Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
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2017 Weekly checkins
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Week 9: 2/24 - 3/2
Hello from sunny SW Missouri!The weather here has been crazy lately. There were even tornadoes on the other side of the state this week. I think its too early for that!
My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Green Eggs and Ham. I remember growing up my sisters and I would read this book over and over together. I could probably say the whole book verbatim.
I've been reading 11/22/63 this week to fill the book set in two different times prompt. I haven't made a huge dent, but the book is over 800 pages so I have a feeling I'm going to think that for a while. Stephen King is wonderful. I love how he tied 11/22/63 in with It. So neat to see how things played out in Derry after "It" goes away. Part of me wants to rush through this book because I don't want to get super far behind in my reading challenge, but the other part wants to read very slowly to savor every chapter. Tough decisions....
I'm still at 8/52, hoping to be at 9 by this time next week. We will see how it plays out.
QOTW:
At first I thought this one would be hard, but then I remember one of my least favorite characters ever. If you are currently reading or want to read After You, don't read my answer any further.
Lily ruined the book for me. A secret love child???? I mean come on!! I feel like the author sort of copped out with this one. We wanted to see Lou find happiness and do great things with her life, not mope around and take care of a very snotty teenager. I was moved by Me Before You, so I was looking for closure when I picked up After You. I just ended up wanted to punch Lily constantly. We didn't get any forward progress with Lou really, which was the whole point of the sequel. As you can tell, I'm still pretty salty over that book.
Hailey wrote: "Lily ruined the book for me. A secret love child???? I mean come on!! I feel like the author sort of copped out with this one. We wanted to see Lou find happiness and do great things with her life, not mope around and take care of a very snotty teenager.... "I totally agree!! I don't think we needed the added plot element. Fans reading After You were just interested in seeing Lou's story wrapped up. (view spoiler)
I loved Dr. Seuss as a child, but I can’t think of one book of his that I liked significantly more than the others. This week I finished three books.
A book from a nonhuman perspective-The Gospel of Loki. This one pairs nicely with Norse Mythology if you are in the mood for more Asgard. It’s a retelling of the myths from Loki’s perspective written in a snarky somewhat anachronistic manner. I liked it.
A book of letters-Lady Susan. I liked this one as well. It was short and the scheming title character was entertainingly awful.
A book with multiple authors-Steampunk Fairy Tales. I was going to use it for the steampunk novel prompt but I felt guilty using a short story collection as a novel. The book itself was just okay, but it was free so I can’t complain.
QOTW- I picked up The Iron Duke somewhat randomly from my library’s overdrive to try to complete the Steampunk prompt. I should have read more reviews before starting. I actually like the Steampunk world building, but I hate the romance elements. The male romantic lead is a gross creep imo, so I would love to have him cut out. It would require a rewrite into a more straight SFF novel but that would be just fine with me.
My favorite Dr Seuss book with wonderful illustrations:
This week:
27. Title is a characters name: The Portable Dorothy Parker Finally finished this book! Wonderful, insightful writing - really enjoyed the short stories - took me forrrevverr to read.
6. Genre/subgenre you've never heard of (Advanced list): Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable I went into this book thinking it was going to be a fun, lighthearted read. Surprisingly I found it very relevant to our present day situation. Hmmm...
QOTW: I recently re-read Pippi Longstocking and as an adult I couldn't stand her. I'd say get rid of her! :)
Jessi wrote: "My favorite Dr Seuss book with wonderful illustrations: Oh I remember reading Pippi when I was kid and being like, this is supposed to be good?! I thought she was such a brat, and you know you're awful if other kids think you're bratty.
Greetings from NYC where it is very windy but still unseasonably warm. We will have a brief winter teaser tomorrow before temperatures rise once again. I'm really unhappy with the lack of winter here.I actually finished two books already this week, and will finish a third tonight:
Bewildering Cares: A Week in the Life of a Clergyman's Wife - my book recommended by a librarian - was disappointing. The librairian friend who recommended it usually recommends books I absolutely love, but this one I found tedious. It's about a week in the life of the vicar's wife in a rural village in England during WWII, just before rationing. It has all the tempest in a teapot drama and various characters one expects in a small English village. Yawn. Also fits book in wartime, book with subtitle, and probably a few more categories.
