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.

I admit this one made me think... I do feel it is rather subjective. But there are possibilities!

I always felt Of Mice and Men was a bit misleading. Perhaps The Grapes of Wrath as well. The Age of Innocence was anything but... Moon Pie was about so much more... Monogamy is about the deceit of "non"-monogamy!
I thought Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line was misleading...

Popsugar lists The Happiest Girl in the World: A Novel by Alena Dillon.

Listopia is here

If you ever have the opportunity to attend an Ibram X. Kendi event, just do it! I was reminded of the spiritual presence of Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison. He is so very genuine, sincere, and humble! I am so grateful he has made antiracism his life’s cause!

Other than that, just busy busy busy with work and working out! Celebrated a friend’s birthday with her this past Sunday and will do so with another in two weeks. I just find I have very little energy for other things on the weekend besides running errands, cooking, reading… Oh, and some cleaning! *GAG*

Question of the Week:
What did you decide is your “dream job” and what did you / will you read for this? (Or did you choose a book featuring your current job?)

How timely! After reading How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and attending his presentation this past Tuesday, I decided his job as a tenured faculty member and founder of an Antiracist research center is my dream job! How could anything be more important than spreading antiracism?!?

Some of the other possibilities I’ve listed for this prompt:
(1) Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals by Temple Grandin, Catherine Johnson
An expert advocate for humane treatment of all animals!

(2) Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
Wade works at filling his days since he is one of the richest human beings on earth. Ahhhhh...that is my "dream job"! I'm sure I could do that well! :)

(3) Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland #1) by Anthony Horowitz
Running a small tourist resort on the beach in Greece.

(4) The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
They're all retired and that's what I want to do--RETIRE!

(5) The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais
Prize-winning chef.

Popsugar: 45/50
ATY: 48/52
RHC: 16/24
Reading Women: 13/28
Really need to make some more progress on these!
Admittedly, I still need to locate my copy of Gold by Chris Cleave or I’ll never finish POPSUGAR! LOL It is the book that has been on my TBR the longest that I own and really want to read. *sigh*

FINISHED:
Orson Scott Card did not disappoint with Children of the Mind! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow. This was very philosophical and very imaginative. A rather nice way to end the series, IMO. And now I’m excited to begin the Shadow series, but that may wait until 2022…
POPSUGAR: #18-Acceptance, respect, and appreciation for all!, #21- Classic, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, #27, #34-Peaceful coexistence among species, #47-Card is one of my favorite writers and Ender’s Saga one of my favorite series!
ATY: #14, #15, #20-As usual, I really would like to know what happens in the future, #23- Classic, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, #24, #27-Death, Judgement, The World, #31, #34, #49, #51, #52-There was hope for a better future in the end.
Reading Women: #18

City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri was excellent, IMHO! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Books set during the Inquisition are typically not my favorite. That system was, IMO, the ultimate in hypocrisy and nothing more than a ploy to fulfill people’s/countries’ greedy money-grubbing desires… But Alfieri did a fine job of exposing exactly that while at the same time posing a seemingly unsolvable “locked-room” mystery. Though I did guess the murder method, the perpetrator was still unknown until the end. I did appreciate the ending. Perhaps a bit “too good to believe” in the time of the Inquisition, but it worked for me! I loved Alfieri’s writing. She built an atmosphere and environment that felt as if it was my own and I felt as if I knew all these characters personally. If you are looking for an action-action-action book, this isn’t it until about halfway through, but, if you appreciate detailed characterization and an environment/atmosphere that is basically a character in and of itself, I think you would enjoy this one!
POPSUGAR: #6, #13, #21-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, #22, #27, #30-Bolivia, #34-Those in control stealing money for their own enhancement, #36-66 reviews on Goodreads, #44
ATY: #1-I had no idea just how dark this might get in the beginning!, #8-Bolivia, #9-Spring/Easter, #10-definitely villains, #17, #19-Present crimes determined many people’s futures, #23-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, #24, #35, #42, #49
RHC: #1-Just wasn’t sure what to expect, #13
Reading Women: #18

