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.

JessicaMHR wrote: "Okay, so…since I have been in sort of reading rut, I will try to break this down a bit into more manageable pieces. (Thanks to other the other group readers who have been reading a chapter a day fo..."
Sounds like a great plan!

I read this early in the month and will operate from memory, as much as I'm able to do so, anyway! :)

I do want to say that I enjoyed this book immensely! Although romance is not my thing overall, this book felt much more complex and didn't have many sexual details which is what usually turns me off about "romance" novels. I enjoyed this more than I did People We Meet on Vacation which I read in January.

JessicaMHR wrote: "Hello fellow readers!

I read this book when it first came out but, I have borrowed it again to read for December. Since it is the first of the month I wanted to pop in and say a little hello.

I do want to warn you all that I live in the second to last time zone of earth and so my posts may appear to be slow coming for some of you."
You definitely made me laugh!! Quite the descriptor!

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the March challenge to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. You're thinking WAIT! Is this still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge…?? But NO! April Fools!! This is actually a prompt for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge! :)

Please include the following information about this book:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?

This is the April Monthly Group Read discussion for Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. You're thinking WAIT! Is this still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge…?? But NO! April Fools!! This is actually a prompt for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge! :)

Sherri will be serving as the "reading wrangler" for this discussion! THANK YOU, Sherri!

Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read.

It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number) with the spoiler. That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...

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

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

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the March challenge to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title. This is to honor Women’s History Month celebrated in Australia, UK, and the US!

Please include the following information about this book:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?

This is the March Monthly Group Read discussion for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title. This is to honor Women’s History Month celebrated in Australia, UK, and the US!

We will need a "fascinating facilitator" to lead this discussion! Perhaps that is YOU?!? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read.

It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number) with the spoiler. That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...

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

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

Another year almost done. It never seems possible for a year to be over when it is almost over! ;)

This week has not been fun! I have been sicker than in the past 10 years or so all week. Missed 2 IRL book club meetings (Including the group I facilitate! :() and haven’t been to the gym in over a week. Ugh. And now, as of Tuesday night, my husband is sick as well. At least I’m feeling good enough to oversee his care. So, as you’ll see I must match each book I’ve read with the corresponding 2022 prompts below. I just haven’t had the wherewithal to do much other than read a bit when I feel good enough to do so! I trust all of you are having a much healthier and better time of it! I’m just so glad we don’t do holiday gatherings and I don’t have the added worries of traveling, etc., at this time of year! I am sending “safe travel” energy to all those who do!!

I did manage to do a bit of planning and now have 7 books selected for Nadine’s Mini Challenge next year. I’m not a huge fan of mythology, so I may need to skip or amend that prompt… ;) (Sorry, Nadine!) I just love reading the list since each of them is so creative and fun!!

ADMIN STUFF:
If you’ve not yet read Book Lovers by Emily Henry for the December Monthly Group Read discussion, there is still time!! This could be used to fulfill 2022 prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! Both that and the discussion thread for December Challenge—I finished! are in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. I am hoping to get to the discussion yet today.

Happy to announce that we will be reading Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney for the January 2023 Monthly Group Read! We are searching for a "powerfully provocative facilitator" for this month’s discussion! Is that YOU?!?

And the final selection poll for the February 2023 Monthly Group Read is HERE! (I couldn't get either computer to pull and place an image so this poll is pretty dull and boring! LOL)
Help us decide what to read to fulfill 2023 prompt #43 A book that takes place entirely in one day!

Also, another reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!” thread is open and available to all in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

Question of the Week:
What was your favorite Popsugar prompt from the 2022 Challenge? Why was it your favorite?
Without a doubt it is #10 An Anisfield-Wolf Award winner. Why? Several reasons. Firstly, it is a literary award linked to diversity. Secondly, it finally got me to read The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed. And lastly, did I mention it is an award based upon diversity? Oh, yeah…I did! ;) Well, double it! I am planning to also read The Trees by Percival Everett next year, just because!