The Ides of April - book with a month in the title - LOVED this! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Lindsay Davis' wryly irreverent take on Ancient Rome. Flavia Albia has taken over her father's informer (a/k/a private eye) business in Ancient Rome, solving a series of murders. Even though the various 'surprises' were pretty obvious to me from about 30 pages into the book, it didn't detract from enjoyment at all. Also fits first in a series, and probably a few other categories. Note: Flavia Albia is the daughter of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina who have their own 20+ volume series by Lindsey Davis - and are a delight. This is a spin off series.
A Discovery of Witches - I still have 120 pages or so to go but will finish tonight easily so I'm counting it as a finish this week. Read this as my book that's been on my TBR list for too long - since it came out actually as I have a hardcover first edition! I had originally picked something else for this but somehow, this is what kept winking at me as I walked through my living room. I've enjoyed it quite a lot actually, even though it is highly derivative, not particularly original IMHO. The writing, characters, and plot have been sufficiently entertaining that I will certainly read the rest of the series.
So that brings me to 11/40. I've already started another challenge read - my book with multiple authors - A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls - YA anthology of specifically commissioned short stories of historical fiction featuring American girls written by established women writers. I've read 2 of the included stories so far and have enjoyed them immensely.
So, my favorite Dr. Seuss - easy - How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Still read it every year.
QOTW: Basically every big book or series has characters one can eliminate and probably should. Certainly Tom Bombadil in LOTR serves no purpose that I've ever been able to figure out - except he gives us that wonderful bath song... I'm sure if I thought about it I could come up with characters to eliminate from A Song of Ice and Fire, In Search of Lost Time, and even Harry Potter series.
I have to challenge though the suggestion that Mr. Collins should be eliminated from Pride and Prejudice - he is the definitive boor and as such is absolutely the perfect foil for everyone else!
I've just started the challenge but I'm working my way through three of my books right now.I'm listening to Born a Crime while driving to and from work. I still have 6.5 hours left but it's been really interesting.
I'm reading Soldier Dogs on my iPad before bed. Started it last night and already three chapters in.
I'm working through It and that's going to take a hot second to get through. I swear it weighs like 5 pounds.
QOTW: The only one I can think of is Kitty from Pride and Prejudice. As far as I can remember, she doesn't really move the story along too much.
Greetings from California! It's sunny and warm, which is a nice change from the crazy late winter storms we've been having.My all-time favorite Dr. Suess quote is the one I painted above my older daughter's crib: "You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose!"
This week I (finally) finished my first book of the year (it's been a hectic few months): The Diary of a Young Girl I know most people read this as required reading in high school, but I somehow missed that boat. It was an easy read, but man, oh man. I got the the end and I cried for 10 minutes. My husband thought I was broken. I'm counting this as my "book about an immigrant or refugee" on the advanced list, although it would meet the criteria for about 10 different prompts. Next up: "a book about food," The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
QOTW - Maybe Alex from A Clockwork Orange? I could do without having ever read that book.
This week I finished two books for the challengeFor a book with one of the four seasons in the title I read Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England which gave me a look at a time in the English Monarchy that I am not very familiar with.
And in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday I did One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish for "book you loved as a child"
QoTW: I don't think I could just pull a character out of a story. Even if I hated a character, every one is needed in some way to move the story along.
Weather in Oklahoma: warm, cold, hot, rainy, pleasant, frost on the car windows in the morning. It's been a ridiculous winter.Dr. Seuss: I babysat my niece during my summers in high school and she always wanted a story read to her before her nap and it was always The Grinch That Stole Christmas. I had that sucker memorized.
Books:
Finished
Prep
by Curtis Sittenfeld. I did not really like it. The main character was whiny, self-absorbed and ashamed of her middle class upbringing and she was the same at the end of the novel as an adult. I don't think it fits any categories.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. Urban fantasy, I enjoy the series so it would work for those that don't normally read the genre.
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. Enjoyed it but I don't think it fits any categories.
and
The Siren by Kiera Cass. I hated it. It's YA (a genre I read a lot of) but the instalove annoyed me. Seriously, they fell in after about 12 hours in each other's company. But it does tick the mythological creature box.
