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 141-160 of 4,993
I FINALLY posted the final questions regarding the March Monthly Group Read discussion of Station Eleven. Whew! I guess ‘better late than never’ might apply… I found it to be quite a thought-provoking read... And then I posted some initial questions for the Floating Hotel discussion. I feel very “adult” about all of that!! LOL I am really enjoying Floating Hotel and plan to finish it today. Speaking of today... The temperature today is to get to 87° F and our A/C is not working properly. I had them come out last week and they determined there must be a leak and filled the coolant, and sure enough it wasn’t pumping out truly “cold” air over the weekend, so I had them back yesterday and a coil must be replaced. And, of course, the two systems (indoor/outdoor) are “different” and they were uncertain about finding a replacement coil due to the age of the equipment, etc. (For once, it was not MY age, nor my husband’s, but that of the equipment that was in question! LOL 😁👍) The good news is that they did locate a coil and have ordered it. The kinda bad news is that it won’t arrive until early next week. So in the meantime, the next two evenings it will be pretty warm in the house. However, at least we know help is on the way for far less cost than replacing the whole system! So that’s good!
I am having trouble believing this is May AND we are almost halfway through the month! Time certainly does seem to fly, especially in “old age”! LOL
ADMIN STUFF:
THE JULY MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #5 A book with a snake on the cover or in the title
World Snake Day is July 16, 2025 (I had no idea there was one of these!!)
Only 17 members have voted thus far and there is currently a three-way tie! Interesting…
There are five books from which to select:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Sunrise on the Reaping (Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins
VOTE HERE!
*** This poll will run through May 20th. ***
THE JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ IS West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #12 A book about a road trip. Take a Road Trip Day is June 20, 2025!
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Who is the "tricky traveler" willing to facilitate this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I adore this book! And such an unknown bit of history. Unbelievable what was attempted…
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis This book could be used to fulfill prompt #3 A book about space tourism. National Space Day is May 2, 2025! https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Speaking of snakes—the July Monthly Group Read poll and prompt #5 A book with a snake on the cover or in the title. Do you suffer from ophidiophobia/ophiophocia, a fear of snakes? (Derived from the Greek words “ophis” meaning snake and “phobia” meaning fear.) Not to be confused with herpetophobia, the fear of all reptiles.
Though there isn’t much that scares me, I fully admit to an aversion to all snakes. Though I do remember petting a huge python once as a 13-year-old when in a pet shop and someone had brought it in with them. It was wrapped around his neck and hanging down on both sides of the boy’s body. But that’s it. Seeing them in the wild scares the bejeezus out of me! I’ve encountered snakes 5-6 times throughout my lifetime and really, I could do without any more of those incidents before I leave this physical world!!
My middle son once asked me if he could get a snake…I paused, looked up, and then looked him in the eye and said, "Sure! Let’s see...you’re 13 now, so in only 5 more years you will turn 18 and can live on your own. Once that happens, you can have just as many snakes as you want! Until then? NO!! We have fish, cats, dogs, and bunnies, but snakes are a no-go!" LOL He was quite obviously not impressed with my sarcasm. 😯😋
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 39/50
Around the Year (AtY): 51/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 10/10 FINISHED
Read Harder: 16/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
*Stay True by Hua Hsu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was extremely well-written, IMO! Of the 7 book club members at the meeting, everyone enjoyed reading it. (The one member not in attendance was the only one who had trouble getting into it and will probably DNF it.) So only one out of seven is a good rating overall! I would definitely read more of Hsu’s writing. His writing style was “slice of life,” IMO, and I loved the way he would weave in bits and pieces of historical data. Of particular interest was the way in which his life didn’t seem to fit with the typical Asian American immigrant stereotype, and he distinguished between the various Asian cultures carrying over into U.S. immigrants. Well plotted, character-driven, and heartfelt. An overall poignant and intriguing read! A Pulitzer-Prize-winner I heartily endorse! He had been writing this for over 20 years! So well-deserved praise!
POPSUGAR: #6, #8, #20, #25, #28, #31, #40
ATY: #2, #5, #13, #16, #23, #34, #37, #41, #43, #48
RHC: #5, #8, #12, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #13, #22, #37, #43
*Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the Monthly Group Read was much more open-ended than I expected it to be. It also required much more attention to detail than I expected. I have my own interpretation of Nina and Carl’s ultimate decision, but seriously wonder if anyone else came to the same conclusions! Hopefully I’ll find out in the Monthly Group Read discussion! I agree with many Goodreads reviewers who didn’t feel this was truly a “cozy” read, but I definitely found it thought-provoking and complex.
