L Y N N’s
Comments
(group member since Nov 10, 2018)
L Y N N’s
comments
from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.
Showing 1,561-1,580 of 4,909
Tania wrote: "Happy Thursday! Our winter is as fickle as ever, we had 2 cold days and we're back to spring/summer. We should have one more cold snap for the berries (the strawberries and blueberries). My husband would argue it has been cold at night, but really we've just lived down here too long lol."LOL
"I finished one book this week:
Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman, Jay Bonansinga - this has been on my TBR for several years now, it gives the backstory for The Governor based on the comics. I have only read a few of the comics, I'm mostly a fan of the TV show, but I felt this worked for me as well, it felt in line with the general tone of The Walking Dead (there was certainly enough blood and guts)."
Not my jam, but glad you enjoyed it! LOL
"QOTW: Yes! Even when I like the sequel, there are times when I think it was unnecessary to write it. For example, I did enjoy Scarlett but I absolutely do not think Gone with the Wind needed a second book, and I think it took away a bit from the characters."
I really disliked the way so many things were changed for that sequel. Unnecessary, IMO!
"The Black Stallion - I loved most of the books in the series but lets be honest, The Black Stallion Legend was strange."
I'm preparing to read the second book.
Ellie wrote: "Had my final endocrinology appointment this morning and my thyroid is officially back to normal. Consultant made me laugh when she was warning me that it could go wrong the other way and described hypothyroidism as " like how everyone feels in January but it goes on longer". Much love to the NHS as they have looked after me all through the pandemic even though my problem was fairly minor."I'm so glad to hear that!!! YAY for good health!! 👍🤗
"Finished:
A Pho Love Story by Lean Lo. Sweet YA romance across rival families. I mean their families really hate each other and I was invested in knowing WTF happened to make them that way. This hit all my challenges, initially I was reading it for ATY's food/drink prompt, but the parents talk in Vietnamese enough that I'm also using it for Popsugar's two languages. Plus it fit Beat the Backlist and Pick Your Poison."
This does look enjoyable! Glad you could make it work for so many prompts!
"When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo for the tiger prompt. Nadine used a fancy word for it, but yeah it was great. I've enjoyed both the novellas that can be read as standalones and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of story is woven in the next one."
Well, I may skip the first one and read this!
"Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside by Nick Offerman which I started listening to last year and put it on hold over the holidays. A bit meandering and I was hoping it would be more focused on the wandering round national parks side, and while I agree with him mostly, I also was not in the mood the listen to ways a country I don't live in is doing things wrong when I already hear about it more than enough. Plus lots of fanboying over James Rebanks that I felt I might have been better off just reading Rebanks' book (which I have). Using for ATY's long title prompt."
I assumed this was one I could leave for others who are more interested...
"Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt for ATY (three continents - Europe). Has the creepiest opening chapter ever, it really got under my skin, so full marks for being an actual scary horror story. "
Yeah. Definitely NOT for me! Horror...ugh!
"QOTW:
I have read some disappointing second books but usually they're part of a series. I don't think The Silence of the Girls needed a second book, she could have easily chosen someone else to write about as there wasn't much going on in The Women of Troy. I think she's even doing a third book..."
I have yet to read the first one! LOL
Dani wrote: "Good morning from Columbus! Or well for me I’m still awake and mad at myself for it lol. My sleep schedule is all out of whack, I got hit with a positive test and covid symptoms Saturday which led to me sleeping a lot. Somehow a few days later and I’m still up at 6:30. Yeesh. But if this is the worst of it for me, I’ll count myself lucky."Oh, no! I sure hope you have a quick and complete recovery!
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil for a book set in the 80s. This was a book I added to my tbr ages ago and forgot why, but immediately realized it’s because it’s about Savannah. My favorite city, and where I ultimately was supposed to go to college. This was a fun book, court drama, mystery, magic, comedy, interesting characters. What more could you want?"
This is one I hope to FINALLY read this year!
