Bea’s Comments (group member since Apr 29, 2011)

Bea’s comments from the Pick-a-Shelf group.

PAS wrote: "Smashed our group goal with total to date being 15,471 / 14,000 pages!!!"

Oh, that is great!

Michelle wrote: "I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one struggling with reading at this time. I'm normally such a voracious reader and especially like to lose myself in books in times of stress. But this time I just can't focus. I'm also struggling because my library TOTALLY shut down. They even stopped the home deliveries for some reason. I have tons of books in house to read, so I'm ok there, but I'm struggling to make any progress with my many challenges, since many of those books I'll need to get from the library."

I also am glad to know that I am not the only one who is having difficulty focusing on the reading. I find it strange, as books were often the way I would de-stress when working. And, I enjoy reading as a way of experiencing other worlds and lives. But, my brain isn't having it. Ugh!

Meg wrote: "Hey @Tien, I just noticed that we have drawn 9/10 books, but there are still two Sundays left before the last draw April 3 and 10."

Meg, it looks like we will either have 11 draws or it will end on May 9. What say you, Tien?

Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "I'm having some health issues for myself, which are really affecting my ability to cope. It's really very complicated so I won't go into that, what I can say is just that I won't have a chance to see a doctor before next week because all non-urgent appointments have been canceled and since my issue is not life-threatening (although invalidating and potentially serious)... I'll just have to wait."

Prayers for you, Marina.

Thought I would check in and see how everyone is doing during this pandemic.

I live alone. I am spending my time watching BritBox, tending my garden and yard, napping, and trying to get those projects that never get attention done. I am improving my cooking skills. My concentration for reading has declined. No longer am I tackling multiple books at a time, and some days I just carry the book from spot to spot without even opening it. I do a morning post on FB, greeting everyone and encouraging all to look for the blessings of that day. And, I make an effort to post (or re-post) positive or thought-provoking items.

I am missing actual people contact...flesh and blood. For some reason, phone and computer do not provide what I miss. Perhaps that is a measure of being alone. However, most of the time, I am content.

I am also missing the ability to go places...to see new things...to experience interactions with others. Libraries, parks, bars...

How is everyone else doing?

Ha, Ha! The book that I have been struggling to read for Bookopoly (overdue) and that I am hoping to read for Read-a-thon is #8! Oh, this is funny. LOL. I think the universe wants me to read this book!

Finished:
Dead Silence for PnM Settings (Place), Series 20

Reading:
Choiring Of The Trees for PnM Owned, Bookopoly, and Just Read It
The Beautiful Mystery for Series

Stacey and Lagullande, are either of you still interested in doing a buddy read of The Pillars of the Earth?

Is anyone else interested? I do not own the book but I think I can get it digitally from my local library.

Shouldn't this be Prompt 5? Title says Prompt 4.

I found The Late Show on my digital library site in digital book and audiobook editions. I will try to get this one to read.

Mini Challenge: BINGO (May 1-Jul 10)

Goal: Easy - 1 Bingo! (4-5 books noting Free square)

B
Female Author: Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr [Prompt 3] - Read 5/30/20
Series book with even number serial: Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews (#2) [Prompt 5] - Read 6/14/20
Author has died: As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg [Prompt 3] Read 6/29/30
Author still living: Murder for the Halibut by Liz Lipperman [Prompt 3] - Read 5/9/20
An Anthology: (Using Pass) The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny [Prompt 4] - Read 5/19/20

I
Author initials found in “Pick-a-Shelf”
A novella (<200p)
Non Fiction
Has X or Z
Male author

N
Title starts with a letter from “Just Read It!”
#ownvoices
FREE
Fits a 2020 Picked Shelf
Real life setting

G
Title has punctuation
Title starts with a letter from “Pick-a-Shelf”
Author born in a year ending 0
Award Winning
Author identifies as LGBTQIA

O
Fictional setting
Series book with odd number serial
Published 2020
Debut novel
Author initials found in “Just Read It!”

Prompt 5: Comfort Reads
(Read those that gives you comfort; all your guilty pleasures, brain fluffs, or whatever that tickles your fancy.)

Goal: 5 books

√1. Savannah Breeze - Read 6/14/20
√2. The Witch Squad - Read 6/19/20
√3. Ice Cream Murder - Read 5/27/20
√4. A Thrift Shop Murder - Read 5/14/20
√5. The Dragon Whisperer - Read 7/14/20

Wow! I had to scroll all the way to page 8 to find any books on my TBR. I need to do some research to see if I can find any of these on digital or audio sites as I do not own any of the three that I found.

Just Read It! Read-a-thon #2: Apr 23-30

*Finish that series [April's Prompt] - (The Beautiful Mystery - this would finish the prompt for me)
*Read an owned book [March's Prompt] - (currently reading Choiring Of The Trees)
*Read 100 pages of Big and/or Intimidating Book [February's Prompt]

I will aim for either Easy or Slightly Harder. I have no book for February's Prompt available.

Pages Read:

Thu 04/23: Choiring Of The Trees 9 pages (I was busy reading/listening to 2 non JRI books and binge watching BritBox.)
Fri 04/24: 0 pages (Sorry. Just ended up sleeping most of day.)
Sat 04/25: 20 pages
Sun 04/26: 20 pages + 2 pages = 22 pages (I am struggling to read this week. Sorry for letting y'all down so badly.)
Mon 04/27: 42 pages
Tue 04/28: 26 pages
Wed 04/29: 22 pages
Thu 04/30: 0 pages

Total pages read: 132

Tien wrote: "Tien wrote: "Well, Lahni & Bea, let me know when you'd like to do A Column of Fire... I have a copy of this one though maybe in May or something?"

Do you guys still want to do this in May? Atm, I'm not feeling it but you're up for this, I do have physical copy in the house & will join in anyway..."

Tien, I think I will pass at this moment. I will possibly be doing The Pillars of the Earth, which is book #1. We were supposed to do it for April, but that didn't happen. So I will be feeling out the others regarding May.

Tien wrote: "I'm glad you got carried away reading, Bea! Such a fab feeling :D"

It surely was, especially in the midst of all this anxiety.

Finished:
Winter Study for PnM Settings (Place), Series 19, Just Read It, and Series 20

Reading:
Choiring Of The Trees for PnM Owned, Bookopoly, and Just Read It
Dead Silence for PnM Settings (Place), Series 20

I needed this one (#5: ). I quit reading everything else because this book grabbed me and held on! Great read!

Tien wrote: "I've moved on to P: Port Lincoln, could I please have 3 picks from my shelf? Ta!"

Good morning, Tien! I hope one of these books fits your needs.

The Naturalist's Daughter
The Killing Moon
The Thorn Birds

Joyce wrote: "I finally read one of my oldest books!!!"

YAY!