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.

Ron wrote: "Yae, another week.

So things have been going good. Weatherwise, despite the heat, we've been getting a lot of dark clouds and rainstorms which has been great. Definitely need it due to all of these heat advisories and fire dangers.
Glad you're getting rain as well!

I've been working on getting ready for school. Going to start community college in the fall since my endgame is going into teaching.
That is absolutely amazing!! I am so happy for you! Congratulations!

"As for this past week, I was very productive in my reading."
Ah. That is satisfying, is it not? ;)

"Mental Illness Is an Asshole - And Other Observations - This one was really fun. 4 star rating. I loved all of the help and observations the author made about bipolar disorder. Much of it I could relate to."
This looks like a great read! (And I got off on a 15-minute trek from book-to-book-to-book once I searched for this to purchase! Geezzz!)

"From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy - The book I didn't know I needed. 4-star. I loved it, pun intended. Though the author used movies I don't watch, it was still a great read. He did mention movies that I have seen. The essays were my favorite parts, especially on J.Lo and Katherine Heigl."
Another one that sounds interesting!

"Finding Your Bipolar Muse: How to Master Depressive Droughts and Manic Floods and Access Your Creative Power - 3.5. It was good but after page 170 it got to finances, business, and selling creativity so that was pretty boring."
You made me laugh! Thanks! :)

"Like much of the world, I want to read I'm Glad My Mom Died. I went to 3 places yesterday and it was sold out. Amazon too also ran out. Managed to order it through BN but it won't arrive till next week."
It is a bummer when you can't get your hands on a book you really really want to read right now! At least you know it is being shipped to you!

"QOTW: If you could vacation in any bookish location you’ve read about, which would you choose?

Wow that's kind of a tough question. Much of my books, as you all know, are nonfiction. Many don't really have a set location as a result. And with what fiction I do read, the locations don't really hold particular interest, at least not ones that I would actually want to vacation to.

I suppose though, and this may sound cliche in a lot of circles, it would be in the Pacific Northwest via Twilight . I've always loved that area. Maybe it's because I grew up in the southwest and I hate the dryness and the heat. I just think it's so beautiful up there so that would be my ideal location."
Ah. I love it out there in the Pacific NW as well!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!

I’m in my last few days of vacation. This vacation has been all about HEAT and HUMIDITY. Even when I walk the dogs before dawn, I come back hot and sweaty. But right now it’s pouring rain and thundering, so I’m sipping my coffee and postponing our morning walk, which means I’ve got time to check in early!
Sorry the weather hasn't been more comfortable for you while on vacation! Ugh. I guess at least it's not raining?

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James - this was a fun beach read, but not amazing.

Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 by Michael Capuzzo - the true story of shark attacks in NJ in 1916, which was super fun Beach reading on the Jersey Shore (but the actual true story could easily be told in a magazine article, so this book was full of filler)
Glad I didn't have either on my TBR! :)

Question of the Week
If you could vacation in any bookish location you’ve read about, which would you choose?

So, I wasnt really a fan of the book Call Me By Your Name, but I loved the setting!!! I would love to vacation in house in a little Italian town by the sea, such as in Call Me By Your Name and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Bonus if there’s a cook who makes me soft-boiled eggs and fresh squeezed juice every morning"
What?!? This is a book to which we have totally opposite reactions. I love that book! And, yes, I loved both of these settings. I particularly appreciate how specific you get with the food items! LOL You crack me up!

BTW, just so you know, I pulled out my copy of Find Me just yesterday because I want to read it soon! ;)

Please allow me to get this rant off my chest…AMAZON! COULD YOU PLEASE AT LEAST ACT LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT GOODREADS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO STAY LOGGED IN WITHOUT REQUIRING US TO LOGIN MULTIPLE TIMES AS WE ATTEMPT TO USE THIS PROGRAM?
I use Amazon just as little as possible with the one main exception being GOODREADS! Come on. Pay attention, Bezos and all your minions! Okay. Done. Whew! Feelin’ a bit less tense now! LOL Thank you for 'listening'/reading!

Our weather has been wonderful lately. Highs in the high 70s-low 80s and occasional rain. I am grateful not to deal with high temperatures and high humidity.

Murderbot: An Autistic-Coded Robot Done Right: https://www.tor.com/2022/06/21/murder...

I do not remember how/when I discovered this article regarding Murderbot and Autism, but it was quite enlightening to me. I am fortunate in that I have never been diagnosed as “neurodivergent,” but I also refuse to consider a concept such as “normal” to be valid when applied to humans. It just doesn’t exist, IMO, and, also IMO, humanity would be so much better off if we simply abandoned the whole concept. That doesn’t mean there are not acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, but those are truly rather few and far between, IMO. As I have aged, I have even more regard for the “Golden Rule” (Treat others as you wish to be treated.) and the whole concept of mutual respect. Honestly, if each individual operated from this foundation, I believe the world would be a much better place to live!

ADMIN STUFF:
The November Monthly Group Read will be The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune as determined by the voting over this past week. This will satisfy prompt #9 A book about a “found family” as was decided by a group poll! I read this last year and adored it! Personally, I consider it to be one of the best examples of a “found family.” (Though having just finished Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) by Octavia E. Butler, that is another excellent example.) As I skimmed some of the GR reviews I noted there is now some controversy from some readers, but I simply read it as I felt it was intended, a feel-good fantasy. I will most likely give this a reread in November and I am anxious to read his latest release, Under the Whispering Door as well as The Extraordinaries. *sigh* So many books and so little time… First-world dilemmas.

Nadine will post a December nomination poll to begin next week and then we will have a final selection poll for December’s Monthly Group Read the following week. Then we’ll be done until we have a new list of prompts for 2023!

Erica is the "marvelous manager" leading the August discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller which can be found HERE. The August "I Finished!" thread is HERE! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title. The theme was selected for August to coincide with the Perseid Meteor Shower which is typically from mid-July to around mid-August. It is expected to peak August 11-12 in 2022!

We currently have THREE Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
2) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
3) November: an “official organizer” to lead the discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
If you could vacation in any bookish location you’ve read about, which would you choose?
What a great question!