"The Night Tiger for the tiger prompt. I’m glad I finally got to this book, I’ve had it since around the time it came out but never made time for it. This was a gripping story and I was desperate to figure out what was happening with all the fingers."
Runaway fingers? LOL
"Sing, Unburied, Sing for the anisfield-wolf book award prompt. This was not what I thought it was going to be, but I always appreciate an unanticipated twist on southern gothic writing. It was very well written, I’ll most definitely want to read more of her work."
Agreed!
"I’m still working my way through The Way We Live Now but I let my overdrive books pile up so I’m working through them before they run out of time."
That's a pretty long book!
Katy wrote: "I finished Lonesome Dove. It's my fave book and my fourth time reading it over about 30 years."Isn't that fun when you know you will super-enjoy a book...again...and again...etc!
"QOTW: What a timely question. I hate hate hate Streets of Laredo, the sequel to Lonesome Dove."
LOL That's a whole lot of hate(s)!! 😄
"And I don't think Kingdom Come: The Final Victory the last book in the Left Behind series was at all necessary, and it kind of sucked."
I remember you didn't enjoy that one!
Mary wrote: "I am super thankful for audiobooks this week. I had a pretty rough time with my booster shot last weekend, so I mostly stuck to laying in bed/on the couch listening to audiobooks. I'm feeling much better now and I have a 3 day weekend, so I'm hopeful to get back to some of my physical library books."Glad you survived that! 😊
"I am 10/50."
Great!
"I finished:
Death on the Nile: A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship: I love Agatha Christie, especially the audiobook versions, because it helps me to just enjoy the story rather than thinking about it too hard. I found this one really enjoyable, especially this idea that every character is suspicious, because everyone is hiding something, but not necessarily murder. This is the first Agatha Christie that I've read that I pretty much figured out early on, so I took one star off for that, but still a great story. Highly recommend the audiobooks."
Good to know!
"Seven Dirty Secrets: A book about a secret: This book was entertaining and I finished it quickly, but it was a pretty repetitive and all over the place."
Sounds like on I could skip!
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A sapphic book: WOAH! I don't really have words. This book came with realizations to me. I don't think I rate books fairly sometimes, because when a book is as spectacular and special as this one, I want so much from it. I want it to be perfect and that's just not fair. There were things about this book that I did not like, but it is so much better than anything I normally read that it would be ridiculous not to give it 5 stars. I cried. I laughed. I thought a lot. I listened to the whole thing on a lazy Sunday. The audiobook is stellar and I find myself very glad that this was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book, so I quite possibly have a lot more good books ahead of me. Also, one of the best last lines of a book ever."
Oohhh...now I need to go home and reread that last line! This was my first Reid book. Then I read Daisy Jones & The Six and recently Malibu Rising and I have loved all 3 of them! I want to read her backlist now!
"Currently reading:
The Bone Collector: A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid: I love this movie, and I'm not normally one to read a book AFTER I've seen the movie, but this is great so far, except that as soon as I started to read it, I felt compelled to watch the movie again (which I did)."
I always assumed this series would be a bit too gory for me...especially considering scenes from the movie.
"DNF:
This is my first time keeping track of DNF books, but I think it is going to be helpful long term. This week two books I had planned for the challenge didn't work out for me, so I'm hunting for new ones."
Sorry those didn't work out! I find it helpful because typically once I DNF an author's book I can be relatively assured I wouldn't appreciate any other books they write either... (Looking at you, Gabriel García Márquez!)
"QOTW:
I'm sure there are, but I can only think of times when a sequel was necessary but poorly executed, like the Divergent series."
Have never tried reading that one!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday, readers!! It's really winter up here in New York now, we had temperatures in the single digits this week, and lots of snow, and even a snow day (but the snow day was for cold temperatures, not snow). My snow plow guy is finally earning his price!"Oh, ugh! At least we've not had any snow accumulation yet! Just a few dustings and that's it. Fingers crossed that it stays that way! LOL
"Here's a discussion question to throw into the mix: Why does this book have two different titles? (UK: You and Me on Vacation) Does the American title not make sense in England? Was there another UK book with a similar title and they needed to differentiate?"