I've started Hidden Figures and I'm still trying to reread Before I fall
QOTW: I don't think I would remove anyone but I do agree with people upthread that Collins should've married Mary. But I wouldn't get rid of him if only because we got Tom Hollander's line reading of "what excellent boiled potatoes" in the 2005 film version.
Hey there from sunny Paris (but I got drenched by a sudden shower yesterday while scootering back home).One book read for the challenge this week:
✅25. A book you loved as a child: Rudyard Kipling, Just So Stories , OUP 1995 (1st ed. 1902).
I absolutely loved this book as a child (well the French translation of it actually). My favorite stories were probably The Elephant's child and The cat that walks by himself. It was nice to have an occasion to read it again!
QOTW: I think I'd go with Boromir in Lord of the Rings. Really, what's the point? Completely useless until the scene were he tries to take the ring, and that scene is way to heavy on kitchen-table morality... Off with his head!
Happy Thursday from Southeastern Ohio. I teach, and we dismissed our kids early yesterday and had a two-hour delay this morning due to flooding. Today, it has been snowing.... You never know what you'll get here! This is the first week that I do not have any books to report. It's been a slow reading week.
QOTD: I really can't think of any....
Week 9 - Currently at 19/40 of 21/52This week, I finished Winter by Marissa Meyer for prompt #8 on the advanced list, a book that's more than 800 pages. It was fantastic and went by so fast it didn't seem like a long book at all. I loved all the books in the series, but I think Winter was my favorite.
For prompt #37, a book that's becoming a movie in 2017, as well as for the monthly group read for March, last week I mentioned that I had started the audio version of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, but I have put it on hold for the time being. It was just so dry and it was hard for me to absorb what I was listening to. I had expected it to be a story, but it's mostly fact & figures & an information dump with a few anecdotes here & there. Anyway, I put the audio version on hold and borrowed the paper book from a friend. I'm hoping that by actually reading the words, instead of just listening to them, I will be able to get into the book a little more.
Last night I started Stars Above by Marissa Meyer, but I don't really have a prompt for it to go under, so I'm just reading that for pleasure.
Today, I started reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky for prompt #3, a book of letters. It's still quite early in the book, so we'll see how it goes.
QOTW - I can't think of any characters I would take out of a book. I mean, I'm sure there were some that I thought were a waste of space, but none come to mind at the moment.
I read The Circle over the weekend for my book being made into a movie this year. Still working the others.Not feeling particularly... write-y? IDK. tonight.
QOTW: Probably none. It's not my business who authors put in their books or how they plot and write them. I just read and enjoy.
I finished 2 books this week, both for Popsugar.S. - a book in a genre I hadn't hear of, ergodic fiction. I really enjoyed it, and may order my own copy so I can reread it and get some more of the details.
The Golem and the Jinni - a book with mythical creatures. Also great!
I'm now at 21/52!
I can't think of any good answers for the QOTW... my husband thinks maybe Harry Dresden!
Nadine wrote: "Good morning!! Super early check-in, I like it! Here in central NY state, it is COLD and snowing and blowing around, and the temperature is dropping: when I let the dogs out first thing this mornin..."Night was a wonderful book it's been years since I read it, may have to give it a re-read
I have had such a horrible week that I almost forgot to check in! Between a doctor's appointment, a fairly major car repair which had me begging for rides, my daughter preparing for an overnight trip in the middle of the week, and the beginning of Lent, I was too overwhelmed and busy to read! I am more than half way through Emma but I will have to take a break from that for now- during Lent I try to read spiritual, theological, or books about Saints or missionaries. I might be able to fill one or two prompts but it isn't likely. QOTW: I see a lot of comments on characters from Pride and Prejudice and I don't know if someone said Kitty, but I find her very unnecessary. I think her only purpose was she found out that Lydia was gone/shacking up and that was it. I should say Mary too except that I relate too much to her to take her out. But that was the first character that came to mind. But this is a good question to ponder on.
Hola from Texas! As far as the weather, choose for yourself. We have had 40s and bleak, 50s and raining, 60s and cloudy, 70s and super windy, and 80s and sunny, all this week.I finished (barely) The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, and I don't recommend this book at all. I thought I was off to a good start, but it took everything, and I do mean everything, I had to finish it. Honestly, I don't think I would have finished it if I hadn't had to come back to the group and admit it.