I think I must cheat though. I have always dreamed of visiting Hawaii, as well as millions of other places, but I still have Hawaii at the top of my list after reading the descriptions in The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren! Tropical locations have always fascinated me…

Though I am STILL not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 41/50
ATY: 50/52
RHC: 15/24

FINISHED:
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson (4 STARS) was okay. The treatment of Cross in Africa was probably more realistic than not and I admire Patterson for tackling that. There wasn’t much character development… I’m still continuing with the series though!
POPSUGAR: #25, #29, #40-2016: prompt #14 A book you can finish reading in one day, #46-Millard
ATY: #1, #2, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): It seemed Alex had no chance to succeed, #6-the sun, #7, #31-2008, #36-the “Tiger”, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41-the lack thereof, #44, #49, #50

*White Nights (Shetland #2) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was excellent. The mystery was well plotted, but I particularly appreciated the relationship building between Jimmy and Fran. Very well done and I am anxious to continue the series!
POPSUGAR: #19, #25, #38, #40-2016: prompt #8 A book set in Europe, #46
ATY: #1-Aggie, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…despair…decay…, #7, #15, #29, #31-2008, #33, #40-The Lovers, Strength, The Hanged Man, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 Read a mystery where the victim is not a woman

*Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope #3) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was another great installment and Vera is very present in this book, IMO! And that’s a good thing. I can relate to her reticence regarding her physical appearance, build, etc. It is tough not to be thin, fit, and beautiful in this world! And kudoes to Cleeves for this confident, humorous, and compassionate character!
POPSUGAR: #25, #40-2015: prompt #49 A book based on or turned into a TV show, #46
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…despair…decay…, #5, #7, #15, #29, #31-2007, #32, #33, #34, #35, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 Read a mystery where the victim is not a woman

*When Will There Be Good News? (Jackson Brodie #3) by Kate Atkinson (5 STARS) was an absolutely amazing read! Seriously! Not only is Atkinson supreme in her ability to interweave characters’ lives, but she also surprises in other ways. In an interview she stated that she feels she writes fiction, not necessarily mysteries or “crime fiction.” I guess there is much more emphasis on such classifications in the US than in the UK. I just found that interesting.
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #36, #40-2017: prompt #14 A book involving travel, #46-Tessa
ATY: #3, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): …passion…despair…decay…, #7, #13-Dr. H, #31-2008, #33, #34-Mrs. M, #36-Sadie and Jackson!, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, The Fool, #41, #44, #46, #49, #50, #52

CONTINUING:
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed is even more fascinating and revealing than I imagined it might be… (Please allow me to apologize now for such a long posting about this one!) I have owned this book for several years and keep meaning to read it, so decided it will be my Anisfield-Wolf Award winner. (Even if it is a brick at 796 pages!) I had no idea Virginia was in a deep depression and nearly every single landowner owed overwhelming debt to English merchants ‘back home’ just prior to the Revolutionary War. And Thomas Jefferson’s father was one of the few who was able to bequeath only assets to his children with no debts to encumber them. Elizabeth Hemings came to TJ by way of his wife, Martha, since his father-in-law, John Wayles, bequeathed slaves to his daughter. Wayles had fathered multiple children with Elizabeth, so this lifestyle was rather literally ‘passed down’ to Jefferson. It was a very common and accepted practice for white males to father children with slaves, hence why Virginia law granted inherited social position from the mother, not the father, as was common in England… So if your mother was a slave, you were a slave, regardless of heritage, skin color, etc. Ah, yes…patriarchy and white supremacy were (and I would argue still IS) “the law”…
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico was quite difficult to purchase. I ended up buying an ebook from Google Books as any print copies I located were $75 and up! It was originally published in 1958. The premise of this book is fascinating to me and the time in which it was written. It is obvious I really really want to read it since I purposefully never select ebooks unless forced to do so.
Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) by Octavia Butler is not anything I expected…rather brutal and yet, quite compelling. I rather assume I will read the sequel. (I am posting very late this week, so my comments will wait for next Thursday!)
Chirp by Kate Messner appears to be an excellent juvenile/YA mystery read!

PLANNED:
August Buddy/Group Reads:
Last Call at the Nightingale (Nightingale Mysteries #1) by Katharine Schellman
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
*Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
*Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross #15) by James Patterson
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
SFB Book Club:
*A Study in Honor (The Janet Watson Chronicles #1) by Claire O'Dell

STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

We got rain last night and this morning. Our growing season has been very well balanced with periodic rains that have kept enough moisture for good growth of crops. My son lives just 65 miles from me but said his lawn was dead for a whole month and is just now coming back to life, though I guess the field crops weren’t affected much. And his lawn is usually lush with just minimal rain… Weather varies so much within relatively little distance, at least it seems to here.

My good friend who survived the aortic valve replacement is still dealing with AFIB and irregularities with her heart. In the follow-up with the TAVR surgeon yesterday, he stated it may take as long as 9 months for the heart muscle to fully recover and regain its ability to flex more appropriately since it had stiffened up and lost much of its flexibility. That made both of us feel a bit better. I asked him questions regarding this procedure, and it seems he has been one of the first to perform this procedure in our area. And it was initially developed in Europe and when they did the first one in Indiana, a surgeon from Germany actually oversaw and taught them how to do it. I thought that was cool! You just never know how information has crossed boundaries to help others around the world.

The pools in my gym are closed for resurfacing. They are assuming it will require the whole month of August, so I searched for another heated therapy pool and did find one within a decent driving distance, though it is so small as to almost not be useful to me. It is probably 3-4 times the size of the whirlpool in our gym, and I’m learning that most of the people who have been there when I’m there simply use it as an after workout/swim relaxation as we use our whirlpool in "my" gym. I am preparing to participate in their ONE aquatic class this Friday which is held in their lap pool. Not sure how this will work for me, but I do know one thing, I WANT MY BIG HEATED THERAPY POOL BACK! LOL :) And this new-to-me gym is only open 8AM-4PM Monday through Friday! No weekend hours at all. I had thought I might keep my membership active to go workout on the bikes, etc, on days when I’m not working out in the pool at the other gym. But I don’t know if it’s worth it even if they do accept Silver Sneakers and it wouldn’t cost me anything… And yes, I am fully aware these are strictly FIRST WORLD problems/complaints. So I need to stress gratefulness for what I have, where I live, etc. Okay, rant over! LOL :)

ADMIN STUFF:
Erica is the "marvelous manager" who has graciously volunteered to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller! This discussion can be found HERE and the August "I Finished!" thread is HERE! This can be used to fulfill prompt #35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title. The theme was selected for August to coincide with the Perseid Meteor Shower which is typically from mid-July to around mid-August. It is expected to peak August 11-12 in 2022! (So next week!)

We currently have two Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
2) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

Thanks to Nadine, the final selection poll for the November Monthly Group Read can be found HERE! Go ahead and vote now! This will satisfy prompt #9 A book about a “found family” as was decided by a group poll!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Have you ever had a “favorite book” highly recommended to you by a friend/acquaintance and your reaction to it was very negative? How did you handle the discussion with that person?

I ask this question because the first couple of times this happened to me, my immediate answer was “Yeah, I didn’t like it at all!” or “What in the world did you find to enjoy about this?” And then I thought how rude, especially when I would see my friend’s shocked and appalled reaction!

I have learned to ask up front when someone recommends a book exactly what they liked about it. That can help me decide (1) Whether I even want to try reading it or not, (2) Whether I might appreciate the same things about the book. It also helps me better determine whether we look for the same things in a book.

