Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2018 Weekly Checkins
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week 5: 1/25 - 2/1
Hi all,Hope you guys are doing great!
I'm at 5/40 and 2/10 (advanced)
Currently reading The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story. For the prompt of true crime; also for the prompt of the author with the same name as you! Written by Ann Rule.
Sooooooo creepy! I'm only on chapter four, and the creepiness factor is already growing. I have to say, I don't know much about Ted Bundy. This book will change all that (LOL)!
QOTW: I love new books! I use Goodreads of course. I also look at Amazon.ca. I like to browse bookstores, especially since I live near a very big Chapters store.....so that's always fun. I often get trapped in the bestsellers area....true!! As a librarian, I also take a peek at bestsellers lists -- USA Today, New York Times, but I don't live by those at all. I just like to see what's happening.
Happy February! Finished
- Dogsbody - 2017 prompt book told from a nonhuman perspective. Though its target audience is middle-grade children, I really enjoyed this book and was able to get through it quickly. I'm not sure my middle school self would have liked it, but I did now as an adult. And, I would have never picked this book up if it wasn't for this group!
- Not That I Could Tell - 2018 prompt of book you either borrowed or received as a gift. I won an ARC of this book (coming out in March) in a giveaway from Goodreads last fall and finally got to reading it on Monday (when I was home sick). I could not put it down!! I highly recommend to others who enjoy thrillers -- though I found some of the book fairly predictable, the ending truly surprised me in a really good way!
So now I have 1 book left for the 2017 challenge and am at 2/52 for the 2018 challenge.
Currently Reading
- The Clockwork Dynasty - 2017 prompt of a steampunk novel. I am only about 60 or so pages in, but I'm enjoying it so far. It's told in alternating chapters in present day and in Russia circa the 1700s and is generally about an anthropologist in the present day who studies mechanical dolls and objects and "avtomats," machines that can look very similar to humans but can talk and have a conscious. Not the typical novel I'd go for, but it fits the prompt and has been engrossing so far.
QotW
I use this group, Goodreads generally, Bustle, and BookRiot and a few select bloggers. I'm also a Book of the Month subscriber.
This is my second week without a finished book. I was doing so well at the beginning, but now I am slowing down. I really like the book I am reading though The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It's written well and the story is engaging, but it's taking me a long time to read! Not sure if its because I'm not used to reading non-fiction or lack of time, or a combination of the two!
Books I finished this week:Murder & Mayhem in Houston: Historic Bayou City Crime True Crime.. but for a different challenge, probably. There have been a lot of really interesting murders in the greater Houston area... one of the ones profiled in this book that we discussed randomly in my bookclub this December. Weird coincidence. And this book gave a pretty broad overview of murders and mayhem over a long period of time. It was fun. But honestly I think I would have preferred less stories and more in depth coverage. I kept going, "wait, who were they again".
The Sellout - Satire Read for the ATY challenge book expected to make you laugh. I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it a lot. I'd recommend it.
And Pippi Longstocking. I never read this is a kid! And it is a classic. And it is from a country in which I have ancestry. And I read it one sitting so I could use this in many places in many challenges and I haven't quite decided where yet.
I find it surprising, though, I've never read it. But clearly I hadn't. The only things that were like, "Oh, yeah" were totally from a movie version I saw as a kid. It was amusing. It wasn't the greatest kids book ever. I probably would have liked it more as a kid. But for the juvenile literature I didn't read as a kid... it didn't live up to last weeks Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
how do you keep up with new releases I don't listen to all my books on Audio but pretty frequent audible browsing is probably how I learn about most new releases. Also word of mouth.
Hello everyone! I've been working a ton so I haven't made as much progress on the challenge as I would have liked this week. Today is a new day, though, and a new month so I will do better! I am celebrating Black History Month in the US by setting a personal goal to read 5 books/graphic novels by African or African American authors in February. I'm excited! There are so many amazing books on my TBR shelf that fit. I finished The Queen of Bedlam this week, which I hated. No more needs to be said.