I haven't a clue...
"A few people have mentioned interest in leading one of our group discussions. It's very casual and there is no right or wrong way to do it! Everyone is welcome! If you're interested, do not hesitate to give it a try!! We currently have an opening to lead the March discussion of The Island of Sea Women. (More to come, as later months are chosen.) Message me or Lynn if you're interested."
Definitely no rules or right/wrong! Just jump in if you're interested in giving it a try!
"Places in the Darkness by Christopher Brookmyre - this was a decent sci-fi mystery; a lot of reviews are calling it "noir" but I don't see it. It's got two POVs, so I checked off "book with 2 POVs." "
Looks interesting!
"When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo - this novella was a lot of fun! Recommended to anyone who enjoys mythopoeic stories. I checked off "tiger" with this book."
Huh. I have the first book on my TBR listing. Definitely sounds interesting!
"I'm very pleased with myself for prioritizing the Challenge this year (so far). I guess this goes back to Lynn's question last week! In the past, I would casually read what I wanted, some Challenge reads and some not, because I was confident that I would finish in Q3. But in 2021, that all went out the window. I didn't like the stress of finishing in the last week!"
Good for you!
"I'm currently reading book one in Kwei Quartey's Darko Dawson series (which I keep calling Donnie Darko), Wife of the Gods. I just realized that book three in the series (Murder at Cape Three Points) perfectly fits another Challenge category for me (sister cities). I toyed with just skipping book two, but I know that's not my style, and I can see Quartey is setting up some longer plot arcs about Darko's wife & son, so I don't want to miss anything. So I'll be reading book two, Children of the Street, too, but I'm not sure if I can find a Challenge category for it."
I read the first installment in 2012. I really enjoyed it though admittedly I don't remember much about it.
"Question of the Week
this question was suggested by Heather about a year ago:
Are there any books that have sequels, but you wish they didn't?
Yes! I have a lot of grievances to share! I read these wonderful gems that feel so fresh and new and they stand alone on their own perfectly, with no need for a sequel. And then the sequel is published, and it's no where near as good, and it takes the story in places it didn't need to go, and it just ruins the whole thing for me."
You crack me up!
"But for me, the first book that pops into my head IS a book that turned a stand-alone into a duology, and it really didn't need to happen, because that stand-alone stood just fine on its own. Warm Bodies was such a great book, a clever, fresh, and different take on the zombie story."
No danger of me reading about Zombies. 😀
"Throne of Glass was a fun, fluffy retelling of Cinderella as an assassin, written by a teen, for teens, and I enjoyed it for what it was. But then, it was an overnight sensation and Maas just didn't stop writing."
Ha! Well, strike while the iron is hot, I guess!!
"Similarly, I really enjoyed One of Us Is Lying, it was so fun and clever, I enjoyed all the characters, and it felt like a fresh take on a popular trope. But the sequel was (in my opinion) a real dud. And I see McManus has a third (and supposedly final) book coming out next year."
I really enjoyed the first one but have yet to read the second one!
"I feel this way about a lot of popular picture books, too. Whenever a picture book is a hit, publishers want more of the same from that author, and I get it, little kids naturally gravitate to the familiar, so if they love a character, they want all the books with that character. But sometimes I wish the author had just stopped at one. Three that pop into my head are: Olivia, Pinkalicious, and Llama Llama Red Pajama. I loved those books, they had that certain j'ne sais quoi that made the characters come alive for me, they stood head and shoulders above the other picture books, and that quality was lacking in the sequels."