For example, if they state that the action was what they liked, I might give it a pass. I would probably follow-up with a question regarding the characters. If someone can’t tell me about the characters, then I typically know it is most likely not a book I would enjoy. On the other hand, if a reader can talk about and describe the characters, I will typically enjoy the book as well.

I guess I’ve just learned to gather more information before I launch into reading a book based upon someone else’s recommendation… Plus I’ve learned to be a bit more diplomatic when asked what I thought of it. Now I might say, “I found the characterization to be a bit lacking, though I did enjoy the overall plot.” Or “While the characterization was well developed and I felt connected to the characters, the plot just didn’t work for me somehow…” Or, hopefully, I can simply say, “Wow! I loved it, too!”

I was just curious if anyone else has experienced such situations before and how you handled it…

Though I am STILL not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 41/50
ATY: 50/52
RHC: 15/24

And since I’ve been super-busy with other things, but trying like mad to finish July Buddy Reads, I have yet to document this week’s books, but will be working to finish that yet today and then update my posting. *sigh*
FINISHED:
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson (5 STARS) was absolutely excellent, IMO! I much preferred this second book in the series to the first one. And boy, oh boy, Atkinson is certainly a master at weaving interconnectedness among the characters and subplots/plot! Amazing!
POPSUGAR: #25, #36, #40-2015: prompt #5 A book with a number in the title, #46
ATY: #1-Terence Smith/”Honda Man”, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): It was quoted in the book!, #7-this book definitely played with my mind!, #15, #31-2006, #33, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 Read a mystery where the victim is not a woman

*Telling Tales (Vera Stanhope #2) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was the bleakest most desolate atmospheric tale I’ve read. It was a good mystery and I appreciated all the characters since Cleeves did an excellent job of fleshing them all out fully, IMO!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #40-2020: prompt #46 A book written by an author who has published more than 20 books, #46
ATY: #1-Abigail, Emma’s best friend who was murdered, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Perfect for such a bleak and desolate atmosphere/location, #5, #7, #29, #31-2005, #32, #33, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #10 Read a book that takes place in a rural setting

*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (4 STARS) was very slow-moving and I think a philosophical statement regarding our ability (perhaps INability is a better word) as humans to simply “let go” of memories/experiences that might otherwise make us dislike or distrust others.
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #31, #36, #40-2020: prompt #33 A book with at least a 4-star rating on Goodreads-4.14, #46-Sir Gawain
ATY: #1-Axl, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal), #7-the mist, #11, #15, #30, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #46-the buried giant, #49, #50
RHC: #13, #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel not set in WW II

*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves (5 STARS) was another example of Cleeves’ ability to create a bleak, desolate, and especially isolated environment in which the characters interact. Though not as bleak (to me) as was Telling Tales, it was still dismal… I found the solution to both murders confounding and pretty shocking, though believable. As usual, Cleeves had me suspecting multiple characters! I liked Jimmy and will definitely continue the series as monthly buddy reads.
POPSUGAR: #25, #36, #40-2017: prompt #39 A book that is the first in a series I haven’t read yet, #46-Sally
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal), #5, #7, #29, #31-2006, #34, #36-Ravens!, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #10 A book in a rural setting

CONTINUING:
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson. Halfway through this one and I’m reserving judgment until I finish…
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed

PLANNED:
August Buddy/Group Reads:
*Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
*Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope #3) by *Ann Cleeves
*When Will There Be Good News? (Jackson Brodie #3) by Kate Atkinson
White Nights (Shetland #2) by Ann Cleeves
*Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross #15) by James Patterson
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
SFB Book Club:
*A Study in Honor (The Janet Watson Chronicles #1) by Claire O'Dell

STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

Happy Thursday! I have a ton of stuff to follow-up on today. Information -seeking phone calls, appointments to schedule, etc. Ugh. Not my favorite activities, but necessary!

Our weather has calmed down and we didn’t get near the high temperatures that had been predicted, so that’s good for us…and I am sorry for those who are not so lucky in the weather department. :(

ADMIN STUFF:
The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke will be finishing up! You can find that discussion in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished” discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality.

Erica is the "marvelous manager" who has graciously volunteered to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller! Thank you, Erica! That will be opened and added to the Current Monthly Group Read folder as well as the August "I Finished!" thread on Sunday! This can be used to fulfill prompt #35 A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title. This was selected for August to coincide with the Perseid Meteor Shower which is typically from mid-July to around mid-August. It is expected to peak August 11-12 in 2022!

We currently have two Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
2) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The nomination poll for the November Monthly Group Read can be found HERE! It will end at 11:59PM on Tuesday, August 2 PDT. Go ahead and vote now! This will satisfy prompt #9 A book about a “found family” as was decided by a group poll!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Is there a classic author you have never read (that you always think you “should” read)?
PLENTY of them! :)

Oh, my, I have yet to read a book written by any of these classical authors:
Chinua Achebe
J.M. Barrie
Elizabeth Bowen
Charlotte Brontë
Willa Cather
Joseph Conrad
Roald Dahl
Charles Dickens
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Alexandre Dumas
George EliotJames Joyce
Elizabeth Gaskell
Thomas Hardy
Ernest Hemingway
S.E. Hinton
Victor Hugo
James Joyce
D.H. Lawrence
Thomas Mann
W. Somerset Maugham
Henry Miller
Iris Murdoch
Irène Némirovsky
Ayn Rand
Salman Rushdie
Mary Shelley
Patrick Süskind
William Makepeace Thackery
Leo Tolstoy
Anthony Trollope
Evelyn Waugh

Okay, that was rather depressing, since I have been conscientiously reading at least 3-5 classics each of these past 5 years or so… I definitely have many more to go!

Classical authors of whose works I have read one book, but should/want to read more:
Louisa May Alcott
Jane Austen
Francis Hodgson Burnett
J.D. Salinger
H.G. Wells
Edith Wharton
Ruth White
Virginia Woolf

My one very disappointing encounter with a “classical author” thus far is Gabriel García Márquez, and as you may remember I did finish reading Chronicle of a Death Foretold and begrudgingly awarded it one star since I could at least get through it. But I DNF’d One Hundred Years of Solitude at 100 pages in. Now, since I do own a copy of Love in the Time of Cholera, I will give it a try. Hopefully yet this year. I have a feeling that will be the end of my reading Marquez!

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is another I just could not get into. After 3 books I’ve called it quits with his writing.

