Erica’s Comments (group member since Apr 05, 2019)
Erica’s
comments
from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.
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@Nadine the bookmarks are time dependant. This grouping ends in September. There’s another set of bookmarks that go for the whole year.
I’m going after the bookmarks too. Right now the only one available unaccomplished is the Chart Toppers which I’ve already read 7 books off of the list.
Happy check-in! It's been cooler this past week but smokey. I've enjoyed watching the Women's Euro tournament and didn't read as much this past week. Finished Reading:
The Robin on the Oak Throne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book two of a dark fantasy series. The main character is a thief so the books follow the heist story plot but then a whole bunch of other stuff happens along the way.
Yellowface ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS y title)
What can't Kuang write?
PS 41/50
ATY 44/52 Anniversary 5/10 Summer 24/25
Goodreads 172/250 Bookmarks 6/9
QOTW:
Reese's picks would be the closest. Knock on wood, I've never had a less than 3 star book when I've read her picks.
Happy check-in! Two weeks to list. Finished Reading:
Games Untold: An Inheritance Games Collection ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm caught up on this series now just in time for the next one at the end of the month.
A Curse Carved in Bone ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY underground/underworld)
The ending to this Norse Mythology duology. I was so sure things I didn't want to happen were going to happen, but I was wrong. :) I hope the author revisits this world with new characters.
Sweet Bean Paste ⭐⭐⭐ (PS <250 pages)
I don't think pancakes are that special and the philosophy was obnoxious. The history that was touched on was really interesting and I liked the characters.
The Midnight Feast ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY coastal)
Great mystery, lost a star for sober people thinking humans turned into birds.
A Curse For Spring ⭐⭐
A novella about Spring becoming a human to save a kingdom from drought only for her to lose her powers.
Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great start to a new Manhwa series. I was not expecting it to fit the horror genre.
PS 40/50
ATY 44/52 Anniversary 5/10 Summer 23/25
Goodreads 172/250 Bookmarks 4/9
QOTW:
Well I like the communal bunker idea that means some of my favourite series have already been accounted for.
Kate Daniels world by Ilona Andrews
I will take all books within this world despite some spinoffs being unfinished. (I think that's 17 books right now)
The Old Kingdom by Garth Nix
Sabriel is still my favourite book. (7 more books)
Confessions Of A Shopoholic by Sophie Kinsella
Her writing plus the humour make these easy to read over and over again. (I think it's 10 books)
Harry Potter world by J.K. Rowling
(I think that's 14 books)
Folk Of The Air world by Holly Black
(That should be 11 books)
Haha I was going to ask later when I check in if anyone’s experience of goodreads was improved by the logo change. I also don’t like it and I would have preferred that they not give a bs reason. I wonder how focus groups of readers would approve of a change that steps away from written language?I’m guessing that they wanted the logo to be distinct from google.
Happy check-in! Had a really nice day for Canada Day and it's been hot and muggy since. Oh well. Hope all celebrating the 4th enjoy the holiday.Finished Reading:
The Love Fix ⭐⭐⭐ (PS road trip)
Two sisters have letters from their mother's will to deliver. Her books have been so so lately and I've been rounding up to three stars.
Children of Fallen Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Carissa Broadbent does not like to write a short book, but they are never light on plot. Book two of a fantasy world with war between humans with magic and fae with magic. On to the final book.
The Grandest Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS free)
So I started this book last July. Anyway I love the 3 povs more than Avery from the origional Inhertiance Games trilogy. I actually figured out the puzzles in this one.
Close Quarters ⭐⭐⭐
I got an Alias prequel novel from a local used book sale. I think I read them all when I was a kid but I can't remember for sure until I read them.
Sandwich ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS menopause)
I was dreading this prompt and gave this a shot because it's short. Following a 54 woman through her family vacation with grown children and aging parents. I was very surprised at how enjoyable this book was. I laughed and cried.
His Majesty's Dragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS career change)
I finally got around to this. The start of a fantasy series following English military dragon flyers while in conflict with Napoleon. I had the audiobook and the male narrator doing female voices was a bit obnoxious but not enough to ruin the book.
PS 39/50
ATY 41/52 Anniversary 5/10 Summer 20/25
Goodreads 166/250
QOTW:
I haven't read the book and this is me finding out about the movie.
