Sheri’s Comments (group member since Jul 25, 2016)

Sheri’s comments from the EPBOT Readers group.

Susan, I got The Strange Case if the Alchemist’s Daughter for my book flood last year! I really enjoyed it. Serves as an example that book gifts CAN be good if well researched :)

Hi everyone!

Hope your reading is going well.

For those trying to finish reading challenges, good luck! You can do it! For those finished, congratulations! For those not participating, hopefully you are doing well on any personal goals you might have :)

I've been in a re-read groove this week.

I finished Requiem for the Sun, working on the second trilogy arc of the series so I can read the newest trilogy next year.

Tall, Dark & Hungry - needed a mental break, the symphony of ages series is long and dense reading.

Currently reading Elegy for a Lost Star - second book in the second trilogy arc, it's shorter than the previous one, hopefully I get through it reasonably fast.

Also listening to Death Masks while i work on my cross stitch.

QOTW:

Do you like getting books as gifts, or do you prefer to do your own book buying?

Generally I like doing my own book buying. I read SO MUCH, it'd really take someone doing some good research to find a book that interests me that I haven't read. Also I have limited shelf space, so mostly i've been buying digital or reading from the library. Lately it has to be a book that I LOVE if i want it physically on my shelf. However book gift cards don't go amiss, and I'd probably appreciate a book gift if someone actually did take the time to go through my good reads and figure out my taste and what I have and haven't read.

Hi everyone!

Sorry I missed check in again last week. It was Thanksgiving here in the US, and I just totally forgot it was check in. Went up to in laws, and while I had time, I only had my phone and honestly didn't even think about it. By the time I realized I never made an update, I figured I'd just wait until this week.

It's been a busy couple weeks at work and in life, I apologize!

Over the past two weeks I read:

I finally finished Caraval. I did end up liking it overall, I just needed to stop comparing it to The Night Circus. I'll finish the series once I can get my hand on the rest.


I re-read Owlflight, Owlsight, and Owlknight, Mercedes Lackey books are always comfort reads for me.

Shadowed Souls - I actually enjoyed this short story collection more than most. a lot of times I feel like they count on the couple big name authors to sell the collection and the rest of the stories are just lackluster filler. I at least somewhat enjoyed all the stories in it, and several really liked. The concept for the collection was neat too, looking at the shades of grey of characters that aren't quite good or bad.

Zoo City - This was probably one of the weirdest premises for a book I've read! At some point, it wasn't entirely clear when, in the 80s or maybe 90s people who commit murder started manifesting an animal companion. It was supposed to be the visual manifestation of their guilt. But they're flesh and blood creatures who need to eat and such. he story followed a zoo girl as she embarked on trying to solve a missing person case, her skill being finding lost things. I enjoyed it overall, although i thought the story took a weird really abrupt turn in "book two" of it.

Currently re-reading Requiem for the Sun, in the hopes that I can finish this trilogy by the end of the year and can hopefully fit the first two books of the third trilogy into a challenge next year. I tried to do this last year and only managed to finish the first trilogy.

QOTW:

Are there any books you're looking forward to for next year? Either ones you just won't get have time for this year, or new releases you are excited about?

I just found out that Erin Morgenstern is releasing a new book in November next year, I'm really excited about it! The Night Circus was one of my favorite books ever, so I've got high hopes. It's called The Starless Sea, for those who also like her writing.

You can do it Danielle! :D

Susan, there's definitely people who read mostly non-fiction for the challenges, over in the challenge-specific groups! About the only ones you couldn't twist to a non-fiction book are the ones that are genre-specific (Like reading a cyberpunk book this year, or a LitRPG for next). If you want a smaller challenge, Read Harder's generally only about 20 some prompts, not 50/52 like popsugar and ATY. Read Harder is geared more towards making you expand your boundaries, while the others do that to some degree, but also have sillier prompts like books with a certain color cover, or titles with certain words in them, stuff like that.

Also as a note: I don't have this group locked down at all, anyone can create topics. If anyone ever notices I don't have a post up, but you want to post, feel free to start the thread yourself! You don't have to worry about coming up with a question or anything like that (unless you want to!). I won't be upset, I'll just add on when I can!

Hi everyone, I'm really sorry I never got a post done for last week. I was swamped at work, and had a stupid busy weekend.

I'm doing a combo post for this week and last, because I have a few minutes to spare and I don't know if I will tomorrow!

I have slipped back into a re-read groove so have not finished any of my other started-in progress books, but read Storm Warning, Storm Rising and am a few pages from finished with Storm Breaking. Once I finish this i'm going to make myself finish Caraval, because my loan's almost up. It's not that I didn't like it, I just got sucked into the lure of comforting re-reads.

QOTW:

The promt lists are out for popsugar and ATY! Anyone participating next year?

Back in August i was all "I'm burnt out on reading challenges, I might only do one next year" etc, but now I'm already making plans for both, and will probably throw read harder on there because why not.

