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.

Just finished. I don't have time right now to read through everyone's comments, but man! That book read very slowly for me. I felt it was really deep. And the questions and considerations it raises... Just a phenomenal read in my opinion!

Theresa wrote: "ALERT to fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - the special edition is out and my copy just arrived. Gorgeous book -- but I have yet to examine how it differs for original firs..."

I'll be anxious to know how it differs other than what you have already noted!

I just read page 271 and am so glad that my favorite of the possibilities I was considering proved to be true! At least I hope it works out the way I hope it will!

I adored George by Alex Gino, This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel, and Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin. That third one is especially interesting.

I know there are many more...

Listopia is here

I love this! I own quite a few that will fulfill this prompt! Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson, The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect with Their Fathers by Sampson Davis, The Rules of Love & Grammar, and many more.

These are typically books I've purchased on a whim from a bargain/clearance shelf in a bookstore... Or from my favorite used bookstore where she keeps a very short shelf of books from which you can select one to take home free when you make a purchase! And this could be fulfilled easily with a library book...just pick one up and check it out! 👍

This one is too unique to each reader for a Listopia...

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller.

I'm sure there are many more...

Listopia is here

Ellie wrote: "It's been a super mild autumn so far, with the temperature just starting to turn today. Had to get my slippers out!"
I've been wearing my mittens in the car until it warms up enough in the mornings! 🧤

"Finished:
Far from the Light of Heaven by Trade Thompson for ATY (travel). This is a good addition to the "something bad happened while we were in stasis" sub-genre. It was refreshing to see an African space station and a colonised planet that had learned from Earth's mistakes, plus there's a bit about gazillionaires in space and the exploitation involved in getting them there."
Oohh..definitely on my TBR listing now!

"The Test by Sylvain Neuvel for ATY (immigrant). Well this was shocking, but I can sadly see the UK adopting such a cruel system. Found this in the Audible Plus library, so was good to be able to listen to a shorter audiobook without feeling like I'm not making the most out of my credits!"
Ugh. Another one I want to read... 😉

"Currently reading The Ex Hex"
Added that one, too! (I have to keep my mind from wandering about what type of hex I might like to place on my ex...) LOL

"QOTW:
A library assistant! In reality, I wouldn't be able to live off the kind of part time salary I would receive for that job. But if I didn't have to worry about money I think I'd like to work with books. Like could Goodreads employ me remotely as a tester (current job) and then I can make sure none of you have to put up with their annoying bugs? 🤣"
Exactly! I have worked in libraries and in a bookstore and I preferred the bookstore, though that could partly be due to the fact those were some of the smartest people I have ever worked with!

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! We're supposed to get thunderstorms today, rain tomorrow, then rain all next week too. Just when hubby was planning on taking care of all the fallen leaves. Blargh. Ah well, more time for Inside Projects*. This is our closing weekend for Miss Holmes, and tonight will be our first venture with our cast member who came down with COVID during tech week (she's feeling better and has quarantined for the appropriate number of days). Bit nervous about that, but I'm sure it'll be fine. (Famous last words.)
*Reading"
So my supervisor just returned to work after almost 3 weeks off. Two for vacation, the last week of which she had COVID (But didn't elect to tell me until this Monday and only then because our other coworker insisted she tell me.) She has supposedly quarantined the required 10 days, but you should hear her congested cough. It is horrid...not really a cough... I'm staying away from their office and just standing in the doorway if I must talk with her. I'm going to put up a clear shower curtain barrier between their desks after she leaves today so my other coworker who shares an office with her will have extra protection. Scary stuff... After my horrendous reaction to the vaccine I can only assume I might die from the virus itself, so am overly-conscientious regarding contact with others, etc.

"This week's books!
Imperium - 4.5 stars. This was well-crafted, with plenty of humor and accessible language, not dry in the least, and highly entertaining. Excited for the other two books in the trilogy!"
Ooohhh...great recommendation!

"Currently:
Fatherland - I may have picked this up yesterday after finishing Imperium, but the paperback was screaming at me from the shelf as soon as I got home. I couldn't help ittttt"
LOL

"Upcoming:
Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means - Starting November properly"
Ooohhh...that looks like a good one! Long...but good!

"What did you decide is your “dream job” and what book did you / will you read for this? (Or did you choose a book featuring your current job?)
As part of my current job involves theatre, I used Amberlough for this category!"
Cool!

Mary wrote: "This week I finished:
Cul-de-sac: I really liked this one. I'm sure things worked out a little too cleanly for some people, but I didn't mind that. I'm a sucker for good character development and lots of suspects."
I added this one since good character development and lots of suspects sounds like my jam! LOL 👍

"We Are All the Same in the Dark: I don't think the plot of this book was special enough for this author's obvious talent. I can't really characterize it, but there was something just completely different about this book that made me want to read it. The plot just didn't take me anywhere."
Well, this is already on my TBR listing and your comments have intrigued me further!