But...I love all those books!!! LOL 😊
I’ve been busy at work. Start of a new semester always is… But still trying to read just as much as possible! We have also hit winter weather in Indiana. Over a week ago I got in the car and it was 1 degree Fahrenheit with a wind chill that made it feel like 14 degrees below zero! I hate winter weather. I really need to move to a more temperate climate…as if that’ll ever happen! LOL
The heated therapy pool was closed for 10 days and I’m just now getting back into my regular workout/teaching routine, so that’s good! These bionic knees must have regular workouts! (As well as the shoulders, feet, hips, spine, and everything else affected by osteoarthritis!)
I am thrilled to see some members starting (or restarting) to participate in the Weekly Check-Ins! That’s so much fun!
Admin Stuff:
In addition to the January 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is the opportunity to post any book you read to satisfy the #BookTok prompt here. (I ended up really enjoying this one!)
Thanks go to Sherri for offering her guidance for the February Monthly Group Read discussion of Get a Life, Chloe Brown! THANK YOU!! 😊 (I'm really looking forward to this!
And next week we’ll post the April Monthly Group Read nomination poll for your consideration! That book can be used to fulfill prompt #26 A book with a misleading title. In honor of April Fools’ Day! 😳😊
Question of the Week:
Are there any books that have sequels, but you wish they didn't?
There are a few series which I’ve not continued after reading the first book, but I honestly cannot think of a sequel (or multiple sequels/series) that I did not enjoy. I typically read the first book in a series and if I like it enough, I’ll plan to continue the series and if I don’t like it, then I don’t continue with the sequel(s).
For instance, due to the fact that a dear friend is absolutely enthralled with Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series, I read the first book Still Life and really wasn’t impressed… When she and I discussed it later her comment was, “Oh, well, yeah, the first book wasn’t that good, but her writing improved vastly from that!” All I could think was, if you didn’t impress me with the first in the series, then you missed your opportunity. 😋
Popsugar: 9/50
ATY: 22/52
RHC: 2/24
FINISHED:
Murder on Black Swan Lane (Wrexford & Sloane #1) by Andrea Penrose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was an amazing read! Penrose is perfect in her depiction of the gloomy sooty “stews” of London during the Regency period and her characters feel so real! Anxious to continue this series!!
POPSUGAR: NEW #9-Charlotte and Raven and Hawk are definitely “family”!, #25, NEW #36, #40-2016 prompt #27: A murder mystery, #46-Charlotte/A.J. Quill
ATY: #4-A book relating to Catch-22—Charlotte is definitely caught in a “catch 22” with Wrexford’s offer, #6-street lights, NEW #9-England = Europe, NEW #11, NEW #12-Glass was one of the ingredients in the secret chemical compound, NEW #21-Top Hat, #36, #40-Death, Justice, Judgment, The World, NEW #44, NEW #49
RHC: NEW #24-2016: Read a historical fiction novel set before 1900
Murder at Half Moon Gate (Wrexford & Sloane #2) by Andrea Penrose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was another absolutely excellent read for me! I am in love with Andrea Penrose! LOL This series is amazing, blending scientific and technological history with secrets and a complex mystery with a bit of romance thrown in! Her writing makes the overall atmosphere yet another character. This was a January Buddy Read.
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #46
ATY: #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): well those passions read-we’re finally getting to see some of the shared passion between Charlotte and Wrex, #6, NEW #14, #21-Top hat, NEW #26, NEW #27, #33, #40-The Lovers, Justice, Death, Judgement, The World, #44, #49
RHC: #24-From 2016: Read a historical fiction novel set before 1900
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for our January Monthly Group Read. I loved the first chapter. Very clever, IMO! I really enjoyed this. I felt it was a bit more complex than just a “romance”/”rom com” and that added greatly to my enjoyment. (Whew! Got that #BookTok prompt fulfilled!)