Again no one has to feel obligated to participate in order to post here! I just like having some guidance with the whole "what do I read next?" sometimes, and to help me pick stuff I might not otherwise try.

Hi Everyone!

Been really scattered the last couple weeks, sorry I keep posting late.

Being November doesn't help, boooo. At least the kittens continue to be cute.

This week I finished:

Winds of Fury - re-read to finish up the trilogy

Akata Witch - this was really good, a magic story set in the modern world, in Nigeria. The ending was a little rushed, but otherwise I really enjoyed.

Now i'm just going through comics, catching up on Ms Marvel, Infinity wars, Moon Girl, etc.

Next actual book I'll read is Zoo City. Looking forward to it, just want to catch up on a few more :)

QOTW:

Sorry I'm running out of questions about reading. So how about what kind of pets you all have?

I have four cats. I have a grey tabby, Moxie, who's about 6, a black cat, Echo, who's about 5, and a couple of kittens, Mr Teddy Pickles and Pixel, I just adopted at the start of October, who are about 6 months old. They're all pretty cute! https://www.instagram.com/p/BpijDm3nVZA/

Ohh, I’ve always wanted to try circus stuff, but my upper body strength is poor, and my efforts to improve seem stymied by crummy shoulders. Went to the ninja gym a few times, I couldn’t hang on anything for more than 10 seconds.

The silks are so cool though!

I also like obstacle races, I’ve done warrior dash the last several years :)

Hi all, sorry for the super late post. Been a busy week with costume prep and inktober and home renovations.

Still in re read mode and busy so I just finished Winds of Fate, Winds of Change and am currently reading Winds of Fury.

QOTW:

What other sorts of hobbies do we all have, when not reading?

I draw/paint, cross stitch, knit, and want to start needlefelting. Also play some video games and do fitness stuff, like group classes and running.

Susan, I did read that one last year! I think you recommended it for my sports prompt. I liked it!

Also Lin Manuel did such a good job on reading Dante and Aristotle!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I'm late again. Been having a kind of rough week, I apologize!

I have been having some off reading time so don't have a lot to report.

I finished Spinning Silver which I really enjoyed. It was a retelling of Rumplestiltskin, but with the fae, and looking at women's rights and Jewish rights of Russia in that era. Really enjoyed it.

I started Girl on a Wire but having trouble getting into it.

So instead i've been reading a bunch of comics. I read indivual issues mostly, but i don't add them to goodreads until I hit a volume. Among what I've been reading:

Domino, Vol. 1: Killer Instinct
Elsewhere, Vol. 2
The Wicked + the Divine, Vol. 7: Mothering Invention
Invader ZIM Vol. 7
Rat Queens, Vol. 4: High Fantasies
Isola, Vol. 1

I also re-read Single White Vampire just for something bookish to read, and am re-reading By the Sword again because i'm having trouble settling on something to read.

QOTW:

What do you do when you're in a reading funk?

I can't just not read, so I tend to fall back on comics and re-read. At least with re-reads if I'm not paying attention I don't really miss details because I've read it plenty of times. And if I lose interest or find another book, No big deal, already read it before.

Hi Everyone!

Been a busy week with a couple of new kitties we're working into our household. They're very sweet, so I think it'll be worth it!

This week I finished:

The Shadow of the Wind - FInally! I liked the book overall, but it was just so long to read. I think it meandered to much in the middle, with too much time spent in flashbacks. The story was interesting and I liked the ending, but I don't really feel compelled to continue the series.

The Best Paranormal Crime Stories Ever Told - Finished this off just to get it off the list. Like most short story collections, it was pretty hit or miss. I liked some of the stories, others were ok, a lot were just bad.

I also read a bunch of comics, I'm behind on most my titles.

Currently reading:

Spinning Silver - Really loving this so far. I like fairytale retllings in general, especially when they really turn the story on it's head. This is nominally Rumplestiltskin, but the titular character isn't really a thing. The focus is really on three women all caught up in this tale, and the gender issues brought on by class. There's a peasant woman, a Jewish moneylender woman, and a daughter of a Duke, yet all are caught in the circumstances of their lives and just have to make the best of what they can. Been devouring it, will probably finish in the next day or so.

QOTW:

Now that we're getting into fall, how is everyone's reading going? If you're doing challenges, are you pleased with your progress? If not, are you getting to do all the reading you wanted to do?

Stephanie,

Yeah I did take 2016 off after doing Popsugar the first year in 2015, it was nice to just read whatever. But then the lists come out and i start figuring out what to plug in them and then suddenly I'm doing 3 challenges. But then I also know I'll finish the challenges early so I have a few months at the end of each year to just read whatever anyhow. So usually once January hits i'm ready to give it another go.

Hi Everyone!

Didn't accomplish much this week, but I've been doing Inktober and Drawlloween and adopting kittens so I suppose I had an excuse.

