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.

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.

Theresa wrote: "Katelyn wrote: "This is definitely my type of genre, I loved both timelines which is rare for me - I typically prefer one timeline over another but this book was written so well that the timelines ..."

I generally enjoy them immensely. I cannot think of one I've read that disappointed me at all...

Theresa wrote: "sel wrote: "This is a book that I kept looking at while shopping on line. I decided to make my purchase once I saw that it was chosen as a group read. Since then, I've noticed some reviewers have given it low marks. I was also surprised to hear that the story may not be a straight forward Fantasy novel as it incorporates some aspects of magical realism. I guess that I would like to see for myself. I am not a Fantasy reader per se and I have not read any V.E. Schwab books, so I may not be able to appreciate the nuances that others may see. I may grow to appreciate the discussions later with some more Fantasy books under my belt and

I will alert all that having a strong fantasy reading background is completely unnecessary to enjoying this book. In fact, having a broad more literature based background, or even crime fiction, may have you pulling more from the experience. As the month progresses I will be gently suggesting different literary influences I and others have picked up.

As for being familiar with author's prior works...this is a new style and direction for the author, or so I understand."

I would agree. It is definitely different from her Shades of Magic series.

I'm on page 106 of 541. I admit that after reading the first 15 pages or so I was kinda dreading continuing, wondering if I wouldn't be bored by instance after instance of people forgetting her. But I should have had more faith in Schwab! I am really intrigued by her storytelling in this one! And living for (view spoiler)[centuries! That sounds kinda good initially, but then...when you see what she is going through...it's not so good... (hide spoiler)]

Harmke wrote: "@Lynn: I’m with you on frustration week.. mine was packed with it this week. The worst of it: I lost total control over my agenda. I hate it when I can’t reschedule immediately (me ❤ scheduling). So I woke up at 4 this morning (because of pain in my wrists and ankles due to the buckets of rain we are getting in the next days) and my brain was getting started and doing all this thinking about all possible scenarios, both good and bad… Didn’t sleep anymore, so I’m pretty tired right now. Tomorrow I start focussing on what I can control and taking things step-by-step."
Yep! There are those times. It is now Sunday and I just finished listening to my meditation program for the first time in many months and already feel better! I hope your situation improves as well!

"Currently reading
A Promised Land by Barack Obama"
Ooohhh...this is on my must-read for next year!

"QOTW
I’m 5 books ahead of schedule (according to GR) and I have 5 books left for the Popsugar Challenge!!"
Whoo! Whoo! Gettin' close! 👍😁

Mary wrote: "This week I finished:
The Nature of Jade: I thought the plot of this book left some things to be desired, but the writing itself was so well-done that I still rated it 4 stars."
Glad the writing salvaged it for you!

"DNF:
I don’t finish books all the time. Normally before the 10% mark and I don’t ever note them on here, because I don’t want to turn someone else off a book. BUT I stopped a book at the halfway mark this week, after 290 some pages, because, while I wanted to know how it ended, it had so many problems that I was not willing to give it another 4 hours of my time. So I looked up spoilers to see how the book ended and was glad that I hadn’t invested any more time in it. I know that The Perfect Daughter got really good ratings from some others, but as someone who has worked with a teen with DID before and regularly has contact with lawyers, this book was too far afield from genuine for me to enjoy."
Sometimes our personal experience puts us off a book, too. Glad you didn't waste any more time on it.

"Currently reading:
Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law: I LOVE MARY ROACH! I also really enjoy this subject matter, so this one is a win for me so far."
I was in my favorite used bookstore yesterday and someone was looking for this. I have yet to read one of her books, but feel as if I would enjoy them.

"Follow Me: I continue to make no progress on this, but I have not given up."
This sounds pretty creepy.

"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life: Not making progress on this either, but it is patiently waiting for me."
The title alone intrigues me! LOL

"QOTW:
I completed the Popsugar challenge a few months ago, and my Goodreads goal of 100 books a few weeks ago. The only other goal that I had was kind of general in nature, which was to read all the books that I physically own in book form, but considering that I inherited an awful lot of books that are not necessarily my cup of tea, I have not made it very far with that goal. I try to sneak a few into Popsugar every year."
Good for you with the reading goals! Yep! Fitting one in every once in awhile will work!