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 52/52 DONE!
RHC: 19/24

FINISHED:
*Thin Air (Shetland Island #6) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was just as impressive as others in this series, even if not one of my overall favorites among the Shetland installments. I admit I admire the fact that Cleeves never hesitates to make some of the most innocent-seeming characters into villains!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #28-holiday = vacation, #38, #40-2015: prompt #10 A mystery or thriller, #46, #47
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…desolation…despair—hopeless, #5, #7, #15, #19, #23, #24, #29, #30, #33, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #10 A rural setting

*Too Good To Be True (Shetland Island #6.2) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was a very short installment in the series but still a good mystery!
POPSUGAR: #9, #24, #25, #26, #40-2015: prompt #10 A mystery or thriller
ATY: #1-Anna, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #5, #7, #12-drinking glasses in Anna’s house, #14-3,408 ratings, #15, #19, #25-112 pages, #29, #33, #34, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2018: prompt #15 A one-sitting book

*Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (5 STARS) was hopeful in the end. If each of us just did “one small thing” as was done for Furlong, this world would definitely be a better place! Though I missed the book club discussion, the consensus was we would all like a sequel… All I can find published for her are two short story collections, but I would definitely read more of her writing!
POPSUGAR: #9, #13, #24, #25, #26, #28, #31-the Catholic church!, #33, #36, #40-2015: prompt #17 Recommended by a friend, #46, #47
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…desolation…despair—hopeless? Not “for long”!, #7, #11, #15, #17, #19, #24, #25-118 pages, #40-Strength, Justice, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel not set in WW II

*Otherworld (Last Reality #1) by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller (3 STARS) was rather disappointing. While I was drawn into the suspense of the adventurous chase, I was definitely put off by the cannibalistic details and repetitions of such. Since this was a litrpg book it was inevitable that I would compare it to Ready Player One and Ready Player Two since those are the only other litrpg books I’ve read. While I really enjoyed both of Cline’s books I just wasn’t invested enough in these characters. Then the ending really had me, until I considered the book overall and decided I really am not interested enough to read the next two books to know what happens… This was the last book I needed for the AtY challenge so decided to read it during the AtY Readathon!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #36, #40-2017: prompt #16 Published in 2017, #47
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…desolation…despair—hopeless, #7, #15, #19, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, NEW #45, #49
RHC: #24-2021: A book with a cover you don’t like

*The Harlem Charade by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (5 STARS) was just an all-round excellent read! It may be targeted to a much younger audience, but certainly worked for me as well!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #36, #40-2017: prompt #5 A book written by a person of color, #47
ATY: #1-Alexandra, #4-A book relating to Catch-22, #7, #14-1,028 ratings, #19, #40-Strength, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #4, #13, #24-2016: Read a middle-grade novel

CONTINUING:
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed. Made a bit more progress on this one!
Jefferson was a shopper. He loved acquiring possessions! He also believed that white males would eventually “lose the more extensive power” they had over enslaved people and felt that would be a good thing. But did not feel that white males should or would lose ultimate control over females and children… Interesting. Gordon-Reed notes that he would probably be dismayed by the changes in today’s world!
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico for the sister cities prompt.
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink for Popsugar
*A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra for Popsugar
*The Cuckoo's CallingThe Cuckoo’s Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) by Robert Galbraith for Popsugar
*Strange Sight (Essex Museum Witch Mystery #2) by Syd Moore
*The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Although it doesn't truly fit the category as worded, it definitely fits!
The Library Book by Susan Orlean has been in my house for several years and I have yet to read it. It is all about the 1986 fire in the Los Angeles Public Library and what had to be done in the aftermath to save as many books as possible. It was fascinating to hear her summary and I'm excited for a truly good opportunity to read it--finally!!

Although this is last-minute, I wanted to post for last week before posting to begin this week’s discussion tomorrow morning!

I am so grateful you-all mentioned the 2023 Read Harder Challenge had been released last week so I could check it out. And…given the tough time I have had with GGM, I decided to skew prompt #6 a bit to my liking…
6) Finish a book you’ve DNFd (did not finish)
Although I have yet to DNF it. I’m finally going to attempt to read my third and final novel written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I own-Love in the Time of Cholera! Thought some of you might appreciate that!  I just want to read it or at least attempt to read it and then be done with all 3 of the GGM books I own! Off to my favorite used bookstore with them! LOL
I plan to replace the two graphic novel/manga prompts with two more of the Ignyte Award books! I definitely do not like manga and while graphic novels are okay, I really prefer not to read any more of them since there are other books I want to read so much more! I will be finishing the 2022 Read Harder challenge in January, but that’s okay!