POPSUGAR: NEW #3, #6, #14, #20, #31
ATY: #2, #5, #11, #13, #14, #15, #23, #32, #37, #41, #44
RHC: #6, #9, #11, #16, #21, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #10, #22, #33, #38, #43, #51
CONTINUING:
*The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong for an IRL book club meeting
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
*The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
PLANNED:
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
Just starting "I. FRIENDS FROM BEYOND: FIRST CONTACT" on page 49 in my paperback copy.And now I have a guess about the "mystery"! Anxious to see if I am on the right track or not!
Please feel free to comment as you read, but please remember to hide spoilers, just in case!! 😯
Awww...hello, hello, hello, dear Lilith!! Lilith wrote: "1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
I love mysteries and psychological suspense of all kinds. My preferred area would be the grittier end of the spectrum: police procedurals, heavier plots and themes, issues and events. Love Queer and LGBTQIA+, and I am loving the representation so far.
I'm not really into SF or fantasy, unless the SF is very heavy on the science, especially biology or chemistry. I have really been giving SFF the ol' college try, since these genres have been on the rise, and there are soooo many prompts on just about any challenge I do."
You go gritty and I go smoooooth! LOL I am forcing myself to respond to posts before finally digging in to the book this evening!!
"2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
I am reading this for the space tourism prompt."
Seems like an obvious fit, doesn't it? 👍😁
"3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
No, I haven't. If this book blows me away, then maybe I will. I'll never say never."
Very wise...!
"4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
It's hard to resist a pretty cover, and I really like the blues, purples and gold swirls. I even liked the elaborate capital A on the ship. It did hint at the hospitality industry, along with the title, and I've worked in the industry, so I figured I'd enjoy that aspect - or commiserate with the characters."
I can only imagine interacting with clients in a hotel/motel setting could very well be fraught with frustration and the need to squelch angry reactions! I have watched people interact with hospitality staff before and wondered exactly how they thought their interactions were appropriate or even civil! Yikes!
So good to have you join, Kendra!Kendra wrote: "1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
Yes to all except Cozy. That tends to be a red flag for me. I have found that to be a sign that there isn't going to be much of a plot, or that the characters are going to act like idiots for the sake of humour..... Seeing the cozy tag worries me."
Oh! I see that tag and I'm relieved! I sure hope this has enough of the other elements to satisfy you and make this an enjoyable read for you!
"2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
It was already on my TBR before the list was released, so I already had it slotted in to my plan before the BotM poll happened. I actually held off on reading it so I could join in the group read."
YAY!! Thank you for joining us!
"3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
Nope."
Not sure any of us has... 😊
"4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
I thought it looked fun - it was a slightly cartoony spaceship, leading me to think fun scifi, not just endless battle scenes which is what books with more realistic spaceships tend to be."
Ah! It does look fun!
It is very good to have you along, Trish!!Trish wrote: "To get us started:
1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
I read a lot of mysteries, especially cozies, and a decent amount of SF and Fantasy, so yes. LGBT isn't my favourite genre, but a lot of SF is going that way nowadays."
I like diversity in my life and my books. Hopefully, this will be an enjoyable read for you!
"2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
No. I'd never even heard of it or the author before, so the combination of it being a monthly GR and prompt #3 meant I'd give it a go."
Yay!
"3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
No, although if I enjoy this I may search them out."
Same here!
"4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
The version I've got has the martini on the front, which is eyecatching."
Oooohhh! I should have checked about other cover images before assuming all editions used the same one! I find the martini image rather interesting, since I don't drink alcohol. But then any such drinks can easily be made without any alcohol as well, I guess! (I shouldn't assume! LOL) It does grab my attention!
So glad you're joining, Sasha! Sasha wrote: "1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
SF and queer/LGBT are two of my top categories. I don't read much fantasy, but I wouldn't really classify this as fantasy anyway. I read mysteries occasionally and am planning to explore some of the classics in that genre soon. I do probably tend towards the cozy end of the mystery spectrum."
I particularly enjoy "cozy" mysteries as well! The "thriller" books can be too gory and/or scary for me! (I'm a wuss!)
"2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
I chose it for the prompt, before it was selected as the monthly group read."
Well, that was fortuitous! Or prescient! Or both!
"3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March.
No, but Frontier seems like something I might enjoy in the right mood."
For me as well!
