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.

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 eye on it, willingly engage. I love this book and as I have said in the past - I could teach a class around this book. A GR friend described it as being able to write a syllabus around this book.

Lots of food for thought and discussion -- on so many levels.

So don't be shy."
Since I am still reading it I really appreciate your willingness to persevere with me and any others who wish to keep reading and discussing! Thank you!

Doni wrote: "Lynn wrote: "..."Though I have At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails with Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and...

I'm reading At the Existentialist Cafe concurrently. It is a good distillation/orientation."
Thanks! That's good to know!

Katy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I read The Emerald City of Oz and learned that I am most definitely a flutterbudget."
I'm guessing I'd have to read it to get the "flutterbudget" reference? LOL.."

It's someone who comes up with every possible scenario to worry about. An example is someone who was worried about her baby that she might accidentally throw out the window and it would roll down the hill and be eaten by a tiger or bear, even though she had never seen either animal in the area (and most people can manage not to throw their kids out the window)."
Yes, most of us can resist throwing them out the window...though I can recall some days... Nah, just kidding. I love my kids! And I did manage to resist that temptation!

Theresa wrote: "I think autumn is officially here in NYC - temps in the 60s during the day and 50s at night, lower humidity, a hint of leaves turning in Central Park. Yay!"
Change of seasons does provide variety! I remember a high school classmate had lived in Hawaii for several years and moved back to Indiana and when I asked him "Why?" He said he missed the seasons...I don't know. I think I could handle nice weather year-round... But who knows? The grass always looks greener and all that... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"Finished:
Serve 'N' Protect - just published in Tee O'Fallon's K-9 thriller series - one of my studly men and hunky dog not so secret addictions! Very enjoyable."
You made me laugh!

"Rogue Protocol - Murderbot #3 and read formy title that's an oxymoron. Wonderful - just what I needed too."
I'm ready for this one next!

"Currently Reading:
I'm waiting for one I have started or have been occasionally reading to grab me and demand I settle down to read it: Plus work is very demanding and tiring.
The Secret of Santa Vittoria
This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland
How Much of These Hills Is Gold
The Magic Circle
A Suitable Boy"
A lot of variety there!

"QOTW: Good timing as I have been updating my year long challenges!

PS - I only have 7 to read to finish. I could be done by end of October.
PBT - annual challenges - I am on top of both.
GR annual challenge - only 30 books to meet goal -- I expect that will happen.
Jade Dragon Hoarding Challenge - it's an open ended one with a couple of levels to it. If I push, I should be able to complete the first level this claendar year. The second level will take quite a long time to complete - probably through 2022.

That's it for annual challenges. I'm not into a lot of big challenges"
Okay, I'm willing to show my ignorance. What are PBT challenges? And what is the Jade Dragon Hoarding Challenge?

Kenya wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday, y’all.

Still trying to get used to a household with one less cat in it. I keep expecting to turn around and see Tiger in his usual napping spot. :( I kno..

At the moment we're down to one cat and a dog. Might get another cat someday, but not right now..."

I totally understand. But you have two furbabies to keep you busy and keep you company! 😊

poshpenny wrote: "My usual Thursday routine is all goofed up because the Big Heavy Thing that happens that morning got moved to tomorrow. I hope I can get at least one employee in there so I don't have to do it alone. UGH. Fingers crossed."
Whatever that Big Heavy Thing is, I hope you don't have to do it alone as well!

"The cool rainy days are finally here! A bit cooler and I can wrap up in cozy warm things and have cocoa. Woohoo! Luckily I live someplace where the rain is usually consistant but light, and rarely heavy. Not too bad for walking in as long as you have a light coat and a hood/hat."
Ooohhh, yeah! Cocoa! With mini marshmallows! YUM! 😛

"Finished:
Never Look Back - Afro-Latinx retelling of Greek myth. I'm not a huge fan of Greek myth, (it never goes well for the women) but this was OK. Weird, of course, but OK."
You made me laugh with "weird"!

