Tricia’s Comments (group member since Nov 21, 2016)

Tricia’s comments from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.

Heart of the Sea

Her fearful symmetry

Hello from Brisbane Australia. It has cooled off a bit this week which is great after the heatwave we had in previous weeks.

This week I finished:

All Fall Down (Local author from Brisbane). This is the third in a trilogy by this author about police corruption. I thought it was a great read and well researched.

Hounds and Hauntings (A book published in 2018) This was a fun YA read. It is the third in the series and I have enjoyed all of these books.

Pirates! (a book that takes place at sea). I thought this was also a fun YA read and I would recommend it.

Apple Tree Yard (a book with fruit in the title). I wasn’t sure about this book. I found it a bit dull in areas but it had a great ending.

Currently reading:
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist). I know a few others are reading this for the challenge. I am half way through and finding this a fascinating read. What a character!

Fight Like A Girl (a feminist book).

I Am Legend (a book from a movie I have already seen) This is VERY different to the movie. So much so that I am not sure I can count it. 

Purple Hibiscus (A book with my favourite colour in the title).

Next books on the list:

My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry). My great grandfather served in both World Wars.
Seven Ancient Wonders (an author with the same last name as me)
Dark Side of the Moon (a female author that uses a male pseudonym)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (a cyberpunk novel)

QOTW
I don't listen to pod casts. I have only just started listening to audiobooks so maybe podcasts are the next step.

Interested in reading what others access.

I usually pick books for the prompts I know will be harder to find books for (eg the allegory category this year). The rest I can normally fit in around them. The favourite categories from previous year prompt is almost like a wild card. I hope they have that again in future years.

I usually finish the challenge pretty early so if I want to read a book and it doesn't fit a prompt I will just read it and not worry too much about it.

Sheri wrote: "Hi everyone!

Having a bit of a warm up here in Michigan, which is good. No more room to shovel snow, need some of it to melt away!

Had a pretty good week this week, but a lot of them were prett..."


I read Practical Magic for a prompt last year, and like you I thought it was a completely different story. Aside from the names and someone dying, the rest was completely unrecognisable. I am surprised they called it the same name.

Tara wrote: "Finished one book this week and I'm at 8 of 50 for the challenge (8/40, 0/10).

Finished
Mrs. Dalloway (31. A book mentioned in another book) This was my first Virginia Woolf and I lov..."

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts is the next book on my reading list. I will be interested to see what you think.

Hi everyone,
It is looking like another scorcher here in Brisbane Australia this weekend so I will probably be inside with the aircon for most of the weekend (and with a book of course).

After a few weeks where I had not had a chance to finish many books, this week was pretty productive. It looks like it was a lot but many were very short books and some were ones I had going for a few weeks at the same time and finally finished.

This week I finished:
The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title). It was ok but was not James Patterson’s best work and it didn’t really grip me.

Moby-Dick or, The Whale (an allegory). I finished this book but it was a VERY hard read. I don’t think I will be recommending it to many people.

Kindred (a book about time travel) – Wow! This was one of my favourite books so far this year. I know that it was a group choice read for last year and a lot of people enjoyed it. I found that I had trouble putting it down. The story had me completely gripped and really recommend it.

The Railway Children (a Childhood classic I have never read) – I read my first E.Nesbit book (The Enchanted Castle) last year and I thought it was a bit odd. I thought I would give her another go this year. I enjoyed this book as it was more realistic.

The Miniaturist (a book I meant to read last year). It was ok but it was very confusing. It is probably not something I would recommend.

Rubies and Runaways (book with an alliteration) - Short YA which I really enjoyed. I read it in a couple of hours.

Currently reading:
All Fall Down ( by Matthew Condon Local author from Brisbane). This is the third in a trilogy by this author about police corruption.

Hounds and Hauntings (A book published in 2018) This is the next book in the series after Rubies and Runaways (my book with an alliteration). This is also fairly short so I expect to finish this weekend.

Next on the list:
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist)
My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry)
Apple Tree Yard (a book with fruit in the title)

QOTW:
I always prefer to read the book first but that sometimes means I am very disappointed in the movie, particularly if they change the ending (eg My Sisters Keeper).

Hi everyone from Brisbane Australia. We are bracing for a heat wave this week so air con might be the go.

This week I finished:

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch(book with two authors). It took me three weeks to finish but I did enjoy it.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (A book set in a library). It was a lot of fun as a YA novel and I knocked it over quickly.