Sometimes you have expectations for a book, and when the book doesn't meet them, you are disappointed and a little sad. Other times, you are angry that it was so bad. That is the case for me with this book. Hours of reading time I will never get back. sigh This was for the prompt to read a book recommended by the librarian.
On a positive note, I also read The Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh. This is a good old-fashioned whodunit. I enjoyed it very much. It was for the prompt to read a book by an author from a country you have visited. It was the perfect complement to the horrible book I mentioned above.
I am now at: 10/40 and 3/52.
I'm still reading Lamb In Love. I think I'll enjoy this one. I'm also reading The Lost City of Oz. It takes place in Amazon. I've been to the Amazon 7 times, so I have an interest in what people write about it.
QOTW: I don't know who it would be, but it would fun.
Hello everyone! I am currently on vacation and loving every minute of it. However, I have not gotten much reading done at all! Last week I finished one book, Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. I finished it on the plane on my way out to Arizona. I am currently reading The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate and should finish it soon.
As for the QOTW, that is a hard one! I can't think of anything right off the bat, but will come back and let y'all know if I do think of anything! Happy reading!
As with most of us, Dr. Seuss was a childhood favorite for me as well. Some of my most cherished stories of his were And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street and Oh, The Places You'll Go!.Our weather is beautiful - we have to enjoy it because any minute now it will become unbearably hot and stay like that until September. The joys of the south.
I finished several books this week, but my favorite is the one I finished last night, Duchess by Josephine Edgar. I couldn't go to sleep until I had finished it. I joined a few March challenges that revolve around women, so I'd chosen this book to fit with one of those themes.
QOTW: That's a hard question! It would be too easy to ruin a story that way, you have to be careful. Plus, honestly if a character can be lifted from a story without disrupting it, then it's probably not a good story. For me it would probably be someone involved in a love triangle - for example, Jacob Black in New Moon. But then I wouldn't want to remove his whole character, just his romantic relationship with Bella which I thought was unnecessary to the story. It drags on for the next 2 books, as well, and is thoroughly annoying. I don't think love triangles should be used as often as they are - sometimes they are integral, but more often they are just a lazy way of creating drama IMHO. Ironically, there's a love pentangle in the book I just read and loved, Duchess, but this is the rare case of when that situation furthers the story rather than detracts from it.
Mod
I didn't read Dr Seuss until I was an adult, so I've missed out on some of the joy of reading Dr Seuss. But he has so many gems of quotes! I like “You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.” It's so positive – no matter how bad our situation is, it's not the worst. As long as we're breathing, there's plenty to be thankful for.The weather check-in isn't going to work so well here in Singapore, since we have basically the same weather the whole year round! The only thing that changes is whether it is sunny or rainy (lately it's been both), but the temperature stays the same no matter the month.
I finished Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two this week which fits into several categories, including "A book with multiple authors", but I think I'll put it in "A bestseller from 2016". It left me feeling rather unsatisfied, but it seems to me that they've done that intentionally by publishing a script that hints that all the magic is in experiencing the play!
That puts me at 14/52. I'm currently reading The Screwtape Letters (LOVE IT, so thought-provoking), Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded (ugh, but at least I'm finishing it soon) and The Canterbury Tales (a fun read that has lots of deeper themes to probe into if you're keen).
I've been pondering and I can't come up with any characters that I both want to and could realistically take out of a book, so I'll go with the first character I thought of, the unnamed narrator of Rebecca. Yes, I know she's the main character, but I. Could. Not. Stand. Her. She was so insecure, so whining, so blind in her love for Maxim, and overall just so weak. And yes, there wouldn't be any story without her, but she spoilt the whole book for me anyway. Sorry, I know many of you actually do like this book! I'd be happy to hear any arguments in favour of her.
Good morning from soon-to-be-warm-again Kansas! I finished 1 book this week, The Thirteenth Tale, which fill fulfill the prompt "a book that is a story within a story". This was unlike anything I've ever read and I really really liked it. It stayed with me. Long after I'd put it down for the day or evening, I would still think about the stories told in it or the characters talked about. It was that good. I definitely have a book hangover after this one, I just can't quite get it out of my mind to be able to focus on another book.