"A Solitude of Wolverines: Did the plot veer into the realm of the completely unrealistic at times? Yes. Were there problems with the character development of the main character that I found annoying for the first half of the book? Sure. Did the author miss an opportunity to really tap into the outdoors in the way that truly great authors make the setting its own character? Also yes. BUT I DO NOT CARE! The last 40% of this book was an action-packed, suspenseful thrill-ride straight from my nightmares and I was hooked. I stayed up until 1AM to finish this and if book 2 was available, I would have purchased it and started it immediately, so despite my issues with it, it was 100% a 5 star book for me, because it surprised me, took me on a journey, and made me yell out loud once."
This looks good, but just how scary is it?

"Currently reading:
The Violent Season: This is not the kind of book that I usually choose, but for some reason this book kept calling to me. I'm not sure that it is my thing, but I'm not giving up yet."
Definitely doesn't sound like one I would enjoy!

"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life: I am 20% of the way through this book and I think I'm going to give it up, which I wouldn't normally do since it was a gift, but I think the overall message of the book is extremely diluted and less effective because of the forced use of the "F" word every other sentence, and I say that as someone who overuses that word a lot. I may just re-gift it instead of pushing through."
I hear ya! I was part of a publisher's reading group about 5-6 years ago and one of the books sent to me used "the F word" at least one time every single sentence. And although in private it is one of my favorite words, I just couldn't keep reading it...

"QOTW:
The book I chose was about a bookstore owner. I was a little generous with myself for this prompt."
Okay, sorry, but how do you mean you were "generous" with yourself?

Katy wrote: "I'm still working on The Far Pavilions. I don't think I have ever in my life taken so long to read a book. I only have about 120 pages left, so I should be done within the week. I hope."
Yes, but that is one very long book!

"QOTW: I chose as my dream job host of Jeopardy. I had assumed they were going to contact me to at least be a guest host and was quite shocked that they did not. But, anyway, of course I read The Answer Is by Alex Trebek for that. I've been watching Jeopardy since junior high and AT is one of the few (only?) celebrity deaths that really hit me hard. His book made me ugly cry in a few places.."
Awwww...sorry that was so tough for you!

And, I am also extremely shocked that you were not contacted! For shame, Jeopardy producers! For shame...!

Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday!! The tree leaves went from: brightly colored, to: mostly on the ground. This means it's time for me to pay the contract to my snow plow guy, because snow is coming."
I've been so busy that when I first read this I was wondering if that was true for us as well...'cause I honestly hadn't noticed!

I made it a point to look this morning and our leaves are just now starting to turn...

I always forget what is considered "Victorian times"! It is considered to be the time of Victoria's reign as Queen in the United Kingdom: June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901. So a book within this time period. Anything set during the U.S. Civil War.

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois, The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, and Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall are some I've read that would fulfill this prompt.

I'm sure you-all can help lengthen this list!

Popsugar lists Bombshell by Sarah MacLean.

Listopia is here

What exactly is a "social-horror" book? Perhaps where no one knows or uses the rules of etiquette? LOL 😳 Maybe not...

The best definition I could locate is a book that uses elements of suspense and horror to augment instances of oppression in society. Since I refuse to read "horror" I'll need to find a substitute, something as close as possible. Perhaps A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James would work?

Popsugar lists Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Listopia is here

Okay. My sole comment upon reading this to myself..."Ugh..."

I know there are some books that will fulfill this prompt for me, but it's going to require a bit of research... I know I picked up a book and looked at it lately and thought, "Ooohhh, I really like that author who has recommended this..." after reading the cover quote, but cannot remember which book that was! Sheesh!

No Listopia since this is so subjective to each reader.

Hopefully by listing ones we find that fit for us in the comments below, we will help other like-minded readers locate a book that will work for them as well! So this is good for getting us to help each other! How's that for a "positive spin"? 😀

Popsugar lists Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham.

I've always been interested in reading Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster by Svetlana Alexievich.

I'm certain there are more!

Listopia is here

I think this is kinda fun! Right off the top of my head: Monopoly, Chess, Sorry!, Backgammon, Clue, Life, Scrabble, Battleship, Trouble, Trivial Pursuit.

Hungry hungry hippos? LOL

Some I found by Googling: Ticket to Ride, Herd Mentality, Spot It!, Catan, Wingspan, Articulate!, Sushi Go!, 221B Baker Street, Rhino Hero, The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Scythe, Mysterium, Monikers, Codenames, Descent, Hive, Oath, Splendor, Jumanji.