Doni wrote: "Finished: Zero."
It just occurred to me that in reality, I finished no books THIS week as well. The one I listed was from the previous week but I didn't have time to complete the listing then, so delayed until this week. So, yeah, I also had none. I'm okay with that. 😊

"Started: Being and Nothingness"
Wow. I have no idea how I overlooked listing this one! 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 Others and I want to read that before launching into this one.

"Qotw: I am on track to finish my PopSugar challenge in probably another couple of days!!! I can't imagine participating in all the challenges you do, Lynn. I like having some constraints, but I also like having choice. I've created a new monthly challenge for myself and it looks like I'm not going to finish the prompts challenge book, re-read, or philosophy book by the end of September. But I'm still really happy with the challenge because it has encouraged me to read books I otherwise wouldn't have gotten around to. I started an Umberto Eco book and confirmed that I guess he's just not really for me. I'm partway through a philosophy book I might not have picked up otherwise. And I did re-read a book with a family member, but am not counting that since I intended to re-read something on my own."
That is so cool! I'm so glad you've found value to the challenge reading! I love listing books and fulfilling prompts and as long as it is fun I will continue to do bunches of challenges. As soon as it feels like a chore, I'll cut back. 😁 I just like to let myself get into something full-tilt when possible!

Alex wrote: "Happy Thursday! I, too, am exhausted. Getting in the routine of taking daughter to school and such has been draining. But, I'm back to writing fantasy again! It's been years! The time she's in school gives me freedom to disconnect from "mom" and get back into "creative" mode. Which is probably another reason I'm so tired!"
But I bet it's a good tired! 😊

"Currently Reading
Oathbringer for "book from TBR chosen at random". I spent most of last night screaming at this book."
After this sentence, I thought, "Oh, no! That must be really bad!"

"Oh it hurts so good!!! Sanderson is crushing my heart right now. The psychology is dead on in this book too. I love it!"
Then I read this! LOL Glad you are enjoying it!! 👍😊

"QotW
I think I'm doing ok! Popsugar is my only reading goal this year. I don't have time for anything else. But after this book, I'll only have 10 more to go! I think I can do it!"
Sounds as if you're on track!

Melissa wrote: "Hello! Sports are sportsing, so my evenings and weekends have been occupied with watching sports on tv. The regular season for baseball ends this weekend, but my husband's team will be in the playoffs. College football has ranked my team very high, so it's very weird to see national media discussing them. And now preseason hockey has started. Football is great for reading, hockey moderately so (especially preseason!), but playoff baseball is not. I keep trying, but I care too much about the game."
We all enjoy what we enjoy! I'm glad you are able to watch everythig! 👍🎈🎇🎆

"Finished This Week:
When Sorrows Come by Seanan McGuire."
I have the first in this series to try and have placed it on a must-read for 2022!

"What Stars Are Made of by Sarah Allen. My Read Harder book for A Children's Book that Centers a Disabled Character but Not their Disability. Libby was born with Turner Syndrome, only one chromosome, and an enlarged heart...Very sweet book. Not for PS prompt."
Ooohhh...Added that to my TBR listing!

"The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah."
Hannah is one of my favorite authors and I especially enjoyed this book. I thought it one of the best I've read set in WWII, especially with regard to the exploitation of women...

"Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.. Nadine mentioned it was Banned Books Week, so I picked this out of my TBR lists."
I have now completed two Vonnegut books and his writing just doesn't work for me. I may read another one in this lifetime, but probably not... I was very underwhelmed by this one. I'm glad it sounds as if you enjoyed it!

Currently Reading:
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor / Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents / Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle - Still intending to read."
Quite a diverse group!

"DNF:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Gave up. Just don't care right now. Will go pick a Bronte sister for anonymous author."
Good luck! Hope the next one is more interesting and enthralling!