"4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
Yes, it was one of the things that attracted me to this book when I was looking for something to fill the prompt! I love those purples and blues and sweeping lines. I also found the title font quite evocative of a 1920s, Grand Hotel vibe."
Love your observation about the colors! And the sweeping lines attract me as well! That font is distinctive, IMO. The sweeping lines just kinda bring it all together, IMO!
Welcome to the wild and crazy month of May Group Read, Betty!!Betty wrote: "1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
* Yes, I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy so this is pretty typical for me."
Cool!
") Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
* It wasn’t on my TBR. I’m reading it to fill the Space Tourism prompt."
Great!
"3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
* Nope - this is the only one of her books I read"
I imagine that may be the overall response...
"4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
* It’s a nice cover, but I didn’t feel like it was particularly special in any way."
That is my usual reaction as well! 👍
DeeRae wrote: "1) No, it was not. It was actually selected for my small town book club book for March."That's interesting! What were the book club members' reactions to it?
"2) No, but I was thinking about using it for happy dystopian."
I think it would fulfill that prompt, though, IMO, dystopian books by definition are not necessarily "happy"! 😉
"3) I did find it intriguing and not related how I might have mused."
I agree!
"4) Cover also did draw me in. It was interesting without being cluttered or weird looking."
Yes!
"5) Yes, I do. I have a side plague book quest. I find patient zero/plague outbreak stories interesting."
THAT is interesting! 🙂
"6) I thought I would, and I did!"
It sounds as if this book was "right up your alley," as we used to say! 👍
"We were asked what we’d put in the museum of civilization; maybe a mug or jewelry.
Did the story have a “main character”? -Maybe K?"
I used these as inspiration for a couple of the final questions! Thank you!!
I find Goodreads to be so frustrating! It refused to allow me to post any more than the first question initially. So, my answers are spread over 3 different posts! Ugh. And I tried refreshing multiple times, shutting down my laptop and retrying. Nothing worked! UGH! But finally this discussion is finished. I hope some others will contribute over the next few days and then I'll move it to the 2025 Monthly Group Reads folder where it should be! 😁
4) What do you think of Clark's Museum of Civilization? Is it a valuable contribution? Or meaningless/inane? What would you contribute to such a collection?I think anything that educates us about others is valuable. I also felt as if it might provide motivation to those left behind to keep striving to re-establish some form of civilization as it was in the past, yet hopefully way better! Uncertain what I might contribute. I guess it would mainly depend upon what I still 'owned' but anything could be considered pertinent, IMO.
5) Would you say the story has a “main character”/protagonist? If so, who would you name?
I believe Kirsten is the most obvious answer since she seems to lead the narrative. Though overall I felt many characters' contributions were very important to the story line. I believe the interconnectedness of characters makes the idea of a "protagonist" a bit less obvious or necessary.
6) Did you enjoy this book? What is your overall reaction?
Hmmm... I did, if you can consider a "dystopian" novel to be "enjoyable"! LOL What mainly appealed to me was the complex interconnectedness of characters. But for me, dystopia overall is not "enjoyable" since in the aftermath it typically feels depressing to me...
7) Would you recommend this book to other readers? Why or why not?
I would recommend it, but with disclaimers regarding the fact that I mostly appreciate the interconnectedness of the characters' lives and I feel this would be an excellent "book club" read as it should provide much fodder for discussion. Especially since we have now experienced a global pandemic in our "modern world." Though I also found it extremely thought-provoking just on an individual/personal level as well.
2) Did you have a clue as to the real-life identity of "The Prophet"?I did. I can't remember exactly where in my reading of the book I wondered if this crazed man wasn't Tyler. I think it was when his mother became so radical and they left with a cult group...
3) How do you think other's lives might have been changed if Arthur had lived?
Arthur fully intended to fly to join Elizabeth and Tyler, but then he died. I can only imagine that Tyler might well have been changed by sustained and more intimate contact with this father. Having been raised by a single mother who became rather cult-like in her religious beliefs the last 15-20 years of her life, I realize how easily a child can be influenced by a single parent. (Much to my mother's chagrin, I did not follow in her footsteps regarding her zealous beliefs...) I felt very sorry for Tyler as a result. Though not enough to absolve him of his many crimes. IMO, the world would have been much better off without him in it as an adult simply because of the harm to he caused others--death/murder/suicide, intimidation, etc. Although, Arthur didn't seem to be very good at following through on his intentions with regard to close relationships, so perhaps he would not have been a positive contributor to Tyler's life and development. (There are no guarantees...)