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is definitely one of those books every single person should read. And not just us white folks. He depicts his own experiences realizing his own racism so very well. His recommendations are so necessary! And if you ever have the opportunity to see/hear him speak, he is very sincere, genuine, and thoughtful. Definitely worth your time and effort! I am so thrilled he is a major spokesperson for antiracism! I will definitely be rereading this one, probably in January to get 2022 off to a great start!
POPSUGAR: #7- A tenured faculty member and founder of an Antiracist research center, #18-Antiracism!, #20, #21- Autobiography, Nonfiction, Politics, Psychology, Social Justice, Sociology, #27, #34, #37, #47-Social Justice and Antiracism!
ATY: #1-In the beginning, Kendi knew there was no way he was a racist!, #20- Using the past to realize the present and make changes for a much better future!, #23-Autobiography, Nonfiction, Politics, Psychology, Social Justice, Sociology, #24, #41, #44, #51
RHC: #2

CONTINUING:
Should definitely finish The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab this Saturday for the Dewey Readathon!
I may read a cozy mystery as well. I just need one every once in awhile!
And hopefully, The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

PLANNED:
Only one confirmed Buddy Read for October:
Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross #5) by James Patterson
One group read for October (For two different Goodreads groups!):
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

For my favorite used bookstore’s book club meeting October 24th October 31,
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman. I’m kinda glad this got pushed back a week!

And the others that are waiting patiently...
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #26 A book written by Isabel Allende.
Paradise by Toni Morrison to fulfill the 2020 Reading Women prompt #25 A book written by Toni Morrison.
And I’ve decided to probably move this to 2022, planning to read some at least every month:
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Mary wrote: "I am off work today to go yard saling with my mom. It is a big event here, so it will be an all day thing."
I've not done that much since my children are out and gone. I just don't need more "stuff" in my house...well, except for books, of course!! LOL

"I finished:
Lonestar Sanctuary: This was a book that I inherited from my grandmother that thought I might enjoy. It wasn't bad. It just had way too many things going on. There were so many dimensions and side-plots that it felt pretty ridiculous."
That must be weird to inherit a bunch of books."
I hauled about 50 out of my mother's house but there were only 5 that I kept. I think it would be kinda fun to see what books were important to someone else!

"Currently reading:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life: Very little progress here."
I always smile and chuckle when I see that title!

"We Are All the Same in the Dark: This book grabbed me right away, even though it is very weird, but then I put it down for a while to finish another book, and when I came back to it, I feel like it lost a little bit of its magic for me."
Ooohhh...this looks good! Added it to my TBR listing!

"QOTW:
No. I tend to be a fairly picky eater, so while I love cookbooks, I skim for something that looks delicious, rather than read everything."
😊

Ellie wrote: "I finished the challenge this week! And I did it without any overlap with ATY, which might be a first. I think I will go back to overlapping my challenges next year though, will give me a bit more free reading time."
I am so impressed! YAY!!

"Finished:
The Forevers by Chris Whitaker for prettiest cover. This was beautiful and sad, kind of an On the Beach x Deep Impact scenario, where they're all waiting for the world to end, but also kind of expected to get on with life."
This is on my TBR listing and looks intense!

"The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green for a book my best friend would like. This reminded me a bit of the podcasts on random subjects my partner listens to, so I recommended he listen to the podcast that inspired the book, and voila I ticked off my last prompt!"
YAY!

"Though this prompt made me feel this weird social pressure to have a "best friend", I'm usually OK in my little household bubble, but this made me feel like I suck at friendships."
I felt rather the same way, since my "former" BFF of 30 years and I broke up last year. It seems strange not to have an "official" BFF! LOL

"Currently reading Far from the Light of Heaven"
this reminds me a bit of Project Hail Mary, at least the initial plot.

"PS: 50/50 | ATY: 44/52 | GR: 102/100"
Definitely lookin' good!

