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

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

Hello everyone. Beautiful week in Vegas so far. I am ALMOST done with two books. I was hoping to finish them prior to check in but alas it is not to be. I just noticed next months discussion book is the same as my book club book. I am excited to be able to join in the discussion!

11/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished:

28. Robot, AI or Cyborg Character
That cover!!!

Currently Reading





QotW:
(From Lauren) Is there a genre that you've always avoided but have recently started getting into because of this (or another) reading challenge?
I don't know if challenges has gotten me into any genres. I do go out of my comfort zone and read things I usually would not have but I don't continually dive into any genres that were outside my wheelhouse. That may change sometime. Who knows?

For those of you living in the Vegas area or planning a visit soon, MGM Grand now has an interactive The Hunger Games exhibit and it was super fun. Lots of the costumes from the movies as well as an archery game. Check it out if you are a fan.

Hello reading friends. I am finding myself in a slump. I am not loving the books I am currently reading but I don't want to DNF them and I don't want to read my book club choice and I have no idea what I do want to read (except Two Can Keep a Secret which is sold out locally, glare). Sorry I am being whiny. Thursday is my Monday work wise so I am having a major case of those. Well let's do this.

10/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished

33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
Loved this. Not as good as the first in the series, it takes longer to get going, but I loved the writing and the new characters.

Did not use this for challenge

I read a few picture books but this one was notably cute

Currently Reading
audio



QotW
Do you prefer shorter books or longer books?
Define short. I tend to avoid door stoppers because I read a lot on the go and they aren't reasonable for that. I will say I have more of an opinion about chapter length vs book size. I love short chapters. I obviously will read books with long chapters but I kind of hate them.

Hello and happy February. This has been a pretty productive reading week for me.

9/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished

3. Great first line
A sex tape. A pregnancy scare. Two cheating scandals. And that’s just this week’s update.

23. Won award in 2019

26. Pun in title

16. Has a book on the cover

Currently Reading




DNF

Had to return to the library. I plan to return to it.

QotW:
I don't know. If I am interested before the scandal I probably still read (depending on the scandal). Controversy does not add to a book's draw for me. I will say it pisses me the f off that people (not here but the internet in general) seem to justify a woman receiving death threats because of her work of fiction.

Hey everybody! How is January already over?! This month has gone by crazy fast (for me). My daughter turned 13, she performed a concert at the House of Blues (very proud). 2020 kicks off year 3 of my book club which is exciting. Trying to keep busy reading (and more so planning my reading). My big goal is to finish Daisy and January(*see below) before the end of the month so I can start February running.

5/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished

12. Passes the Bechdel test
I loved this book! Like obsessively. I have heard some drama about it since reading but I will read the other book in question and decide from there.

Currently Reading:






QotW:

From Sheri) Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list? What does that mean to you? How strict are you in sticking to it?
Although I have a TBR on goodreads and books I would like to read sooner than later I don't really prescribe to the TBR pile personally. I very much am an emotional reader so it is very hard for me to plan ahead. I could start a book that I really want to read and just not vibe with it. I am in a book club so I do have at least one book that I force myself through no matter what.

Hello friends. It's starting to get warmer here which is nice. Sweater weather makes my dry cleaning bill annoying. lol

It has been a good week for reading for me.

4/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished

27. Featuring 7 Deadly Sins

40. Fave prompt from previous year
2019 - Choose your own adventure book


Currently Reading







QotW:

If you had two hours of completely uninterrupted reading time, what would that look like for you? Where would you be? What would you be eating, drinking, listening to, etc?
Oh man!!!! The idea of this is exciting!!! I have two possibilities I cannot fairly decide between. For a 2 hour span I would split it honestly.
Hot bath, candle, epsom salt, sparkling water, some face mask and a book.
Alternate sitting on my chaise covered in blankets and corgis (Bilbo and Baymax) drinking tea and chocolate with some classical music in the background.