"The Archer - Very short book which is basically a life how-to book with an archery theme, with a bit of story at each end. It was fine for what it is. - Translated from Brazilian Portuguese"
Not sure I would ever read this, but it certainly sounds unique!

"The Origin of the Flow - Wee bit of backstory Scazli wrote for himself while writing The Interdependency books, and put on his blog for reaching a fundraising milestone. He even has audio!"
Now that is just cool! Thanks for the info! Scalzi is one author I feel I should try...

"The Body Under the Piano - Quite nice middle grade mystery inspired by a young Agatha Christie. Aggie Morton and her new Belgian refugee BFF Hector Perot have adventures and try to solve a murder. I'm looking forward to the next book."
Oooohhh, oooohhh, ooohhh! Added to my TBR listing! Sounds delightful!

"Pax - I didn't fall in love with this like the rest of everyone."
I have yet to read it, but it is supposedly on my list to read this year...

"The Man Who Died Twice - The second Thursday Murder Club book! Not as good as the first, but I enjoyed it. I still love how much they all care for each other."
That is so true! I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club and will get to this one eventually...I'm sure! Provided I life long enough! LOL

"Currently Reading:
Under the Whispering Door - I don't like the protagonist like I did Linus in Cerulean Sea, but I assume he'll chill out eventually. Linus at least thought he was doing good, this guy is just a d*ck."
I love your subtlety! LOL 😲😀

"Hunter of Stories - Wow, talk about short stories! Poem-sized. I have the audio but the stories are SO short, I feel print would probably be better, so you would have time to pause and think about each one a bit. I think they are pretty good but WHOOSH they are just flying by. Translated from Spanish, author from Uruguay."
That looks intriguing!


"QOTW:
Well, my only real reading goal is to finish this challenge. I have 5 prompts left. Two will be super easy, I just haven't stopped to do them yet. The other three I just haven't been in the mood for yet it seems. (Afro-futurism, Women's Prize and Birthsign)."
Good for you!

"Other than that, I have read a MASSIVE number of books. Including picture books and short stories, I have read 251 books so far! WHAT?! Today is day 273 of the year. That is insane. This is my 10th year logging the Goodreads Reading Challenge. 10 years ago I read 15 books, and a third of those were picture books."
That increase in your reading is truly remarkable, poshpenny! Whoo! Whoo!

Lilith wrote: "@Lynn - Massive Congratulations on finishing The Third Angel!!"
I am hoping to have the time this weekend to finish skimming and note-taking! This was sooo good! And I just purchased a copy of Magic Lessons at my local used bookstore to begin that series. Have you read it yet?

Lilith wrote: "Happy Banned Books Week everyone!"
How do I always miss this stuff when it is my turn to post the first weekly check-in message? LOL I'll consult you from now on, Lilith!😃

I’ve missed a couple weeks, I think. There were some great QOTWs that I wanted to answer, but there is so much to do to keep the world spinning and not enough time. I hear you, Lynn!"
It is the bane of life, is it not?!? LOL

"I’m so happy Autumn is here! Tomorrow begins my favorite month!"
Glad you enjoy it!

"Finished:
The Vagina Monologues . I love this book, which is really performance art for your eyeballs. Banned in Uganda, 2005 – 2006. My little womanist heart needed this for nourishment. Highly recommend!"
Love that phrase! LOL This looks quite interesting! Added it to my TBR listing!

"For Banned Book Week.
El coronel no tiene quien le escriba Yes, it’s Gabriel García Márquez, and yes, it is bleak and depressing, and yet the theme is all about irrepressible hope when there is no possible way one can go on hoping. I find that astounding!"
I'll leave GGM to you and others. Though I am determined to try Love in the Time of Cholera and then I'm done! 😊 I'm glad there are others who enjoy his writing!

"Rock Paper Scissors. A great, super twisty novel, with deeply flawed characters and gorgeous Scottish Highlands. I always need a dark read at least every so often. Loooooved this"
First sentence of the Goodreads synopsis:
Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time.
Ha! Ha! Talk about wordplay. Any other last name wouldn't have worked nearly as well, would it?!?