"QOTW:
No, I just read the recipes that I intend to make. Sometimes I read the extra waffly bits while I'm making the recipe if I have to stand round waiting for things, but honestly I prefer cookbooks that get to the point."
I love your term "waffly bits"! LOL 😀

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday! It's been a busy busy week at work. Transferring facilities has kicked into high gear, but my new office still isn't set up and so my computer remains at the old building, which means I haven't been able to listen to my audiobooks while I work. Soooooon. I feel like I've watched a lot of tv this week, mostly because I've gotten home from work exhausted after helping move inventory. Season 2 of the Baby-Sitters Club is excellent!"
Your employer OBVIOUSLY doesn't have their priorities straight! You should have the equipment to listen to audiobooks!

"The first (abbreviated) weekend of my show went well, and we got a good review in a local Cleveland-based magazine. Huzzah! Back at it tonight, and glad too because I missed my friends :)"
That's marvelous! What is the show?

"With this week's busyness in mind, I've only finished one book this week:
Circe - 4.5 stars, and very glad I decided to attempt a reread after DNFing it a year or so ago. This took me all of September and into October, and I don't regret it one bit. If the rumors are true and Miller is working on a Hades/Persephone retelling next, I need it like air!"
Yeah, I'm not big into mythology at all, but her writing just drags me right in and doesn't let me go! 😀

"Currently:
The Historian - This is pretty good as long as I have stretches of unbothered time where I can pay attention to it, although I wonder about the allusions to Dracula as well as the actual naming of the novel in-text. Seems odd."
I have a copy of this but am hesitant about reading it... Not sure I would enjoy it at all...

"Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome - My first Robert Harris book, and definitely not my last. Enjoying this very much. Tiro tells a great story and Cicero is magnetic. Plus, unexpected humorous bits so it's not a dry read at all."
I had a couple of his on my TBR listing, but not this one! It's there now, however!

"QOTW: Do you read cookbooks cover-to-cover like a regular book?
Sometimes. It depends on the recipes. And most of my cookbooks are themed, so I have a Little House on the Prairie cookbook, a HP cookbook, a Hobbit cookbook... along with a few "normal" ones."
I've been tempted by themed cookbooks such as those, but haven't yet purchased one... They sound fun!

Katy wrote: "I'm still working on The Far Pavilions. I'm almost 2/3 of the way done depending on your definition of almost."
You made me laugh! 😊

"Qotw: No. And honestly that sounds weird to me. I mostly just flip through looking for stuff that sounds good, with ingredients that I'm familiar with, and doesn't look to hard to make."
Again, you made me laugh...'cause yeah...I am 'weird'! LOL 😉

I am soooooo excited! A friend and I went to hear Bryan Stevenson (author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption and founder of the EJI and related museums) last Tuesday at Clowes Hall. The Christian Theological School in Indianapolis sponsored it and all tickets were free. The place was packed! I was so glad! But they didn’t have his book on sale and he didn’t do any signings, so that was a bit of a disappointment for me. Although his presentation was from a religious perspective (as I expected…) he was definitive in encouraging the “faith community” to do much more than just sit around and talk about ‘helping’. His suggestion was to start programs helping released prisoners adjust back into society as productive citizens. His stats were appalling. The U.S. is just not right! Overall, our society is ridiculous, IMO, when it comes to incarceration and a lot of other stuff… Don’t get me started on racial bias and discrimination related to arrests, convictions, sentencing, and/or murder by police… UGH!

Then I received an email message Tuesday that Ibram X. Kendi is speaking at the Madam Walker Theater here on campus next Tuesday, October 19. Tickets are free! That will get me to finally finish reading his book, How to Be an Antiracist! And, I got two tickets so my friend and I can both attend! Whoo! Whoo! I don’t know if he’ll be signing books or anything, but I’m taking mine just in case!

I sat last Sunday reading Orson Scott Card’s Children of the Mind and came across the following phrase at the bottom of page 54, “pop goes the weasel.” Not necessarily meaningful, except for the fact that one of my buddy reads for October is James Patterson’s Pop Goes the Weasel! I had to stop and note that. It was just too weird! LOL I even thought this would make a good Question of the Week except that if others are like me, I typically stop and note such coincidences, but then rarely remember them for long…

Since National Hispanic Heritage Month is technically September 15-October 15 in the U.S., that is almost finished… I did read some more in Eva Luna by Isabel Allende. But am not yet finished with it. I admit I do not find it very compelling… I will definitely read at least one more of Allende’s books, but really hope I can discover a Latin American author whose writing I can truly enjoy! I did read The House on Mango Street and really enjoyed it and I own a copy of Caramelo and plan to read it in 2022.