I am now 7/40 and 2/12!
Currently reading, or attempting to get into:
- The Wonder which will fulfill the prompt "a book by an author from a country you've never visited"
- Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?: The Surprising Science of Pregnancy - not sure this will fulfill any prompts, but it's just interesting to me with what it currently happening in my life
QOTW: I got nothing! I can't think of anything. There are plenty of characters I haven't liked and wished I could do away with, Dolores Umbridge comes to mind, but without them the stories would be very different.
Letizia wrote: "QOTW: Uhm... I would really like to get rid of Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter series; It's so cliche and boring that she is the one who Harry ends up marrying and I think that her role in the Chamber of Secrets could be taken as well by any other Weasley, really."Yes!!! 100x yes!!!!!! They never had any chemistry or really many conversations in the books and then we're supposed to believe they end up in love and married? No way! A side thing I can't stand is all of their children's names. Why do authors always make characters name their children after people they know? I know it was supposed to be sentimental, but I thought it was annoying.
Hailey I totally agree. It was the most annoying thing in the (original) books. The "20 years later" read like 14 year old fan fic. Most high school relationships do not last, let alone most of them ending up married to someone from their school... bizarre. (I think I know 2 couples who went to school together, one that dated and stayed together and one where they knew each other since hs) And the names? It was like a preteen telling all her bffs they'll be bridesmaids in her wedding.
Tara wrote: "Hailey I totally agree. It was the most annoying thing in the (original) books. The "20 years later" read like 14 year old fan fic. Most high school relationships do not last, let alone most of the..."Omg! Yes, 14 year old fan fiction is perfect. I think I read the first 5-6 pages and was like nope, this writing is terrible.
My husband and I started dating when we were both seniors in hs. We went to different schools, but were both already planning on going to the same college so it worked out. I completely agree that most hs relationships don't work out. As much as I loved Ron, I always wanted Harry and Hermione to end up together. They seemed like a better match.
Tracy wrote: "Currently working on filling out these ..."I still have my copy of
from the *gasp* 1970s. ;-)
Christophe wrote: "A book you loved as a child: Rudyard Kipling, Just So Stories , OUP 1995 (1st ed. 1902).I absolutely loved this book as a child (well the French translation of it actually). My favorite stories were probably The Elephant's child and The cat that walks by himself. It was nice to have an occasion to read it again!..."
I just realized that my daughter has a children's version of this. Or a collection of stories that includes some of these plus some from other authors. Animal Stories. She loves it! Great minds, and all that :)
Rebecca wrote: "My favorite Dr. Seuss book was The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites. My mom says before I could even talk, I would run over to my bookshelf and hold up my own foot when I wanted her to read it to me! (It's also strange because in my mind I so distinctly recall it as being orange, when it's actually green. This still really bothers me for some reason.)"Curiosity begged me to look in to that. There have been a couple of paperback versions with orange covers (one is a UK version).
https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...
Hello from Rhode Island where it's cold but not snowy at least.I finished reading Throne of Glass for a book that's first in a series. It was okay, but I wasn't amazed by it.
I also read Behind Her Eyes for a book published in 2017. I liked the twists and turns in the book, but I really didn't like the characters and I have a hard time enjoying a book if I find all the characters annoying.
I finally finished A Gentleman in Moscow for a book set in a hotel and I've had to contemplate how I felt about it. It was a bit of a struggle to read, but I liked the character and it was well written so overall I liked it even though nothing really happens in the book.
Right now I'm reading Dark Matter for a book with a red spine and I'm half way through and really enjoying it. One of those I don't want to put down.
QOTW: What an interesting question. I can't think of a character I would remove that wouldn't just negate the story altogether even if I didn't like them.
Hello from can't make up it's mind DMV (Northern VA). This was a big reading week for me:
1. Pachinko for book recommended by an author you love (Junot Diaz.) This was such a beautiful and touching family saga. I checked it out from the library, but immediately bought a copy once I finished. 5 stars
2. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail for the book set in wilderness prompt. This has been on my TBR list for years, so it was nice to finally read it. 3 stars.