Reading:
I am still reading The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title) which I am just about finished. It is only short but I haven't had much time to sit down and read it.

Also reading Moby-Dick or, The Whale (an allegory). I am just about finished (about 3/4 of the way done) but it is a hell of a slog to read. I am finding it hard work. Not sure if anyone else struggled with it like I have. It is almost as if it is becoming MY "white whale".

Next on the list:
All Fall Down (Local author from Brisbane)
Rubies and Runaways (book with an alliteration) - Short YA
Kindred(book about time travel) - also short
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist)
My Brother Jack(a book linked to your ancestry)

QOTW
No on the formal bookclub as I don't like someone else choosing my books.

I do have book friends that I meet with regularly to talk about books and swap books.

Kenya wrote: "Everyone seems to be reading The Bear and the Nightingale this year! I have it picked out for the "book set in a country that fascinates you" prompt but haven't gotten to it yet... ..."

That was a monthly read last year and the general consensus was that it was really good. I haven't read it yet either so I might have to get my hands on a copy.

Hello from Brisbane Australia. It is looking a bit rainy today and the weather has not been too humid so it might be nice reading weather.

This week I finished:

The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts (a book set at sea). The story is interesting but there was a lot of detail and it was quite a dry book in some sections.

Jack of Diamonds (a book with lyrics in the title). This was Bryce Courtenay's last book before he died. This was not his best (because some of his books are amazing) and the ending was a bit rushed (for obvious reasons) but it was still a good tale.

A Tale of Two Cities (a book mentioned in another book). I had been meaning to read this book for ages but never got around to it. I am glad I did read it as it was a good read. A bit emotional though.

What I am currently reading:
I am still reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (book with two authors) from the previous two weeks. I promise I will finish it this weekend. I don't know why it is taking me so long as I am enjoying the book but I keep getting sidetracked.

I also started The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title) and Moby-Dick or, The Whale(an allegory). I am finding Moby Dick a bit of a slog. *sigh*

Next on the list:
Rubies and Runaways (book with an alliteration) - Short YA
Kindred (book about time travel) - also short
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist)
My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry)

QOTW:
I have a fortnightly coffee catch up with my cousin and Aunt which normally ends at our local Dymocks (a popular bookshop in Australia). In the Queens Street Mall in Brisbane they have the largest bookshop in the southern hemisphere (or so they claim). As you go in there are the new releases on the wall and we spend a bit of time checking them out. For example one new release that was there was The Tattooist of Auschwitz and I am thinking of using it for my prompt about a real person.

KateNZ wrote: "The extraordinarily hot weather we've been having in New Zealand has broken (temporarily) - we now have the edge of a tropical cyclone pounding us! Sounds like the perfect excuse to hunker down and..."

Better batten down the hatches if that cyclone heads your way. (although it is great weather to stay inside and read). :-)

Hi from Australia. Today is Australia Day so it is a public holiday. A lot of BBQs and pool parties around today. Queensland is not too hot but our southern states are going through a heatwave.

This week I finished:
That Hideous Strength (2015 prompt - book on my bookshelf that I have not read ). I liked it a lot more than the others in C.S. Lewis' Cosmic trilogy.

The Graduate (book that is a stage play or musical). I didn't like it. A lot of the reviews are saying the movie is better but there was just something about the main character that I couldn't empathise with. At least it was short.

And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic (book about an issue effecting society today). I thought this book was great and is probably the only one this week that I would strongly recommend. The book was very emotional and I moved through being incredibly frustrated at the inaction of governments to being sad for those who were infected because of people doing nothing. It is a big book at over 600 pages so it is a bit of a commitment.

What I am currently reading:
I am still reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (book with two authors) and The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts (a book set at sea) from previous week. I am enjoying both of these reads, and neither of them are long, but keep getting distracted with other books. Hopefully this weekend I will finish.

I also started The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title) and Jack of Diamonds (a book with lyrics in the title)

I also made a start of A Tale of Two Cities (a book mentioned in another book) but didn't get very far. I might just try to finish some of the ones I have started.

Next on the list:
Rubies and Runaways (book with a alliteration). This will be a quick read as it is a short YA.
Moby-Dick or, The Whale (an allegory)

QOTW
Since I discovered audiobooks I have not looked back. I realised that I love having someone read to me (or maybe I am just lazy).

I don't really have anyone to read to.