And…October is Domestic Violence Awareness month in the U.S.! I can’t honestly say I “enjoy” reading any books about this, but…at least we can honor the fact that some people make it out of such situations alive and are able to deal with their past horrid experiences enough to have a decent future! But especially to have the utmost compassion and unconditional positive regard for those who remain entrenched in misery… I guess one of my examples of success is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls I’m so happy for people who conquer their roots and so hopeful for those who have not yet done so…

Last Friday I posted the fact that in the U.S. Monday, October 11, 2021, is Indigenous People’s Day! (Known only as “Columbus Day” in the past…) My phone’s electronic calendar listed it as both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Yes, incorrect punctuation on People’s…). I don’t recall it ever saying anything other than Columbus Day in the past, so perhaps there is some progress toward a more realistic historical perspective? Let us hope! I didn’t feel I could read a whole book this past weekend to honor this day, but I did manage to begin my (partial) reread of There There by Tommy Orange which I will use to fulfill prompt #49 A DNF from your TBR list. I didn’t actually “DNF” it, I simply abandoned it at the time to read other things and never managed to finish it, so although I was halfway through it I am rereading the whole thing. From what I’ve read of Columbus, he had no altruistic motives but rather was escaping many debts owed with no means to pay them. When he didn’t unearth any ‘treasure’ to return to Isabella, he kidnapped natives and sent them back to Spain as collateral. Now, in all fairness, it was a much different time. But…the end result of his actions were not positive for anyone other than himself, and caused much harm to many people…therefore, IMO, he should NOT be venerated! As I heard on NPR yesterday, just because something was acceptable in one place and time, that doesn’t mean it was right!

ADMIN STUFF:
October’s Monthly Group Read is Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and that discussion is here in the Current Monthly Group Read folder! I read this book in April and adored it! I have yet to read anything Backman writes that doesn’t immensely impress me! Anxious to see how others feel about it…

And you can post the book(s) you’ve read to fulfill prompt #13 a locked-room mystery here!

Question of the Week:
Do you read cookbooks cover-to-cover like a regular book?
Simple answer: Yes!!
More complex answer: I didn’t compose this question. it was already on our list of possibilities, but it has always intrigued me. Interestingly I love to cook and do so on the weekends. I cooked all the time when I was a full-time stay-at-home mother with my children. And I always cooked the same way my grandmother did…from scratch. (I’m super-picky about my food! LOL) When my ex-husband was still farming, our house was a ‘go-to place’ for single males and others who wanted to stop by for dinner and/or dessert. (I loved baking and did so quite often.) There were only two of us, but I would cook enough for 4-5 people at dinnertime and usually didn’t have many leftovers! But almost always had 1-2 guests! My mother was appalled at the people coming and going through our house, but I loved it!

When my cookbook collection reached 20 or so, I finally encouraged everyone I knew NOT to gift me a cookbook ever again! LOL I culled that collection down to about 10 and would cook new-to-us recipes once or twice a month when I was home all the time. In the 35 years since then I have only purchased two cookbooks, both of which included a lot of information other than just recipes and I joyfully read them all the way through. And now with the advent of the internet, I can simply Google and discover all kinds of recipes! So, yes, now I only want a cookbook in which I am interested in reading it all the way through! As I’ve mentioned before, I am currently hooked on Marcus Samuelsson’s books. His background and experiences are so very diverse as to make anything he mentions intriguing! And his use of different flavors and textures is amazing, IMO!

Popsugar: 45/50
ATY: 48/52
RHC: 16/24
Reading Women: 13/28
Creeping up on these!

