Erica’s Comments (group member since Apr 05, 2019)
Erica’s
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from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.
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I do like the romantasy category because it leaves more room for fantasy nominations.

We've had weird weather, I think it counts for winter in Toronto or Vancouver but it's not November on the prairies. It's above zero and snows/rains so everything is slush. I'm not complaining at all, it's nice. Barely have to shovel.
Finished Reading:
Artie and the Wolf Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the library big read on Overdrive. A middle grade graphic novel about werewolves and vampires. It was cute and had good artwork.
The Bone Witch ⭐⭐⭐
Ya fantasy but not the overdramatic type. This is more necromancy and daeva instead of witches.
Loathe to Love You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Felt like rereading. It was good to read all three together instead of months apart as they were released.
The Official Disney Parks Cookbook: 101 Magical Recipes from the Delicious Disney Vault
Was gifted this and finally read through, I won't be rating it until a I make a few things. There are some tasty looking things. Also the "Grey Stuff" recipe is just great to see. (Although the grey stuff isn't grey looking in the picture because it's a chocolate mousse.) Most of the recipes don't appear to be related to the films/characters/rides.
Spy x Family, Vol. 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one was more serious then the previous 9. We get character backstory and lots of commentary on war and a need for peace.
Check & Mate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was super cute! Ali Hazelwood did a good job with ya. I really want to play chess now.
The Last Train to Key West ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chanel Cleeton is really good at historical fiction. This was inspired by the 1935 hurricane that hit the Keys and killed many WWI veterans.
PS 50/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 244/250
Currently Reading:
Fourth Wing rereading before I start Iron Flame
QOTW:
I was a little surprised with what made the list. I've read 15, plus one I'm apparently currently reading. There's a few on the tbr as well.
4/5 stars:
The four Taylor Jenkins Reid's
Where the Crawdads Sing
Big Little Lies
I'm Glad My Mom Died
The Spanish Love Deception
Born A Crime
Heartstopper
Red Rising
Crazy Rich Asians
Beartown
Dark Matter and Anxious People weren't faves.

Girl in the title
About a family
I think it’s a movie this year
I can’t remember if there’s English and Swedish for the two languages

Author: Rainbow Rowell
Recommend?: I would say read fangirl before the mangas. I fudged this prompt because Fangirl was written during NaNoWriMo not the mangas.

We had a colder Hallooween then the last few years I think and had less kids show up, only 19. The cutest costume definitely was the little, barely walking, girl dressed as a senior complete with walker and curlers in her hair. I have a friend who goes all out at decorating and she had 885 kids show up before she quit.
Finished Reading:
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 2 Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This manga series is great!
Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse ⭐⭐⭐ (PS fanfiction)
Charlaine Harris's author friends wrote short stories using her characters. A few favourite authors were involved. This finished my popsugar challenge. 😀
Curse the Dawn ⭐⭐⭐
Continuing an urban fantasy series, that's very up and down for me.
The Long Game ⭐⭐⭐
I'm happy that this author wrote a shorter rom-com this time. I was hooked on the book but there are some frustrating things that made it a three star.
PS 50/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 237/250
Currently Reading:
The Bone Witch
QOTW:
My sister gives me her library books to read if she thinks I'll like/should read them, otherwise people give me gift cards and I get what I want.

Author: Dean Atta
Would you recommend? This was an easy five stars from me so yes I'd recommend it but it's poetry in verse so that may not be your thing.

Message number of your list post (if you've got one): #35
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Rabbit on the cover because it's connected to 2023 and doesn't make sense for next year. Bunnicula
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): The Crossover for becoming a movie/tv show in 2023
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? (and what prompt was it for?) : What Moves the Dead I used for modern retelling of a classic but I found this book because of the rabbit on the cover prompt
Least favorite prompt: The author with your initials, I changed it to character with my name
Prompt you hope to see again: banned book
Last prompt you finished: fan-fiction
Did you like the "nostalgia" theme for this year?: No, because I had been doing previous challenges simultaneously with he current year lists to catch up so all the prompts were too familiar
Finally, are you in for 2024? Yes, even if the list is bad

I spent this week a bit sluggish due to the flu/covid shot combo.
@Nadine I too would like some new prompts to complain about, while completing.
Finished Reading:
Luckiest Girl Alive ⭐⭐⭐
The movie was better for this thriller.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is told from the perspective of a nine year old but it's a story for all ages. Upsetting but clever. There was an interview with the author at the end of the book that was really interesting.
Huda F Cares? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This graphic novel was about summer vacation with forced sister bonding. The mc has four sisters. So funny.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I watched the HBO documentary/mini series that focused more on the author and it was good. The book focused more on the people and neighbourhoods that were terrorized. The writing was really good despite some parts being pieced together by others after the author died. It's bitter sweet that the author didn't live to see them arrest the creep.
A Golfer's Night Before Christmas, ⭐⭐
Santa goes golfing and throws out his back. The last line didn't rhyme when everything else worked.
Shi-shi-etko ⭐⭐
A children's book following a little girl a few days before she goes to residential school. This was an interesting idea but the artwork and poetry/writing were boring.
If I Ran the Zoo ⭐
It was a good choice to stop publishing this book. Also this Dr. Suess book was so long, every page seemed to be the same idea leaving it boring.
PS 49/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 228/250
Currently Reading:
Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse
Curse the Dawn
QOTW:
I don't pick books for seasons I'm a mood reader. I do look through the seasonal shelves that the library puts together so I end up reading some seasonal things.


I think the movie did a better job of dealing with the eating disorder because the other characters don’t enable Tiffany, and there’s none of the starving oneself for a wedding is the only reasonable thing to do. The violence was more upsetting in visual form then written for me. Overall I think the movie is updated a bit since it was written. The movie ends with a Tiffany that’s more self aware and healthier.

