Erica’s Comments (group member since Apr 05, 2019)

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

Happy check-in! It's been hot week here with lots of mosquitos. My province finally opened up booster shots for everyone so I got that off the list. I've been enjoying the makeup tournament of the world juniors hockey, Canada goes for gold tomorrow. :)

Finished Reading:

Politically Correct Holiday Stories: For an Enlightened Yuletide Season ⭐⭐
In the first half Twas The Night Before Christmas was great, the other stories were okay. Then the second half was devoted to A Christmas Carol, which is a story I dislike to begin with, and I lost interest.

On the Same Page ⭐⭐⭐
This rom-com was entertaining but not really good. The ridiculous factor was high.

Kamila Knows Best ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My favourite Jane Austen novel, Emma, modern day retelling by an author I've read before. Check. Like Clueless, the story and changes made sense. This is a great option for romance by a BIPOC or includes a recipe.

Spy x Family, Vol. 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series is fun. I love this found family.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 44/50
Goodreads 185/200

Currently Reading:

The Dog Stars still waiting for a plot

QOTW:
Ooh definitely Poetry Collection from the 2016 challenge. In 2020 I did the 2020 and 2016 lists and discovered how much I could like a poetry collection when I wasn't obligated to dissect the poems. Since then I have been reading a lot of poetry and I used this prompt for my #40 (past prompt) this year. I also really appreciate the banned book prompt from 2015. (which I'm currently doing) This prompt did not have to be read during banned book week so it was better than last year.

Teri wrote: "I finished it last night. I'm glad I listened to it (audiobook) but it is just a 3 star read for me. I couldn't quite get over the grimness of the beginning, even though I understood it. I usually ..."

Well I'm getting lapped on the reading progress front. I will do my best to pick up the pace but I am struggling with this book. It's doubtful that it will achieve higher than 2 stars from me unless things change soon.

So next set of questions.

Chapter 2-6/end of book 1:

1. Is Bangley a better survivalist than Hig?

2. We get more about Hig's wife through the memory of her death. Did this make Hig a more sympathetic character to you?

3. Was it smart for Hig to avoid killing the men at the coke truck?

4. Just for fun, Coke or Pepsi?

5. Has Hig made it 9 years of surviving by luck?

6. With all of Hig's family gone now will Hig give up?

Teri wrote: "My takeaway from this book so far (about half way) is that I would hope to die in the initial calamity because I would be a terrible survivalist."

Haha I realized this in chapter one while dealing with an itchy mosquito bite that I would not last a day in the wilderness.

JessicaMHR wrote: "1. Is an airport the best place to survive the apocalypse? Why or why not?
I think in this case it worked out good for them. It sounds like one of those rural/private ones with houses around it and..."

Hig loving his dog and going out of his way to change the plane around for his comfort thus treating him like a human made feeding him humans that much more upsetting to me.

Sherri wrote: "Chapter 1:

1. Is an airport the best place to survive the apocalypse? Why or why not? It is for Hig. His plane is there & it needs to be protected. Hig has converted the hanger to fit his needs. H..."

I had to read over the end of the chapter to make sure I read it correctly that he couldn't shoot people to save his own life but was fine to butcher up corpses for his dog to eat. I also have read Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, which was referenced, and it irked me to use this true story to world build instead of actually writing it out.

Chapter 1:

1. Is an airport the best place to survive the apocalypse? Why or why not?
Seems to me that this would only really work if you could pilot or were in partnership with a pilot. Though they probably do have separate electrical systems from whatever city. I would rather be on an acreage.

2. First impressions? (ie: characters, scenery, writing style)
I'm struggling to get into this. It's hit or miss for me when using lots of page breaks if it will push the pace or just make it to easy to put the book down. I'm waiting for a plot and struggling to like/connect with Hig. The author is writing in a more philosophical way to me and that's not my happy place.

3. Hig returns to his home to collect his poetry books only. What one thing would you risk your life to go back for? Could you limit it to one thing?
Well I would need sweaters and bug spray, but photos and music would be so important for mental health. Definitely would not be going back for just one thing.

4. Do you accept that Hig who knows how to hunt would embrace using corpses to feed his dog?
Hig so far has set himself as a resourceful person and not explained enough about why animals have gone extinct for me to go along with 'meat is meat'.