POPSUGAR: #9-Poppy and Alex definitely were a “found family”!, NEW #11, #25, #28-In certain parts of the world “holiday” means “vacation”!, #40-2016 prompt #25-Takes place during summer (each vacation is during the summer)
ATY: #1-Alex, NEW #3, #4-A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Tell that its sculptor well those passions read, Unfortunately, neither Poppy nor Alex appear to read each other’s passion well!, NEW #34-Alex is a teacher, #40-The Lovers, The Sun, The World
CONTINUING:
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett for his author visit later this month. I thought this was going to be a rather absurd read and I was correct. Trying to withhold judgment until I get further into it…since I'm only on page 25! LOL
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson for a January Buddy Read. This is so interesting! And timely. Hoping to finish it over the upcoming 3-day weekend!
*Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston for the February Monthly Group Read. I'll wait to restart and then finish this one now...
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Paradise by Toni Morrison to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #25 A book written by Toni Morrison. You know, Morrison is such a skilled writer, but I find her books to be really intense!
PLANNED:
To complete some 2021 year-long challenges:
1) Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson I'll probably start this one next...
2) Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
3) The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
To complete the 2021 Read Harder Challenge:
*Get a Life, Chloe Brown (our February Group Read! How convenient! LOL)
*Ordinary Girls
*Death Comes to Pemberley
*Cleopatra: A Life
*Yes, Chef
Ellie wrote: "For a BIPOC, fat positive Christmas romance there's Someday at Christmas by Tanya Byrne writing as Lizzie Byron. And Juno Dawson (trans author) has a festive one this year, Stay Another Day, but I don't know if it has any trans rep in it.In the UK holiday means the same as vacation, so it could be that kind of holiday too."
I came to this thread wanting to mention this! I just finished reading People We Meet on Vacation and realized that this book could fulfill this prompt since it is all about vacations which are referred to as holidays in some parts of the world! 👍😊
One of the things I really liked about this book was the aspect of examining a relationship with an eye toward "similarities" rather than "compatibility," which IMO are two very different things. (view spoiler) I guess that struck a chord with me...
Finished this and really enjoyed it. Much more than I expected to. Though I feel much of that is due to Henry's writing and making this book more complex than a typical "romance"/"rom com" as I would expect...
Carmen wrote: "I know check in isn't until a couple more days but I just finished a book, a physical book, for the first time since May and I am so emotional about it I just had to share, hahah!Save for three Warrior Cats audiobooks back in November (binged them in a week) my last book in general was that same May, so I'm--- *sobs*
Hopefully by next check in I can say I've read the next one as well, because the reveal at the end has me BUZZING, ahahah! So fingers crossed for me!"
HOORAY FOR YOU!! ✨✨🎆🎆🎇🎇👍🤗
poshpenny wrote: "New work year, same work shenanigans. I went in for my overnight shift only to find a note that it was pushed back again, so I get to do it again tomorrow. That's fine. At this point I prefer working overnight. I can listen to my audiobooks and nobody is breathing on me. Oh and the time off I was scheduled to have starting Sunday was moved back a week. Sigh."What a start to the year! Perhaps it will only improve from here? I SURE hope so! 😊
"I love the start of a new reading year. The little burst of 'woohoo the book I happen to be reading fits a prompt!' is strong when they are all still waiting to be filled."
That's so true! 😃
"Finished:
Picture books
Cat Problems
The Real Santa
¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! the Dance That Crossed Color Lines
Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist"
How cool these all look!
"Mrs. March - This is the second book I've read recently where other people think it's so mysterious/creepy/suspenseful or something and all I see is someone with obvious serious mental health problems who needs some help."
That's how I felt about The Catcher in the Rye. I saw Holden as a kid who needed help...
"Otto: A Palindrama - This was fun. The graphic novel is written entirely in palindromes! The action is clearly just setting up ways to showcase them, but it was amusing. Super quick read."
I'm typically not a graphic novel reader, but this looks adorable!
"Bluecrowne - The third Greenglass House book. It features some Chinese."
I now have a copy of Greenglass House and plan to read it in February.
"Currently Reading:
The Ladies of the Secret Circus
Bibliophile: Diverse Spines"
I'm mainly blaming you for the increase on my TBR listing!