Read a couple of the shorter reads for challenges this week…

FINISHED:
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks was good. I did find the writing engaging some 50 years later. I admit when I first read this at age 16 it was still thought to be an actual person’s diary. As I began reading this now, I read about the author and her intent for this. She is a very didactic writer whose sole intention is to scare adolescents away from the drug scene. Admittedly, very pertinent in 1971 when it was first released, immediately following the 1960s counterculture revolution. (And still pertinent now as well…) Being a very NON-religious person yet VERY spiritual, I rather resented the fact that she is evidently mainly motivated from a religious perspective, yet I decided that shouldn’t diminish any positive effects her writing may have…
POPSUGAR: #18-Unconditional positive regard and compassion in dealing with addiction and other mental health issues, #19, #21-Addiction, Classical Literature, Coming-of-Age, Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health, Psychology, Young Adult, NEW #25, #27, #30-California, Oregon, #34-Unjustified charges and incarceration
ATY: #10-Jan and Marcie were definitely villains and criminals, but Alice was also a criminal in using illegal drugs and selling drugs, #18-Unfortunately, your past can determine your present and future, #23-Addiction, Classical Literature, Coming-of-Age, Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health, Psychology, Young Adult, #28-The Lovers, Death, Justice, Strength, Temperance, #31, #34, #52-In the end, no one knows the real cause of death.

Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was a short story collection by a Caribbean author to fulfill Reading Women prompt #24. It was very interesting to learn of some of the societal norms, culture, and folklore of Haiti through these stories.
POPSUGAR: #3, #16, #18-Safety and security for children, #19, #27, #29-Haiti and U.S., #30-Haiti, #34-Unfair and unjust prosecution and incarceration based on superstitious beliefs, #36-705 reviews on Goodreads
ATY: #5, #8-Haiti, #19-Decisions in the present definitely affect the future, #23-Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, #25-Partially set on Haiti, #27-Death, Temperance, Judgement, The World, #31, #33, #34, NEW #37, #39, #52- In the end it is in the better interests of the parent(s) to accept their children’s non-traditional choices.
Reading Women: NEW #24

CONTINUING:
Finishing this tonight: How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi so I can loan it my friend Friday evening so she can read it before next Tuesday’s presentation by the author.
So close to finishing this last night, but just couldn’t stay awake any longer…Children of the Mind (Ender’s Saga #4) by Orson Scott Card is my last September buddy read and definitely has gone to unexpected-by-me places! Card just amazes me every time.

Top priority for this coming weekend: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab for our September Monthly Group Read. I slept a lot this past weekend, not feeling the best and by the time I had run errands and cooked, didn’t have much time for reading… ☹
I desperately need/want to finish at least one of these, if possible, in October!
City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

PLANNED:
For my favorite used bookstore’s book club meeting October 24th,
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman I’ve been wanting to read this one in what feels like forever! Kinda saving this for the Dewey Readathon on Saturday, October 23rd!
One group read for October (For two different Goodreads groups!):
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Only one confirmed Buddy Read for October:
Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross #5) by James Patterson
And the others that are waiting patiently... 😉

Allie wrote: "- What do you think of the term "Stockholmers"? Do you feel like some people from the city represent that term? Do you, or have you ever heard, creative terms for "city folk"?"

When I was at Hanover College I was first introduced to the term "townies"! I had never heard it before then. Though that wasn't referring to what I think of as a city, but rather the town of Madison, Indiana and the even smaller burg of Hanover, Indiana. The campus was quite isolated in the country.

Teri wrote: "My faulty memory - I read this last November, and it appears that if I am going to participate, I'm going to need to re-read it. Oh, darn!

I read everything he writes as soon as I can get my hands on it. The English versions, of course.

I'm sure it would be great to read in the original language of Swedish, but that's not ever going to happen. It would be fun to see if his humor is even funnier in the original. My poor monolinquist self will have to be content with translations, for better or worse."

Agreed, on all counts!

Lauren wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I have almost everything of Backman's that has been translated into English and simply adore his writing!! I read this in April and that last part! Be still my heart!"

Was it [spoiler..."

That was a large part of it.

Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday! Welcome to October! I usually wait until October to buy pumpkins, but this year I bought some early, when I drove down to spend the day with my college student for Family Weekend weekend before last. I only got four (one for her, three for me) because I don't know if they will stay firm until Halloween. I carve pumpkins with my kids every year - there have been some years when we carved enough pumpkins to line the entire driveway! (When I was a kid, I NEVER carved a pumpkin. My parents just didn't do it. What deprivation!!)"
Oh, that brings back memories! It's funny, but I really don't do any holidays any more and I admit I like it that way. 😀 I always decorated the house and we did trick or treating for UNICEF ('Cause I'm a mean mom who didn't want a bunch of candy in the house.) And we always made cookies and other pumpkiny desserts and we did carve pumpkins and then we roasted and ate the seeds! Oh, and I sewed costumes. Elaborate costumes! Sheesh! The hours I spent...but I loved every minute of it! Then. Now I just enjoy peace and quiet! LOL I'm old!

"Guillotine: Poems by Eduardo C. Corral - another book of poetry I read for Hispanic Heritage Month. I had enjoyed some of Corrals' poems that I read in an anthology a few years back, and I flagged him as a poet that I wanted to read again, but I was rather underwhelmed by this collection."
Sorry this wasn't as enjoyable as the others!

"The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey- this is on my list of 21 books I must read this year. What a disappointment this book was!!! I know a lot of people loved it, but I sure didn't. It was slow and tedious. There are two timelines: one is "present day" (1921) in which Perveen Mistry solves a murder mystery. The other one is a few years earlier (1916 - 1917) and this one has NOTHING to do with the murder mystery, it's a pure momentum killer. I usually enjoy dual timeline stories, but this time it was just annoying."
Wow. That is really interesting. I don't have a copy of this yet, but do intend to read it. It'll be interesting to see whether I enjoy it or not...

"Lately, I feel so stressed in weeks when I don't finish any Challenge books!! But I AM reading some that will check boxes soon."
You have plenty of time and only 7 more prompts! 🤗

"I am currently listening to Nine Perfect Strangers, which I chose to be my locked room mystery, but then I realized that I ALREADY filled that category (with Fugitive Telemetry) - whoops! Well, it will be an enjoyable audiobook, anyway."
I am hoping to read this one yet this year...

"I am also working very very hard to finish Harlem Shuffle before Saturday, because it's due back at the library with no renewals left (yikes! and after that I have just ONE WEEK to read A Slow Fire Burning before that is due back, also!!). Not for this Challenge. I currently have enormous tension between "2021 publications that I want to read NOW!" and "the last 5 books I need for this Challenge!""
I think you're not alone!

"I'm reading Old Man's War for "book by a blogger" (thank you, John Scalzi, for writing a blog so that I could use your book for this Challenge category!)."
I inadvertently fulfilled that one with Fredrik Backman who has a blog, Patti Callahan Henry who has a podcast and weekly Facebook live event Friends & Fiction, Malinda Lo who has a blog, and Mary Robinette Kowal who has all kinds of online presence! And I finally have the book I originally selected for this prompt, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor (The Carls #2) by Hank Green on the way to me, since he and John Green are vloggers (and brothers! LOL).

"And I'm slowly chipping away at my longest book, A History of the World in 100 Objects. One chapter a day! So far I've read 39 chapters, & there are 61 chapters left, but 86 days left in the year, so if I maintain my pace of one chapter a day, I WILL finish it in time. (Assuming I can keep borrowing it from my library. That's really the key.)"
Here's to the library cooperating!

"Question of the Week
(from Heather) - Do you ever read nonfiction books to find out more about a topic or time period mentioned in a novel?
For me, the answer is: no! But it's an intriguing idea! I have learned a lot over the years from the novels I've read, especially historical fiction (especially including historical romance, becasue they tend to include day-to-day details and society customs, and they are often accurate). And I like to read a handful of nonfiction books each year, especially history & science. But I've never sought out a book of nonfiction because of a novel I read."
That's surprising to me. I just assumed you would have been a person to do this, for some reason!

Theresa wrote: "Just want to mention that anyone still reading or yet to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is welcome t join the discussion at any time.

As discussion leader, I'll keep an ey..."

Didn't have much reading time this past weekend. I should be able to finish this next weekend though!

