Jess’s Comments (group member since Oct 04, 2017)

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

I stink at reading lately. School just started and my daughter is in all advanced classes in her first year of middle school, I'm in a play and we have a newer puppy so these things may be factors.

33/52

Currently Reading




QotW:
Yay!!! Pets are the best. I have two pembroke welsh corgis who I love so so much. Bilbo is almost 2. He loves food, has short legs and an adventurous spirit just like his namesake. Baymax is our new baby. He is almost 4 months old. He kinda waddles when he walks and sits down ackwardly due to his extra short legs (like Baymax) and he has the biggest ears ever.
Bay is too young to sit still when he's not sleeping but Bilbo is definitely a cuddly boy and loves to sit in my lap no matter what I am doing!
Idk how to add pictures using my phone. I will come back and add some from my computer later. They are cute boys!

Hello one and all from Las Vegas.

I have been burning the candle at both ends lately. Completely exhausted. Trying to keep on schedule but the closer I get to the end the more glaringly I notice that I don't necessarily want to read books from certain prompts. I will keep trying though.

33/52

Finished Reading
Nada this week

Currently Reading







QotW:

What are your reading stats for Most Read Author? (This question is from Teri, a spinoff from our other discussion of reading stats)

I tend to avoid long series and I generally gravitate to picking books based on their description and not who wrote them.

Neal Shusterman and James Patterson tied for first with 8.
J.K. Rowling with 7. (I guess she didn't get any writing credit for The Cursed Child?)
Melissa de la Cruz with 5
Jaclyn Moriarty and Ann Brashares tied with 4
I have 6 tied for 5th with 3 books. I think this is good.

Hello from Las Vegas. Back to school is next Monday which is keeping me busy this week getting my daughter ready for her first year of MIDDLE SCHOOL. I can't deal. Not a lot done this week. I'm trying to work out what I want to read for my remaining prompts and come up with a battle plan.

33/52

FINISHED READING

#9 Anti-Hero

CURRENTLY READING


QotW:

Do you like to receive books as gifts?
YES!!!!! I don't get them often enough. I also love getting gift cards to Barnes and Noble which is the best!!!

Hello from Las Vegas.

My computer is being glitchy so if this appears twice, my bad.

I'm finally getting back into the groove and catching up. It's amusing that this week is the week for me to get it moving because it has been exceptionally chaotic.

32/52

Finished Reading

#35. GR Choice Winner

#15. Feminism

Currently Reading




QotW:

Do you like to read books that are sad or devastating and/or make you cry?
I don't know if I LIKE to read books that make me cry but I like many books that have made me cry. It looks like I fit in well with Teri. I am a fairly emotional person when it comes to certain things. My life is generally not included. I cry at movies, tv shows, commercials. I am made fun of for this a great deal in my household. I've been like that since I was little. Books are no exception. I finished We Were Liars today and that had me crying unexpectedly. I cry at happy moments too. I am a full on book crier.

Alas, it has been a good week for reading for me! It's super hot so that helps because I don't want to leave the house!

30/52

Currently Reading





Completed

13. A Book that is Also a Stage Play

16. A Book about mental health (I'm using neurological health here)

QotW

Reading Stats

I actually already keep track of this in my bullet journal. I wasn't aware the stats were available on Goodreads. I have read 36 books this year, 2 being audiobooks.

Listened to 15h and 37m. Making the average for each audio book 7:48:30.

Out of the 34 books and plays read my total page 8947. Averaging approximately 263 pages per book.

Hello from Vegas. I'm starting to catch up from my lull. Still a little slow but moving forward.

27/52

Currently Reading






Finished Reading

Not for Challenge

#17. Borrowed or Gifted

Question of the Week

Recommend a less-well-known book (or books) that you loved
Less well known is fairly vague so if you feel like I'm failing, I apologize.
The Smell of Other People's Houses was one of my favorite books I read last year. It is a multiple perspective novel about some kids on Alaska in the 70's. I found it incredibly moving.
The Water Wars and Empty are both dystopian young adult books that I think should be more prevalent. They are far more likely to occur than things like the maze runner or hunger games.
I don't hear people talking about Neal Shusterman enough. He is in the 5 digits on reviews but I think he should be WAY more mainstream. He is amazing. The skinjacker chronicles is my favorite.