[book:Snow ..."
I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. I hope things go as well as can be expected with the oncologist.

Finished Reading:
Even Though I Knew the End ⭐⭐⭐
Novella that's noir P.I. in Chicago but with angels and demons.
The Iron Hunt ⭐⭐
I tried this Marjorie M. Liu urban fantasy and it was a disappointment. The mc has demon that are tattooed onto her during the day and they are free at night. She's invulnerable when she has the tattoos and hunts demons.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to those who recommended this series in previous check-ins. I really enjoyed this manga and will be continuing the series.
Maria Chapdelaine ⭐⭐
Canadian classic. Set in rural Quebec about settlers, translated into English. It felt like the author kept forgetting Maria in his story, but there wasn't much of a plot.
Throne of the Fallen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantasy spin-off of the Cursed Kingdom series. At least 100 pages too long.
PS 49/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 224/250
Currently Reading:
Luckiest Girl Alive
QOTW:
Like others have mentioned: Shawshank, Crazy Rich Asians, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I'll add the book I'm currently reading Luckiest Girl Alive.

A bunch of 2023 graphic novels I've been waiting for came in from the library which was awesome.
Finished Reading:
A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings ⭐⭐⭐
Like always my ratings on memoirs are about artistic choices. The author chose to draw everyone as birds which made it difficult for me to figure who was who. Every page seemed to be a different thought and that didn't work for me. This was funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
The Goblin Emperor ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It took a little bit to get into this but I didn't want it to end. Some excellent characters. Sadly the sequels follow other characters.
Lore Olympus: Volume Five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this was my favourite of the series so far.
We Only Find Them When They're Dead, Vol. 1: The Seeker ⭐⭐
This was confusing but it had good artwork. Too much time travel.
Big Panda & Tiny Dragon ⭐⭐⭐
I didn't realize this was philosphy. The artwork is really cute.
The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marjorie M. Liu + Sana Takeda = slam dunk.
Stone Blind: Medusa's Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Greek myth retelling following a character usually portrayed as a villain.
The Good Neighbors ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three graphic novels in one. Holly Black wrote graphic novels about fairies long before she created Elfhame.
PS 49/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 219/250
Currently Reading:
The Iron Hunt
QOTW:
I really liked that there were themes to previous Popsugar challenges so one surrounding 24 would be great.
I made two suggestions for ATY voting and both were disliked so I would still like a challenge with them.
A book with a poem
A graphic novel/comic with a female main author and female main artist

Just had to go outside because the wind was knocking things over and I discovered it was snowing. Yesterday we had a thunderstorm with hail, and Saturday is supposed to be 20 degrees C. October is weird.
Finished Reading:
Norse Mythology ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY School Subject)
This finished my ATY challenge!!! 🥳 I don't know much about Norse Mythology other than the Marvel Movies. Thor with red hair is weird.
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 3: Hotel Oblivion ⭐⭐⭐
This ended with such a great idea, but I still don't like the artwork.
Thornhedge ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great novella inspired by the Sleeping Beauty story. Almost 5 stars, I think I wanted more.
The Paris Apartment ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was really good but I was so annoyed with the one character always being referred to as Sophie Muenere. I didn't figure out the twists. Better than the The Hunting Party.
Tales From The Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death ⭐⭐
This finished off the Umbrella Academy and I did not like it. I'm questioning why I gave it two stars now. Bad art, and it just follows the one character and has a vampire ape. Why?
House of Slaughter, Vol. 3: The Butcher's Return ⭐⭐⭐
So much better than volume 2. This had me gasping out loud over the plot so it is good horror.
Fantastic Mr. Fox ⭐⭐
Never read this as a child so it was just boring.
PS 49/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 210/250
Currently Reading:
Murder at Haven's Rock
Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse
QOTW:
Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse because this is my fanfiction prompt book that will finish Popsugar.
I really want to read Saga, Volume 11 and Iron Flame but I have to wait for them to be published.
I also want to finish a few more books published before I was born and books that I own.

I didn't realize this was a catalogue setup and I recently read it via audiobook, it was still a 4 star read for me. The audiobook did a decent job of selling catalogue satire by having two narrators, one for the furniture and one for the story. Down the road I might track down a physical copy.

Finished Reading:
A Shadow Crown ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book two of a fantasy series about the fae.
Tegan and Sara: Junior High ⭐⭐⭐
This was a cute graphic novel that I was expecting to be nonfiction but they set this story as if they were in junior high today as opposed to 1991.
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor ⭐⭐⭐
This graphic novel is great for gothic romance fans or anyone who read Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre for a laugh.
Persephone: Hades' Torment ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Greek Myth graphic novel. I really liked the monochromatic art.
Master of Iron ⭐⭐
This was a dnf last year. The mc of this ya fantasy has a lot of anxiety and could be autistic which was well done. The pacing and the intelligence of the mc changing to make the plot work were where it went wrong for me.
iZombie, Vol. 4: Repossession ⭐⭐
The final volume to finish these comics off. I really like how this was changed for the tv show.
We Are Not Strangers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY UNESCO)
This graphic novel was a great surprise. The author looked into family history during WWII in Seattle and how is grandfather, a Jewish immigrant, helped Japanese neighbours when the U.S. government imprisoned those with Japanese heritage. It counts as historical fiction though.
PS 49/50
Nadine's 10/10
ATY 51/52
Goodreads 203/250
Currently Reading:
Norse Mythology
QOTW:
I can't think of a banned book that I've read where I agreed with the content being banned.
I understand managing and labeling books with an age range in libraries, particularly in schools but straight out banning is sad.