My answers...1) What are your thoughts regarding Miranda's "Station Eleven"?
It has been long enough I honestly don't remember much about this 'comic' other than I totally respected Miranda's efforts throughout the years and was extremely disappointed for her that (view spoiler)
And finally...1) What are your thoughts regarding Miranda's "Station Eleven"?
2) Did you have a clue as to the real-life identity of "The Prophet"?
3) How do you think other's lives might have been changed if Arthur had lived?
4) What do you think of Clark's Museum of Civilization? Is it a valuable contribution? Or meaningless/inane? What would you contribute to such a collection?
5) Would you say the story has a “main character”/protagonist? If so, who would you name?
6) Did you enjoy this book? What is your overall reaction?
7) Would you recommend this book to other readers? Why or why not?
We’ve had a tad of rain off and on, but much less than it sounds like you’ve been getting, Nadine! Our A/C has been fixed and is running, so I am very happy about that! (Especially since it did not cost nearly as much as I feared it might!) It looks as if temperatures will be in the 70s/80s this next week. A list from Goodreads! Readers' Favorite History, Memoir, and General Nonfiction of the Past Five Years (posted April 1, 2025)
The IRL book club I facilitate has just selected (by vote) our next 9 books to read throughout 2026! I always get so excited about this process!! We had 25 books nominated and I thought you might find it interesting to see the 9 selected…
1) After Life by Gayle Forman
2) The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
3) East of Eden by John Steinbeck
4) Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
5) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers
6) The Measure by Nikki Erlick
7) Orbital by Samantha Harvey
8) Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by T.J. Klune
9) The Wedding People by Alison Espach
In addition to these, each member selects a book for the group to read during their birthday month. I added that in the aftermath of COVID once we began meeting IRL again. It has been a nice addition and seems to help each member feel more invested in the group overall.
ADMIN STUFF:
THE JULY MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #5 A book with a snake on the cover or in the title
World Snake Day is July 16 2025 (I had no idea there was one of these!!)
There are five books from which to select:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
A Snake Falls to Earth by ??
Stone Blind by ??
Sunrise on the Reaping (Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins
VOTE HERE!
*** This poll will run through May 20th. ***
THE JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ IS West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #12 A book about a road trip. Take a Road Trip Day is June 20, 2025!
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Who is the "tricky traveler" willing to facilitate this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I adore this book! And such an unknown bit of history. Unbelievable what was attempted…
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis This book could be used to fulfill prompt #3 A book about space tourism. National Space Day is May 2, 2025! https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Which 2025 publications are you still eagerly anticipating?
Oh, my. I have thus far read only one book released in 2025. That was Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy #1) by Stephanie Burgis that I received free of charge and had a break in my reading schedule so read it as soon as I received it in January. Most books included below have already been released! But that doesn’t mean I have them yet! 😉
FROM THE INDY BOOK AUTHOR LUNCHEON EVENT APRIL 25:
*The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis January 7
*Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray February 4
*A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin February 11
*The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict February 11
*Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley March 11
All the Water in the World--Eiren Caffall January 7
Homeseeking--Karissa Chen January 7
The Three Lives of Cate Kay--Kate Fagan January 7
**More or Less Maddy--Lisa Genova January 14
Genova is one of my all-time favorite authors!
Water Moon--Samantha Sotto Yambao January 14
**Death of the Author--Nnedi Okorafor January 14
I loved Orkorafor's Binti trilogy!
Too Soon--Betty Shamieh January 28
**Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism--Eve L. Ewing February 11
Oh, yeah...definitely one everyone should read, I imagine!
**Three Days in June--Anne Tyler February 11
Confession! I have yet to read an Anne Tyler book. It is time!
**We All Live Here--Jojo Moyes February 11
Another favorite author!
**Black Woods Blue Sky--Eowyn Ivey February 11
I adored The Snow Child!
**Famous Last Words--Gillian McAllister February 25
I keep meaning to tackle her backlist!
**Dream Count--Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie March 4
Another author I keep meaning to read!
**The Martian Contingency (Lady Astronaut #4)--Mary Robinette Kowal March 18
You can tell how busy and stressed I have been. I have yet to purchase and read this 4th installment of one of my favorite series!!
**Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection--John Green March 18
It's John Green!!
**When the Moon Hits Your Eye--John Scalzi March 25
I finally obtained a copy of The Kaiju Preservation Society, but have yet to read it!!
