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

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

Alicia wrote: "Erica wrote: "Where can I fit Dune?

Does best seller from the 90s work?"

Well Dune was written in the 60s, but you may be able to find a version published in the 90s if you're ok ..."

Thanks for the suggestions.

Britany wrote: "Finished this one today-- Miller does such a great job at making something that could be dusty into something relevant and interesting. A small interesting story became so much more with her writin..."

I too am curious about what she does next, so I went and looked on goodreads and she working on a Shakespeare retelling.😢 I'm sure it'll be good but I want more Greek Mythology.

Where can I fit Dune?

Does best seller from the 90s work?

Happy check-in.
The news has been quite sad this week locally and otherwise. St. Patricks Day was one year from when we went in to lockdown and we need it again more so but it's not going to happen.

@Lynn that sounds quite an unpleasant situation for you and your husband. Fingers crossed that you get an appointment sooner.

Finished Reading:

Hot and Badgered ⭐⭐⭐ (2021 #40 pun in the title)
So I succumbed to Mirandareads reposting of her review of this book. The review is good and it keeps popping up in my feed. This is about three sisters who are constantly surviving problems created by their father. Their honey-badger shifting family does no accept them because of their parents. They have mental health issues to contend with as well. This was entertaining enough and there were some funny lines especially from bickering sisters.

The Song of Achilles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 Women's Prize for Fiction)
I loved this so much. I need to get my own copy to reread it. Why did I let Circe put me off reading this? I might have read it again when I finished had the library not clawed it back minutes later. So I watched Troy instead and I had forgotten how much I loved that movie.

The Tea Dragon Festival ⭐⭐⭐
This is a cute series but this book didn't focus on the tea dragons so I just couldn't care about the plot. It was interesting to see a graphic novel that incorporated sign language.

The Viscount Who Loved Me ⭐⭐⭐ (2021 Family Tree)
This wasn't very different from the first book but it's still enjoyable. I'll be reading the next one.

PS 2021 16/50
PS 2017 15/52
Goodreads 60/200

Currently Reading:
Dune
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Big Little Lies
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman

QOTW
So for sure Patroclus from The Song of Achilles he's a lover not a fighter.

Evelyn from The Echo Wife is intelligent and self aware.

So I watched Troy last night. I forgot just how much I loved that movie. Sean Bean is great as Odysseus but I like the character better in this book. I am quite attached to the tale about Thetis dipping Achilles in the river but other than that I love what Miller did.

Here's some more questions.

What did you think of the book and what did you rate it?
Would you recommend it and to what type of reader? Were you surprised that Miller left out Achilles being dipped in the River Styx thus Achilles dies by an arrow to the chest and not his Achilles tendon plot point? Any deviations from myth that you liked or did not like? Did it work for you to have the story continue on from Patroclus' perspective after his death or did Miller 'jump the shark'?

Title: The Song of Achilles
Author: Madeline Miller
I would recommend this book for sure. It was a 5 star read for me. I enjoyed this so much more than Circe. Circe is an anti-hero where as Patroclus is a hero so it's easier to like him.

K.L. wrote: "This has been a really tough week. As many of you already know, my mum was diagnosed with brain cancer back in 2019. She has had a total of three surgeries to remove tumors over the past couple of ..."

I'm so sorry to hear that your mom is now in hospice care. I hope where you live has compassion in the covid restrictions to allow your family to be with her. I remember that musical therapy made a huge difference for my grandmother when she was in end of life care. I don't know if this is something your mother would enjoy but I thought I'd mention it in case you haven't heard of it. Please take care as best you can.

So I'm now 25% done. I will be finishing the book this week because the library will be taking it back.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that happens to. Thanks Nadine for setting me up to only see saran wrap come book three! ;)

Happy check-in! We've had good news because many older loved ones have or are scheduled for their vaccines soon.
Today is the one year anniversary since the WHO declared the pandemic and my thoughts go out to everyone still grieving because of it.
I'm realizing that I read a lot more than I thought this week. Graphic novels make that easy.

Finished Reading:

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 Social Justice)
Thank you to whoever posted about this book in check-ins otherwise I might never have heard of it. The best part of the book is the sisterhood on display. Amber's writing skills show through in how she used humor to keep you reading through the ugliness that racism is.

Descender, Vol. 3: Singularities ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm loving this series.

Deadly Class, Volume 7: Love Like Blood ⭐⭐⭐ Deadly Class, Volume 8: Never Go Back ⭐⭐ Deadly Class, Volume 9: Bone Machine ⭐⭐
I'm caught up on this series for now. I think volume 7 has been the best of the series.

The Echo Wife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 genre hybrid)
This was amazing. Evelyn discovers that her husband has used her research to create a clone wife of her that is less intelligent and more docile. If you liked The Silent Patient I think you will enjoy this too. This is going to be battling for top book come the end of the year. The book went places I didn't see coming.