Though I am STILL not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 41/50
ATY: 50/52
RHC: 15/24

FINISHED:
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson (4 STARS) was another installment where I felt there was way too much of the serial killers and not nearly (very little, IMO) enough character development for Alex and his life/family. But I will continue on with the series…
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #29, #40-2015: prompt #10 Read a mystery/thriller, #46
ATY: #1-Alex/Ali, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; The brother/sister team definitely mocked Alex by posing as therapy clients the whole time…, #26/27, #31-2007, #33, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2021: Read a book with a cover you don’t like

*Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4 STARS) was a good solid read and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I might. I just didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked. This reminded me much of Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic which I much preferred overall.
POPSUGAR: NEW #6, #9, #18, #25, #40-2015: prompt #7 A book with nonhuman characters, #42
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Perfect!, #7, #11, #20, #30, #35, #36, #40-Strength, Justice, Judgment, The World, #44, #46, #49,
RHC: #7, #11, #13, #24-2017: prompt #4 Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author

*Almost American Girl by Robin Ha(5 STARS) was an amazing read! I never read graphic novels/comics unless there is a reading challenge prompt to fulfill! But I am truly grateful for the Read Harder 2022 Reading Challenge prompt #6 Read a nonfiction YA comic so I could enjoy this book and hopefully understand much better the isolation experienced by those who emigrate to a different country/culture and have virtually no help integrating, especially as a young teenager! Those years are difficult enough!
POPSUGAR: #24, #40-2015: prompt #40 Read a graphic novel, #42, #46
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): The complete desolation and isolation of being thrust into an unknown environment and unable to communicate using the common language, #7, #34-Mrs. Halls, the English teacher, journaling, #36-Barry, #40-Strength, Judgment, The World, #41, #42, #47, #49
RHC: #1, NEW#6, #24-2020: prompt #1 Read a YA nonfiction book

*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe (5 STARS) was a very intense and difficult read due to the realistic depiction of the subject matter, but was excellently written, IMO! I highly recommend this as a book set in the Philippines and dealing with WW II and the occupation by the Japanese, then fighting between the Japanese and US forces, and the travails of the Philippine citizens as victims and rebellion fighters. It took almost a month for me to complete this since I needed to break it up due to the intensity, but I feel grateful to have read it. I’m sure this will stick in my mind for the span of this lifetime…extremely thought-provoking, IMO! This was my last June Buddy Read! Bonus! :)
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #26, #31, #33, #36, #40-2015: prompt #13 A book set in a different country, #46
ATY: #1-Alejandro, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Ah, yes, the despair…, #7, #11, #14-3,302 ratings, #20, #31-2002, #37, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41-the lack thereof…, #44, #49, #50, #52
RHC: #24-2018: prompt #9 A book of colonial or post-colonial literature

CONTINUING:
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
August Buddy/Group Reads:
*Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross #15) by James Patterson
*Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
*Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope #3) by Ann Cleeves
White Nights (Shetland #2) by Ann Cleeves
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
SFB Book Club:
*A Study in Honor (The Janet Watson Chronicles #1) by Claire O'Dell

STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "*The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (5 stars) was a book I knew would compel me to keep reading and get me back into reading after being sick for a wee...

It was boring, and repetitive, and I didn't care who died or who did the killing because I hated all of them so much that I wanted them all to die."
LOL That's pretty much what I expected you to say. I don't think you'll regret reading TPA. But if you do, you can easily blame me. As I stated, I felt it read really fast!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "*The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (5 stars) was a book I knew would compel me to keep reading and get me back into reading after being sick for a week and reading almost nothing but a...

I think I asked this on your status update, but I don't know if you replied, so I'm asking again here: do you think I'll like this? I did NOT like The Guest List. At all. I had no interest in reading another book by her. But then my book club chose Paris Apartment for our August book. Sigh. My library hold list is LONG for this one, so I dont' even know if I'll get it in time, but I'm going to try to read it."
Sorry, Nadine, I must have missed the Status Update query...

What made you dislike TGL? I loved the complex interrelatedness of the characters, though I didn't really like much of any of them in the end...

I *think* you would enjoy The Paris Apartment. I felt it was less intense than TGL in several ways. It was also a phenomenally quick read, I thought. It felt "lighter" to me...

Happy Thursday! Sorry to be a bit late with this today! My computer is not cooperating! And I'm trying to save money back for more plumbing issues in the house! :(

There is a Dewey Reverse Readathon scheduled for 8PM Friday, July 22 until 8PM Saturday, July 23! I don't really participate much in these, but it does motivate me to concentrate a bit more on reading during those hours. However, I will sleep just as much as usual with no regret!! Too old to miss sleep! LOL

I've had some frustrating situations this week and am trying to meditate my way through those emotions. It's interesting that I am finding it more difficult to moderate my frustration and anger in the aftermath of retiring. I think maybe that is at least partially due to lack of overwhelming distraction that full-time work offered! (Even though the frustrations of my job were overwhelming! LOL) In other words, these emotions are much stronger and more difficult for me to work through since my world is 'less busy'. I'm trying different options to overcome this, but it is an intriguing observation, IMO! I believe I definitely must increase my physical activity as I find that helps immensely. Unfortunately, reading a book requires little physical exertion! LOL :) I'm not enough of a fan of audiobooks to incorporate that into an exercise routine...but I'll figure it out. Eventually! LOL :)

I would say we are in a heatwave in the midwestern US, but with temperatures only in the 90's Fahrenheit that probably no longer qualifies as "heatwave," considering the much higher temperatures across other portions of the US and around the world. I am so very sorry for the lives lost due to extreme heat, particularly in European countries, etc. This is so very sad...

ADMIN STUFF:
The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is ongoing! You can find that discussion in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished” discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality

Erica is the "marvelous manager" who has graciously volunteered to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller! Thank you, Erica!

We currently have two Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
2) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The nomination poll for November’s Monthly Group Read will be posted next week.

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
To follow-up on Nadine’s question last week: What is your favorite and least favorite reading prompt from the 2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge?

My favorite Popsugar prompt is #3 A book set in a nonpatriarchal society. I read The Island of Sea Women for this and it was an excellent (if sometimes brutal) read. This prompt made me think beyond a strictly “matriarchal society” as the only alternative to a “patriarchal society,” since TIoSW depicts a “matrifocal society.” I particularly appreciated See’s description of the political policies and economic factors that helped create such a society in the first place. I learned a lot.

I’m going to say my least favorite Popsugar prompt is #11 A #BookTok recommendation. This is when I love the listopias and the fact that we had a monthly group read so I could knock it out with little research! I'm just not in the mood for yet another social media site!

