're probably better off not continuing with this one, Nadine. Though my advice may be worthless since none of this bothered me! :)

Katrina wrote: "1. Did you intend to read this book before it was selected for the monthly read group?

I did not intend to read this book. I had never heard of it before it was a monthly read. It just so happened...

4. This is a fantasy story based on a Korean myth. I've noticed in comments that fantasy seems to be a popular topic, and mythology less so. To me, they seem much the same.

Fantasy is different to me. It comes from stretching the limits of an author's imagination. Mythology is based in the beliefs of a culture. They may seem like fantasy to us today because we are removed from the culture that held these as their value system."
I really like your distinction between the two!

Elizabeth wrote: "Mandy wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "A comment:
On page 99
Mina says: "But it's supposed to be a circle, isn't it? The gods protect the humans, and the humans pray to and honor the gods."
And Shin replies..

Yes me too!!! I think it emphasizes the point how all of us in this universe are interconnected. Humans not as the center of everything but an equal part of everything."
Although we humans have exerted as much "control" as we could over this planet.

Elizabeth wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "LeahS wrote: "Did you intend to read this book before it was selected for the monthly read group?

If so, were you going to use it to fulfill prompt 7?"

You asked what took us to Japan. The short of the answer is that my partner is working here. We long dreamed to be able to live somewhere away from our home country and to give our daughter an opportunity to learn a nw language. This is a really beautiful place to be and we are grateful <3"

Wow. That is so cool! I am jealous of your daughter!!

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the July challenge to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas
You may have heard of “Christmas in July"! But this is “not Christmas in July"! :)

Please include the following information about this book:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?