A Vow So Bold and Deadly ⭐
Now to the book that will battle for worst of the year and most likely win. (interesting reading week) I wanted to give this a higher rating because some characters are good and the world is interesting but book 3 of this series is a dud. I really really don't like the one character Lia Mara who every time I see her name I see the Rio Mare tuna brand. The author is so heavy handed when she uses this character to say that you don't have to respond to things with violence which is a good message but the character is too hypocritical for it to work. This character is queen of her country (because she killed her mother for the job) and a subject spits in her face her response is to do nothing because she wants to be a different ruler than her mother so no punishment is he path. Also she can't make a decision unless someone, mainly her boyfriend, tells her what to do. We are constantly told through other characters that she is strong but she never does or thinks anything to prove it. (Here's a bookish pet peeve) I wanted to throw my computer I was so mad, the downside of ebooks. The first book in this series is worth it, following the series to see how the overall story unfolds is not, because nothing really happens.

PS 2021 14/50
PS 2017 14/52
goodreads 56/200

Currently Reading:
Dune
The Song of Achilles Come join the botm chat please.
A Court of Thorns and Roses

QOTW:
Nope.

You can use Sailor Moon graphic novels to accomplish this.

I used The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey.

This is a sci-fi/thriller about a scientist making advancements in cloning technologies dealing with the fallout of discovering her husband created a clone wife of her.

I gave this a 5 star rating and I recommend it if you enjoyed The Silent Patient.

I see a few people have finished and rated this highly. Where is everyone else at. I had hoped to be farther along than I currently am at chapter 7.

What are/were your first impressions? Any stand out quotes?

I'm loving the same sweeping epic feel of the story to keep in line Greek tragedies.

Carmen wrote: "Hey guys!

A late check in from me as I didn't realize it was Thursday until Thursday night when I was dealing with another bout of stomach pain/cramps (I don't know what it is so I'm just calling ..."

Your bookshelves look wonderful!

Happy check in! Spring seems possible now. There I've jinxed it. ;)

Finished Reading:

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 3: Commercial Suicide ⭐⭐ (2021 Something broken on the cover)
So this has been the best so far but the very last section used an artist who's take/style I really did not enjoy. This had a bunch of origin stories for various characters which is always entertaining to me.

A Stranger in Town ⭐⭐ (2017 set in the wilderness)
So I feel disloyal to my favourite author giving this a two but I got so bored that when the main character encounters a family of bears I was cheering for the bears to eat her so the book would be done...

Grave Dance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next in the series for rereading.

Descender, Vol. 2: Machine Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm hooked on this series for sure.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Stories, Vol. 2 ⭐⭐⭐
This was way better than the first short stories collection. Also the main story in this stems from the Japanese folklore that inspired Sailor Moon.

PS 2021 12/50
PS 2017 14/52
goodreads 49/200

Currently Reading:
The Song of Achilles (BOTM discussion is up)
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism
The Echo Wife

QOTW:
Other than accomplishing The Song of Achilles I don't intend to focus on the heritage month. Most of what I read seems to be authored by women. Although graphic novels/comics not so much.

Ooh I totally missed that one in Beach Read.

So to get this discussion going:
1. Who is not reading this book to accomplish the very limiting prompt #8?
2. Also have you read Circe?
3. Are you familiar with Greek mythology?


Feel free to share other prompt suggestions for this book.
1. This has been on my tbr for a few years ever since I read Circe. I volunteered to lead the discussion to make sure I read this because I will be using for #8.
2. I enjoyed Circe but it was a bit depressing I felt the book didn't go anywhere by the end. It was a 3 star read for me but Miller's writing style was enjoyable.
3. Definitely a fan of Greek mythology so looking forward to this book.

Master Class by Christina Dalcher fits. Dystopian America has state schools for children that do not keep their grades up. The main character's daughter gets sent to state school and she gets herself sent to the school to bring her home.

Happy check-in! This past week has been great because we can go outside once again, 15+ degree change makes a difference.

Finished Reading:

The Duke and I ⭐⭐ (2017 about someone with a disability)
Curiosity about this won out. This was an enjoyable regency romance which I haven't really read the genre before. It lost a star because of the (view spoiler)[marital rape. I struggled to like the main character afterward. (hide spoiler)] I think I will continue onto the next one.

House of Earth and Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was still as awesome as the first time I read. I am really glad I spent birthday money on this book. Definitely worth the shelf space.

The Inheritance Games ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was difficult to put down. The main character frustrated me a little and there is a silly love triangle but the author kept the pace moving so you never had to dwell on events you didn't like. Waiting for the next one to come out this September is not fun.

Master Class ⭐⭐⭐ (2021 dark academia)
This was nearly a dnf but I'm stubborn and dislike not finishing books I've started. I had to go back and check the author's first book Vox (which I really liked) to make sure the characters were actually differently named, they were. It seemed a lesser version of the same book until the end. The end finally had enough detail about what was going on with the dystopian America. I also kept reading because I like the authors writing style.

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 2: Fandemonium ⭐⭐ (2017 has an eccentric character)
This was a bit better than the first and I'm less confused now. It had a great ending so I will read the next one.

PS 2021 11/50
PS 2017 13/52
goodreads 44/200

Currently Reading:
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman

QOTW:
I also don't really see images in my mind as I read. I am focused on the text and saying the words to myself in my head. This is why I notice typos and mistakes a lot. It's a minor annoyance not a major one though.
My biggest pet peeve stems from the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris which I have read through and enjoyed. I get very frustrated when authors use first person to solve a mystery but hold back information the character learns from the audience until the end.