I'm currently reading At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails and Homegoing, both of which I'm enjoying in different ways. I'm also listening to The Woman in Cabin 10 while cooking or cross stitching. It's not very good, but then I didn't expect it to be.
QOTW: I get book recommendations from a wide variety of places, from BookRiot to goodreads to people pressing books into my hands. I love a book recommendation.
Nadine wrote: "Katie wrote: "Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: I am really, really not enjoying this book. I think I would've loved it as a preteen, but as a grown woman I find it intolerable. The satire is much too f..."YO, I read this last year and I honest to god LOVED the beginning of this book. I was so in love with it. I wanted to tell everybody I knew and by the end of it I was like OMG... how did this book go from so entertaining to so incredibly, incredibly bad. It was sad because there really was the makings of a pretty entertaining book and then we went with just bizarreness and some casual racism and why not? Ugh.
Hi everyone,I haven't checked in last week because it was a busy week IRL. I didn't get much time to read anyway, meh.
Since last time, I finished:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Definitely worth the hype and a must-read.
Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George for the prompt "next book in a series you started". Love love this series.
This puts me at 8/50.
I just started The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story by Ann Rule for the "true crime" prompt. I'll try to participate in the unofficial reading group :)
QOTW:
I'm not really good at following releases. I mostly find inspiration on social networks but not necessarily on purpose. I signed up on Goodreads a couple of months ago so I haven't had a chance to embrace what this website can offer. I have no idea what are the websites you're all talking about, I feel lost and ignorant ^^"
Hello from Northern California. It’s been in the 60’s here but supposed to be in the low 70’s the rest of the week. We need more rain!I’ve finished 5/40 books of the challenge. This week finished Bear Town, for Sports. I loved this book and very relevant in today’s society. Also, Sleeping Beauties, for Two Authors, which I didn’t like.
For other clubs and challenges, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, a very enjoyable read and also very relevant. Artemis, a story set on the Moon with a bad ass female protagonist. Loved it!
Currently reading The Cellist of Sarajevo about the 4 year siege in Bosnia and City and the City, a fantasy about a murder, a police investigation and cities on different planes of existence. I think. Very intriguing.
I get most of my recommendations from GR groups. Which is the reason I joined. Also, friends, other book clubs and the SF Chronicle. I browse Amazon all the time.
This is my first Popsugar Challenge and I’m completely obsessed. Good luck all.
Oh and also just finished A Wrinkle in Time. Which I just read because the movie is coming out and then realized I could have used it for A childhood classic. I do find I’m reading books that can fit in any number of categories.
How is it already February!? I finished January having read 7 books (6/40; 0/10 for challenge), which I think is my most productive reading month yet. It's definitely making me feel confident about completing the challenge this year!This week I finished -
The Bear and the Nightingale(A book set in a country that fascinates you): Absolutely loved this one! I don't typically delve into the fantasy world, but am so happy I did. Can't wait to read the second one!
Not If I Save You First: This was a light, fun read. I loved Ally Carter when I was younger, so was very happy to read her new book. And I actually won it in a Goodreads giveaway so it was perfect.
I'm currently reading A Gentleman in Moscow and look forward to starting Beartown!
QOTW: Goodreads is my go to for all things reading! I mainly find out about new releases through the newsletters. But I also love randomly popping into bookshops to see what's new!
Kenya wrote: "Everyone seems to be reading The Bear and the Nightingale this year! I have it picked out for the "book set in a country that fascinates you" prompt but haven't gotten to it yet... ..."Her next one comes out this year too! I’ll be reading them because I like to read books by the authors at Denver Comic Con before attending their panels.
Finished:Against all odds, I finished De Broederschap last night! It's the only book I read and finished over the past week, which I hate, but at least the book was good. Unfortunately for most of you guys, it's originally in German, and only translated into Dutch. So far, anyways.
I did have issues with the way some of the male characters thought about/talked to women, though, so I hope that's not something that will keep occurring in the rest of the series.
I read it for the fave prompt from 2017 (I am doing all three years): A book involving a mythical creature.
I am now at 9/42 and 1/10.