5. Would your dog be enough/excusable to treat human corpses as meat?
Probably not because I would worry about what eating human would do to the dog physically and psychologically.

Every time you scroll that Navbar pops up and disappears. It’s driving me nuts. Plus the original navbar with search is uncentered yet nothing has changed on the app. WHY????

Sorry I've been so slow to post new questions.

Chapter 1:

1. Is an airport the best place to survive the apocalypse? Why or why not?
2. First impressions? (ie: characters, scenery, writing style)
3. Hig returns to his home to collect his poetry books only. What one thing would you risk your life to go back for? Could you limit it to one thing?
4. Do you accept that Hig who knows how to hunt would embrace using corpses to feed his dog?
5. Would your dog be enough/excusable to treat human corpses as meat?

Edit: I've corrected the ordering of my questions.

Happy Check-In!

I've had a great week despite worrying about covid. So onto the BOTM pick The Dog Stars about a post apocalypitic/post coughing pandemic world and survival. Yep great timing, oh well. I'll be posting new questions shortly.

Finished Reading:

The Case of a Cup of Joe The Case of the King of Clubs ⭐⭐⭐
I've enjoyed this series although it would have been nice for it to have a intentional ending.

Yes, I'm Hot in This: The Hilarious Truth about Life in a Hijab ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Her sense of humour is great in these comics. This was her first book and now to wait for her new book next year.

Demons ⭐⭐⭐ High Fantasies ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Colossal Magic Nothing ⭐⭐⭐
Well sometimes these are great adventure stories or origin stories following the great characters. These are the times the collections are really good. However, when they jump around in the timeline I get confused especially when there are new artists to figure out who is who.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 43/50
Goodreads 185/250

Currently Reading:

The Dog Stars
Politically Correct Holiday Stories: For an Enlightened Yuletide Season

QOTW:
The first thing that jumped into my head was Northern Spain from The Spanish Love Deception. I read this earlier this year and for some reason it stuck. I really like other people's answers of Rivendell and the Crazy Rich Asians vacation.

Happy August! A two week check-in here because of holidays and an inability to read. (Summer is distracting) I've had such good times with friends and family and now everyone seems to being testing positive for covid. So far it looks like having it recently is keeping me from being infected again.

Finished Reading:

⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this series so an anthology following the various characters through the ages was great. I really prefer to have the same artists in comics so I can figure out the characters immediately.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
A spin-off series/prequel to following my favourite character, yes please!

⭐⭐ (2015 a play)
I randomly discovered that Mindy Kaling had wrote a play early on about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck creating Good Will Hunting. It was short and accomplished a prompt but I think this really needed to be acted out to find it enjoyable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be my favourite of the series. It's all set in the early 2000s and nobody is in high school anymore, they're trying to make it as adults that don't kill for hire. I probably enjoyed this one the most because it's happier than others.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 43/50
Goodreads 177/250

Currently Reading:

The Dog Stars
Master of Iron
Glass Beads

QOTW:
This happens a lot with my sister and my mom, but it's mutual.
Although last month this person at the library was asking me if I had read Watchmen and I was only able to say yes because I Hated the book. So much so that Eleanor & Park has the two characters both love Watchmen and it made me hate them more.

Katrina wrote: "I am reading this book simply because it is the group pick. I have started the first few pages and as of right now, I am not too into it. I truly hope it gets better."

Whew! I was a bit worried it was just going to be me reading this during the month. Thank you so much Sherri who was participating. I hosted a book club once on goodreads and nobody showed up it was minorly awkward.

Title: Hunt the Stars
Author: Jessie Mihalik
Recommend: If you like romance/space operas then go for it.

Oh, well that’s what I took away from the goodreads blurb but that doesn’t mean that was written. 🤣

Hey all, so I’m going to start off with the basic questions of who is reading this and why?

I’ve signed up to lead this to push myself to read out of my norm a bit. I read enough of the description to see that it’s a “Castaway” story and I thought why not. I have completed this prompt already which is fine because I have about 5 prompts left.

Happy check-in! Had a fun week with lots of time with family, some of which I hadn't seen for years. I've been a bit stalled on the challenge the past couple weeks, which is okay because I'm nearly done.