Hello everyone. This has been a good week for reading for me. I just bought myself a paperwhite. I got this poster with 100 books you need to read and there are quite a few bricks on there. I also got the out of state membership for Brooklyn Public Library and I want to get my moneys worth.

4 Total Read
2/40 Regular
1/10 Advanced

Finished:

Read because Jason Reynolds was chosen by the library of congress as an Ambassador for young people's literature. This was a wonderful read!

A10. (or 50. however you list it) Main Character in their 20's. I liked this. Parts were predictable but I still couldn't wait to finish it.

11. Anthology. Meh

Currently Reading





QotW:
Now that we've had a chance to get excited about our new year of reading, let's take a step back and look at last year. This week's question is from Theresa:

How does your reading for the year breakdown in book format? How many audiobooks, print books, ebooks, graphic novels, children’s picture books, middle grade, and/or YA books? How many books did you read from your TBR - whether a list on GR or just piles at home or holds at library.
I can't completely answer this as I don't track in this way. I can only answer what is available on goodreads.
I read 82 books.
(the rest are round about numbers)
Picture - 33 (I was doing picture book challenge for ATY- did not finish)
Graphic Novel - 4
Plays/Poetry books - 7
Audio - 17 (some of them I went back and forth between audio and print)
Ebook - 0
DNF - 21
Reference type - 4

This is a hard question.

Hello everyone. I had a week off from work and was not productive at all. I got mostly caught up on Doctor Who (loving it) and my daughter had her very first sleepover! Not a ton of time to read but that's. I am going to try to focus on what I do get done and not the stuff I don't!

1/40 Regular
0/10 Advance

Currently Reading



Finished Reading

#29. Bird on the Cover

DNFI know. Already. lol

I am going to try to finish this when I can get the print copy from the library but I hate the narrators of the audio book. I got through one of the 3 stories and the narrator was rough but I powered through. Unfortunately the second narrator was also rough and I couldn't do it.

QotW:
Do you reserve some books for reading later in the year or do you dive right in to your most exciting reads right away?
I don't really. I tied to save prompts last year to fit my book club prompts. That didn't work. I intend to read more new releases this year. So that will be whenever the library can give me things.

Happy New Year reading friends!!!

My child turns 13 today and I just can't. New years eve was awesome. Made pierogi soup, played Qwirkle Rummy (so fun!) and drank Hawaiian Mules. Amazing.

Started an instagram for my book club, gonna try to tackle more reading this year, and read more new releases this year.

Regular 0/40
Advanced 0/10

Currently Reading



Question of the Week
A two-parter!
(1) Did you wait until yesterday to start your challenge reading?
(2) What is the first category you’re planning to tackle in the 2020 Challenge?

I started one book on the 27th and the other on the 31st. I had intended to get a lot farther so I would have one or two done but life does not like my plans. haha.

1. Red, White & Royal Blue for #36 pink cover
2. Let it Snow for #11 anthology
3. Vicious for #13 unrelated show or movie with same title

Happy reading everyone!!!

Hello everyone. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the winter and whatever holidays you may celebrate!!! I had a wonderful Christmas. Got about 8 new books which is wonderful!!! I also decided that I am retiring the 2019 challenge as I don't want to read anything that fits right now. I might start Red, White & Royal Blue later today. Seems so cute.

FINAL CHECK IN!!!

35/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

83/52 Overall (some where picture books)

Finished

Read this for Challenge in title. Listened to most of it. Really well done but the chaos of the first half gave me anxiety.

DNF

Tried for posthumous. Wasn't feeling it.

I will come back to this one but I wasn't in the mood for a thinker right now.

Standouts



Disappointments


QotW:

What are your reading goals for 2020? Any challenges besides Popsugar? Do you set a Goodreads reading goal (or just a personal # of books to read? Do you have any other personal goals for your reading life?
My overall goal is 52 total. I will also be doing a personal challenge of reading one book with a cover colored the pantone color of the year since it started in 2007 (same year my daughter was born). I may check into some Around the Year prompts. I have no school anticipated in 2020 so hopefully I will have more time to read.