At least there are no 2023 Popsugar or 2023 ATY prompts I feel the need to adjust to my liking…at least not yet! ;)

I participated in the AtY 2022 Winter Team and Individual Readathon last week. But I got sick on Thursday night and am still trying to recover, so my totals weren’t as high as usual. That’s okay though. It did provide some extra incentive to finish buddy and book club reads for December. However, I ended up missing two of my IRL book club meetings, including the book club I founded and facilitate! ;) They are pros at discussing books, so they had no problem carrying on without me!

ADMIN STUFF:
January 2023 Monthly Group Read poll results to be posted tomorrow as well as the final selection poll for the February 2023 Monthly Group Read!

Just a reminder—we are currently reading and discussing Book Lovers by Emily Henry for December! This could be used to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! Both that and the discussion thread for December Challenge—I finished! are in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. I really enjoyed this book! It surprised me how much I liked it!

Also, another reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!” thread is open and available to all in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

Question of the Week:
What is your favorite Popsugar prompt for the 2023 Reading Challenge?
Gosh! There are so many! At first glance I was a bit disappointed at the repeated prompts, but once I started going through the list one-by-one I discovered some I was definitely pleased with:
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
So many…
6. A book about a forbidden romance
Oooohhhh… :)
I can recommend The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro
15. A book with a song lyric as its title
I can recommend Strange Magic (Essex Witch Museum Mystery #1) by Syd Moore
18. A book that’s been banned or challenged in 2022
I am determined to finally read The Hate U Give!
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover
I LOVE bunnies! And I’ve been wanting to read Watership Down and finally own a copy! Perfect!
41. A book written during NaNoWriMo
Those who participate in and/or complete NaNoWriMo are amazing! Glad to see this recognition!
46. A book with a pet character
Love fur-babies! And fish…and…well, I do have a limit. No reptiles! Not in my house!
47. A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas
Yes, there are other holidays… 

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 51/52
RHC: 19/24

FINISHED:
*Book Lovers by Emily Henry (5 STARS) for our monthly group read. Though I’m not a huge romance fan, I truly loved reading this book. This is much more complex than I would expect for a romance. Really glad I read it!
POPSUGAR: #1, #9, #19-summer, #25, #28, #40-A book about do-overs or fresh starts, #46, #47
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7, #17, #19, #40-The Lovers, Judgment, #41, #43, #50-Charlie’s parents, #51
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #3 A book about books

*Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis (5 STARS) for the new IRL book club at my second-favorite used bookstore! We meet next Tuesday. Wow! I was very pleasantly surprised by this one! I expected a very fluffy ‘typical’ (IMO) romance but instead I got a much more complex and complicated story! Thankfully! I plan to continue with the series and read more of Burgis’ writing!
POPSUGAR: #5, #9, #20-read immediately after Book Lovers, #24, #25, #28, #36, #38, #40-2017: prompt #16 A book published in 2017
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #6, #14-1,987 ratings, #24, #25-166 pages, #34, #40-The Magician, The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #46-elves, trolls, #49, #50
RHC: #16, #24-2017: prompt #12 A fantasy novel

*Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (5 STARS) for the IRL book club I facilitate. There was so much to unpack in this book! I was a bit concerned Hartnett may just end the book with nothing apparently wrapped up, but she pleasantly surprised me within the last 50-60 pages and I ended up truly enjoying this overall!
POPSUGAR: #1, #12, #25, #36, #40-2015: prompt #7 A book including nonhuman characters, #47, #48
ATY: #1-Auggie, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #5, #7, #15, #19, #34, #36, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Temperance, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #46, #49, #50, #51
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #21 A book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non) Clive suffers from dementia/hallucinations

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross #19) by James Patterson (4 STARS) was an okay read. The mystery was well done and I appreciated Cross’s conundrum with the methods employed by the FBI to coerce a criminal to inform. I am a bit tired of Alex’s family always complaining about his hectic schedule and missing holidays, etc. But that’s just me.  And what a strange coincidence that in Buddy Reading this series, one installment per month, this Christmas book just happened to fall in December! LOL
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #28, #29, #38, #40-2017: prompt #31 Main character is a different ethnicity than me, #46
ATY: #1-Alex, #2, 3, #4-…passion…desolation…despair—hopeless?, #7, #12, #19, #24, #31, #33, #36-DOGS!, #40-The Chariot, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41. #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman

Miss Bianca in the Salt Mines (The Rescuers #4) by Margery Sharp (5 STARS) was my favorite book in this series thus far! Loved the wit and humor with regard to academia and the professors, etc! (Having worked in academia for 25+ years!)
POPSUGAR: #24, #25, #40-2015: prompt #7 Nonhuman characters,
ATY: #3, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7, #14-219 ratings, #15, #25-148 pages, #29, #31-1966, #33, #34, #36-Mice to the rescue!, #40-The Chariot, Strength, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #46, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2018: prompt #15 A one-sitting book

The Moth Catcher (Vera Stanhope #7) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was another excellently plotted mystery as well as additional information about the recurring characters. I still adore Vera’s introspective thoughts and comments about herself! Love Cleeves’ writing!
POPSUGAR: #25, #40-2015: prompt #4 Published in 2015, #46-Nigel, #47
ATY: #1-Annie, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #5, #12-glass jars in the refrigerator, #15, #19, #24, #29, #32, #33, #36-moths, #40-The Lovers, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman

*The Ever-After Bird by Ann Rinaldi (5 STARS) was extremely well done and had some surprises! Not for the faint of heart, however!
POPSUGAR: #9, #24, #25, #33, #36, #40-2015: prompt #9 A female author, #46, #47
ATY: #1-Alex, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7-terrorism, #11, #14-450 ratings, #19, #29, #30, #31-2007, #34, #36-birds, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #49, #50, #52
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel not set in WW II

CONTINUING:
*Thin Air (Shetland Island #6) by Ann Cleeves for a Buddy Read
*Too Good To Be True (Shetland Island #6.2) by Ann Cleeves
*Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan for an IRL book club on Sunday
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed.
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico for the sister cities prompt.
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink for Popsugar
*A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra for Popsugar
*The Cuckoo's CallingThe Cuckoo’s Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) by Robert Galbraith for Popsugar
*Otherworld for ATY
*Strange Sight (Essex Museum Witch Mystery #2) by Syd Moore
*The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

I read this and really enjoyed it! I am participating in a team readathon this week, but will return next week to participate in the discussion!

I’m so excited for the new year! (Not because I have completed my 2022 challenges, but I’ve almost made it through yet another year! LOL) I’m always fascinated to see what monthly group reads are selected and how our wonderfully talented volunteers lead discussion! With that said, I am about halfway through Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and looking forward to participating in the discussion!
And…that’s a perfect lead-in for the Admin Stuff!

ADMIN STUFF:
The poll for nominations for the January 2023 Monthly Group Read HERE! Help us select the group read for January to fulfill prompt #3 A book about a vacation! That will end next Tuesday and then we will have January’s final selection poll posted for next Thursday so that will be done asap!
**JUST A REMINDER TO ALWAYS CHECK THE LISTING OF BOOKS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR NOMINATION HERE BEFORE NOMINATING A BOOK!**
EDITED TO ADD: Unfortunately, someone nominated People We Meet on Vacation which was the January 2022 Monthly Group Read and at least one other person voted for it. It is NOT eligible so if those two people wish to nominate or vote for a different book, that would be great!

We’ll proceed with February’s polls from there, as usual!

Plus, we have two months for which a prompt will be self-selected by you beautiful members and then a book fitting each of those selected prompts for May and December! We need you! :)

*******************************
**Just a reminder that we are currently reading and discussing Book Lovers by Emily Henry for December! This could be used to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! Both that and the discussion thread for December Challenge—I finished! are in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. Halfway through and I think I’m enjoying this more than I did People We Meet on Vacation! I'm still astounded by the fact that the group selected Emily Henry books in both January and December of 2022! An amazing coincidence!

Also, another reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!” thread is open and available to all in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

Question of the Week:
From Dubhease: Which reading challenges (Popsugar or otherwise) do you plan to participate in next year? (2023)
I really like this question!

I will be attempting Popsugar, ATY, and Read Harder in 2023! As usual!

That’s all I’m doing Challenge-wise, unless I pickup some additional smaller challenges, like Nadine’s Quarter 1 Mini-Challenge!