**The Maid's Secret (Molly the Maid #3)--Nita Prose April 3
Another favorite series!
**My Friends--Fredrik Backman May 20
Fredrik Backman! 'Nuff said!!
The Memory Collectors--Dete Meserve May 20
**Atmosphere: A Love Story--Taylor Jenkins Reid June 3
Three more to read from her backlist! I am convinced I'll inhale whatever she writes and want more!!
The River's Daughter--Bridget Crocker June 3
**The Homemade God: A Novel--Rachel Joyce June 24
Another favorite author!
**Murder at Somerset House (Wrexford & Sloane #9)--Andrea Penrose
I can guarantee that no matter how poor or short on time, I'll own and inhale this one immediately!!
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 39/50
Around the Year (AtY): 51/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 10/10 FINISHED
Read Harder: 16/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
*The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ was just as enjoyable a read as I had anticipated! After having read his memoir The Color of Water, I assumed that I appreciated his writing style enough to enjoy virtually anything he would write. This book proved that assumption to be correct. Such well-defined and diverse characters! Along with a mystery and complex interactions among the characters who experienced trauma but also in some instances had relatively ‘happy’ endings… This is, IMO, an excellent example of “literary fiction” that is comprehensive, wide-ranging, and epic in its own way. Of our five book club members: two DNFd it very early, two enjoyed it, and I loved it! The use of other languages was confusing to all four of the other members and the two who enjoyed it wished they’d not had to “work so hard” to read it, though they didn’t feel there were too many characters. I just shrugged, ‘cause I didn’t have any negative reactions to it. (Upon reading Nadine’s review I was relatively assured of at least enjoying this, if not loving it! LOL That’s what is so lovely about reading and books! We each have our own unique reactions! No “right” or “wrong,” just unique and specific to each of us!)
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #26, #28, #40, #43
ATY: #2, #3, #5, NEW #9, #15, #16, #23, #26, #32, #33, #37, #41, #44, #45, #48, #50
RHC: #5, NEW #8, #16, #21, #24
52 Book Club: #22, #33, #36, #43, #51-385 pages
CONTINUING:
*Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis for the Monthly Group Read
*The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
PLANNED: (for the Indy Book Author event in April)
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
Let's get started!1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
Oh, yeah. This clicks alot of boxes for me and would definitely interest me!
2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
I had to look, but yes, this was added to my TBR listing in March 2024. I assumed I would enjoy reading it...
3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
I have not. But each of them appeals to me, so if I enjoy this one, I would definitely be up for reading either/both of them!
4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
It does! I typically am not impressed either way with cover images--they just don't matter to me all that much. However, this one makes me think of truly 'getting away from it all' and/or vacationing in luxury. And all of that definitely appeals to me in many ways!!
To get us started:1) According to Goodreads, this book is classified by readers as Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Queer, Cozy, LBGT.
Would you typically choose to read a book with these classifications?
2) Was this already on your TBR listing? Or have you chosen to read it to fulfill prompt #3 or simply because it was selected for this Monthly Group Read?
3) Have you read either of Curtis's other books? Frontier was released in 2023 and the third book, Idolfire, was just released in March. (Note: Idolfire is about a "road trip," so would fulfill prompt #12)
4) Does the cover image speak to you in any way?
I just read the first 12 pages tonight. Interesting start! I'll post some questions tomorrow.
Welcome to May! The temperatures have finally become rather consistently warm (and humid on certain days.) This day has been a much better day than I anticipated it might be! That’s a good thing. The result of finally having our A/C checked out was a much lower price than I had feared! Yay!! My arthritis just cannot tolerate the humidity in the house without it now that I am truly old! 😊I found this to be a very interesting NPR article: “Most Americans want to read more books. We just don’t.” (Though we know each of US does! LOL)
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-...
ADMIN STUFF:
THE JULY MONTHLY GROUP READ NOMINATION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #5 A book with a snake on the cover or in the title
World Snake Day is July 16 2025 (I had no idea there was one of these!!)
If you would like to write-in a nomination, please check the book's eligibility first! Only books that have NOT been discussed within the past two years (2023-present) are eligible. Remember to consult the listing of these books that are NOT eligible for this month HERE before nominating! :) There is an alphabetized listing by title as well as a chronological listing.
There are currently 9 books nominated…go vote HERE!
*** This poll will run from April 22rd through May 6th. ***
THE JUNE MONTHLY GROUP READ IS West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #12 A book about a road trip. Take a Road Trip Day is June 20, 2025!