Hi everyone. It is still warm here in Brisbane Australia. This week I finished:
The Dry (book from Reece Witherspoon's book club) . I really enjoyed this book and is one I would recommend. It would also be a good category if you were interested in Australia as a country.

Red Rabbit (Book with an animal in the title). This is not a genre I normally read but I find that I quite enjoy the Jack Ryan series (having read The hunt for Red October for a category last year)

The Good Girl Stripped Bare (feminist book). This book was a good read and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a humorous way of discussing a serious topic. It is one I would recommend.

What I am currently reading:
I am still reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch(book with two authors) from previous week.

I also started And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic (book about an issue effecting society today) and The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts (a book set at sea). Both of these are very interesting reads.

Next on the list:
That Hideous Strength (2015 prompt - book on my bookshelf that I have not read )
The Graduate (book that is a stage play or musical)
The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title).
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (book about a heist)

QOTW
Anne of Green Gables. I loved that whole series as a kid and still do.

Reading a lot of people talking about snow and cold weather reminds me of what an international group it is. Here in Brisbane, Australia it is a toasty warm 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit for those on that scale). Perfect weather (as long as it doesn't rain) for me to spend the weekend in the hammock with a wine and reading a few books.

This week I finished:
Punishment (Nordic Noir). I thought this book was ok but there was something about the writing style that was a bit off for me. Maybe nordic noir is not my thing.

Valley of the Dolls (book made into a play). I know this is a modern classic but it is not something I would really recommend to people. I found the characters a bit frustrating.

The Household Guide To Dying (book about death or grief) This was an interesting book for me as I have a few people in my social circle with cancer and one passed away over Xmas/New Year. I think my current circumstances gave me a different appreciation of the book than I would normally have had and made me think about the death and grieving process a bit more.

Out of the Silent Planet (2015 prompt - first book in a series you have not read) and Perelandra (book set on another planet). These are the first two books in C.S. Lewis' Cosmic Trilogy. These were very short books and therefore I knocked them over very quickly. I liked the first one but I found the second a bit preachy at the end.


Currently reading:
The Good Girl Stripped Bare (feminist book). I saw the author speak about taking her employer (a television network) to court for discrimination and really wanted to read the book. It was a fairly high profile case here in Australia.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (book with two authors). I am really enjoying this book.

Next on the list:
The Dry (book from Reece Witherspoon's book club)
Red Rabbit (Book with an animal in the title)

QOTW:

I read a lot so this year I am going to try to complete this challenge twice. I have tentatively put two books down against each prompt. We will see how I go :-)

It has been hot here in Brisbane Australia as it is the height of summer. I have been on holidays so had plenty of time to read to start the challenge off.

I read Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows which I chose for the prompt about an author with a different ancestry to you. I thought it might also work well for a feminist novel and it is about women going against traditional society's taboos. I chose this prompt as I was in holiday mode and it was a fun (and an eye-opening) read.

I have started reading my Nordic Noir novel (Punishment) and also my book that was made into a play (Valley of the Dolls).

Ally (the.imperfect.library) wrote: "I’m a bit of a mutt when it comes to my ancestral background but I’m really interested to read something related to the convicts sent to Australia. I have an ancestor who was sent here because he s..."

Hi Ally, I too am from Australia and I have chosen (for various categories) The Girl from Botany Bay and The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts which are related to Convict times. Last year I also read For the Term of His Natural Life which was about the Tasmanian convict settlement. It was also a good read.

I am also reading My Brother Jack which might be also a possibility if you have an Australian ancestor who was in World War II.

I have included a few classics:

Great expectations for the category of a book mentioned in another book (mentioned in the book Mr Pip). I chose a Jane Austin book for the same category last year (mentioned in The Jane Austen Book Club).

I am looking at an E. Nesbit book for the childhood classic.

George Eliot would be good for for the male pseudonym category.

For modern classics I can recommend:
In cold blood for the true crime category
The Bell Jar for the mental illness category

I hope that helps

I raid my TBR first. After that I see what comes along.

Sarah wrote: "I'm from South Africa (grew up in the US but was born over there) so I think I'll read a history book about the country."

I would recommend The Power of One or People of Heaven. Both were books set in South Africa that I really enjoyed.

Tonya wrote: "Any suggestions for New Zealand?"

Are you Maori? If so maybe Once Were Warriors (although it is full on).

I did like Wild Pork and Watercress which was recently made into the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Failing that try https://www.goodreads.com/places/44-n...