Finished Reading:

The Sad Ghost Club ⭐⭐
Mostly it was just depressing.

Lore Olympus: Volume Two ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Greek mythology + graphic novel + plus modern society ie: tech = happy place.

Iron and Magic ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read of the start to a spin-off series following a villain from the Kate Daniels world.

The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo (But Left her Mini) Stumptown: Volume 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was hopeful that the tv show would be as good as the pilot but it lost me after a couple of episodes, and then it was cancelled. Anyway the comics that it was based on were authored by the same person who created The Old Guard so I gave them a shot. This series follows a P.I. solving cases in Portland.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 42/50
Goodreads 174/250

Currently Reading:

Glass Beads

QOTW:
Can't decide at the moment. I need to go sleep.

Ron wrote: "Erica wrote: Wow, I totally thought that I read the first one last October, but yep that was 2020. What did covid do to time? I have no idea about volume 3.

I know what you mean. I think that's wh..."

Yes I read the novel. I don't have good success with borrowing ebook versions of graphic novels from the library.

Ron wrote: "Erica wrote: Fangirl, Vol. 2: The Manga ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this would have got the fifth star had there been no wait between volumes.

Sweet! I have Fangirl too. I love the first manga. I have yet to rea..."

Wow, I totally thought that I read the first one last October, but yep that was 2020. What did covid do to time? I have no idea about volume 3.

Happy check-in! It's been a warm week here too. This weekend is supposed to be quite hot and it won't be cooling off much at night. I'm purposely avoiding looking into how humid it's supposed to be.
I found it difficult to read most of the week and then shiny new books showed up at the library and I got through a bunch rather quickly.
We didn't get rid of any books this week, we took in a bag full that family wanted to get rid of. :)
I have not read anything by Faulkner or Hemmingway so If you're looking for Canadian literature to force yourself to read I recommend Margaret Laurence or Mordecai Richler. ;)

Finished Reading:

Starfish ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Middle grade free verse poetry that deals with a 10 year old's journey to self acceptance while enduring bully at school and at home. I just wanted to give the main character a hug the whole time.

Sass & Sorcery ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This Rat Queen series is good for misleading title because there are no rat people. It's about a gang of women in a fantasy world with elves, goblins and mages. The artwork and humour are good which are key factors for me.

Spy x Family, Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one didn't have a clear plot for the volume but I'm still loving the series.

The Switch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is more chick-lit (I don't like that label but don't know how else to describe this type of book) than rom-com. Basically The Holiday movie except not set at Christmas and the twenty something in London switches places with her grandmother in the country. Surprisingly this dealt with grief a lot.

Fangirl, Vol. 2: The Manga ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this would have got the fifth star had there been no wait between volumes.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 42/50
Goodreads 169/250

Currently Reading:

Glass Beads

QOTW:
Best: Elizabeth Acevedo I used her three books to accomplish three prompts because I enjoyed her books so much. The Poet X for latinx author, Clap When You Land for onomatopoeia, and With the Fire on High for recipe in the book.

Worst: First thought BIPOC romance, which I used Get a Life, Chloe Brown. I used this because it was the BOTM but I have read other options that were good so I don't blame the prompt. However Otto: A Palindrama was a waste of time (fortunately not much time) for palindromic title was a bad book and prompt.

Happy check-in! This past week was owned by covid. :( Anyway on the good days I did manage some reading.

Finished Reading:

A Mirror Mended ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A little disappointed mostly because it seems like this series is done. So I probably could use this for the duology prompt.

Jameela Green Ruins Everything ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2015 hometown)
This was hilarious and insane. It's satire so it was supposed to be. Interesting political info thrown in for context.

The Spanish Love Deception ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is popular on booktok and I've seen lots of mixed reviews. I enjoyed this rom-com although the main character was a little annoying to start. I'm more annoyed that it was 487 pages and I still have a 500 page prompt left.

Below Zero ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best of Hazelwood's steminist novellas. Although I don't know much about science concerning space so things that were mentioned went over my head a lot.

Spy x Family, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The family got a dog.

PS 2022 45/50
PS 2015 42/50
Goodreads 163/250

Currently Reading:

Starfish

QOTW:

The only thing I really specifically read in June was Gender Queer and it is worth recommending.