"QOTW:
My strategy last year was kinda non-existent. Normally I like to have some titles that fit each prompt so I can pick one of those if my reading doesn't happen to fill them. Last year I didn't find that many early on but I read such an excessive amount it was fine. I probably going that route again, though I would like to find some more potential matches.
The one thing I am doing though is aimed at books I own. I've just not been able to focus on print books the past couple of years, so I'm giving more attention to picking those books on audio. I found/figured out how to make the unread books on my spreadsheet auto-populate onto a different tab, so I have a handy dandy list of them all together. (Well, one per year.) I've also added a column noting where I might find/have the audio version. Now it's simple to scroll through my physical TBR and also see if I have it to listen to!"
You are so organized! Good for you! 👍😀
Pooja wrote: "Here's my first proper attempt at the Popsugar challenge! I've had a lot of free time lately and knocked out a few of the prompts already."GREAT!! Welcome to the exciting world of POPSUGAR 2022! 🤗
"Read
A romance novel by a BIPOC author - Kamila Knows Best"
Added to my TBR...
"A book with a recipe in it - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe"
A reminder that I have yet to read this one!
"A different book by an author you read in 2021 - Agrippina: The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman World"
Added to my TBR...
"Currently Reading
A book published in 2022 - Uncontrollable Women: Radicals, Reformers and Revolutionaries"
Added this one!
"An Ansfield-Wolf Book Award winner - The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family"
Oohhh...this is the book I'm reading for that prompt, too!
Added this. The premise sounds compelling!
"QotW: Let’s talk strategy for this new year! Are you changing the way you approach the 2022 Popsugar challenge from what you did in 2021? Or was your strategy successful and you’re going to simply repeat it this year?
I don't have too much of a strategy, really. I made a spreadsheet with a book that fits each prompt, trying to add books I already own or plan to read, but keeping an eye out for books that will fit prompts that I am reading casually as well."
That seems to be a very pragmatic strategy! 👍😀
Harmke wrote: "Happy 2022 everyone and lots of reading fun!We started the year in quarantine because someone at our small New Year’s Eve party tested positive 2 days later. We are okay, no symptoms after 6 days, so that’s pretty safe. It’s raining and our country is in lockdown, so what’s different from normal?? (Spoiler: going to the supermarket.)"
Oh, ugh! So many of my friends have now contracted COVID. I worry about each and every one of them making a full recovery back to health!
"Finished
Blood Sisters by Barbara Keating⭐⭐⭐
It started a bit slow and boring, but the second half was much better. More speed, more development of some characters. Nice ‘biggie’ (> 600 pages). Not for a challenge, finished it December 30th."
This looks sooooo good! Added it to my TBR listing!
"My Fathers' Ghost Is Climbing in the Rain by Patricio Pron⭐⭐
I guess I have to accept that this kind of complicated way of writing is not my cup of tea. Pron tried to write about the impact of living in a dictatorship for the families of political opponents. I understand what he wanted to do, but it’s just not for me.
PS: #6, a book by a Latinx author, #23, a book with a recipe in it"
Ooohhh...added that to my TBR listing as well!
"Currently reading
House of Gold by Natasha Solomons"
Another one for my TBR!
"QOTW
I noticed that I was a bit too focussed on the challenge. This year, I’m going to read whatever I feel like and decide afterwards if and how they fit in the challenge. First prompt is already ticked off. Not a bad start!"
Sounds like a successful plan since you've already knocked out one prompt! 👍😀
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! I wasn't off work, so I don't have the post-vacation slump to blame for my low desire to get work done! Actually, I'm ahead of schedule for the month due to some flukes I didn't plan for and it makes me happy- I'm never ahead!"I'm glad for you!!
"But boyfriend has the flu or covid (he's getting tested tomorrow) and has been asleep all day. I hope he feels better for several reasons. One of them being that he is the poster boy for Man Colds!!"
I sure hope he doesn't have COVID and that he is recovering quickly and fully! (My ex was the same way...)