Currently reading:
Fighting Fatigue: A Practical Guide to Managing the Symptoms of CFS/ME - Still working on this one, but someone reserved it at the library, so I can't extend it anymore. Am thinking of just scanning in the pages with the exercises I want to keep to try so I can bring back the book. So I have 13 more days to finish this one, which should be no issue.
Call Me by Your Name - Officially I haven't started this one yet, I plan to do so in a minute, so I'm writing it down here anyways.
QOTW
Honestly, I suck at keeping up with new books. Even with the series I adore I barely ever know when the new one is coming out. Besides, I have plenty of stuff to read, so let's face it, besides new books in series, I don't need new books. My TBR pile is huge as is, and it gets added on by all of you lovely people here!
I also feel you on the multiple books for a prompt. I had to really look for a book involving a bookstore/library, and now I have three, one read. So far only one of them will remain prompt-less, but there are worse things in the world.
Like the fact that I officially signed up for the Back to the Classics Challenge. I saw someone mentioning Anna Karenina, and I have that one put down for the book from the 19th century prompt, so, wish me luck haha!
(Normally I read all the new replies, but I am honestly too tired to do so right now, so if I missed something, let me know!)
HAPPY READING!
This week I finished: Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone (prompt 17) Brene Brown is wonderful, and she steps her own vulnerability with this one.
The Blood of Emmett Till (prompt 10) Heartbreaking, and an important part of our country's history.
Room This one had me on the edge of my seat during certain parts! It was well-told (from a 5-year-old's perspective) and an interesting topic, but I wasn't sure about the "moral of the story" at the end.
At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe(prompt 20) I had no idea she was from Austin, and her stories inspired me to book a trip to Italy, Greece, and Croatia. :)
Now I'm reading:
Books for Living A fun read for book lovers so far.
Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong I'm a sucker for this types of self-help, social theory stuff.
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America It starts off with a great example, so I'm looking forward to the rest of it.
QOTW: I definitely get lots of book ideas from Goodreads browsing, but I also check NPR's lists (like "Best Books of 2017") that have a ton of suggestions. I also started getting email recommendations from Penguin Random House. And since I'm in four book clubs, those people also help me find new books. ;)
Hello! I've been trying to add regular exercise to my life and I've felt completely exhausted all the time. Not very conducive to reading. Still, didn't do too badly.Finished
Paradox Bound - powered through this on audio. It was good not great. I highly recommend checking out his other work first.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team - took some advice from my book hangover thread and read a business book. This was OK, but the conceit (using a "fable" to demonstrate the principles) was kind of cheesy and seemed like a way to pad the page count. Still, I think I'll use some of the concepts to help my team. Not sure if I'll be able to find a prompt to fit this, but it definitely helped me reboot my brain to get ready for more books!
Started
Faceless Killers - for the *Nordic noir* prompt. I struggled to find something I wouldn't loathe for this one. So far so good. Seems like a decent procedural story with a suitably hangdog detective.
QOTW
My Goodreads feed and these check ins are my main source, but also some podcasts: Professional Book Nerds and All the Books! as well as the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast and various productivity podcasts. No chance of my TBR being too slim anytime soon!
Good evening from Copenhagen.This week I finished Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage (Has death taken something from you then give it back) for "A book about death or grief". And, wow, this book is about grief big time! It´s a short book, but took me weeks to read - I had to stop every 10-20 pages, because of the writing style (it´s fragmented and densified, if that´s a word) and the theme.
Murder on the Orient Express for "movie you´ve already seen" (the old one). It was a reread, but last I read it was in a different millennium, and I didn´t remember the plot...
Carags forvandling for work. A fantasy novel translated from German to Danish. I might use this for published in 2018, but I suspect this prompt will be very easy for me to fill.
I also read some picture books - including The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers, which is also about death and grief (I have a lot of those right now - so I totally agree Nadine).
This made me think - and I decided - I want to do a complete challenge only with picture books alongside the "regular" PopSugar challenge.