I did just discover another one, the 52 Book Club’s 2023 Reading Challenge: https://www.the52book.club/the-52-boo... If anyone is interested in another year-long challenge! (Not me… :))

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 51/52
RHC: 19/24

FINISHED:
*Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (5 STARS) was very enjoyable. The House in the Cerulean Sea was a much ‘lighter’ read, IMO. This was more of a ‘slow burn’ for me. I was pleasantly surprised with an unexpectedly hopeful ending to this one. It moved much more slowly than THitCS but was also more philosophical and ‘deep’! I believe I enjoy his writing so much due to his in-depth characterization which is even more evident in this book. This would be a great fit for 2022 prompt #12 A book about the afterlife, in case you still need to fulfill that prompt! As long as Klune is writing, I will keep reading his books! I hope to read The Extraordinaries next year.
POPSUGAR: #9, #12, #26, #29, #40-2015: prompt #7 A book including nonhuman characters
ATY: #1-Apollo and Alan, #2, #3, #4- A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): total despair…until… , #7, #15, #19, #23, #34, #35-tea plants and herbs, #36-the stag, #40-The Chariot, The Lovers, Strength, Death, Judgement, The World, #41, #43, #44, #44, #46-Mei, Nelson, Apollo, #49, #50-Nelson
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #20 An LGBTQ+ romance novel

CONTINUING:
*Book Lovers by Emily Henry for our monthly group read. Though I’m not a huge romance fan, I am loving this book. Much more complex than I might have expected…
*Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett for the IRL book club I facilitate. Just started this one and hope I like it!
*Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis for the new IRL book club at my second-favorite used bookstore! We meet next Tuesday.
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed.
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico for the sister cities prompt.
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink for Popsugar
*A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra for Popsugar
*The Cuckoo's CallingThe Cuckoo’s Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) by Robert Galbraith for Popsugar
*Otherworld for ATY
*Strange Sight (Essex Museum Witch Mystery #2) by Syd Moore
*The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Lailah wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "A book with alliteration in the title

I am forever noticing this in titles! I just got a copy of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell to read! I would highly recom..."
I am working to create and post our own listopia. I had no idea each work in those titles was alliterative! We definitely need a more inclusive list!!

And now for the really important stuff! ;)

No, I did not finish The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family in November. I am about halfway done and am not worried. 'Cause we're always telling people it doesn't matter. So if I finish this challenge at 11:59PM on December 31, 2022, then so be it! And...worst case scenario, if I don't...so be it! LOL Then I'll finish in January! But I'm making a concerted effort to be done in December! :)

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 51/52
RHC: 19/24

FINISHED:
*A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers (10 STARS) for the second part of my duology for POPSUGAR. Tor commissioned Chambers write two books (a duology) that were “Solarpunk” which is a subgenre of Hopeful Science Fiction. https://www.tor.com/2020/04/16/introd... This was so much more entertaining than the first installment. I loved A Psalm for the Wild-Built and it was excellent at building the world, etc., but this second book had so much humor on top of the philosophical considerations and issues. (And we did have fun at book club informing one member that this was NOT earth! LOL She was extremely disappointed!) I particularly appreciated Chambers’ depiction of diverse communities with varied philosophical foundations and beliefs. So even in a world without industrial/modern technology, differences still exist. Sibling Dex and Mosscap are well-drawn characters depicting many typical relationship issues. I would love it if this series was continued!
POPSUGAR: #1, #9, #22, #24, #40-2015: prompt #7 A book including nonhuman characters
ATY: #4-Author younger than you, #7, #16, #25-149 pages, #33, #35-Herbs for tea!, #40-The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, Justice, Death, The Moon, Judgment, The World, #41-Tea, #43, #44, #46, #49, #51
RHC: #11, #24-2020: prompt #10 A book that takes place in a rural setting

*Bailey's Story by W. Bruce Cameron (5 STARS) was an excellent juvenile book, IMO. One huge advantage is that in the back he has related projects, discussion questions, as well as a listing of the Common Core standards are supported by the book. I love a book from the companion animal’s point of view! It reminds me that we humans do NOT know what our fur-babies are thinking…they may be WAY more advanced than we believe them to be! Though Cameron’s depiction seems very realistic to me.
POPSUGAR: #9, #24, #25, #40-2017: prompt #21 A book from a non-human perspective
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7-Todd was definitely a psychopath, #14-3,484 ratings, #15, #25-208 pages, #34-Ethan’s mother is a teacher, #36-Bailey is a golden retriever, #40-Strength, Justice, Judgment, #41, #43, #46, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2019: prompt #12 A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character

*Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross #18) by James Patterson (5 STARS) for a Buddy Read. This installment was, IMO, much better than most in this series thus far. Not as much gory detail and we saw Alex lose it when he shouldn’t have done so. He also committed a few crimes himself…though all in the name of justice. But the law and law enforcers did win in the end. Though I’m relatively certain we will see/hear more of Hala…
POPSUGAR: #9-Ava, #25, #29, #31-poisoning the DC water supply, #40-2017: prompt #31 Main character is a different ethnicity than me, #46-Glass, #47
ATY: #1, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): It seemed hopeless, #7, #12-Glass was the kidnapper, #15, #19, #32-2011, #33, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #49, #50
RHC: 2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman (2 children kidnapped)

*In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard (5 STARS) was a rather delightful read. I would definitely categorize this as “coming-of-age” and YA, though it worked for me as an adult as well! This is Beard's debut fiction novel. The author will have a live event later this week, so I am reading some of her writing to help determine whether I really want to attend or not… So far, I think I would enjoy meeting her and hearing her speak. EDITED TO ADD: I was in ER with my friend so missed this!
POPSUGAR: #36, #38, #38, #40-2017: prompt #51 A book about a difficult subject: alcoholism and adolescence
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #11, #12, #14-4,212 ratings, #31, #36-dogs: Tammy and Curly, #40-The Chariot, Strength, Temperance, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #49
RHC: #24-2020: A book set in the midwestern US

*The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard (5 STARS) was quite entertaining! I am all-in for “creative nonfiction”! These vignettes reminded me of the way memories magically appear in my mind. It rarely seems there is any organization or flow to them, rather they seem random at best! While some more traumatic life experiences were addressed (cancer diagnoses and treatment, death of loved ones, divorce, etc.) the writing was humorous and witty.
POPSUGAR: #36, #40-2015: prompts #8 Funny and #9 By a female author
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7, #14-4,926 ratings, #15, #25-224 pages, #31-1998, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Death, Temperance, Judgment, The World, #50
RHC: #24-2021: A book set in the Midwestern US

CONTINUING:
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed. Interesting comparison between Paris, France, and Jefferson’s Virginia in the U.S. regarding racism in the 1780s. France wanted NO darker-skinned folks in their country at all! Though the rich light-skinned folks in Paris could keep their “colored servants.” Jefferson refused to register the Hemingses as his “servants”/slaves, risking a hefty fine for each of the 3 of them. He also advised others visiting France to disregard the registration. Obviously, there was little to no enforcement of the registration requirement. Also, any “slave” could file for emancipation in France and automatically receive it. Therefore, it was better to risk a fine than lose a piece of “property”/a slave. Jefferson’s white relatives did “edit” his papers, eliminating much if not mostly all of any references to Sally Hemmings, especially during the years he and she were both in France. Jefferson actually fell in love with a married woman but ended the relationship—no one knows whether they ever consummated this with sex or not… Then Gordon-Reed launches into quite a discussion regarding lighter and darker skinned folks in the US South—both spoke very much the same with a ‘southern drawl’/accent, regardless of inaccurate portrayals of different speech patterns for each. She points out that this is the only time in history that lighter and darker skinned people are living and working together in such close quarters, so it makes sense they spoke alike. She also notes this is one huge reason it can be difficult to identify illiterate individuals—we all speak alike regardless of ability to read and write. Almost halfway done! Anxious to finish! Absolutely fascinating reading!

*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
I was already aware of the pressure Britain was applying to the Thirteen Colonies to abolish slavery as one of the major reasons for the Revolutionary War. However, I was NOT aware of the vast political/military importance as one of the major motivations for Lincoln to declare the Emancipation Proclamation—the Union was losing the Civil War and needed the freed slaves to boost its ranks. Eventually 200,000 Black Americans fought in the Civil War—1 in 10 of the Union soldiers! The whole constitution was a subtle way to reinforce slavery without ever naming it. I remember hearing Joe Feagin state that the legislative body was structured in a way to assure the endurance of slavery. Ever wondered why the Senate exists as it does? To help those states with less population have more political power to help retain slavery… I was shocked upon hearing such an accusation, but upon review, it made sense to me. Once you open yourself to different aspects of history/historical documents, it is amazing some of the connections you can make…

*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard is yet another enjoyable “creative nonfiction” reading experience for me!

