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

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

Ellie wrote: "Happy Friday! I just got my first review for Paws and Portals, and it's so amazing. I'm just having a little happy cry. I promised I would leave all my review readers to read at th..."

Cheers to more reviews to come!

Happy check-in! I've been enjoying the ATY read-a-thon and read some good books.
Had to break down and cut the lawn today. It was quite high but fortunately it is filling in the bare spots little by little.

Finished Reading:

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 26 Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 27 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mommy, it's over. 😭 (Just For Laughs always ends this way and it is forever stuck in my head) This was a good manga series.

My Teacher Is an Alien ⭐⭐⭐
I loved Coville's Unicorn Chronicles series so much as a kid I thought I should read something else by him.

Western Lane ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS woman in sports)
So I needed a Booker Prize nominee and this was a short audiobook. I really enjoyed it. I've never thought of squash as interesting before. Not sure how this was literary fiction though.

When Among Crows ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY magic)
Inspired by Polish folklore. A great novella about emotion eaters and the religious order that hunts them.

PS 34/50
ATY 35/52
Goodreads 124/200

Currently Reading:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold

QOTW:
Again I know it's happened but I can't recall any specific book.

Happy check-in! I'm looking forward to the ATY read-a-thon but I don't want to start anything that could be used for a vote.
I loved Funny Story but not as much as Book Lovers. I reread it this week to make sure.

Finished Reading:

The Black God's Drums ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY air)
Good characters and interesting magic in this novella.

Book Lovers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Favourite Emily Henry.

A Crime in the Family ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY travel)
Battyany is a journalist and looked into to his own family history. His colleague set an article in front of him entitled "Hostess from Hell." His great aunt, a countess in Hungary, hosted a party and 180 Jewish people were murdered. That was his starting point to look into his family's past in Hungary during WWII and afterword. The history was really interesting but the author's therapy sessions were a bit weird. Totally reread Book Lovers alongside this to counteract the sadness.

Spy x Family: Family Portrait ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY less than 2024 ratings)
The author used the character I really dislike in a short story and it was so good.

House of Slaughter, Vol. 4: Alabaster ⭐⭐
I discovered that this series switches off co-authors and the even numbered ones have not been enjoyable but the odd numbered ones have been good.

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 24 ⭐⭐⭐ (PS author's 24th)
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
So close to being done. The last volume is long enough to use in the read-a-thon.

PS 33/50
ATY 34/52
119/200

QOTW:
I too would love Sabriel to be put to screen. Although it probably can't live up to my expectations.

Happy check-in! It's been a rainy week which has been badly needed. It's been cold so we've had almost snow and we might yet get snow. This is okay with me because it's very weird to watch hockey playoffs when it's warm outside. ;)

Finished Reading:

Against the Darkness ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS dies first chapter)
Series ender to this Buffy story. It ended well but I would be happy for more. The humour was great and there were so many nods to the show throughout the series.

Never Wager with a Wallflower ⭐⭐⭐ (24+ letters in title)
Another series ender. Cute historical romance.

Comics for Choice: Illustrated Abortion Stories, History and Politics ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS 3+ POVs)
A collections of various story tellers, writers, and artists telling abortion stories. Some of the artwork was not great, especially text heavy things written in messy handwriting. I also didn't like that two stories included weren't non-fiction, it felt out of place to me.

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 23 ⭐⭐⭐
Only four more volumes until the end and I don't know what's going to happen.

Love, Theoretically ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So this called to me to reread. I now need to play go, eat cheese and get a pet hedgehog. ;)

PS 32/50
ATY 31/52
Goodreads 112/150

Happy check-in! I'll answer the QOTW here because I was reading outside on the chaise earlier. We have nice weather right now and no mosquitos. In the winter reading in bed is best preferably with tea.
@Nadine I don't find that feature of Libby to be upsetting. I can ignore it without feeling bad but it does remind me to return things I don't feel like reading right now.

Finished Reading:

The Inadequate Heir ⭐⭐⭐
Game of Thronesesque series without magic/dragons and aimed at women. Also not depressing.

The Old Man and the Sea ⭐⭐ (ATY sea)
It's about fishing and baseball, not my jam. Although the writing was nice but I got bored.

In the Kitchen With Miss Piggy: Fabulous Recipes from My Famous Celebrity Friends ⭐⭐
I got a few chuckles out of this but none of the recipes actually look worth making. Some recipes were gross or not really recipes, like eating pears with cheese.

Funny Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY published 2024)

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 20 ⭐⭐⭐
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 21 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series is pretty consistant but there are a couple of volumes that are filler and have no plot.