Just read Sandwich by Catherine Newman and I really enjoyed it. It had me giggling and crying.
I actually read a few without focusing on Pride month.Godkiller 3 stars fantasy comparable to T. Kingfisher
Countess 4 stars sci-fi retelling of The Count Of Monte Cristo but novella length
It's All or Nothing, Vale 5 stars middle grade novel in verse about a fencer coming to terms with her new normal after injury
It Rhymes With Takei 4 stars graphic novel memoir all the same people who made They Called Us Enemy
Murder by Memory 5 stars cozy mystery novella length I read to get the goodreads pride bookmark
I started Atmosphere but didn't finish it before the library took it back.
Happy check-in! I didn't complete much this week but everything I did was really enjoyable.Finished Reading:
Shield of Sparrows ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY monster)
A great start to a new romantasy series.
Murder by Memory ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So I needed the Pride month bookmark from goodreads and I couldn't finish Atmosphere before the library took it back, this was really short and on the applicable books list. A sci-fi cozy mystery that's just over a 100 pages. It's the start of a series that I'll be continuing. It's very Altered Carbon but not so depressing.
PS 35/50
ATY 41/52 Anniversary 5/10 Summer 16/25
Goodreads 160/250
QOTW:
While I'm not in any irl book clubs, it would be very obnoxious for someone to expect others to avoid spoilers.
I’ve never read The Count Of Monte Cristo either but I did read Countess this past week which is a novella length retelling that I really enjoyed.
Happy check-in! It's been a couple weeks. Rainy cool day here which is perfect for reading a book!Finished Reading:
Silver Borne Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ River Marked Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐
There all I've read all the graphic audio published of this series. River Marked is the book I like the least of the series.
The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bridgerton spin off series.
Magic Tides Magic Claims Small Magics Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-reads
Tales from the Café ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS healing fiction)
How can these people drink coffee so late in the day? No one ever orders decaf.
Hot Six ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY anniversary title no e)
Despite the fact that I'm not rereading this series the audiobook/narrator makes them a comfort read. This book though made me giggle out loud and seriously cringe.
Countess ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS chosen family)
A queer sci-fi retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo but it's novella length.
Fallen Court ⭐⭐⭐
Now to wait for the final book in this fairies, vampires etc. world.
It's All or Nothing, Vale ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Novel in verse about a young fencer coming to terms with her new normal after injury.
Onyx Storm ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS chronic pain)
Finally finished this, no clue why I couldn't manage until now considering I got it in January on publication day.
ASAP ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS married live apart)
I'm glad XOXO got a sequel.
It Rhymes With Takei ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This graphic memoir seems to fill in the gaps in his earlier memoir because he hadn't come out back then.
PS 35/50
ATY 41 /52 Anniversary 5/10 Summer 16/25
QOTW:
I've been reading audiobooks and graphic audio versions of favourite book series the past year which is new. I read all formats though, basically what form I can access to read the book when I want to read it.
Happy check-in! Finished Reading:
The Starlight Heir ⭐⭐⭐
A very pretty looking romantasy book. The main character was 25 but it seemed very ya.
Godkiller ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Do Re Mi)
This took me a while to get through but it was a good fantasy journey/quest story. I'll be continuing this series.
Problematic Summer Romance ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY adult friendships)
Yet again I nearly dnfed it but it ended well.
A Business Proposal, Vol. 9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One more left in the series but I don't know when the English translation will happen.
Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was fun. Thank you to whoever it was that read this weeks back a brought it to my attention.
The Assassin's Blade ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS interconnected short stories)
Wow I had forgotten how much Caelena was self absorbed.
PS 31/50
ATY 41/52 Anniversary 4/10 Summer 4/25
QOTW:
My parents and sister read to me, they took me to the library, our house was full of books and magazines but still I could not sit still and read until late teens/adulthood. I made forts out of the Nancy Drew series and Readers Digests in the basement. I had terrible spelling and only read when forced for school. Harry Potter and Twilight changed that. Goodreads and reading challenges resulted in me reading hundreds of books a year.
Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame was a good novella.
@Lilith you got a lot more from the book than me. lol (view spoiler)I think Dunk's was my favourite POV but then again I like to cook. I did really like the concept of the hotel being a refuge for each employee for so many different reasons.