*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico for the sister cities prompt.
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Strange Sight (Essex Museum Witch Mystery #2) by Syd Moore
*The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

A really late posting for this check-in and chock full of information!!

2023 is almost here!!

I had tentatively planned to attend an author event on December 1 with Jo Ann Beard, but ended up helping my friend who was in ER yet again… twice! However, I am rather fascinated by the subgenre “creative nonfiction” so I Googled! There is a magazine devoted to this subgenre: https://creativenonfiction.org/. According to writers.com, Creative Nonfiction (CNF) is a form of storytelling that employs the creative writing techniques of literature, such as poetry and fiction, to retell a story. Creative nonfiction writers don’t just share pithy anecdotes, they use craft and technique to situate the reader into their own personal lives. This makes sense to me and was artfully produced by Jo Ann Beard in The Boys of My Youth, which I found to be immensely entertaining. She simply combined separate vignettes/scenes to describe her life. It was quite effective, IMO, as was her debut fiction novel, In Zanesville. Sorry I missed her, but at least I learned something from reading her books! And I discovered an author I will follow!

I guess this information might help you with 2023 prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. While I am not a huge fan of Bill Gates, I do always peruse his listing of books. This year he opted to list 5 of his all-time favorites. https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill...
I plan to read 3 of them in 2023…
I can’t remember when I wasn’t interested in reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. That needs to happen in 2023…
Mendeleyev's Dream looks super-interesting. (It’s the science nerd in me…)
I have never yet read a Robert Heinlein book and have always felt I should…

ADMIN STUFF:
The 2023 Popsugar Challenge is posted and we are preparing for 2023! Full steam ahead! I will post my reading information in a separate posting since I want to make sure all the new information is here for you-all! And we have opted to include some smaller mini-challenges throughout 2023 beginning with Nadine’s which is located HERE! We thought it might be nice to spice it up a bit for everybody throughout 2023! Some new and totally unique prompts for those who want a bit more “challenge” in their reading life! This is simply meant as something extra to make this next year a bit more lively!

We now have the Monthly Group Read prompts listed HERE
And for your convenience, I have posted them here as well:
JANUARY #3 A book about a vacation
A New Year! But I already feel as if I need a vacation!

FEBRUARY #43 A book that takes place entirely in one day
In honor of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition observed in the US and Canada on February 2! This derives from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will continue for 6 more weeks! If it does not see its shadow due to cloudiness, spring will arrive early! Per Wikipedia: Though this tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival of spring-like weather.

MARCH #7 A book with “Girl” in the title
In honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, UK, and US

APRIL #27 A #BookToc recommendation
Wait! You're thinking this is still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge…but...
This is actually prompt #27 for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge! :) Happy April Fools' Day! :)

MAY TBD by a poll

JUNE #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

JULY #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"! :)

AUGUST #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list
Celebrities are “august,” per the definition—respected, dignified, impressive!

SEPTEMBER TBD by a poll

OCTOBER #18 A book that’s been banned or challenged in 2022
Banned Books Week is October 1-7, 2023!
Website: https://bannedbooksweek.org/#:~:text=...

NOVEMBER #41 A book written during NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo runs through the month of November!

DECEMBER #32 A book released during the second half of 2023
Because it’s the end of another great reading and book discussion year and we want to include a brand-new book!
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And we have a new poll for nominations for the 2023 January Monthly Group Read HERE! Help us select the group read for January to fulfill prompt #3 A book about a vacation! That will end next Tuesday and then we will have January’s final selection poll posted for next Thursday so that will be done asap! We’ll proceed with February’s polls from there, as usual.
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**Much gratitude to Jennifer W for serving as the “official organizer” for November's discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #9 A book about a “found family.” Both November discussion threads have been moved to the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE where they will remain open. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to reread this in November, but will be reviewing others’ comments since this is one of my all-time favorite reads! (I did break down and start reading his next release, Under the Whispering Door. I just couldn’t resist any longer!)