LOVE your choice for ugly cover. That is a hideous. ;)

Kristina wrote: "I got two books done this week bringing me to 44/52 done

[book:William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Cou..."

Hey guys. Oh gotta love the summer. Super humid in Vegas which is not something we are particularly used to so it's extra unpleasant.

We just got an 8 week old Corgi puppy to join our family. He's joining his 11 y/o human type sister and 1 & 1/2 year old Corgi brother. Needless to say the house has been hectic.

IDK what my count is today so I will skip it. 25 or 26. Not sure.

Finished

Not for challenge

#6. Based on real person/people

Not for challenge


Currently Reading





QotW:
Do you have a spouse / partner / sibling who is as passionate about reading as you are?
No. My husband will read but does it rarely. Mainly when he has something he wants to learn ie. poker, how to coach... My brother never reads. My daughter does. Not nearly as much as I do but I try to keep her interested. She will sit for hours and reread her graphic novels though. She is also starting to love Manga. My best friend is also a reader but again not as much as I read. We have a bookclub together with her sister and one of my soccer friends. I have a coworker however and we are forever discussing what we are reading. She reads equal to me and sometimes more. We share books and recommendations,

Hello from Las Vegas. 105 and sweltering.

26/52

Finished

Read for #2 True Crime. Not traditionally a true crime book but as it is a portrayal of genocide in Africa in the 1990's I'm counting it. Both true and crime so...

Currently Reading
I'm finally making some progress over here and hopefully will be done with all of these next week!!




QotW

(from Raquel) What book do you think everyone should read?
I'm in the camp where I don't think everyone should be told they need to read the same thing. I think that everyone SHOULD read. Whether it be novels or graphic novels or nonfiction. People should just read. We should want everyone to be able to and encourage that. Being that in the United States a judge just ruled that individuals don't have a right to be literate (Detroit school district was sued by students graduating without the ability to read or write. They wanted the schools to change and give future students a better shot) let's get books in the hands of anyone who wants them.

Hello one and all. It's hot as Hades in Vegas right now and the air quality leave much to be desired. If my allergies and I could just hide inside and read. Alas, I must work.

I am debating jumping in the monthly reads for Oct thru Dec despite having already hit those prompts (or having one retrofitted for my bookclub). I may go look to see what everybody is reading for the next few months to see if anything floats my boat.

Anyway, down to business...

25/52

Finished:

I couldn't find a place for it to fit. If you do please let me know!

Currently Reading







QotW:
Have you ever felt inspired to cook or bake based on the book you are reading (could be an actual recipe in the book or just a dish mentioned in it)? If not, does it sound like something you’d want to do?

I'm gonna say I probably have as I love to read and up until recently I have loved cooking. Currently I am not a huge fan of cooking or food past it's necessity. I can say with certainty watching the movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe made me try to make Turkish Delight which was an absolute disaster.

Not a super productive reading week AND I'm falling behind on my lead. I'm only one book ahead of schedule at this point. I need to pick up the pace.

25/52

Currently Reading





QotW:
Do you (or do you plan to) participate in our Monthly Group Reads?
If there is a book that I find interesting or fits in what I have left on my challenge I will.

Hello. Summer is in full force in Las Vegas. We are officially triple digits. Oh joy..

25/52

Currently Reading





Finished

10. Death or Grief

QotW
Best and worst fathers in literature?
I'm noticing I must read a lot of books where the parents aren't present or just exist outside of the world of the characters I read.
BEST
Mr. Weasley from the Harry Potter Boxset
A.J. Fikry from The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Mary's Dad from Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
WORST
Rex Yanakakis from The Compound
Sir Walter Elliot from Persuasion

Hello from Vegas!!!

It is taken everything to keep me motivated to read. I've been in a movie mode lately which is taking it's toll on my reading time, buut I've seen some good films this week. Anyway I'm pretty much stagnated at the same place as last week.

24/52

Finished:

This didn't fit either of my challenges but it was fun to read through the recipes and descriptions as a sort of break.