The Serious Goose ⭐⭐⭐
Good fundraiser.

PS 29/50
ATY 31/52
Goodreads 105/150

Currently Reading:

Against the Darkness
Black Beauty

@Laura I'm glad your family is physically fine and hope your school community offers support to help you all through this trauma.

Happy check-in! It's stopped snowing so now is a perfect time to list books and avoid shovelling. 😀 Fingers crossed that my cold is gone finally. I'm sad my hockey team didn't make the playoffs.
@Lynn so glad that your husbands health is more stable allowing you to get back to the gym.

Finished Reading:

Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters ⭐⭐⭐ (PS trans author)
This title caught my eye. The humour is clever although I haven't read all the classics that the author uses so some of the texts didn't make sense to me.

Dragonfruit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS Dragons)
This is great ya fantasy. The author's inspiration is very spoilery for the stuff I didn't see coming at least.

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 5 Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The series is over now. :(

Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If dinosaurs never went extinct... we'd have them in zoos.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption ⭐⭐ (ATY going for the gold)
I enjoyed the movie years ago and finally got around to reading this. There were interesting things to learn, but this was two books in one at least.

PS 29/50
ATY 29/52
Goodreads 99/150

Currently Reading:

The Inadequate Heir

QOTW:
I'd play video games with friend group in Wotakoi.

Happy check-in! Just a partial eclipse here, that made it get slightly darker like it was cloudy out. Anyway I've spent this week dealing with a little cold that's lingering. Oh well, hopefully I'll be rid of it soon.

Finished Reading:

High Five ⭐⭐⭐
I really like the narrator on these.

100 Children's Books That Inspire Our World ⭐⭐⭐
So this is very much a British perspective (polled people at a British publisher), and thus many things on this list I had never heard of. I had read about twenty and can think of books that should be on it instead. Some very interesting factoids about the authors and inspiration behind these books.

The Good Egg ⭐⭐⭐
So I read a children's book that had nothing to do with the list book. It looked at me in the store.

Burning Cold: An Inuit and Dene Comics Collection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Author JQZX)
This jumped out at the library because it was so pretty. A collection of short stories, some in comic form some written with illustrations.

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY intelligence)
Sort of a speed redo with children.

The Longest Ride ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finally got around to reading the book after watching the movie first.

The Last Olympian ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS bildungsroman)
Good series ender. Now I think I have to read the spin-offs before reading the new Percy books.

Once & Future, Vol. 5: The Wasteland ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A nice ending to this series.

PS 27/50
ATY 28/52
Goodreads 93/150

Currently Reading:
Dragonfruit

QOTW:
A Fate Inked in Blood Norse mythology world, following children of the gods.

@Lynn what a scary and stressful weekend. I’m glad your husband is well enough that they could discharge him but I’m sorry it puts everything on you. Can your kids make it home to help? Like Jennifer suggested contact the hospital social worker, do you call them patient advocates in the states too?

@Nadine ooh that looks like an adult version of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder which was fast paced and addictive. Added it to the shelves so thanks for the recommendation.

Happy check-in! It's been spring here and so nice to go out for walks again. I had a great reading week too.

Finished Reading:

Xingu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS x title)
I loved this so I'm going to use it for the x title even though it's a short story. This follows a book club meeting where the author shows up to answer questions and it's funny.

Once & Future, Vol. 4: Monarchies in the UK ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A good retelling idea but the characters are what make this so great.

Odd and the Frost Giants ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just wanted some more Norse Mythology and the audiobook was available. Gaimen is a good narrator for his books.

Harold and the Purple Crayon ⭐⭐⭐
Cute picture book that the idea still works.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics ⭐⭐⭐ (PS rock n roll memoir)
I listened to the audiobook which was good because there are little snippets of each song before she talks about it. I don't know how this would read in book format. Anyway I wanted to listen to the music more than the awkward interview.

What Feasts at Night ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY related to night)
A little boring so I was disappointed.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! ⭐⭐⭐
Realized I hadn't read this Seuss book so I changed that.

The Fake Mate ⭐⭐
Irksome rom-com. Two intelligent doctors being dumb to make the plot happen. It also wrapped everything up quickly and unbelievably for me.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series makes me happy and want to play video games.

Oedipus Trilogy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY Mediterranean)
Oedipus Rex I liked the least. Antigone was my favourite.

PS 26/50
ATY 26/52
Goodreads 85/150

QOTW:
I have to pick two: Homegoing and A Fate Inked in Blood.

Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Recommend: Yes, this is book two of the Percy Jackson series which I recommend. Percy and other children of the Greek gods have adhd, dislexia and other neurodivergence.

Title: Stag's Leap: Poems
Author: Sharon Olds
Recommend: No, this was a two star read. There wasn't one poem I liked.

Title: Arch-Conspirator
Author: Veronica Roth
Recommend: Absolutely! I loved this short sci-fi retelling of Antigone.

@Mandy I added book 3,4,5 to my shelves a while ago and they linked to the fourth wing and iron flame series but they don’t show up there anymore. It’s very weird. I’m just going to leave it for longer and hope it gets fixed without me needing to delete books and the. Re-add them.

Mandy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!!   We are almost ready to close out March! 

Yesterday when I was walking the dogs I saw four turkey vultures circling overhead.  They are such beautiful and ma..."

Yes I just saw this in an email and somehow a month longer wait is impossible. Haha Mostly, I'm just annoyed that the goodreads page isn't updated yet.

Happy check-in!

QOTW:
A bunch of my 2024 publications that I've been waiting on came in, so a few 5 star reads this week.

I still have a shelf with 30 or so 2024 publications on it to read this year. I have a to read 20-- shelf each year because I always have series with new books and fave authors to add to the tbr. Sadly I discovered that the next Fourth Wing sequel won't be published until January 2025 so says my bookstore's helpful preorder email. 😭
Some I'm waiting on:
The next Ilona Andrews
The next two Lore Olympus volumes
Winter Lost
Funny Story
Not in Love
The next translated Spy X Family manga
The next Saga volume
The next Montress and Night Eaters volumes
House of Slaughter, Vol. 4: Alabaster
The Summer Escape

Finished Reading:

The Kiss of Deception ⭐⭐
Dud young adult fantasy that's hyped on Booktok. Anyway some parts were good but it was too long. There were parts with some old woman telling a child stories but it was just obnoxious and was uneccessary. I listened to the audiobook and it had different narrators for each pov which should have made it less confusing.

The Prisoner's Throne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY connected to 2023)
The final of the Cruel Prince spinoff. Oak was a much better narrator then Wren. It was fun to get snippets of favourite characters years later.

Dating You / Hating You ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY pronoun)
Finally got around to this Christina Lauren rom-com set in Hollywood. Everything got wrapped up a little to quickly and easily at the end.

The Innkeeper Chronicles: Clean Sweep The Graphic Novel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS pen name)
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper series was turned into a graphic novel. I mostly enjoyed the artwork, just one character was wrong but they were a minor character so it doesn't matter. ;)

A Fate Inked in Blood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS sentence)
Series starter using Norse Mythology. My favourite from this author so far.

PS 24/50
ATY 24/52
Goodreads 75/150

Nadine in NY wrote: "Erica wrote: "Anyone tried Quordle? (4 wordles at once with the same word guess) I'm not hooked on those daily games anymore but I still do some quordle puzzels every now and then."



Well THAT se..."

Sorry. Hope you had fun at least.

Anyone tried Quordle? (4 wordles at once with the same word guess) I'm not hooked on those daily games anymore but I still do some quordle puzzels every now and then.

Happy check-in and happy equinox/spring! Naturally it was warm and melty until the first day of spring here.

Finished Reading:

Violet Made of Thorns ⭐⭐⭐ (ATY similar covers)
Comfort read of a ya fantasy. A seer who makes up prophecies as much as she sees them. There were many nods to fairy tales but the author did there own thing which was good. The love/hate thing was what let the story down a bit for me.

El Deafo: Superpowered Edition!: A Graphic Novel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS deaf author)
A great memoir that would teach kids a lot. This edition had fan art at the end that was great to see.

Mr. Villain's Day Off 03 ⭐⭐⭐
This manga is silly and cute.

Four to Score ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY number in title)
This audiobook was very enjoyable. I was laughing a lot. This is a little out dated.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
There was finally a reference to a manga series I've read, Fullmetal Alchemist.

Once & Future, Vol. 3: The Parliament of Magpies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prime Minister for the fail! Clever series.

The Demigod Files ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good short stories of Percy Jackson.

PS 22/50
ATY 21/52
Goodreads 70/150

Currently Reading:
The Kiss of Deception
The Prisoner's Throne
Dating You / Hating You

QOTW:
It took me two weeks to finish House of Flame and Shadow which was not normal for much anticipated series. I finished Strange the Dreamer last week despite starting last spring. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking was difficult to finish and I would have dnfed if it hadn't been for a difficult prompt: cozy mystery. Right now I have 20+ books in my currently reading shelf.