Brandon wrote: "KISS put on a great show in Phoenix last weekend, and I'm glad I got to see them at an outdoor venue, as that is absolutely better for the ears with that much pyro. All four are bringing quality entertainment, but my MVP of the night was Tommy Thayer, whose guitar solos were consistently impressive."
It sounds as if you had a lot of fun. Outside was probably more comfortable in many ways!

"Finished:
I Wish I Had a Wookiee: And Other Poems for Our Galaxy by Ian Doescher (3/5)"
Wow. That sounds super unique! Cool!

"Currently reading:
The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
There is some terrific fantasy and wonder going on in this story. The main character has some of the typical coming of age beats, but in this first half, I am really enjoying the book's use of the eccentric mentor trope. Crow's patron has shades of the professors from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (another amazing book, by the way), Dumbledore, and Miss Frizzle."
Wow. That sounds like quite a mish-mash!

"Star Trek: Coda: Book 1: Moments Asunder by Dayton Ward
I was going to wait until I finished the other Trek book above, but I am too curious about how this trilogy will connect the novels of the past 20 years with the Trek universe shown in Picard."
Intriguing...

"Question of the Week:
I am resigned that I am not going to finish the PopSugar prompts this year. I will look at the Listopias closer to the end of the year for some more ideas, though. I set a Goodreads goal of 60 this year and am already well past that."
Cool that you have already surpassed one goal!

"The most important thing to me is that I be enjoying and looking forward to reading anything in my Currently Reading status. Right now, this is happening. I did a major prune of my TBR this year, so I am pretty confident that what is left will be satisfying."
That all sounds very wise! 👍😊

Heather wrote: "Hello, October! I love the changing weather. I am so much happier now that it’s not miserably hot. I’m also happy because today is my last working day before vacation! This is my first real vacation in more years than I can remember. On Sunday, I’m headed to Muskoka Lakes, Ontario. I’m crying with relief that Canada is allowing me in (with vaccination, negative COVID test, and backup quarantine plan) so I can see my best friend again. It’s been over 3 years now. The only thing I’ve packed so far is books. I’m taking the longest book on my TBR (Written in My Own Heart's Blood) in anticipation of much reading time by the lake. I’m also taking a few shorter backup books because Outlander books can sometimes be slow to start."
That sounds amazing! Like you, I haven't had a true vacation in more years than I can count...or else more than I can remember! LOL I hope it is enjoyable and refreshing!

Finished
A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen (a book with an oxymoron in the title). Yes, I am stretching the category to it’s breaking point. I didn’t really like this book. Partly it’s because fictional pandemics have a different context after living through a real pandemic."
Oh, wow. Ugh.

"QOTW
Goodreads loves to tell me I’m behind in the challenge. I have 15 more books to read. I don’t know if I’ll make it, but I hope this upcoming vacation and Dewey’s Readathon later this month help me catch up and maybe even get ahead.."
Huh. I had no idea about a Dewey's Readathon on October 23! I have an IRL book club meeting on the 24th so may just leave that book for the day before! Thanks for mentioning!

Chandie wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Chandie wrote: "A book set in a restaurant
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le. YA romance. Kids of two competing restaurants end up working on the school paper together. Cute."
This sounds cu..."

Shhhhhh. I like to blame Gooreads whenever possible! LOL

Kendra wrote: "Happy check in. I spent most of the afternoon raking leaves, like I've been doing for the last week. I get the yard clear and by the next day it's covered again.😣 But it's been so nice and sunny and warm I'm trying to enjoy it before winter hits."
Wow. I'm impressed. I can't imagine what shape my back would be in if I raked leaves. Probably couldn't stand back up at all. 😲

"Books I finished:
Accidentally on Purpose ⭐⭐⭐ - I'm still working my way through Jill Shalvis back catalogue but I think I've had enough for now and need to read something else. I used this for the oxymoron."
I hear ya.

"The Starless Sea ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I felt like rereading this and I'm glad I did. I loved it even more the second time around!"
I liked this when I read it, and intended to reread it for an IRL book club about 4 months later...and then COVID... I have placed it on my 2020 list as a reread because the first time through I had to leave it for a couple of weeks about halfway through and then finish it. I think I need to read it pretty much straight through to fully appreciate it.