Hello everyone!!! I cannot believe how fast December is flying by! I have done my book club secret santa and Christmas dinner with my bestie and got 2 new books. Yay! Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life and The Starless Sea. I will try to fit them both into next year challenge.

34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

Finished:

Book club pick for December. Didn't fit in any of my remaining categories but it was a fun read. Albeit very weird.

Currently Reading



QotW (A repeat from last year!)

What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge).

Hello! Finals are over and I am so happy. Now to try to catch up with everything that has fallen to the wayside due to school. Including making a list for next years challenge. Can I finish this years challenge? I am gonna try. So I have spent all day running around doing holiday-related errands. Hopefully tomorrow I can start to read Slay my choice for LitRPG.

34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

Currently Reading

For my bookclub but if I can fit it in the prompts I have left I will.

QotW:
Book gifts! Are you giving any books as gifts this year? Do you have some on your list? Do you have any particular books you love to gift?

Love book gifts. I like getting books (mostly if I have asked for them but there are a few people who have me pegged books wise that they could buy whatever and I would love it). I love buying books.

Here are the books I have purchased this year as Christmas gifts

Most of these are for my best friend. The hockey one is for my husband and Gutsy is for my mom.

I try to gift people books I think that they would like and not necessarily force my tastes on them. I love to make recommendations though. Kids' books, on the other hand, I am partial to gifting. I have given out about 8 copies of

and The previously mentioned Book of Gold is going to all the kids I know who are over 5.

Books on my wishlists:
and the Jasmine Guillory books 1, 3, & 4.

I am the leader of my book club and I always make notebooks for everyone. Last year I bought everyone a copy of the January book and this year I am following suit. 2019 was music themed so every month's theme was song lyrics. The lyrics tied to the book choice. 2020 we are doing movie genres as the themes. January is superhero films. So they are all getting a copy of which I am excited to read and fits for the #13 prompt about an unrelated tv show or movie.

Hello everyone. I can't believe how fast time is flying these last two months. Only one more week of school!!!! I am so excited. I have a lot of work for my finals but I am unbelievably excited to be done for a bit. It's overwhelming.

34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

Currently Reading


kind of dropping off on this one. It's good but I don't have time right this second (have to get Hogfather done for my book club)



QotW:
Do you have any reading goals left to achieve in 2019?
I have 8 more books to read!!! I finish finals on the 15th. Can I finish 8 books in that amount of time? I have no idea!!!!

Hello! Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. I am in the throws of finals for 3 college classes right now so sadly my Christmas movie watching and reading is on pause right now for essay writing. Joy :/

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and the cold weather is not too brutal. I have finished nothing this week. I have 8 prompts left. I don't think I'm gonna finish with classes going til the 15th, but I'm sure going to try.

34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

Currently Reading

I don't think this fits any of my remaining prompts but it's my book club pick for December sooo..

Listening to this for the Pop, sugar or challenge prompt. Getting distracted with Christmas music and listening to Into the Unknown on repeat though.


QotW:

In a spirit of thankfulness, tell us how books have improved, enhanced or in any way added sparkle to your life?
The obvious aspect of getting to escape reality and explore new worlds and learn and love and live all from my couch (or wherever I am). Last January I started a book club with my best friend and her sister. Mainly as an excuse for us to take a break and get out of the house as we are all moms. Since then our 3 has grown to 5 and it has been so wonderful and has created another family for me. The sister had told me she had probably only read 12 books her whole life prior to our book club and this year she has read at least that many outside of our book club picks. It has been wonderful to share the love of books and bond.

I think The Smell of Other People's Houses would work very well for this prompt and it's a phenomenal read.