Though I am not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 40/50
ATY: 49/52
RHC: 14/24

FINISHED:
*The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (5 stars) was a book I knew would compel me to keep reading and get me back into reading after being sick for a week and reading almost nothing but a few short stories! And it did exactly that! I enjoyed The Guest List, but I think I liked this one even better. I have yet to read The Hunting Party or any of her other books.
POPSUGAR: #1, #9, #25, #36, #40-2015: prompt #13 A book set in a different country-France, #42-French & English, #46
ATY: #4-A book whose author is younger than you, #7-the old man had them all trapped psychologically, #15, #35-the beautifully kept gardens in the courtyard, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Death, Judgment, The World, #41-Wine, #44, #49, #51
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman

*Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (5 HUGE STARS!) was absolutely adorable! I had forgotten just how much I love Eliot’s poetry. It had been decades since I’d read any… Glad to reconnect with his work.
POPSUGAR: #24, #40-2016: prompt #9 A book with less than 150 pages
ATY: #3, #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7-Of cats, of course!, #15, #31-1939, #36, #40-The Magician, Justice, Judgment, The World, #46
RHC: NEW #12, #24-2016: Read a book less than 100 pages in length

*The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society by Cecila Ahern, Maeve Binchy, Mavis Cheek (5 STARS) was a rather large collection of short stories by many authors I have either read and enjoyed before, or am aware of… It was an excellent collection, and about the only thing I could read while sick last week! And it was a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness and research! So bonus!
POPSUGAR: #26, #40-2017:prompt #8 A book with multiple auithors
ATY: #3, #4-A book whose cover depicts your favorite kind of weather, #14-451 ratings, #39-2009, #47
RHC: #5, #24-2019: prompt #9 A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison is an amazing work of classical fiction, IMO.
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

This ended up being a very productive week, which is awesome! In addition to helping my dad move into his new house, I took a second look at my home library this week and managed to let go of even more books. I ended up taking another five boxes of books to my local used bookstore!"
Geeminy! That was productive! Congrats!

"I have to say that it has felt really good to let go of so many books over the past couple of weeks. Believe it or not, I actually have space on my shelves for all of my books now! It’s also been very therapeutic to give myself permission to let go of books that I’m no longer interested in reading."
I am getting there psychologically. I don't know why it is so very difficult for me to let a book go! I need to get over it! LOL

"The TBR Checklist still looks pretty daunting, but it’s definitely better than it was a few months ago. My current goal is to reach at least 30% completion by the end of the summer."
Amazing!

"~Clanlands Almanac: Seasonal Stories from Scotland"
Huh. That looks interesting!

"Currently Reading:
~First Class Murder"
I do want to give this series a try.

"~The Princes in the Tower"
Typically, I don't really care about such 'royal' history and scandal, but this does look interesting...

"QOTW:
I decided not to participate in the challenge this year, so I don’t have a best or worst challenge read."
I'm so glad you choose to join us!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Katy wrote: "... I will never EVER ever read another Faulkner...."

LOL I have never read Faulkner. I feel like I should, because he inspires such strong reactions! (Same goes for Hemingway - some..."
I have never read a Faulkner nor a Hemingway as well. My intention was to read one of each in 2022, but I don't know if that will happen or not... But I really feel I SHOULD! LOL

Katy wrote: "I finished The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World as my book about a nonpatriarchal society. It wasn't what I thought it was, but it was quite interesting."
It looks to be very interesting. And that was quite a brick of a nonfiction book! Glad you enjoyed it!

"QOTW: My best is probably either The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival or Where the Crawdads Sing."
Oohhh...I loved WtCS and the tiger book looks to be intriguing!

"My worst was either The Sound and the Fury or The arch of stars. I will never EVER ever read another Faulkner."
I have never read a Faulkner and realize I really should. I definitely won't expect to love his writing! At least now you know! :)

Nadine in NY wrote: "I hope it's a happy Thursday for you. July is just FLYING by.
Time just goes faster and faster the older I get!

In American literary news, Ada Limon was named our new Poet Laureate. I couldn't be more thrilled for her, she is my favorite living poet. I pre-ordered her latest book this year, but I actually haven't started it yet.
I am so grateful for your poetry updates! And to think that you are an engineer! LOL I'm glad you are so well-rounded and keep me 'in the know' with regard to poetry! :)

Against Silence: Poems by Frank Bidart - I really liked the first page of this, but the rest of the book was just meh. I'm having such a MEH year with poetry! I've loved very few of the books I've chosen. I think next year I will read mostly former Poet Laureates or National Book Award or Pultizer winners. (Which would not have actually helped me here, because Bidart DID win the Pulitzer, but not for this book.)
You just never know...until you read them! I hope you find some truly poetic gems in this last half of 2022!

American War by Omar El Akkad - this was one of my "must reads in 2022" and it was great. This was one of the most realistic dystopians I've read.
I admit I chuckled a bit at "realistic dystopia". :) But after reading your review as well as that of another Goodreads friend who reads almost exclusively fantasy and scifi and SFF, I can better understand that phrase. Though I think I'll leave that one alone for now. I seem to be craving anything BUT an intense read like this one seems to be! It is certainly an intriguing premise.

Question of the Week
What have been your best and worst challenge reads so far this year?
My worst read so far is definitely The Fortress, for "not a patriarchy." Wow that book was stupid. I am not exactly sorry I read it, because it can be fun to read really bad books sometimes. But wow it was bad, and I recommend it to no one. It's a shame, because the category was an interesting one, and I'm sure there are much better books out there.
This sounds like one I would either really enjoy or not like at all...

The BEST book I read that fit a Challenge category this year was The Trees, which I slotted in "scoial horror." This was easily one of the very best books I read this year! Buuuut ... I did not intentionally read it for this Challenge. I was reading it because it was in the Tournament of Books, and I happened to discover it worked perfectly for a category.
I love it when that happens! I do have my signed copy of this and plan to read it yet this year, but I realize it is going to be very intense, so am waiting until I feel ready for it. Everett was very interesting to meet and listen to. I do feel as if he will win a Pulitzer in the future, though who knows. I truly enjoyed his statement that he simply writes about what interests him and then sets the book free into the world and if it succeeds, fine and if not, then it doesn't. I could imagine him holding a newly released book, tossing it into the air, and simply allowing it float and/or fly off into the sky...much as a bird parent launching a fledgling! He's very nonchalant regarding his writing/books...

Out of books I intentionally read for this Challenge, the best book was When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (for tiger). What an enjoyable little book that was! I'm not sure if I would have gotten around to reading it this year if not for this Challenge."
I feel as if this series might be a good one to read in order. What would you suggest?

I spent most of this week sick. Supposedly not COVID, though I wonder about that… Today is the first day since this past Saturday that I have felt as if I could get up and actually do something. I haven’t even had enough energy to read! :(

I discovered this listing of 7 books which include characters with intellectual disabilities in honor of July as Disability Pride Month! https://offtheshelf.com/2022/07/autho...

One of the blogs I follow, African Book Addict (https://africanbookaddict.com/), had a posting regarding the 2022 AKO Caine Prize Winner that listed all the short-listed work. The AKO Caine Prize was formerly known as the Caine Prize for African Writing which was first awarded in 2000. This is an award open to writers from anywhere in Africa for work published in English. It is focused on the short story format, reflecting the contemporary development of the African story-telling tradition. The AKO Caine Prize for African Writing is a registered charity whose aim is to bring African writing to a wider audience using this annual literary award. The five 2022 short-listed stories are listed below with a direct link to each story included.