"QOTW:
Feeling really good about the challenges I completed: this Pop Sugar challenge; 3 local IRL challenges, including 2 Summer reading challenges and 1 yearlong challenge; and a tribal challenge. Glad to have kept up a few French language novels – big thanks to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ."
You put me to shame! You are so smart! I love it! 👍😊

"Reading more fellow First Nations authors and poets, especially First Nations language lit. Thrilled to find a little bilingual poetry and kids’ books out there!"
Wow. That's great!

Cornerofmadness wrote: "My week was frustration a plenty. I did get two books read though"
Good! At least you got some reading time to hopefully help offset the frustration! I keep telling myself frustration is just a part of everyday life. I hope it works!! LOL 😁 I keep trying to concentrate on the things over which I have control, which is not many, but...I figure anything and everything helps!

"For the prompt A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign I read Unnatural Death by Dorothy l Sayers. I didn't like this prompt much because it was hard to find authors I wanted to read with my sign."
I read the first installment, Whose Body? and really enjoyed it. Sorry this didn't work so well for you!

"I also read Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for A book about do-overs or fresh starts. An Aztec inspired vampire has had her life destroyed and has to flee Mexico to start over. I really enjoyed this horror."
Ha! Ha! That sentence would NEVER work for me, I'm afraid! Horror is just not my jam overall!

QOTW For my yearly i'm way behind but that's okay because I spent a good part of the beginning of the year hospitalized and only had what Mom could find to bring me from my apartment. As for the Popsugar challenge I'm pretty well on target and I finished the Alphabet challenge so not so bad."
I'm so sorry about this year's beginning and your hospitalization. May 2022 yield a much better start for you! And it sounds as if you're okay on the challenge(s)!

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! Been tired since the weekend. The kiddo came down with a cold and she wakes up crying because she's congested and/or coughing, so I've had a lot of interrupted sleep since Saturday. She's finally sounding better, so hopefully that's over with."
Ah, dealing with sick young children! Poor baby! I always felt so hopeless!

"Its definitely turned chillier here. I turned the heat on last night (have I ever mentioned I don't like the cold??). I've got to get new sneakers because the ones I have I've worn for 2 days and they've rubbed the back of my ankles painfully. They were fine last fall..."
Oh, yeah, we've had our heat off and on over the past 3-4 weeks! And then we've also had the A/C on... I would love a new system that just regulated the temperature and we didn't have to turn anything on or off! (Gosh, that sounds so lazy!)

"Haven't finished anything, but got more read in She Who Became the Sun and I'm really liking it, but I may not finish it before it's due back at the library."
This is one that definitely looks interesting! It is on my TBR listing!

"QOTW: Goodreads says I'm on track to read 25 books this year. Obviously at that rate, I won't finish Popsugar. But that's OK, I start the year out knowing that'll be the case. With a kid (2 if you count the SO! LOL!) and a full time job and health issues, any reading is a good thing!!"
Oh, my goodness! Yes! Any reading time is a real treasure for you! I'm glad you're able to work it in! 👍😊

Sarah wrote: "Hi everyone. I've had a busy week with my mum's birthday and my first concert since Feb 2020 (so weird to be in a room with thousands of people lol). The weather is totally miserable right now so I think autumn is fully on the way"
Wow! Cool!

"This week I finished Zulu Dawn. At first look, it seems like the kind of book I'd dismiss as something I wouldn't enjoy, but I was totally wrong. It was actually really interesting and I'd like to know more about that period of history"
Agreed! I would dismiss it as such as well!

"Currently reading: The Witness for the Dead. I loooooooved The Goblin Emperor so I've been eagerly awaiting this one."
The Goblin Emperor is on my TBR listing! It looks rather intriguing!