3. Behind Her Eyes I'm a sucker for anything Gone Girl esque. And, I bought into the #wtfthatending buzz, and wanted to know for myself. Such a sheep, I know! Great read, and it fit the story within a story prompt for me. 4 stars.
I gave up on Lincoln in the Bardo. I so wanted to love it, but it just didn't work for me. It was too difficult to follow along, and wasn't executed well in my opinion.
I just picked up a stack of books from the library I had on hold, so I don't know where I will dive in.
There's a character I can think of from Behind her eyes, but I don't want to give away any spoilers.
My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Bartholomew and the Oobleck. I just love the idea of the king wanting something new to fall from the sky and getting that crazy green gooey oobleck. And what a word: oobleck. That alone probably makes kids laugh. Then of course the illustrations are brilliant. I loved Dr. Seuss when I was young and enjoyed a second time around with my son, now in his 20s. If our grandchildren lived anywhere near us, I'm sure I'd be reading Seuss to them.
It's funny because Ooblek is a thing probably named for that. Cornstarch and water makes a weird gooey substance that's so much fun to play with! My toddler loves it.
Well after a balmy week last week, Michigan decided to remind everyone it's still winter. Snow, and cold. At least today's sunny, if cold! My favorite Dr Seuss book is probably Oh, The Places You'll Go!, my mom gave it to me for graduation. Although as kid I really liked There's a Wocket in My Pocket! and The Sneetches and Other Stories. I remember reading them at my grandma's house all the time.
Had a kind of slow reading week, I wasn't super feeling the one I was reading. It was Library of Souls and I did finish it. I'm counting it as my book with pictures. It eventually got to be ok, but it was just a really slow start. I don't really like series that cut off in the middle of an action scene and then restart the next book right where it left off. I hadn't read hallow city for a couple years, and I don't enjoy the series enough for it to be a re-read for me, so I spent most of the book trying to remember what had happened. It eventually wrapped up alright, but it's not going down as a favorite series.
I also read Descender, Volume Two: Machine Moon andDescender, Volume Three: Singularities which are both beautifully illustrated and written. They don't count for any challenges, I just felt like a break after all the heavy going with the other book.
Currently jumping between The Fairy Godmother which is a many time reread because I just felt like I needed a break, and Wool Omnibus which came recommended to me by a friend. I'm hoping it'll fit into a challenge somewhere, but I have no idea at this point.
QOTW: I'm not sure about characters out of a book. If we're talking movies, I'd have removed both Hans and Kristoff from Frozen. I know everyone loves that movie to death, but I thought it would have been a much stronger story if it'd focused on just the two sisters and their relationship. Elsa coming to terms with her power, Anna trying to show that she's there for Elsa, even when it's frightening etc. I felt like the two guys just muddied the story up. (while we're at it we could get rid of the trolls and the snowman and the moose, but i'd settle for the two dudes).
olá, one day later, but checking in! This week I start working.Last week I started reading the series sugar maple withFeitiços de Amor and finished 2 books of the serie - both with a cat on the cover.now I'm in the third book:Sonhos Encantados, don't have a prompt to fill.I'm also reading a book of letters and with subtitle: a queda dos machos. nice week to all.
I just finished The Shack for my book to movie 2017. Didn't like it as much as everyone else it seems.
Last week it was in the high 60s, today it snowed when I got home from work. I'm ready for spring. :)I'm at 18/52 right now.
I read The Story of the Trapp Family Singers which I ended up putting down for a story set during wartime because the major part of the book takes place before and after WWII. It also would really work for a story about an immigrant.
I also read Fahrenheit 451 which oddly enough was a bestseller in 2016.
And finally I read The Restaurant at the End of the Universe which can count as bought at a book sale, because I got it at a used book shop.
QotW: I'm another person who more wants the sudden romance to go away. Not in any specific character, really, just less cliche romance.
Juanita wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Currently working on filling out these ..."I still have my copy of
from the *gasp* 1970s. ;-)"LOL. Me too, Jaunita. I bought a copy for each of my daughters, and showed them mine ( filled out in 1978?)