*“Collector of Memories” by Joshua Chizoma of Nigeria, published by Afritondo (2021): https://www.afritondo.com/afritondo/c...
This was a bit desolate and thought-provoking.

*”The Double-Edged Inheritance” by Hannah Giorgis of Ethiopia, published by Addis Abba Noir (2020): https://www.google.com/books/edition/...
Firstly, it is difficult to imagine having siblings at all, since I have none, but to have your twin who died replaced by an outsider who is then favored over yourself? I would consider that to be unbearable…

*“When a Man Loves a Woman” by Nana-Ama Danqua of Ghana, published by Accra Noir (2021): https://africanbookaddict.files.wordp...
Another rather desolate story with the reader left to imagine their own ending…

“Five Years Next Sunday” by Idza Luhumyo of Kenya, published by Disruption (2021): https://africanbookaddict.files.wordp...
This was rather upsetting to me. Ugh…

“The Labadi Sunshine Bar” by Billie McTernan of Ghana, published by Accra Noir (2021): https://africanbookaddict.files.wordp...
This was quite the story. A definite ending, and definitely not one that left me with a good feeling…

ADMIN STUFF:
The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is under way! You can find that discussion in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished” discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality I am leaving June’s discussion there as well for now and am trying to finalize that this week. I was simply to ill to tackle much of any reading this week, let alone something intense...

Hear ye! Hear ye! These are the Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) August: a "marvelous manager" to lead the discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
2) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
3) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

We will continue with our 2022 selections next week with a nomination poll for November’s Monthly Group Read which will fulfill prompt #9 A book about a “found family” in honor of family gatherings common for holidays/the holiday season! I have created a separate listing of 2020-2022 Monthly Group Read selections that CANNOT be considered for November 2022 or December 2022 in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE. The first listing is alphabetical by title and the second is chronological. I used Nadine’s excellent listing and added the last two months’ selections. (It is always easier for me to search an alphabetical listing by title so I selfishly included that ordered list as well! LOL) I'll continue this for 2023 and hopefully make it easier for everyone (Okay, yes, mainly for myself! LOL) to consult the listing of books NOT to be considered/nominated!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is HERE.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What have been your best and worst challenge reads so far this year?
So many bests from which to choose. But one of my favorite finds this year is the Wrexford & Sloane historical fiction mystery series by Andrea Penrose. All of these books fit the “found family” prompt so well, IMO! The first is Murder on Black Swan Lane is the first one if anyone is interested.

Worst. Uhm. Unfortunately, a children’s book holds that honor thus far for 2022: Johnny's in the Basement by Louis Sachar. I would love to know how the target audience of juveniles would rate this one. I was not at all impressed…

Though I am not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 40/50
ATY: 48/52
RHC: 13/24

FINISHED:
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (5 STARS) was a heartwarming and wonderfully imaginative story of family. Definitely read the author’s note, as there was much worthwhile and pertinent information which, IMO, made the story even more personalized and special. This was a coming-of-age story (for both sisters) as well as accepting and dealing with grief in the aftermath of lost loved ones… And as is so often true, the bits and pieces of ourselves we do not share with those closest to us.
POPSUGAR: #4, #19-summer, #25, #36, #38, #40-2015: prompt #6 A book written by someone under 30 years of age, #42, #46
ATY: #4-A book whose author is younger than you, #6-Stars in a jar, #7, #12-glass jars, #15, #18, #28, #30, #35-mugwort, #36-tigers, #40-Strength, Death, The Sun, The Moon, The Star, Judgment, The World, #41, #43, #44, #46, #50, #49
RHC: #24-2016: Read a middle grade novel

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison is an amazing word of classical fiction, IMO.
June Buddy Reads I have yet to finish:
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

This is the shorter listing of 2020-2022 Monthly Group Reads selected that can NOT be considered for November/December 2022 Monthly Group Reads!

Alphabetical listing by title:
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Binti (Binti #1) by Nnedi Okorafor
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
The Ex Hex (Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Good Girl's Guide #1) by Holly Jackson
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

Chronological listing:
January 2020: Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
February 2020: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
March 2020: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
April 2020: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
May 2020: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
June 2020: The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar
July 2020: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
August 2020: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
September 2020: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
October 2020: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
November 2020: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
December 2020: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
January 2021: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
February 2021: Binti (Binti #1) by Nnedi Okorafor
March 2021: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
April 2021: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
May 2021: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
June 2021: Dear Martin by Nic Stone
July 2021: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
August 2021: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
September 2021: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
October 2021: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
November 2021: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
December 2021: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
January 2022: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
February 2022: Get a Life, Chloe Brown (Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert
March 2022: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
April 2022: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Good Girl's Guide #1) by Holly Jackson
May 2022: Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier
June 2022: Beloved by Toni Morrison
July 2022: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
August 2022: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
September 2022: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
October 2022: The Ex Hex (Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
November 2022: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
December 2022: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

HAPPY HAPPY THURSDAY!

My past week has provided a range of emotions.

Frustration due to the fact my car was acting very strangely last Saturday while in town and had to have it towed to the mechanic’s. Then more frustration when I finally learned the shop was closed ALL THIS WEEK since they are on vacation. (Would have been very helpful if they had posted something on their website or updated their voice mail greeting to reflect that information.) And finally, financial stress due to the need to rent a vehicle for at least a week, probably two. (The good news is there are vehicles available to rent for $50-$100 more per week than in pre-COVID times. Not $500-$1,000 per week as during COVID.)

Gratitude and Joy: A new-to-me good friend living in our small town was very kind to take me into town to pickup the rental, so that was fun!

More Gratitude and Joy: my good friend who has been through all these recent medical challenges was released from rehab and appears to be well on her way to making a full recovery! YAY!! I am so relieved!

EXTREME Joy and Relief: I checked my bank balance this morning and it was WAY WAY WAY higher than I knew it could be and then I realized that my retirement has evidently started paying out (finally, after almost 3 months) and unbeknownst to me, since they never communicated anything, they paid all 3 months at once. I only expected an initial one-month payout, so that was such a relief!! Especially with unexpected car repairs and rental fees…

Gratitude, Relief, and Joy: I am finally in sync financially and can now expect monthly payments on specific dates and budget accordingly. YAY!! :)

Much to do today, so let’s get this discussion going!

ADMIN STUFF:
BIG DRUMROLL PLEASE…
The two polls Nadine posted last week have closed and…the winner is…
The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling to fulfill prompt #16 A Book About Witches for our October Monthly Group Read! I plan to read this one and hope it proves to be as enjoyable and entertaining as I expect it to be! We will need a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead that discussion!