Edited to add:
Othello, Candyland, Snakes and Ladders ( A new on one me!), and then Chutes and Ladders because Snakes and Ladders reminded me of it! LOL
(Thank you, Poshpenny!)

Mousetrap--I spent hours playing this by myself as a kid!
(Thank you, Dixie!)

Listopia is here

Oh, so many! I want to read more books by Orson Scott Card, Martha Wells, Becky Chambers, Alexander McCall Smith, Temple Grandin, James Patterson, Alice Hoffman, Edith Wharton, Louise Erdrich, Jane Harper, Louisa May Alcott, Dorothy Gillman, Anthony Horowitz, Brandon Sanderson, Nic Stone, Patti Callahan (Henry), Fredrik Backman, Becky Albertalli, Matt Haig, Tana French, John Grisham, Jennifer Niven, Agatha Christie. And on... 😋

This is so subjective to each reader, there is no Listopia.

Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday!! The tree leaves went from: brightly colored, to: mostly on the ground. This means it's time for me to pay the contract to my snow plow guy, because snow is coming."
Ugh. Really, Nadine! Can't we wait until the white stuff actually starts falling from the sky? 🙄😮

"Admin stuff
Things are quiet in Reading Challenge Land, as we all work diligently at our reading and don't need to plan anything right now."
You are so funny! This sounded like the beginning of The Night Before Christmas...

"Last year our new list came out on December 1st, and right now I have NO IDEA when the 2022 list will come out, but I'm starting to think about it. In an effort to make the process smoother and avoid the issues we had last year (when GR limited us to creating no more than three posts each hour), Lynn and I are going to start creating blank 2022 posts. These posts will be locked for now. Once the list comes out, we will edit them to add in the 2022 info, unlock, and wheeee away we go for a new year!"
YES! I'm so excited for next year's list, but really...as I mentally castigate myself: "Slow down, Lynn!"...I must concentrate on finishing up 2021 challenges first! I must! I must! I must! LOL And I just created three postings and it stopped me, so obviously Goodreads didn't change anything from last year in that we can still only post 3 at a time for every hour. Sheesh!

"Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty - I put this on hold for my "locked room mystery," but in the meantime I used a different book for the category. This was very entertaining and I'm glad I read it, but I don't understand why it's been showing up on "locked room mystery" lists, and I'm glad I had already filled that category with another book, because I wouldn't feel right checking the box with this book."
Good to know. I'm considering reading it this year for a different challenge, but glad I didn't count on it for the "locked-room mystery" prompt!

"A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins - This was entertaining, but a bit of a mishmash with some glaring red herrings that didn't even need to be there."
I'm sure I'll read this at some point in time... I actually preferred her second book to the first, so I'll need to see how I feel about the third one!

"Left Out in the Rain: Poems by Gary Snyder - Snyder is a great nature poet, and he's fantastic at bringing a scene or memory or place alive with just a few words."
Another poetry win for you! YAY!

"Old Man's War by John Scalzi - this was my book by a blogger, and it was also on my list of 21 books to read this year, so it's doing double duty. This was my first book by Scalzi, and I can see why he's so popular."
I have this on my TBR listing, but am not necessarily excited to try it...

"Animal by Lisa Taddeo - oh my goodness I really did not like this book. One star."
Not on my list. Can't imagine I would enjoy it...

Question of the Week
What did you decide is your “dream job” and what book did you / will you read for this? (Or did you choose a book featuring your current job?)
I've seen such a variety of dream jobs mentioned this year, I thought it might be fun to report on what we all finally chose as a "dream job" (or if you found a book that describes your current job - a much more difficult task, I think).

I used You Love Me for this category, because Joe is a rare book dealer and a volunteer at the local library and independently wealthy thanks to a deal with Love's family, so he can afford a nice home and not need to work if he doesn't want to. That seems like the perfect balance: a pleasant job that gets you out of the house now and then, but absolutely no pressure to keep doing the job if you end up hating it. (fyi: the book and the Netflix show have parted ways - I've seen the first few episodes, and I can see how they incorporated some aspects of the book, but a lot of it is different.)"
The independently wealthy thing is what I like most! I would love the ability to volunteer...

Some I have read and enjoyed: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, The Christmas Train by David Baldacci, The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron.

Ooophh! No diversity there! Help diversify this listing!

Popsugar lists This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens.

Listopia is here

Here is the Hugo Award website: http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-his....

Winners are listed by year. I couldn't locate a comprehensive listing...

I may have to dig through the older ones...

I have included many of the more recent novels and novellas on the Listopia...

Listopia is here