Sharon’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2018)

Sharon’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Captains - I always have trouble entering onto the spreadsheet (definitely a user error) so I usually do a completion post in the thread. Is that ok to do here and if yes, is there a format you would like us to use?

M wrote: "So, I got some bad/good news today.

I have had a recent breast cancer scare, and I have to have another surgery. I hate it, but what can you do. I consider it a win that it is not cancerous, just ..."

So glad it’s not cancerous! Hope your recovery goes well and you get to enjoy lots of great books. I’ll think about some recommendations and send them your way.

Tammie wrote: "I just finished ...a well written story about an older couple who find love during the pandemic...Elizabeth Strout is a very good author...I've read a couple of ..."

I love her books! Olive Kitteridge is a favorite character of mine from her.

Jasmine's wrote: "Hi all I'm Jasmine from a fenland town near Cambridge, UK. British Australian with a love of travel.
I primarily Home educate my son as well as work part time, Squirrel (scouts) leader, Rotarian, v..."

Jasmine, I’m a Rotarian too!

Tammie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "🏹 A bit about yourself
My name is Sharon and I live in Northeast Pennsylvania with my husband and our dog, Millie. I am the director of a community foundation for my area. I love rea..."

I love Lucy Foley’s books. The Guest List is probably my fave.

Early this year I read The Night Shift and The Only Survivors and gave them both 5 stars.

Love that you have an in-person book club! I do too but we haven’t gotten together in a while - life has been too busy for all of us.

🏹 A bit about yourself
My name is Sharon and I live in Northeast Pennsylvania with my husband and our dog, Millie. I am the director of a community foundation for my area. I love reading mysteries/thrillers, chick-lit, literary fiction, and sometimes historical fiction.

🏹 History with challenges...what do you love about them?
I love reading challenges!! They help me knock books off my TBR and I get to interact with other fun readers. I've been participating for a few years and have done UNO, Towers, and Wheel.

🏹 When will you check in
Definitely once a week. As long as work isn't nuts for me (I work alone, so I wear a lot of hats) I can check in daily or at least every other day.

🏹 Any fish tales? We are district 4 after all!
I am not really a fisher, but the few times I have gone, I enjoyed the peaceful aspect of it. I think I'd be ok fishing without actually catching any fish.

I lived near the beach when I was younger and loved to go crabbing.

🏹 Have you read or watched the Hunger Games? Any favorites books in the series, characters, scenes, etc
I have not read the books or watched the movies. That's kind of a blind spot for me.

🏹 Any advice or questions for the team?
Have fun and check in often, especially if something's going on that's affecting your reading. I've been on teams where something comes up for someone and we've all been able to pitch in and cover for them so we still meet our goals.

Also here is the link to my shelf for this challenge 😊

Happy Holidays team! It was a pleasure reading with you all!!

-What is your favorite non-pizza delivery meal? (I ask as I am eating Mexican food from my favorite local.)
Wings and cheese fries

-What is your favorite pizza topping(s)?
Pineapple & bacon

-Do you prefer macarons or macaroons?
I don’t like whichever ones have coconut

-Have you ever gone deer hunting or fishing?
Yes to both. I tagged along to go hunting with my dad once when I was a kid - not for me. I found fishing kind of relaxing though

-Do you have a green thumb?
No, but I wish I did! I’d love to have houseplants everywhere

-What movie or series upcoming are you most looking forward to?
I’m not sure. I’m not up to date on what’s coming out soon

-What did you ask Santa for Christmas? (Insert cultural/religious substitution here as needed.)
Back to me wanting a green thumb, I want one of those countertop aero gardens for fresh herbs

-How crazy have you or your neighbors gone on holiday decorations?
Not crazy at all. But I’ll admit we’re the house that leaves our lights up for a long time

-If you could transform into an animal, what animal would you be?
Something that can fly

-If humanity was as advanced as we bloody well should be by now, and had a resort on the moon, would you go there on vacation?
Probably not

-Would you be a space explorer if you could?
No, I’ll stay on Earth

-How about an undersea explorer?
No way, the ocean is terrifying.

-Have you ever tried a recipe you saw on Bake-Off or the like? No

-Is there a thing that used to be around that you miss? (VCRs, leg-warmers, or whatever.)
I’ve always like rotary phones. My great grandparents had one when I was growing up

-Since A.S. Byatt just died, and I now need to reread Possession, and I read an obituary about her, am I the only one that didn't know that Margaret Drabble was her sister?
I don’t know who that is 😳

-Have you seen the movie version of Possession? No

-Mittens or gloves?
I like the dexterity of gloves but mittens keep my hands warmer

-Vegetable soup or Chili? Chili

-And finally, any books that should be added to our TBR lists
I loved the audio version of Daisy Jones & The Six

My favorite side is the mashed potatoes for sure. And I love cranberry sauce (the one shaped like the can).

And I am most looking forward to Christmas Eve. We spend it with my husband's family (he's one of four siblings) and we have a crab/seafood fest. The siblings and spouses do a secret santa gift exchange and then we all watch Muppets Christmas Carol.