"QOTW: Goodreads says I'm ahead but I normally finish in September/October so I feel very behind. I am probably not going to get to my longest book any time soon either so that'll push me back even more. Chuffing War and Peace!"
So maybe 2021 is a year you'll finish later than September/October. No harm done! 😊

It’s been a tough week again. But in different ways! I have had a constant headache from Monday morning until this morning about 9AM my time. That is because I had a chiropractic adjustment at 8:45AM! The good news is that it went back into place. The bad news is that it is not going to stay. I can already tell and it is sore! So…I called on my way down to work to schedule another appointment tomorrow morning. This one is probably going to require 2-3 adjustments. That hasn’t happened to me in a very long time…but at least I know how to fix it, so there is that!

Fall is always a challenge for me due to weather change which seems to set my body off on all kinds of strange and uncomfortable sensations. This ‘in-between’ weather wreaks havoc with my body. And then I despise the really cold weather of winter, but at least it’s not fluctuating as much. It’s kinda like a ‘lose lose’ for me until late spring/early summer! But until/unless I live in a more temperate climate, I suspect this is what I will be enduring... And there are worse things! I am not a female in Afghanistan right now nor living in a country where I am persecuted and/or scared of being killed due to my 'minority' status... And I have reliable shelter and food sources and am employed. There! That should put it into a bit better perspective! 😁

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:
From Heather—Do you ever read nonfiction books to find out more about a topic or time period mentioned in a novel?
I know I add nonfiction books to my TBR listing due to novels I’ve read and time periods, etc., about which I am now more curious. However, I am bad at fitting these into my actual reading schedule! Even if I own them I still don’t seem able to fit them into my reading schedule! I need to be better about that next year.

I was so impressed by Susan Casey’s writing after reading The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean, that I’ve made it a point to add her other books to my TBR listing, as well as other ‘water-related’ books about dolphins and other oceanic/seafaring animals… Have I read any of those yet? NO!! So another goal for 2022 is to insert nonfiction books I own into reading challenge prompts as much as possible. Although several nonfiction books I planned for prompts have been pushed aside this year. Inserting nonfiction seems to be an ongoing challenge for me every year...

FINISHED:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was absolutely amazing! If this one interests you at all, I highly recommend it!
POPSUGAR: #1, #7-A space explorer and teacher!, #18-Operating from compassion and teaching/learning!, #21-Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, #27, #29, #30-Russia, #34-Accepting, respecting, and appreciating those who may seem ‘alien’ to us!, #37, #47-Andy Weir is one of my favorite writers!
ATY: #1-In the beginning Grace was such a coward!, #8-Russia, #13-I read The Martian in 2020, #14-Erid at the end!, #20-Grace ended up with an unexpected future!, #23-Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, #24-In a very subtle way, #28, #29, #31, #34, #39, #42, #50

I began reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and was loving it, but then the workweek began and I picked up Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross #4) by James Patterson on Sunday night and read halfway through it. Schwab’s book is excellent, but proved to be more philosophical and intense than I expected so I wanted to wait until this coming weekend to finish it so I could give it my undivided attention and longer reading times! Cat & Mouse proved to be another in the series with a serial killer, but not just one, two of them…again. But I also felt Patterson’s character development went further in this installment than in the previous books which offset the ‘inside the serial killer’s head’ theme for me enough to continue with the series.
POPSUGAR: #4, #27, #29, #30-Paris, France, and Washington, D.C., #33, #34-Stopping murderers
ATY: #8-Paris, France, #20-This ends on a real cliff-hanger for the future…, #27-The Lovers, Death, Temperance, Judgement, The World, #31, #34, #40, #42, #52-In the end, Alex ‘takes the plunge’!
RHC: #13, #24

CONTINUING:
So anxious to finish The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab this weekend!
That leaves my last September buddy read, Children of the Mind (Ender’s Saga #4) by Orson Scott Card for the rest of the weekend! I get so excited about this series! And I see Card’s conclusion to both the Ender’s Saga and The Shadow series, The Last Shadow will release November 2! I had planned to start reading The Shadow series immediately following Children of the Mind and I think I will do that, then read the conclusion to both series. I’m hoping my buddy will want to do that as well, but if not, I can continue on my own. 😊
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks. Rereading this after 50 years for the published anonymously prompt! I picked this up thinking I could complete it during the week when I have less time to read. I am about 60% through and hope to finish it either tonight or tomorrow evening.
I desperately need/want to finish at least one of these, if possible, in October!
City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