I was so invested in Ephrim's POV. (view spoiler)
Happy check-in! I'm impatient for June because then I can start books for the ATY Summer challenge. However, not allowing myself to start certain books means I can focus on finishing books I've been reading for a long time.Finished Reading:
Floating Hotel ⭐⭐ (PS luxury resort)
I'm glad I finished this before the end of the month. I did post more to the BOTM thread. A weak start and end for me. I like a book with more plot but the author did create some great characters.
The Girl in the Tower ⭐⭐⭐ (PS not dragons)
I started this in 2023 so I'm happy it's off the currently reading shelf. I'll definitely be finishing this series.
House of Slaughter, Vol. 6: Azure ⭐⭐⭐
A little tough to follow for me, but a good ending.
Across the Universe ⭐⭐⭐
A ya sci-fi book by Beth Revis. A great dystopian setting but it was rather dark. Too many chapters and little details that slowed the plot causing me to take a long time to finish it.
Magic Triumphs Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The main series is now finished. 😥
PS 30/50
ATY 39/52 Anniversary 4/10
Goodreads 137/250
QOTW:
No. I do love to read fantasy books with fairies though.
I finally finished the book and am a bit disappointed. I thought the character chapters were really good and interesting but they didn't build to anything. The Lamplighter dispatches and shit movie club sections plus a lack of ending left me rating this two stars.I used this for the luxury resort prompt so I am happy that I read it. The blurb at the end about the author's debut book says western so I'm not interested in more from her right now.
Did anybody have a favourite character/section?
Lilith wrote: "How is everyone enjoying the "slices of life" chapters and introduction of the characters? Do you prefer a straight narrative, differing timelines, or do you enjoy the slices of life?What are you making of the Lamplighter dispatches?"
I enjoyed the "slices of life" more than I though I would, I did like most of the characters too. I definitely enjoy a direct plot so the Lamplighter dispatches were confusing and unnecessary to me.
Happy check-in. I managed the first two episodes of Murderbot and I'm a bit disappointed but it's early in the series. I was irked that Murderbot is much angrier in the show than what I got from reading the books. I always thought Murderbot was more annoyed and exasperated with everything than angry.Finished Reading:
Behooved ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY anniversary debut)
I had been waiting for this to be published. A swan princess retelling but with the prince turning into a horse. It was a good debut and it fits a few prompts: chronic pain, Irish author, debut author.
Cold as Hell ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY murder mystery)
I seem to enjoy the mystery and settings of these books but I'm kinda over the characters and their feelings.
Lore Olympus: Volume Eight ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oddly this was a little boring compared to the others.
PS 28/50
ATY 38/52 Anniversary 4/10
Goodreads 132/250
QOTW:
Nice weather, low key, minimal planning but definitely not camping.
Happy check-in. It's been hot so I started cleaning and putting away the winter gear earlier this week. Now we're rainy and the snow word has been mentioned in forecasts. HahaFinished Reading:
Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY fire)
Slow start but overall it was a good fantasy novella with dragons.
The Auschwitz Photographer: The powerful true story of Wilhelm Brasse prisoner number 3444 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY anniversary not written in English origionally)
Very upsetting read but well written. The author was consistent with respecting the victims but still informing the reader.
Happily Never After ⭐⭐⭐
It got bonus points for referencing Boaty McBoat Face.
Firefly: Brand New 'Verse ⭐⭐⭐
Great artwork and characters but did a plot thing I can't get behind. (view spoiler)
Nettle & Bone ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY witches, godesses, nuns)
I'm glad I revisitited this as an audiobook when the eBook did not work for me. The start is not so great but I stuck with it.
Fugitive Telemetry Dramatized Adaptation System Collapse Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm through all the murderbot graphic audios 😭. I need more murderbot! Still can't see Alexander Skarsgard as murderbot.
PS 28/50
ATY 37/52 Anniversary 4/10
Goodreads 129/250
QOTW:
I am afraid of snakes. I have been known to scream and leave the room when they appear on the tv unexpectedly. (It's okay if you laugh at me) Somehow I can still enjoy the Snakes on a Plane movie, but I do have to close my eyes at certain parts especially the real snake shots of the anaconda. I don't like the slithering. I have not accomplished this prompt in PS or ATY yet. 🤣