I finished Moon Called audiobook. It was a reread, listened while painting and crafting and such.

The Night Circus took a break from my current book to read this and get in a halloween/artistic mood.

I'm currently reading The Shadow of the Wind still. I'm at a weird place with it, where I still want to know how it ends, but i'm so tired of reading it. I keep finding myself playing on my phone or staring off into space instead of reading. It's just not really engaging me. But i don't dislike it, or hate it. I don't really know what the problem is.

QOTW:

Borrowing from popsugar this week, at the library or bookstore are you a browser or a person with a mission?

I don't go to bookstores much anymore, most of them have closed that were my go-tos. But if I do go to one, it's usually spur of the moment "oh hey it's actually a book store" so i'm going to just browse. For the library, it's kind of a pain to get to. I usually only go to pick up a hold, but while I'm there I usually check out at least the new releases. If I have time, I'll do a wander down the fiction aisles to see if anything jumps out.

Hi everyone, sorry for the late post. Fighting off a cold and I have sick brain, forgot to do it!

This week I finished:

iZombie, Vol. 4: Repossession - this finishes off the series. It was fine, I still prefer the show.

Home - this really felt like it shouldn't have been a stand alone book, even though I enjoyed it.

The Night Masquerade - had to read this because Home ended so abruptly I needed to know what happened. Overall I really feel like the story would have been stronger if she'd published all three as one novel, instead of three novellas. I still enjoyed them all, but I felt like parts got rushed from being so short, and like I mentioned, Home doesn't feel like it stands on it's own, at all.

Hungry for You - just wanted a quick no-brain read

currently reading:


The Shadow of the Wind - A local brewery runs a books & brew book club, but with the reading challenges I couldn't fit their previous selections in and didn't feel like putting the challenges behind to read them. Now I'm caught up so I'm reading the book for November I think. It's good so far, but I'm taking a break due to being sick.

Moon Called - still listening to this while I craft, it's another re-read as an audio book

The Night Circus - Inktober is coming up, I think I might do a night circus theme, so re-reading it for comfort and inspiration.

The Best Paranormal Crime Stories Ever Told - reading a story here and there for this one, good so far.

QOTW: Do you read more or less when you're sick?

I still read when I'm sick, but I tend to put down whatever I'm reading and crawl into a re-read of a favorite. Both as comfort, and so I don't have to think too hard about it, or if I fall asleep while reading or can't concentrate, it's not a big deal.

Haha, well at least if you fall a bit short on popsugar due to Moby Dick, you know you completed two challenges anyhow ;)

QuicksilverHi everyone!

Actually updating on a Thursday!

This week I finished:
Quicksilver - Man, glad to have this over. I love Neal Stephanson so much, but this was not a fun read, at all. I felt like there was no plot, it was all set up for something that's going to happen next book. But I'm not interested enough to read the next book. This was my final book for ATY, first 10 books on my TBR list. Done with challenges for the year!!

If anyone wants to see my final spreadsheet across challenges it's here.

I also finished Mech Cadet Yu Vol. 3 which wraps the series up, I enjoyed it. Was sort of Iron Giant meets Pacific Rim.

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge - picked this up on a whim because I kind of loved the idea of mixed drinks as magic potions. It was a fun read, although I think some of the character relationships got kind of awkward and messy. I'd still read more, if he continues the series.

Rose Vol. 2: Ghosts - catching up on comics, if you can't tell. This is a fun one about magic being banned, but a rogue woman becomes the last Guardian to try to save the kingdom from an evil queen.

currently reading:

Home - Getting a bit of a slow start on this, It's been a little too long since I read Binti so was a little lost at the beginning. Getting into it now as I remember more, should finish it pretty quickly.

Moon Called - re-read via audio book, it's been a while since i started the series so good to get a refresher.

iZombie, Vol. 4: Repossession - my hoopla checkout's almost over so trying to finish this one up. I still prefer the show, but it's alright.

QOTW:

How is your reading shaping up as we enter the colder months? Are you reading more, because the weather is getting worse so there's more time to be spent indoors? Or less because of school, fall/winter holidays, trying to do stuff before the weather completely turns?

I read pretty consistently through the year, but I always feel less guilty about just curling up with a book for an hour or more if the weather is nasty. If it's beautiful out, I feel like i need to be outside running or doing yardwork, or at least reading outside where I can enjoy the sun.

I suppose my TBR list is actually my library's request list. That's what I do when I learn of a new book i want to read, I search for it on the digital holds, if it's not there i put in a request and mark to be put on the holds list if it ever gets purchased. If it's a book I REALLY want to read, I'll make a point of getting it physically through the inter library loan, but just ones that sound kind of interesting, it's fine if i don't get to it for a few years by the time my library gets it.

Kathy, I don’t know if the series gets s less apocalyptic per se, but I found the next two books more engrossing than the first. I think partially because the timeline thing was resolved and less confusing