"QOTW: As we enter the LAST QUARTER of 2021, how are your reading goals faring for the year?
I'm feeling very stressed about my progress for my reading goals for 2021. I know I can do it, because I'm a very good reader, but with other things happening in November, I don't know if I'm okay taking time away from those things to accomplish these.."
Oh, no! You obviously enjoy many other things outside of reading! Challenges are just what you make of them, IMO! I try to appreciate those books I have actually read and enjoyed and if the challenges are completed, great! But if not, that's okay, too! You still read a lot of books! And hopefully you enjoyed at least most of them! 👍😁

Katelyn wrote: "Rainy Thursday in the PNW this morning! I am starting to get back on track with my reading for the challenge and not reading everything else."
Ugh. You are ahead of me then! LOL I'm still catching up on Buddy Reads, etc., from September!

"Finished:
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy. This was really interesting."
After going through withdrawals with just 4 weeks of a legal dosage of Percocet, I am so angry that insurance companies refuse to pay for any other pain medications! Opioids are not the best out there, though they are the most harmful, IMO! This might be a good one to further educate myself.

"Currently Reading:
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. Still going with this one - it is a little slow but hopefully will pick up."
I really enjoyed this one!

"In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. I have been putting this one off since January but finally started it. It is short and I am already half done (I started it on Wednesday) which is fast for me. I am dying to see how this one plays out. It is better than I was thinking it was going to be and I'm bummed I put it off for so long but better late than never."
I learned a long time ago just to enjoy the fact I was enjoying a book and try not to berate myself for not having read it before now. There's just not enough time for me to keep up with all the books I want to read and I have accepted that! I try to concentrate on learning about new-to-me books that look interesting! This sounds intriguing!

"QOTW:
I was cruising along - mostly ahead of the game around the half way point then just lost momentum. I am still "on track" but struggling this week to read."
There are those times when it just doesn't seem to come easily...

"Last year I tried the side challenges and even tried to add some like the Read Harder and Reading Women but it felt overwhelming and reading for me is relaxing and fun not stressful. I am happy with both challenges and will definitely find more time to read this quarter."
I wondered if that would also be my experience as I allowed myself the freedom to explore and register for more challenges. Thus far I have simply enjoyed the "challenge," so to speak! LOL 👍😋

Nadine wrote: "Heather L wrote: "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott — A Classics group read that I thought was tedious and overhyped by others in the group. Definitely not my cuppa. Finished only because it fit a classics challenge. ..."

My mother, who knew I loved to read speculative fiction but isn't really much of a SFF reader herself, bought this for me when I was little. I never did read it. I have no idea what happened to my copy, but this book haunts me. I feel like I MUST read it someday, since mom bought it for me."
LOL And you should! You definitely should! 😳🤗

Katy wrote: "I finished The Last Full Measure

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

"I am now reading The Far Pavilions. It is forever long. I'm almost 200 pages in and still don't really feel that invested in it. Oh well, only 1000 left."
This made me gasp. Another 1000 pages when you don't feel invested after a whole 200? Wow. I sure hope that improves for you!

"QOTW: I finished the Pop Sugar reading challenge and that's the only challenge I do, so I guess I'm feeling pretty good. This is the earliest I finished, but have to admit I read some awfully short books. My current average pages for the year is 377, and I would like to see if I can get it up to 390. I don't really know why. Does it make a difference how many pages per book I read? Probably not."
It sounds as if matters to you. And that's all that really matters, isn't it? 😋👍

Allie wrote: "QOTW: I came to the challenges late, so of course I'm late to be finishing.
I finished my original Harry Potter Challenge, and I surpassed my GoodReads Challenge, but I'm behind on the others. I think the hardest one is Reading Women, since I have to plan to read books that fit those prompts, instead of just reading what is on my TBR list."
I would agree with you regarding Reading Women. It seems I must obtain more books to fulfill specific prompts for that than any others, however, I also feel as if it expands my reading horizons the most!

"Currently Reading:
One of Us Is Lying
The Last Garden in England
The Maidens
High-Five to the Hero: 15 Classic Tales Retold for Boys Who Dare to Be Different
The Library of the Dead
Malibu Rising
The Samurai's Garden
History Smashers: The American Revolution
The Message in the Hollow Oak
The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
The Scarlet Slipper Mystery
Hairpin Bridge
Cool for the Summer
All the Young Dudes"
I love this list!

"Finished:
Firekeeper's Daughter"
Curious to know what you thought of this one...