Currently Reading:





QotW;

Who are some trendy authors you've read in the last few years that you were surprised to find you really enjoyed?
I really enjoyed Frederick Backman I tend to avoid trendy things so I don't really know what I would have read and enjoyed that fit that mark. I have been loving the book of the month club which in itself is kind of trendy.

Hello from Vegas! The weather is warm and the Knights are hot so all is good. I'm finally settled back into real life (even though I don't want to be) after our family vacation. I may be losing interest in reading books that fit the challenge though. There is still plenty of time however so I am reading a few that as far as I can tell don't fit anywhere but that is ok.

24/52

Currently Reading





Finished

I read this for #32 Book found on a celebrity book club. It was chosen for Reese Witherspoon's book club.

QotW:

Is there a series that you keep reading even though you've disliked the last few books?

Nope. I really am not generally one to read something that I don't like (I have a few times this year for this challenge) I have started many a series and lost interest. Loved The Maze Runner hated The Scorch Trials. Read Divergent but was bored by Insurgent. Read a couple of the Dresden Files and discontinued that. I have a love hate relationship with series anyway. Harry Potter took me a decade to finish because of the releases so they make me a little crazy sometimes.

Hello from boiling hot Vegas. Just returned from vacation so I haven't done a lot of reading as of late but I'm back on the wagon.

Currently Reading


Small Country

Completed


I think that's it. I don't even know anymore. I started and stopped a couple books recently.

QotW:

Do you celebrate any "literary holidays," such as the upcoming Towel Day (Hitchhikers Guide) on May 25th?

I do not. I can barely keep up with regular Holidays.

Hello Everyone,

Can you believe it's May?! This year is moving incredibly quickly. I set my goals high last week to cover for my vacation next week and I didn't quite hit my mark but that's ok.

22/52

Finished

#21. Favorite Color in Title
I loved this book. I am probably going to go out and read everything she's ever written now.

Currently Reading


I don't know if we are ever going to finish this one


Pausing



QotW:

By (slightly) popular demand: who are some of the worst mothers in literature?

I honestly can't think of any.

Hello from Las Vegas ladies and gentleman! I am 9 days away from vacation. I am certain the only reading I will be managing on our 9 day trip is on the plane and maybe in lines. That being said I am trying to knock out 3 more books so I can keep the lead I have on my goal while losing time. We will see how that works out for me,

21/52

Finished


#51 or A09 - Featuring a problem facing society today
(bullying, objectification of women)

Currently Reading




QotW:

Mother’s Day is approaching here in the US (May 13th for those of you who need the heads up!). In honor of mothers everywhere, who is your favorite literary mom?

So I'm definitely going to jump on the Molly Weasley bandwagon. She was an amazing mum to all her children and the ones that came into her care. I also agree that Ma from Room is pretty spectacular given her situation. I would like to say Emilia from Salt to the Sea. She went through so much and she was so selfless and brave.

Hello from Las Vegas. The temperature has climbed up to the 90's, to which I say, too soon. Golden Knights start round two of the NHL Playoffs tonight. Super exciting stuff. Trying to double my lead on my reading goals before my vacation in two weeks where I will certainly get ZERO reading done.

20/52

Currently Reading






Finished

#31. Mentioned in Another Book
You

Used my Wild Card here using
#20. Local Author


Do you follow any authors on social media?
No. Except on goodreads. I don't really use facebook.

Hello again. I picked up the pace a little and I'm back to making progress.

18/52

Completed

Used this for Advanced #10. Recommended by fellow challenger.
It was recommended by Naina

Currently Reading




Gave Up On

I was listening to this on audio. I may return to it in book form as it fits a category I dislike in each of my challenges and refilling both spots with one book may be difficult.


What's your favorite "Classic" novel (or novels)?
I love a lot of dystopian classics. Below are my favorites

Hello from windy Las Vegas. It's currently gusting 45 kts which is gnarly and unfun. As usual the weather is bipolar. It was in the 90s yesterday, 70 something today. Consistency would be fantastic.

My reading hasn't been great. Luckily I'm a little ahead so it's not crushing me if I can pull my head out relatively quickly.

17/52

Currently Reading





Finished
I did not finish anything this week. SMH.

QotW

Does it bother you if the book's title doesn't seem connected to the plot?

I don't think that it does. I don't know that I have noticed it before. I don't like when the title is too on the nose.