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Who is the "tricky traveler" willing to facilitate this discussion? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I adore this book! And such an unknown bit of history. Unbelievable what was attempted…
THE MAY MONTHLY GROUP READ IS Floating Hotel by Floating Hotel This book could be used to fulfill prompt #3 A book about space tourism. National Space Day is May 2, 2025! https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat... Surely we have a "fearless facilitator" out there to lead May's discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!
I have my copy! It looks as if no one has volunteered, so I’ll take a stab at posting some questions since I am curious to read this one!
THE APRIL MONTHLY GROUP READ SELECTION IS Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1) by Toshikazu Kwaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot!
This book could be used to fulfill prompt #23 A book that is considered healing fiction
World Health Day is April 7, 2025: https://www.calendarr.com/united-stat...
Sasha Wolf is the "humble hero" who led this discussion! YAY!! Thank you so much, Sasha!
THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Regarding the NPR article cited above(https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-...)
Here is the listing of favored genres per the the reading poll results:
(1) Thriller/Crime/Mystery
(2) Historical Nonfiction
(3) Memoir/Biography/Autobiography
(4) Historical Fiction
(5) Fantasy
(6) Science Fiction
(7) Realistic/Literary Fiction
(8) Romance
(9) Self-Help
(10) Young Adult
(11) Graphic Novels
(12) Children’s Books
(13) Poetry
(14) Other
And finally, those who claim they do not have a favorite book genre
Is there anything that surprises you about this list?
I admit that I was a bit surprised. As the manager at the Borders store where I worked said several times, “Romance readers keep us open.” I did notice those customers who would return at regular intervals and purchase huge stacks (10-25 books) of paperbacks at a time—all romance! I was quite surprised by that since I had refused to even pickup a romance book at that time! Although I extensively screen them first, I do read romance books now. Not many, but some.
I admit to being surprised that Mystery, Thriller, and Crime (I assume they mean True Crime) are all three lumped together. Though I imagine that is just me being picky.
Then I wonder what people mean by “Other”…Erotica? Horror? What else?
As you may imagine, it would be extremely difficult for me to select only one genre, but I guess that would have to be “Mystery.” I was pleasantly surprised to see that the 2nd and 3rd categories were nonfiction. I think that’s cool!
2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 39/50
Around the Year (AtY): 50/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 10/10 FINISHED
Read Harder: 15/24
52 Book Club: 42/52
2024 Popsugar: 47/50
FINISHED:
*Murder Your Employer (The McMasters Guide to Homicide #1) by Rupert Holmes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for an IRL book club meeting. Unusual for me, I had not finished reading this prior to the meeting, but only due to time limitations…due to too much “adulting”! LOL This was quite complex and thought-provoking. I ended up really enjoying it on many different levels. It proved to be much more than the ‘fun and games’ approach to murder I had expected…
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #14, #20, #26
ATY: #1, #2, #5, #11, #13, #15, #16, #23, #24, #32, #37, #41, #45, #48
RHC: #4, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #3, #24, #25, #39, #51-395 pages
CONTINUING:
*The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
*The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by RebeccaSolnit
PLANNED:
*Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
*The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
*The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
*The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
itford Affair|60604163] by Marie Benedict
Lilith wrote: "Happy Sunday all!It’s been a busy couple of weeks, with lots of events and meeting up with friends. An email went out on Friday the 12th, and a couple friends and I went to a protest on Cambridge..."
I am so jealous of your activism! Know that I am always out there in spirit even if I cannot make it in physical presence!!
"I Who Have Never Known Men I’m still working out whether I loved this, liked this, or just found it meh. It depends on the day and how I am interpreting the story. Jacqueline Harpman's writing is beautiful, so my responses are entirely my own challenge.
I’m somewhere between love and like, when I focus on themes of survival and creating culture. Some days, I feel a bit meh when I focus on the plot; it’s a slow, quiet novel, which I usually appreciate, but for me, this was not a page turner. I read this for the dystopian novel with a "happy"(hopeful) ending prompt. On better days, I felt that [ the MC survived! She developed her leadership, and created culture anew with a group of women! (hide spoiler)], and that feels hopeful. On sadder days, I feel [ exhausted that she worked so hard, only to never find out where she was, never met any other humans besides her group, and died with wishes unfulfilled (hide spoiler)]. I'm choosing to shift the weight to the better days and think this is a hopeful ending."
Ah. We discussed this not too long ago in one of my IRL book club meetings. We came to a consensus that (view spoiler)