Here's a mini quiz that everyone can participate in while we wait for you, Jenny -

What's everyone's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, what's your favorite side in general?

And what are you most looking forward to for the upcoming holidays?

I’ll probably be busy tomorrow, so I just wanted to stop in and wish a Happy Thanksgiving to our Team Punkers who celebrate!

I’m all done for this round!

I started yesterday. What do we think for an orange cover? I can wait to finish until the next round if it will work.

-What is your favorite book genre?
I fluctuate between RomCom, Mystery/Thriller, and Historical Fiction. And I always love a juicy celebrity memoir

-What is your favorite movie genre?
Same as my book genres, probably. I really only watch Horror in October. I also enjoy a good action movie and have seen almost all of the Marvel movies.

-Give me your top 5 (or so) books that you want to recommend that you read recently. (There have been way too few recommendations on this team so far.)


-What are your top 3 most recent movies? Where you in the theater or were you at home?
Hmmm I haven't been to the movies in forever! The last one(s) I saw were a double feature of Barbie and No Hard Feelings at the drive in. Some girlfriends and I went for a fun night out.

-What is the weather like where you are?
Cold in the morning, warm during the day, and cold again at night. I need multiple outfits if I'm going to be out of the house for a long period of time.

-If you went to your high school dances, were there group dances? If so, what were they? The Time Warp? The Macarena?
The Macarena, the Electric Slide, and the Cha Cha Slide

-Have you ever taken a helicopter ride? No

-Have you gone sky diving? Parasailing? No, but my husband went skydiving a few years ago on a bachelor party. He loved it and wants to go again with me. I haven't decided...

-How many US states have you been to?
11, I think?

-How many countries? Just the US

-Do you prefer chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal raisin? (Do I even have to ask?) Chocolate Chip, duh!

-Have you ever owned a weird pet? My pets have been weird, behavior not species.

-Can I get more random thoughts going through my head? I'm sure you could!!

I totally feel that way with reading and most other aspects of my life 🤣. It’s like I have no concept of how time actually works and what’s physically possible for me to do in 24 hours. Is that time blindness??

It HAS been a long week! But also somehow, it flew by?

We are celebrating my mother-in-laws 75th birthday this weekend. My husband has three siblings, so they’ll all be coming with their spouses and kids. It will be nice to see everyone and to celebrate her.

I'm reading a U book right now. It's not very good, but it's short so I'm willing to finish it :)

-Firefly or Leverage? I haven’t seen either one, but I’ve heard great things about Firefly

-Gray's Anatomy or Law & Order? Law & Order SVU. One of my fave podcasts is “That’s Messed Up” with two comedians who recap an episode, talk about the true crime it’s based on, and then interview a guest from that episode

-Favorite tv show growing up? Now?
Growing up, there was a series of shows on Nickelodeon I think? Clarissa Explain it All, Salute Your Shorts, California Dreams
Now, my regular binge shows are Cougar Town, Letterkenny, Big Bang Theory, Psych, Bones, and Criminal Minds. They’re all comfort shows I can put on at anytime

-Favorite comic book growing up? Now? Archie & Friends growing up. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a comic as an adult

-Do you read graphic novels? Any favorites? No

-Do you prefer the Marvel movie universe or DC? Marvel

-Which Doctor was your first? (I shouldn't have to explain, but I mean Doctor Who.)
-Which Doctor is your favorite?
-Are you planning to take off work to make sure you can see the Doctor Who holiday specials?
-Do I have Doctor Who on the brain?

I haven’t watched any Doctor Who! It sounds like I should though!

Kaley wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Happy Monday! I finished the Britney Spears memoir last night - I think that's the first time in a long time I bought a book the day it came out because I was so excited to read it. ..."

I really enjoyed it! It was very simply written and pretty short, but I liked reading some of the stories that have never been shared before. Some were heartbreaking, some were funny. Britney really knows how to keep a secret!

Happy Monday! I finished the Britney Spears memoir last night - I think that's the first time in a long time I bought a book the day it came out because I was so excited to read it. I love her!

Quiz time:

-Do you play an instrument or sing? I always wanted to learn piano, but never did. I was in choir in school (don't let that deceive you, I'm not a great singer) and was a background person in two musicals (fiddler on the roof my freshman year, and camelot my junior year)
-Ever been on stage? Yes in school. Now I do a lot of public speaking for my job so that's my only stage time. Way less pressure when you're talking, not singing.
-Ever been in a band? No
-Favorite museum you have been to? The Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago. Fun fact, I used to work in a Science Center/Museum locally and it's still one of my favorite jobs.
-Favorite work of art? Hmmm I'm not really sure
-What work of art have you not seen yet but really want to? Not a work of art, but I really want to go to the spy museum in DC. I also want to see the Julia Child exhibit at the Smithsonian
-Do you prefer old masters or modern art? Probably modern art
-Ever used a ceramics wheel? No
-Ever recreated the scene from Ghost with your partner? Teehee HAHA no!