Hello!!! Can't believe this year is almost ended! I have 8 prompts left! I might finish if finals don't bury me. Wish me luck.

34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced

Finished
#47. Same Title

(Read this a few weeks ago but just added it for the same title)
#48. Same Title

Both A Sloth's Guide by different authors...close enough
#49. Common Idiom

Well The Handmaid's Tale introduced it but again.. close enough(not a stickler at this point)

Currently Reading


QotW:
After much fanfare, the 2020 list has been released!! Which prompts are you most excited about?
I have been preoccupied with getting some books read and school but I looked over it a bit.

I am so tickled by the 20's theme in the advanced section and the Olympics theme throughout with the 2 locations and the medals. So clever!
Also excited for
Picking with eyes closed
The movie challenge being unrelated is fun

Honestly I think the only one I'm not excited for is the deadly sins one.

Hello reading friends. I am rolling right along and might even be able to finish this thing. *Fingers crossed* I am back to work from my unplanned/unwanted sabbatical and trying to get my head together. Holiday cheer has got me going.

33/40 Regular
5/10 Advanced

Finished:

18. Book about someone with a superpower
Five stars!!! Loved this so much. Strong women, demons, ice kings! What more could you want?!

Currently Reading



QotW:

(From Raye) How do you choose the next book that you're going to read?
I am very much a mood reader although my moods currently WANT to read popular, newer books and get them from the library. This makes things difficult. By the time I get the book, the mood has passed. LOL. When I plan things tend to go astray. I need more time and energy.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik was wonderful, but 18 hours. I absolutely loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky although I could see the narrator being an acquired taste.

Hello and Happy November. I missed check in last week. My world has been in chaos so I have been trying to get that together. I have finally found some stable footing and got a good deal of reading done this week. Woohoo.

32/40 Regular
5/10 Advanced

Finished:

#7. Reread of a favorite.
I did the audio and the narrator wasn't the greatest. Also, the book was more pretentious than I remembered and while I still think it is a valuable piece of literature I did not love it.

Cute. Nothing special or revelatory. My parents gave it to me as a birthday gift with the new Jason Reynolds which I am stoked to read.

# 36. A Ghost Story
Kind of a stretch on the prompt but not terribly so. I love her poetry. It is so beautiful and haunting.

Currently Reading


Finally got the audio back from the library! So excited to finish this.

QotW:

Did you write-in any books? Do you have any particular favorites you are rooting for?!
I didn't write any in. I didn't read more than 1 in any category. There is one I don't want to see win which is terrible but it was awful imho and is so popular because of how good the first book was. The Bride Test. I absolutely, 5 star, loved The Kiss Quotient but the sequel took all the charm and flushed it down the toilet I need to read more! (Don't we all)

Sara wrote: "Life has been super busy lately and yet I can't put my finger on why exactly. I have been struggling to find the time to settle down and just read which means my progress on current reads is super ..."

For book set in space.. Have you tried To Be Taught, If Fortunate? I'm not hugely into science fiction but I found this novella wonderful. The audio book is barely 4 hours.I think the paper copy is only 150 pages. Just an option if your current one doesn't work.

Hello all!!! Fall is starting to be kind here and it's a lovely 71 today. It's wonderful.

30/40 Regular
5/10 Advanced

Finished(finally finished one!!!)

Wouldn't have finished had it not been my book club pick for the month. High expectations. Huge Disappointment. 9. Meant to read last year

Currently Reading


DNF

Amendment:I was sitting here reading in it and realized I had more than 100 pages left and not the 60 that I thought and I just can't right now. It's good but I am lost as is. Will return to it when my brain power returns.



QotW:
This week’s question was submitted (at different times!) by both Jen and poshpenny:

Have you ever visited a place from a novel? Was it recognizable?

I don't think that I have. I definitely would if it is somewhere that is convenient or interesting to me. I know when I have read books set in places I have been I get annoyed when they are off. HAHA. Hard to please a reader I guess.