"QOTW
I'm doing good. I only have 3 more prompts for popsugar and the books I'm going to read for them are all sitting in a pile. Now I just have to get in the mood to read them and not get distracted by all these shiny new library books...😋"
Ah, but having the books sitting close at hand is much of the battle won, IMO! 👍😊

Nadine wrote: "Teri wrote: "These cultural months come too fast! ..."

yeah somehow this year I just can't keep up!!! Maybe next year I should stop trying to read ALL THE BOOKS and just read ONE book for each cultural month. I mean, when I write it down like that, it looks reasonable. But then I get to the next CAM, and sooooo many books look good."
Now you're sounding like me, Nadine! LOL 😀

Heather L wrote: "Lynn — It has been warm for this time of year. I’m in southern Wisconsin where it should be about 60F, not near 80F. At least the evenings have been comfortable for walking, though it’s getting harder to get a walk in before dark. Several houses have decorated for Halloween, which is always fun to see. Not to mention the wild turkeys. 🦃"
Oohhh...the wild turkeys would be fun to see! I can easily imagine 80s at this time of year in Wisconsin are unexpected!

"Thanks for the vote of confidence in finishing the challenge. We’ll see how the next few months go, as life tends to be busiest at end of the year. All those holidays on top of each other! Happy to inspire you in your push to finish There There. As for Practical Magic, this was my first Hoffman, but I do have something more of hers somewhere in Mount TBR. Some day... 🙄"
I hear ya! Too many books, too little time!

Heather L wrote: "Leif was here first! Leif Erickson Day is Saturday, October 9th. 🇮🇸"
There ya go!

"We had a cool and rainy Thursday here, with dense fog overnight. When I woke up at 2am, you could barely see the building across the street. Still cloudy this morning, but no rain at the moment. While most of September was cool and seasonable, the last week or so has had temps 15-20 degrees above normal. They’re predicting 80F for Sunday. Ugh!"
Wow. That sounds a bit warm for now. Although in central Indiana we've been having low to mid-70s and every once in a while in the low 80s.

"I finished two books for the Popsugar Challenge in the last week, which now puts me at 44/50. Only six to go! Alas, one of those is the longest book in Mount TBR, so may not get to 50."
But...you might! 😋

"Finished:
* There There by Tommy Orange for a book by an Indigenous author (paying attention, Lynn?) I was up late into the night finishing this book. I can honestly say that, had it not been for this year’s Popsugar challenge and a recommendation by people in this group, I would never have even looked at this book twice when I saw it in a neighborhood Little Free Library — and I would have missed a powerful read. The last 20-30 pages tore me up, and made me want to know what happened after (yes, I know there’s to be a sequel)."
Ha! Ha! I AM paying attention! LOL Wow. Had no idea about a sequel and now you have really inspired me!

"* Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, for a TBR book with the prettiest cover — the gorgeous blue cover, not the garish yellow reissue. This was a lot different than the movie, though it was easy to see which parts of the book were drawn on for the movie. Practical Magic"
Since I just read The Third Angel and loved it I purchased a cheap copy of Magic Lessons at my favorite used bookstore last weekend. It will probably wait until 2022, but I'm anxious to read it!

"QOTW:
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, and those I do read are generally titles/subjects that really caught my attention. Like many others, I may Google a topic or look up a map of an area with which I am unfamiliar, but I don’t think I have ever picked up a nonfiction book specifically because of a fiction book I was reading."
Fair enough!

I just realized that next Monday, October 11th is Indigenous People's Day (Or "Columbus Day" for those who still identify with only a "white"/Caucasian historical perspective!) in the US!!

I'm going to pick up There There this weekend and at least read a bit in it. This is the book I've selected to fulfill prompt #49 A DNF from your TBR list. (I didn't actually DNF it, but abandoned it for other books...) And I do plan to read The Right To Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet in November. It will fulfill several challenge prompts.

Just thought I'd stop by to mention this.