PLANNED:
For my favorite used bookstore’s book club meeting in October,
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman I’ve been wanting to read this one in what feels like forever!
Only two Buddy Reads for October:
Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross #5) by James Patterson
Ender's Shadow (The Shadow #1) by Orson Scott Card
One group read for October (two different groups!):
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
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.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Nadine wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Hopefully people wouldn't mind if I still posted, even if I wasn't actively participating in the challenge! I do like this group a lot :) ..."


Also, I've been reallllllly reluctant to pick up Piranesi, because I disliked Strange & Norrell SO MUCH, it was just torture and I can't imagine ever liking anything she writes. Some authors I really like always praise her, but that's just an example of how someone can write books I love but yet not be able to recommend books I would like."
Glad to know I'm not alone in avoiding this one! LOL

Sheri wrote: "Hi all, glad to see some sunshine and nicer temperatures this week! Might not be outright summer, but it's the kind of fall transition i can at least kind of deal with. Can get away with long skirts and no socks!"
I love your emphasis on no socks! LOL 😊

"This week I finished:
All Systems Red - found the murderbots on hoopla as audiobooks, so have been listening to them while working. I was thinking the narrator sounded really familiar, realized it's Kevin Free from Welcome to Nightvale! (Who voices Kevin, the Dessert Bluffs radio host). It's kind of nice shotgunning them back to back like this, haha. I'm keeping the story more straight without having gaps to forget."
I have read the first two in this series and fully intend to purchase all of them, reading as I go, and then read them back-to-back to do the same thing you are doing now. I have really enjoyed the first two and can easily imagine binging on the whole series!

Sea of Shadows - my DNF from my tbr. I'd bought it years ago, accidentally sent to my phone not my kindle. I had started reading on my phone, but i don't like reading on my phone if i can help it. Forgot to ever send to kindle...The world building/character building didn't really jump out and grab me. Ended on kind of a cliffhanger, and while I generally like the author, not sure I care enough to finish. them. It's solidly "fine". If I had the rest of the books I'd finish, it's just more that i don't really care enough to find them now and I'll probably forget about it later."
That last sentence made me laugh! LOL

"Piranesi - I had decent hopes for this, it sounds like the kind of book I SHOULD like. But i just found it kind of meh. Maybe I'm not really a fan of her writing. I slogged through Jonathan Strange and Mr NOrrell because so many people LOVED it. I thought that was suuuper boring. This at least had the benefit of being short. I just never really connected to Piranesi, and I kinda guessed what was going on pretty early on so was kind of impatiently waiting to be told I was right. And I more or less was."
This was just selected for a book club read and I am not even excited enough to have added it to my TBR listing. I'm thinking I'm going to leave this one to others...

"Currently reading -
Under the Whispering Door - might count this for ATY book by the author of a best read from last year. Technically I read the House on the Cerulean Sea this year. but....it's been a long year, it FEELS like last year."
I hear ya! I'm anxious to read this one since I adored The House on the Cerulean Sea!

"QOTW:
Suppose it depends on the metric, haha. I have one prompt left for popsugar, just waiting on library hold to come in. So woo!"
Excellent!

"For general GR challenge, i managed to get one book ahead due to the rapid fire murderbot re-reads. I've been reading a lot more longer books than usual this year, so for the first time in a while keeping up has been a struggle. Think next year i'll set the goal lower."
I've learned I can always reset my goal upward if I need to, but if I set it too high then it can become a bit of a downer for me!

"ATY I think i have 5 left, might try to finish those since it's close."
That is close!