In addition, 15 of 26 voters decided that when selecting Monthly Group Reads those books previously read within the last two years are disqualified. That means those books selected in 2019 and before would once again be eligible for 2022 Monthly Group Reads. Whew! I’m glad that has been decided! I will try my very best to remember to check the list in the future when preparing nomination polls! I do have my right hand raised when making that pledge! LOL Updated to add: I will create a separate listing of those books NOT to be considered that will be in alphabetical order by title for a quicker and easier reference for all of us to use... To be posted next week! (I have a good idea every once in awhile!) Of course, this is mainly self-serving as it will (hopefully) help me remember! LOL

The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is under way! You can find that discussion in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished” discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality I am leaving June’s discussion there as well for now and am trying to finalize that this week. I have made progress but found it difficult lately to concentrate on such intense reading. That has now changed for the better! (Financial stress is so draining for me!)

Monthly Group Reads still needing discussion leaders:
1) August: a "marvelous manager" to lead the discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
2) September: a “savvy superstar” to lead the discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
3) October: a “knowledgeable navigator” to lead the discussion of The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Since it is now July and Pride Month was in June, did you read any book(s) that you especially enjoyed and could recommend as a “Pride Read” to others? It doesn’t have to be only ones you may have read in June 2022, but could be among those read prior to last month as well.
I usually try to include a question during a monthly recognition about books relating to the specific group being recognized and honored. But we didn’t do that in June…so…now we have!

I was very impressed by Leah Johnson’s newest release, Rise to the Sun. While it definitely qualifies as a sapphic book, it included other sexualities to a lesser degree such as bisexuality. I would like to add more books to my TBR that are more inclusive, if possible. I’m trusting you-all to help with that!

And I admit that one of my favorites is Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. I doubt I will ever forget that book!

One of the most satisfying aspects of my newly discovered series, Two Rivers, by Ann Cleeves is the relationship between Matthew and Jonathan. Cleeves does an excellent job of depicting their genuine affection for each other as well as each of their attempts to adjust and flex for the other person.

How about your recommendations?

Though I am not caught up with documenting books, my challenge totals are:
Popsugar: 40/50
ATY: 48/52
RHC: 13/24

FINISHED:
Homicide in Hardcover (Bibliophile Mystery #1) by Kate Carlisle (5 STARS) was certainly enjoyable. I did appreciate the mystery and it did make me laugh occasionally. I would consider continuing the series if there weren’t so many other mystery series in which I am more intrigued.
POPSUGAR: #9, #14, #25, #36, #38, #40-2015: prompt #9 A book written by a female author, #46-Sylvia & Enrico
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #6-window, #15, #31-2009, #34-Abraham, #40-Strength, Death, Justice, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 Read a mystery where the victim is not a woman

Bob by Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead (5 STARS) was an absolutely positively delightful read! I recommend this for all ages! Very interesting information at the end about the two writers’ process for this project! (I really wanted to get that palindromic title prompt done and knew this was going to be a very quick read.)
POPSUGAR: #24, #25, #28-A “holiday”/vacation to Grandma’s in Australia from the US, #36, #40-2015:prompt #7 A book with nonhuman characters, NEW #43, #47, #48-Bob and Livy
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Australia seemed much like a desert after 5 years with no rain, #6, #8/9/10-Australia, #19, NEW #24, #25-201 pages, #35-All dead, #36-No food for livestock, #40-Strength, The World, #41, #43, #46, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #10 A book that takes place in a rural setting

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison is an amazing word of classical fiction, IMO.
For June Buddy Reads:
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
I am over halfway done but this is a very intense read...
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson
Still behind, but catching up slowly and surely! LOL

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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 totally overlooked the fact that this is a new month and I needed to pay attention to the Monthly Group Reads! As you know, I am still completing the Beloved discussion. I have been working outside like a demon possessed. Wait! Can a demon be possessed? I guess they usually do the possessing… LOL I agreed to help some new neighbors with their garden while they’re on vacation, which has turned into a weeding and mulching project. (They're brand new to gardening!) and my allergies have prevented me working outside until the tree and grass pollen subsided enough. So my own yard is also a mess.

My really good news is that my friend who had to be revived during a heart procedure seems to be making an almost full recovery. Short-term memory is still a bit limited, but she keeps improving a bit every single day. Her daughter is back in town and I have been encouraging her to participate more in her mother’s healthcare, and she has been doing so. I’m so grateful, ‘cause honestly, I at least need a break, if not a long-term overall reduction in responsibility for her health. I’m too old with my own health challenges!! Just grateful I was able to retire and help her when most needed.

I stumbled across a video of Matthew McConaughey and John Grisham in conversation via Live Talks Los Angeles from November, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0yCO.... It has restarted my interest in reading Grisham’s books. Also, now I am interested in reading McConaughey’s memoir Greenlights. I appreciate the title now that I know why he selected it!

I got to visit with friends from out-of-town whom we haven’t seen in almost 5 years and was amazed at how we have all aged and overcome physical challenges: two with cancer (one had a kidney removed), one with one knee-joint-replacement, one with two knee-joint-replacements, one with two shoulder surgeries and a HoLEP surgery, one with their fourth bout of cancer (the second time with breast cancer) as well as removal of portions of their colon due to battling severe colitis for decades. I swear, each year after you turn 60 can be a real challenge. Also, for those of you who are younger, THIS is why we old folks talk about our medical challenges—they consume much of our time and energy! LOL

Anyway, I was shocked that one couple have an ALEXA in their house. (Isn’t that just a thing younger folks do? LOL) I personally see no need for such a device. And now your dead relatives/friends can be heard through it: https://gizmodo.com/amazon-alexa-deep.... Sorry, but as much as I adored and am grateful for my grandmother’s presence in my life, yeah, no, I do not want to hear a replication of her voice now. It just seems wrong to me!

ADMIN STUFF:
The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is now in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished” discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality I am leaving June’s discussion there as well for now and hope to finalize that this next week.

I apologize for not checking the listing of October Monthly Group read nominees against the list of previous Monthly Group Reads! I totally spaced doing that! Thanks to Nadine for creating an additional poll to determine whether we want to keep this limitation for future Monthly Group Reads or not! And she has also posted the final selection poll for the October Monthly Group Read HERE. The October Monthly Group Read will fulfill prompt #16 A book about witches in honor of “Spooktober”/Halloween!

We still need a "marvelous manager" to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars and a “savvy superstar” to lead the September Monthly Group Read discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
You have an author you are loyal to and always anxiously anticipate their next release, but you read one of their books that deeply disappointed you. Name that author and tell us whether you kept reading their books or not.
I have never had this happen to me. I have been a bit disappointed by the last three Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich, but I’m still plugging along with them nonetheless. I just don’t find myself (literally) laughing out loud with them as I used to do. I don’t know if it is a change in my sense of humor or her writing… I’ll just assume it may well be me…

While I totally (and surprisingly, to me) enjoyed Emma Donnoghue’s Room, I did not find The Wonder nearly as enjoyable. I think that was mainly due to the subject matter which didn’t really interest me much. I have no real interest in religious icons or “miracle”/saintly believers… But I own another three of her books that I plan to read because I enjoy her writing overall.