Slow week from me; I finished a quick read Wenjack. I figured since the conference I'm going to next month has Joseph Boyden as the keynote speaker I should probably read some of his books first.Then I finished Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins which was very interesting. I've read her two previous books and enjoyed them all, even if this one bothered me at times based on its subject content.
I made significant progress in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I am complete the first part and honestly I'm loving this book. Yes it's crazy long but I don't understand why so many people DNF it.
Taking a quick break from it to read a library book that came in; Caraval. I'm loving it so far, it reminds me a lot of The Night Circus which is one of my favourite books.
My favourite Dr. Seuss book would have to be Green Eggs and Ham but I love reading any of the them to my girls.
QOTW: I really don't know how to answer this one. I don't think I can take characters out of books as they all have a place in the story.
Weather-- here in the Pacific Northwest we have rain. And rain. And more rain. So much mud.The only book for the challenge I read this week was for prompt #10 A book with a cat on the cover. I read Murder Past Due by Miranda James. I enjoyed it and will read more in the series.
Favorite Dr. Seuss book is Scrambled Eggs Super!. I would enjoy reading it to my son more if it weren't so long though, so many insane words. :)
QOTW Can't think of any characters to remove.
Well it finally stopped raining here in SF this week, but now we're about to get some more. As much as I know we need the rain after such a long drought, I'm really sick of it. I'm English so it's not like I'm not used to rain, but I'm ready for some nice warm Spring weather. I finished two books this week, bringing me to 8/40. The first was Sweetbitter which I read for a book about food, and I absolutely adored it. I was surprised to see how many other people hadn't enjoyed it, but for me it was a complete hit.
The second was The Martian which I just finished today, recommended by a librarian. I found some of the science and maths sections slightly hard going, but I really enjoyed this book. Recommended. Also not something I would have read without this challenge prompting me, so I'm very pleased that I'm taking part!
My library hold on The Underground Railroad just arrived, but I might need to read something nice and light before I tackle that, my brain is a bit tired from the expedition to Mars!
QOTW: I've given this a lot of thought and I still can't think of one! What a thought provoking question.
Hello from Denver - a mostly cold week followed up by a very nice day today. Though I'd rather a good snowstorm or two before the winter ends - it feels like there hasn't been enough snow this year. The Dr. Seuss I remember best from childhood is Yertle the Turtle. So far my daughter enjoys Hop on Pop but she's still too young for many of his books.
I only finished one book this week - Farthing as my first book in a series. The Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery but at the beginning didn't pull me in but once she started fleshing out the alternate history (England made peace with Hitler who is still fighting the Russians in 1949), I was hooked.
I'm reading The Fifth Season and Everfair and listening to The Strangler Vine, which may explain why I didn't get much finished - too much divided attention.
QOTW: It seems to me that I'd have to take a character out of a book I hated - it might ruin the book, but oh well. Tess of the d'Urbervilles I have hated strongly since high school and I'd love to take out the jerk at the beginning who takes her virginity - I assume then her great love would fall into place. If that's not possible then perhaps at least we could remove all the cows in England, since that milkmaid bit feels like it goes on long enough for her to have milked every cow in existence. My other huge book hate is for Swiss Family Robinson. I loved the Disney movie as a child and made the mistake of reading the book in university. Perhaps once the father has gotten the supplies from the ship and built them a shelter, he could hit his head and die or something, because he way he either killed or caged every new wild animal he came across drive me bananas.
So I haven't really read much new this week. I took the GRE on Wednesday, it was hard concentrating on new books. Rereads were much easier. I did manage to reread "A Wrinkle in Time" a much needed respite. I love Madeleine L'Engle. I also reread "The Queen of Attolia" by Megan Whalen Turner, trying to reread all in The Queen's Thief series before her latest book comes out. Just started "The Blessing Way" by Tony Hillerman, as the 1st book in a series you haven't read before. It is our choice for my Church bookclub so I have to get busy & read it before Tuesday.