**Just a reminder that we are currently reading and discussing Book Lovers by Emily Henry for December! This could be used to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! Both that and the discussion thread for December Challenge—I finished! are in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. I have my copy and plan to read it this week!

Also, another reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!” thread is open and available to all in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

Question of the Week:
How many years have you been doing the Popsugar reading challenge? Had you done other reading challenges before you started Popsugar? Which 2023 prompt jumps out at you? Which prompt do you think you’ll tackle first?
Cheat! That’s a bunch of questions! LOL ;) But they are good ones! :)
*I think just since 2018? Not sure…maybe only since 2019.
*The only reading challenges I had done were a few run by bloggers since I was blogging at the time. Not sure exactly how I got onto Popsugar… But I’m so glad I did! :) (I have since lost interest in blogging…)
*#BookToc! Really?!? Again?!? ;) *major eyeroll*
*I have no idea which one will be first. I have pretty much decided to take January off from reading for any challenges. I have books to finish this month and then I want a short break. That’s what I tell myself now, but in reality, the books I select for challenges are ones I want to read so badly that I’ll probably start in January after all! We shall see… :)

Book information in a separate posting!

Nadine in NY wrote: "To start off 2023 with a BANG, here's a list of ten categories inspired by "23"! As always, no one is checking on you, you can do all, some, one, or none of these. Read all comic books, all short s...

8. A book set on an island (because 23 is one of the recurring numbers in LOST 4 8 15 16 23 42)."

Okay, educate me on prompt #8. Is LOST referring to the TV show? (Fingers crossed, 'cause that would explain my total lack of knowledge of this one since I do not have TV...) LOL

2023 Nadine's Mini-Challenge
YAY!! True creativity!! I love these! Of course, initially I have no idea what I might read for any of them, but certain I can find something for each one!

This one is tentatively aimed at First Quarter 2023, but you can set your own schedule.

1/10 as of January 8!

1. A book involving genetics and/or genealogy (because we have 23 pairs of chromosomes).

2. The 23rd book on a list (your TBR list, for example).
Grey Mask (Miss Silver #1) by Patricia Wentworth
Located at the top of a stack of 22 books, so the 23rd book! :)
January 8 ✶✶✶✶✶

3. A book with five words in the title (because 2+3=5).

4. A book based on Norse mythology (connection: Vanadium is the 23rd element and was named for Vanadis aka Freya).

5. A book about sheep or shepherds (because Psalm 23 starts "The Lord is my shepherd").

6. A book with flames on the cover or in the title (because a movie "23" was made about hacker Karl Koch who burned to death - possibly suicide - at the age of 23) - LOL this is such a reach, but it would still make a good category!!

7. A title that starts with W (23rd letter in the English alphabet).

8. A book set on an island (because 23 is one of the recurring numbers in LOST 4 8 15 16 23 42).

9. A book about or set in an ancient civilization. (Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times). Yikes!

10. A book less than 230 pages long.

Jennifer W wrote: "Irene wrote: "Are you all going to interpret "fat" subjectively based on what YOU might consider fat, or would you need the word "fat" to appear in the book to describe the character? Or alternativ...

So far, the books I've looked at have mentioned in some way that the main character is "fat" "plus sized" or "curvy". But I think a book where a character gains weight and it's a big deal, that could work. I think the goal of the prompt is to read a book where the MC is not "ideal" by modern standards."
Totally agree!!

Ron wrote: "This will be the book I go with.

We Say #NeverAgain: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists

It's a bit heavy as far as the content but it took place on Valentine's Day so t..."
I did not remember it was on Valentine's Day. Even sadder somehow...

Jennifer W wrote: "Lynn, I was just going to mention that it looks like most of Jennifer Weiner's books include a plus sized protagonist. I've never read her, but I've wanted to read [book:Best Friends ..."
Good to know!

Sarah wrote: "Even if I just go with books that are already on my TBR, I have The Hate U Give, Six of Crows, Girl, Woman, Other, Cemetery Boys, [bo...
(That is...really depressing, that so many of my TBR picks are on the banned/challenged list...)"
While it is depressing they are all banned/challenged, the positive twist is that you had them all on your TBR listing!! Yay you! :)