FINISHED:
Witness to a Trial (The Whistler #0.5) by John Grisham 5 STARS is a short-story prequel and was kinda creepy, IMO, but only because I do not like being inside a perpetrator’s mind and ‘hearing’ (reading) their thoughts… A good setup to what I am sure will be an enjoyable mystery in the first full-length installment in the series, The Whistler. I am a huge fan of Grisham and for some reason never get around to reading his books. I’m trying to change that! Not counting for any challenges.

*I, Robot (Robot #0.1) by Isaac Asimov 5 STARS These were thought-provoking and humorous interrelated short stories. It has been more than 50 years since I read Asimov and I had forgotten his sense of humor! I will continue with the robot series.
POPSUGAR: #22, #24, #36, #40-2015: #6 A book written by someone under 30
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7-Dr. Susan Calvin, the robopsychologist, #15, #40-Strength, Death, Judgment, The World, #44, #46, #49, #50
RHC: #11, #24-2018: prompt #3 A classic of genre fiction (sci-fi)

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison is an amazing word of classical fiction, IMO.
For June Buddy Reads:
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson
I am sooooo behind!

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*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

My plan is to post questions/information for chapters 5-11, then chapters 12-18 which will complete PART ONE.

Then questions/information for PART TWO (chapters 19-25) and PART THREE (chapters 26-28).

All of this should be done tomorrow, Sunday, June 26.

BTW, the analysis I am reading alongside this is Toni Morrison in case anyone is interested. It includes commentary for The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Song of Solomon, in addition to Beloved. Interestingly, I have also read all three of the other books long ago, but definitely will be rereading along with the analysis much as I am doing this time. I just find Morrison's writing to be dense and intense and not always easy to follow.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! No worries Lynn, it's just as well for me -- not much to report today. I'm feeling rather swamped, doing my best to finish several current reads but it's gotten to the point where it feels like everything I'm reading has been sitting around for FOREVER. Ugh."
That can be really frustrating!

"I finished Catwoman, Volume 6: Keeper of the Castle this morning. 5 stars, Genevieve Valentine's writing is spectacular. She really gets the character, and the internal monologue is fantastic. I also deeply appreciated the various historical references throughout."
Wow. Your description makes me think even I might appreciate this! :)

"Currently:
The Silmarillion
Persuasion
Wrath Goddess Sing
Dismembering Lahui: A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887...C'mon weekend!"
LOL Yay for weekends! You are persevering and I'm sure you'll finish soon!

"Perhaps A Plain-Dealing Villain, I'm in the mood for something quick"
Understandable!

"If you could select one person to narrate your life, who would it be? I was thinking about this when I switched the Siri voice on my phone the other day. I love Emma Thompson, and I'm sure she would inject her narration with much wit and cleverness.."
Cool!

This should be the last week I need to apologize for my lack of participation. My good friend has finally been released from the hospital into a rehab facility as of this morning. (Her son is to be there.) And I’m taking the morning and first part of the afternoon off!

It is unbelievable how difficult it can be to get most medical professionals to listen to the one person who knows the patient best and identifies their abilities or lack thereof, especially if that involves challenges with short-term/long-term memory. I finally started talking about that with every nurse, aide, doctor, NP, whomever. Then I caught one of them elsewhere in the hospital when I was going to the cafeteria and bent his ear… I don’t know if my friend will recover to the point of being able to live alone again or not. However, without this procedure she for sure would not have lived much longer given the severity of the aortic valve’s deterioration (much worse than the echocardiogram imaging had indicated).

So this is definitely one of those scenarios where you could infinitely consider the pros and cons. I hope for her sake she makes a full recovery over time, but time is the only thing that will determine that. All I know is I have provided just as much energy and care to her as I could, so my soul and spirit are fulfilled in that regard. Now I can only continue to project positive energy for full recovery and provide emotional support.

As soon as I have confirmation of her room number today I’ll head into town and deliver flowers, balloons, etc. Something to cheer her up!

I can only offer thanks to you-all for your patience with me during this extremely stressful and demanding time. It’s good to return to my usual morning retirement routine of tea, meditation, meal-replacement shake, and the Popsugar group!! LOL

ADMIN STUFF:
We have a nomination poll for the October Monthly Group Read HERE! Please vote or write-in a book you wish to be considered to fulfill prompt #16 A book about witches in honor of “Spooktober”/Halloween! Note: this is the NOMINATION poll and Nadine will have the final selection poll next week! (I am having trouble with my laptop and Word so I couldn’t include an image! Ugh. I sense I'm going to need a replacement laptop sooner rather than later... Double UGH!)

We still need a "marvelous manager" to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars and a “savvy superstar” to lead the September Monthly Group Read discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! It just struck me that we will be reading Cemetary Boys and then a book about witches back-to-back in September and October! Hmmmm… LOL

Our discussion of Beloved is ongoing. I have been indisposed, but this is my top priority today and tomorrow so we can finish by month’s end. You can find that discussion here. And the place to post any book you’ve read to complete prompt #10 An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner is here. This is in honor of the United States' most recently added holiday--Juneteenth on June 19, 2022! (aka African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day) This award "recognizes books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity."

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
If you could select one person to narrate your life, who would it be?
I love this question and knew immediately who that one person would be. It would be my husband. I am particularly sensitive to voices and his big deep bass voice has always been so enjoyable to me. Plus he has a way of conveying sarcasm and humor through his voice that is amazing, IMO, and I would hope that anyone narrating my life would not only recognize opportunities to use both of those, but could adequately convey both using only their voice.

FINISHED:
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson was an excellent YA read. 5 STARS And enabled a good discussion at the book club meeting. It has a good portion of teenage angst but also a fulfilling ending and deals with some traumatic stuff as well. A much deeper and more intense read than her debut, You Should See Me In a Crown. Johnson is now one of my favorite authors.
POPSUGAR: #5, #9, #18, #19-summer, #21, #25, #29, #36, #37, #40-2017: prompt #5 A book written by a person of color, #46-Imani was Olivia’s best friend, but she also loved her romantically, #48-Olivia and Toni
ATY: #1-Amani and Toni, #2-Read her debut novel in 2021 (You Should See Me In a Crown), #4-A book written by an author younger than you, #13-Imani was a STEM student working in research labs, #23, #40-Strength, The Sun, Judgment, The World, #43
RHC: #4, #24-2017: 20. Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
June Buddy Reads:
*I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson
*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 am posting to apologize for my 'disappearance' from here. I have been overseeing a good friend's healthcare, spending all day/evening every day in the hospital with her. (I'm too old for this...it exhausts me!)

I plan to get back into Beloved and the discussion tomorrow!

Thank you for your patience!