"I don't think i'm even halfway on Reading WOmen or Read Harder, I've kind of decided those are just not getting done this year. I'm getting burnt out on the challenges, and i just want to go do free reading."
Totally fair! If it isn't fun, don't do it! LOL 🤗

"Book nerds I'm at 74/100 but I went into that not necessarily planning on finishing. I just want to see how far I can get without having to try TOO hard."
LOL

"I'm kind of considering not doing any challenges next year. Or at least just free reading and then fill in later to see if any fit. I feel like i keep back burnering books I do want to read but they don't fit a prompt. But then by the time I finish challenges and have time to free read I end up wanting to do re-reads or just do fun filler. So then they keep going unread."
I think you need to do what you need to do to retain the 'enjoyablility' of your reading! 😋

"Hopefully people wouldn't mind if I still posted, even if I wasn't actively participating in the challenge! I do like this group a lot :)"
And WE enjoy YOU!! Of course you are welcome to still participate in this group! Who knows, you may give us some excellent recommendations and vice versa! 😊

Lauren wrote: "Happy Thursday. I have the day off since I had surgery yesterday. It's great to not be working, but I'd rather not have the pain and sleep issues that come with all these stitches in my arm. :/"
Well, I'm glad you have the day off, but am sad regarding the cause for that... I trust you are healing well! 🤗

"This week I finished:
It's Not About the Burqa Great collection of essays on Muslim women's experiences. Highly recommend! 5 stars"
There goes my TBR listing yet again, Lauren! 😊

"Of Women and Salt My review: What great timing! I was just discussing Assata Shakur's autobiography with one of my book clubs a few days before reading this, and the complexity of Cuba and different experiences there came up. I felt like this story captured those nuances well, and I appreciated the exploration of how immigrants from different countries are treated differently in the U.S. (even among Latin American countries)."
This was already on my TBR listing!

"Chasing the Sun I appreciated the historical context throughout the story, but the characters didn't really pull me in. I've loved all other books by this author though. 3.5 stars"
Added this one!

"Everything Inside Great collection; I look forward to reading a lot more from this author. 5 stars"
I am preparing to read Krik? Krak! soon!

"The History of Love I somehow got lost in the middle of this one, but enjoyed the beginning and end. 3 stars"
Okay. That made me laugh! You weren't on any post-surgical pain relievers at the time, were you? LOL

"L.A. Weather This held my attention well but I wasn't fully invested in the characters. 3.5 stars"
That looks interesting!

"Currently reading Negotiations in print and Things I Have Withheld on audio."
Oohhh...I'm not a huge poetry fan, but this looks good, as well as the other one! As usual, you have exploded by TBR listing yet once again, Lauren! Some people might be upset by that, but not me! LOL 😁

"QOTW: I'm doing well with reading goals. I've somehow read 215 books already this year (about 70% were audiobooks, which boosts that number a lot - I'm always listening to a book) and I finished the popsugar challenge in June I think. I don't have an official goal related to it, but one thing I've been trying to do is get through more of the books on my shelves (which keep increasing) by checking out the audio version from the library and doing a mix of audio/print for them. It's working pretty well and helping me read through my shelves. I'd like to do this at a rate of about one per week (the other books being new releases, books for the novel I'm working on, or book club reads), but I'm not really tracking it."
You were at least one of the first to complete the POPSUGAR challenge this year! Your system sounds very efficient!

Sending you healing energy!

Megan wrote: "Since I'm home today, I thought I'd post now while I was thinking about it. I read three books that all worked for open prompts this past week! I'm at 26/40 and 4/10 for this challenge, and 52/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge."
Jealous that you're "home" for the day, but glad you posted! 😁

"Finished:
* Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini and illustrated by Dan Williams, which I used for "a book by a Muslim American author." Gorgeous and heartbreaking"
This sounds as if it is heartbreaking...

"Currently Reading:
* The Book of Delights written and narrated by Ross Gay, which is the One Maryland, One Book pick this year. It is, indeed, a delight! I'm signed up for a virtual book tour stop next week and can't wait to hear the author speak"
How neat!

"* The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey, which is the latest in the Perveen Mistry series. "
I have the first installment in this series on my TBR listing!

"* Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli. I'm thinking of using it for "a book about a subject you are passionate about.""
I'm constantly listening to NPR in the car on my long commute! Definitely added to my TBR listing!

"QotW:
As we enter the LAST QUARTER of 2021, how are your reading goals faring for the year? I'm looking at them as suggestions at this point 🤪 I *should* be able to finish this challenge, but don't think I'll be able to finish any of the others I've been (sort of) working on (BookRiot Read Harder, Modern Mrs. Darcy, and the Goodreads Reading Challenge). I feel like 2020 finally caught up with me and I hit a wall with reading challenges this year, so I'll just see how far I get and be happy with wherever I end up."
I'm kinda the same way regarding 2020 in 2021! And whatever you read is more than you might have otherwise read!!

Ellie wrote: "Nearly forgot it was Thursday! I've not been working this week so have lost all sense of time. Plus autumn has crept up on me and it seems to be dark far too early. Weather is horrid today and I tried to avoid the dog's second walkies but my partner annoyingly said to her "you won't be getting toodle pips today" right around time we would go out, and she wouldn't leave me alone. Toodle pips is the codename for second walkies, obviously it is no longer a code name. So yeah, we went out and got wet."
Ah, you're obviously a very dedicated canine caregiver!

"Finished:
Labrador: The Story of the World’s Favourite Dog by Ben Fogle for related to my favourite thing (my Labrador!). Mix of microhistory and memoir, some I didn't know, but now I think about it totally makes sense."
Though I don't currently have any canine companions, this still sounds very interesting. Added it to my TBR listing.

"QOTW:
Well as you can see I'm nearly at my reading goal for the year, bit I do try to set this a bit lower than expected so not to feel pressured by being behind!"
I have learned to do the same with monthly, quarterly, and some open-ended year-long challenges! Then I can always increase the goal if I wish to do so.

"Nearly finished Popsugar, I've been pushing through the final few prompts and I think the ones left are all subjective and I just need to get on and make up a dream job based on a book I want to read, assume another will be something my partner will like and then pick the prettiest cover! These are not my favourite sort of prompts as I overthink them."
Ah, but it sounds like you have it all under control now!

"I haven't updated my spreadsheet this week but I also think I'm sticking to my target of at least 30% authors of colour."
That is impressive! Congratulations! YAY! 🎇🎇🎆🎆✨✨

Erica wrote: "Happy Thursday!
September has been a great reading month for me. However I'e been reading what I want to read not challenge books..."
Not every book read needs to be for a challenge! I'm glad it's been a good reading month for you! YAY!! 😁👍

"Finished Reading:
Saga volumes 1-7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rereading a beloved series and realizing you forgot so much that it seems new again."
I rarely reread and have never reread a series before! But that sounds fun!!

"The Secret Keeper of Jaipur ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set 12 years after the first book this follows old beloved characters and new ones. A little predictable but enjoyable characters and writing style."
I haven't yet read the first one, but hope to do so!

"Currently Reading:
Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales"
Ooohhh...that looks interesting!

"QOTW:
I have 7 prompt for each of the two popsugar challenges I'm doing. I am a little worried because I'm enjoying shorter books and I have prompts for long book left. I'm happy with the classics and big name authors that I've finally read this year though."
Sounds as if you have already gotten much enjoyment from your reading this year! That is what counts most, IMO! 👍😊

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!

Theresa wrote: "@Lynne - whatever you do, do not underestimate this story! Or Addie!

I actually know what you meant by the beginning and being dismayed at the idea of reading about 300 years of not being remembered....I too had that feeling briefly. But I rarely give up on a book, and within a few pages, it all changed or morphed ....

It is my favorite read this year."

Oh, I'm not and I am typically the same way, Theresa! I briefly read through some of your questions and will be answering some as I go. I actually put this down for this week because I feel it is a bit more philosophical and intense than I expected. During the week I typically only get to read in bits and snippets and I want to devote real time to this one, so I'll plan to finish it this coming weekend.