Heather L wrote: "I missed last week’s checkin, which only means my “finished” list is twice as long as it was then. 😄"
No problem! Glad you returned! 👍😋

"First, QOTW. I have actually increased my Goodreads goal twice this year. Not knowing how the year would pan out, I originally set my goal at 85. Then a few months ago I reset it to 100. I completed book 98 last Friday, at which point I was 26 books ahead of my goal, so decided to increase it to 120. Most years I’m around 100, though I managed to finish 130 last year. Currently 104/120 (15 books ahead)."
That's great! 🎆🎆🎇🎇🎈🎈

"I am also now 42/50 for Popsugar and planning to cross off at least three more in October, as they fit with other challenges for the month. And, as mentioned earlier this month, one of my main goals this year was to finish a 1900 page anthology of short stories started last year. I read the last two stories this month, so that was a huge accomplishment that freed up a ton of space on my Nook."
Wow. That's a huge accomplishment! Congratulations!

"Finished in last two weeks:
* Unleashed, Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells and Naughty but Nice by Donna Kauffman (Hamilton series) — It occurred to me the other night that this is a series a friend would like, so YAY! another Popsugar prompt completed (now 42/50)."
I love it when that happens!

"* The Misanthrope by Molière — Another Classics group read, but more to my liking."
I just ordered a book with several of his plays (for only $3.98). I've been reading one or two plays every year. A Raisin in the Sun convinced me they can be very powerful and enjoyable!

"In Progress:
* Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne — Thoroughly enjoying this adventure story, which I hope to finish today. Definitely my favorite of the four books I’ve read by Verne. (Book 105/120 for the year.)"
This is on my must-read list for next year now that I have a copy in hand!

Ashley Marie wrote: "Happy Thursday!! It's my birthday so hubby and I are doing an overnight camping thing and I'm so excited -- the weather is perfect. We did this a few months ago for our anniversary and it was hot and wet. Autumn truly is the best time. We've also binge-watched Only Murders in the Building and it's the perfect kind of cozy thing."
Happy Birthday!!

"Three books this week:
The Woman Who Died a Lot - 2.5/3 stars, my least favorite of the series thus far but still packed with plenty of wacky goings-on!
The Hummingbird's Daughter - Another DNF. My Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month reading is not going very well at all.
Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident - 5 stars."
That is quite the eclectic trio! 😊

"Currently reading:
Next Year in Havana
Queen of the Night
Working on a Song: The Lyrics of HADESTOWN"
Another diverse group! 👍

"QOTW: As we enter the LAST QUARTER of 2021, how are your reading goals faring for the year?
I'm pleased with my progress this year! I've got five more slots to fill for Popsugar, I've read more inclusively than any other year, made progress with various series, and discovered so many new-to-me authors!"
That is marvelous!! You sound happy and excited! As you should be!

Shannon wrote: "Good morning! Work is busy but slightly less overwhelming right now, thankfully. We've selected the two new people we want to hire, so fingers crossed they accept!"
And that they prove to be beneficial to your organization! 👍😁
Glad your workload seems to have eased up a bit!

"It's also the beginning of Texas Fall (meaning the high is in the low 90s). Fall is my least favorite season, likely because I'm from Texas and it's not pretty nor consistent. I hate the whole "hot in the sun, freezing in the shade" thing we get. I also always feel weirdly on-edge during the fall. No idea what that's about."
Wow. That definitely sounds strange to me!

"Finished:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini - a book you saw on someone's shelf. I may be biased from having loved this so much when it first came out, but I still really enjoyed it! I will say, knowing what I know about what's going to happen, it's kind of bittersweet being back at the beginning."
I read this series so long ago I don't remember a ton of it. I did enjoy it.

"Up Next:
Eldest - this will be my "book that takes place mostly or entirely outdoors." I'm pretty sure any book from this series would work in this prompt."
I would agree that any of them could fulfill the outside prompt!

"QOTW:
I'm back on track with the challenge but still unsure if I'll finish it, mostly because several of the books I have left are on the long side. BUT, The Inheritance Cycle books, while long, are fast reads, so we'll see. If I don't hit another reading block, I might just make it! If nothing else, I should be able to finish the main prompts.

I have 10 main prompts left and 7 advanced. That looks like a lot to get done, so we'll see what happens!"
Hopefully it will work out for you! But, hey, just think of all the enjoyable reading you're getting in!!