Here in freezing NY for a research trip and have been too busy to post on time...Managed to read 2 books on the plane, so reached a 6 book total:
The Girl on the Train unreliable narrator, thriller (mystery thriller, psych thriller, etc) recommended by NYPL
2. Everything I Never Told Youby/about person of color
3. Amid the Shadows not sure how to place this one: there were nonhuman characters, so until I find a better fit, this is it for the nonhuman perspective
4. Nora Roberts Land first in a series (although I doubt I'll continue it).
5. Maude enjoyed this. I read it as a 2016 bestseller, but then found out that it was a 2015 bestseller. There went that... Might also qualify as a remarkable woman in her own way.
6. Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind my career book. Although I think I'll be reading another career book soon. (also works as book with a subtitle and multiple authors.
Already finished two more books, but that's for next week...
Here in freezing NY for a research trip and have been too busy to post on time...Managed to read 2 books on the plane, so reached a 6 book total:
The Girl on the Train unreliable narrator, thriller (mystery thriller, psych thriller, etc) recommended by NYPL
2. Everything I Never Told Youby/about person of color
3. Amid the Shadows not sure how to place this one: there were nonhuman characters, so until I find a better fit, this is it for the nonhuman perspective
4. Nora Roberts Land first in a series (although I doubt I'll continue it).
5. Maude enjoyed this. I read it as a 2016 bestseller, but then found out that it was a 2015 bestseller. There went that... Might also qualify as a remarkable woman in her own way.
6. Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind my career book. Although I think I'll be reading another career book soon. (also works as book with a subtitle and multiple authors.
Already finished two more books, but that's for next week...
I'm writing from overcast Madrid, Spain for the first time in about a month. I've been so, so lax in reading so far this year. I'm only 4/40!This week I finally finished Little Women which I've been reading off and on since Christmas time. This will fulfill #18 "a book you've read before that never fails to make you smile". I absolutely adore this book and last read it as 9-10 year old girl. 20 years later, I love it just as much.
I can't think off the top of my head of any particular Dr. Seuss book but I did enjoy Fox in Socks and Green Eggs and Ham as a kid.
QOTW: I think all characters, even unlikable ones, add to a story and plot progression. However, the Sookie Stackhouse books have a lot of extra characters that could easily have been cut out for sake of clarity. Too many weres, boring Bon Temps people, etc.
I finished two books: Inherit the Bones (which I read for the Minotaur Book Club; I couldn't find a good fit prompt-wise) and Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person (which I used for "A book written by someone you admire"). I should be finished with Their Eyes Were Watching God later today, am about halfway done with The Elusive Elixir, and started The Cracked Spine. My current completion total is 9/40 and 1/12, which is more than I thought I would have at this point. Woo-hoo!As for my favorite Dr. Seuss book or quote, I *think* it was Green Eggs and Ham when I was a kid. However, I have vivid memories of making a diorama of The Lorax for a school book report -- the book stuck with me, even if the message went over my head when I read it in elementary school. My current fave is probably Ten Apples Up on Top!, which my goddaughter read to me when I visited in December :)
QOTW: While I've definitely read books with characters that I didn't like or connect with, I wouldn't remove any of them from a book, especially knowing it could change the plot.
Just rain in the PNW. I don't mind it. Keeps me inside and reading!My favorite Dr. Seuss story is The Sneetches. My favorite quote from the books is “The Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether they had one, or not, upon thars.”
This week I read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. My 13 yo daughter just finished it and I thought I'd read it to see what it was about (and to fulfill my prompt for book of letters). I was surprised about the content. I didn't mind the content, for me, just was surprised my 13 yo read it without an questions or discussions. We have a lot to talk about.... suicide, oral sex, masturbation, drugs, consent, molestation, parties, homosexuality.... It put my butt into gear for having ongoing discussions about these things. Yikes!
Then I started The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain for my pseudonym prompt. I'm having trouble picking it up and reading it though. I will finish it but I might interrupt that book for the March group read.
And may I just share how excited I am for the April group read selection! Finally, the one I voted for gets chosen! It looks good!
QotW: I don't think I would remove any character from any book. As much as I couldn't stand Snape from the Harry Potter books (until the end), Geillis from Outlander, or any annoying, bad influences, they all had their part to play in the story. But I stake my right to change my mind after reading other people's responses to this question. Maybe I'm not thinking of some character I would like erased from the story line.
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Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
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Ha ha! Yes! He just picked the wrong sister! Or we can just get rid of Mary altogether :)