"I finished reading a short story which is part of the collection in Tales of Pain and Wonder, "Rats Live on No Evil Star". Which I'm using for the palindrome prompt. I'm totally counting it because the phrase appears in the story and the fact that it's a palindrome is important. The story itself is weird and creepy and not one I would have read otherwise."
Wow. How clever is that?!? LOL 😀
"Middlesex which started off stronger than expected"
I thought this book was excellent!
"QOTW: Strategy?? What is this thing you speak of? Ha! I don't expect to finish anyway, so I read what I want and fit it in as I go and if it doesn't work, oh well."
That is a strategy in and of itself! But you did make me laugh and you get points for that! LOL 👍😂
I'm through Chapter 25, hoping to finish this tonight. One thing about romance/rom com is that as a writer you must have a seemingly infinite vocabulary of words of attraction to use at all those "almost" points during the book until the end, right? LOL Not sure I could manage that! I just read where (view spoiler)
Sherri wrote: "Check point 8 - 12In terms of this book and/or its characters, It Aspires...?
I looked at the genre of the book & among other things it said contemporary romance. It never said Rom-Com. I don't h..."
I felt as if Poppy had thoroughly vetted the place they stayed but was misled by the information presented--Nikolai was not honest in his depiction of the place.
Nadine in NY wrote: "ssel wrote: "Finished: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk was a fairly short book at about 274 pages. I found it comical and heartbreaking. Definitely brings up some timeless philosophical questions. ..."I am so torn on whether to read this or not. Since she won the Nobel, I'm afraid it will be all wordy and difficult and annoy me. But I should at least give it a try."
I think you would like it Nadine. I don't think it is as wordy as you might believe...
Jen wrote: "Happy New Year! I've been lurking in this group, but finally decided I should start posting more."I wholeheartedly agree!! You should! LOL 👍😁
"This week, I've finished a whole bunch of novellas in a series, three of which I'm counting for the challenge. It makes for an impressive-looking start, even though all but one of these were sub-200 pages long.
These are all set in Bujold's World of the Five Gods, which I highly recommend if you're a fantasy fan. I started reading the novella series to close out 2021, and decided to finish them up to start the new year.
The Prisoner of Limnos - A book with two POVs
The Orphans of Raspay - A book you can read in one sitting
The Physicians of Vilnoc
The Assassins of Thasalon - A different book by an author you read in 2021
Knot of Shadows"
Cool!
"I'm currently reading MEM as my book with a palindromic title. I'm enjoying it so far; it's an interesting alt-historical sci-fi, where people can extract memories which live on in copies of themselves, called Mems. The main character in an unusual Mem who seems to have her own mind and personality."
Perfect!
"QOTW: I'm not really doing anything differently from last year. In order to not burn out on reading challenges, I've only been doing Popsugar. I usually make a spreadsheet with two choices for each prompt, just in case I run into issues getting ahold of my first choice. This year I did try to fill as much of the list with stuff I already owned or had on hold at the library, to help clear out my TBR a little without adding too much more to it."
Sounds like a good plan!
Carmen wrote: "Ellie wrote: "The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood for ace spectrum (and Beat the Backlist). This was as adorable as everyone has said. I think the main character is demisexual, but google tells me that's on the ace spectrum so I'll stick with it. My copy has "TikTok sensation" on the cover so if anyone reads it for ace and feels it's not a close enough fit, then there's always that prompt! ⭐⭐⭐⭐"As someone who's demisexual, I can confirm it is most definitely on the ace spectrum! I generally just say I'm ace cuz it's a lot easier, and lowers expectations. If anyone has any questions, feel free to send them my way <3 I don't know everything, but maybe enough to help!
As for the book.. I'm tempted to read because of the rep, but Reylo really isn't my kind of ship haha! So we'll see what happens. I'm annoyed about the booktok prompt (given I hate tiktok save for One Man- Dylan Hollis I love you) so I might just read this one just to get rid of it haha!"
That is so gracious of you! Thank you!