This thrills me and my scavenger-hunting, picture book-loving children´s librarian heart! And I have a lot of ideas. I may have to stretch a few prompts a bit, like Nordic Noir. True Crime, A microhistory, Cyberpunk and a few others will be a challenge, but I´m up for it. And I´ll need a recommendation from you guys as well :)
QotW
I follow children´s and YA book releases quite closely because of work (I´m lucky that way - work and interests coincides) in publishers´ news letters, new books bought for my work, talk with colleagues, bloggers, etc.
For "adult" books: Amazon and Goodreads newsletters, but I don´t follow that too closely. Mostly I just talk to people: I have a few trusted friends, family and co-workers that I share similar book tastes with and we recommend books for each other.
And now you fine people in this group.
Hey all! I’m at 4/50 (or is it 52 this year? Idk) I finished Tuesday’s With Morrie for a best seller from the year I graduated.
I’m into Off The Page for a book with 2 authors, starting the Stranger Beside me for true crime (join us in the group read if you’re interested!!) and waiting for Beartown for the group read as well as need to start The Art of Hearing Heartbeats for my book club. Hopefully I can pick up my pace in the next few weeks.
I have a similar but different problem than the finding lots of books that fit after I read a category, I often find that a book I read and loved last year (and last year it was the year before, I’ve been doing this challenge since ‘15 and it happened every year) would perfectly fit a challenge for this year. And often it was a book that I wedged into a slot because I wanted to read it but this year it would have fit perfectly.
QOTW: I think the majority of my new books I learn about from Goodreads. I also am fairly active on Litsy so I get some there. I also run a true crime book group that’s an offshoot of a podcast I love so I get a lot of great reccs there!
Linda Millar wrote: "I just finished A Gentleman in Moscow. As I said in my review, it's one of the best books I've ever read."Oh, Linda, do I ever agree! I read that last year and adored it!!!!
Emma wrote: "Hi everyone, I’ve not checked in for a little while, I finished 2 books this week and so am on 6/50 - slow going at the moment but have a week off work coming up so I’m sure it will pick up. Emma, I am reading Ripley's Game for that prompt. He's a creepy guy, that's for sure! I saw The Talented Mr. Ripley way back when it hit the theaters and it is one of the best thrillers I've ever seen. The casting fun too--Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, just to name a few.
Enjoy the movie!
So this past week I finished The Shape of My Heart. I am about halfway with The Christmas Carol and I started New Moon. I have finished 4 books and I'm working on 2 more, one of which I hope to be finished with this weekend.What is your favorite source to learn about new books coming out?
My favorite source to learn about new books coming out is through here and also from my friends who read.
Megan wrote: "I didn't read a single thing this week - but I have a good excuse (well - its a good excuse if you like dogs).. We got our puppy over the weekend and I'm now a helicopter pawrent (I follow her arou..."Congratulations on the new puppy! When mine was a baby I could barely sit down to read but now, at age 7, she's my constant reading companion (until she sighs and indicates it's time to put down the book already and go for a walk!).
Not a big finish week for me - only 1! Pop Sugar 2018 Challenge finishes now stand at 9/50 - 8/40 and 1/10. I've actually finished about 16 books since New Year's Day, so I'm not unhappy about my level of reading. :-)Finished:
Spies in the Family: An American Spymaster, His Russian Crown Jewel, and the Friendship That Helped End the Cold War - really enjoyable memoir about Paul Dillon (written by his daughter) who truly was a spymaster with the CIA. during The Cold War. Fascinating -- and disturbing -- look behind the curtain of the CIA in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and a contrasting glimpse (from that in last week's finish The Patriots ) of the Soviet Union during that time. This was my book with an ugly cover -
.Currently reading (and leaving The Cold War era behind!):
Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans- my book with favorite color in title - really enjoying this narrative told from the different perspectives of a group of beach friends a decade or so after their last meeting upon graduating high school.
Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain
- book with animal in title - non-fiction book about reading -- yes, I'm a bit of a geek. This is not going to be a fast read. DIY Rules for a WTF World: How to Speak Up, Get Creative, and Change the World- this will likely be my book about feminism as it is a guide to activism written from the POV of the younger generation of feminist, it's author having started The Pink Pussyhat Project in connection with 2017 Women's March.
Nadine - not only do I end up picking up book after book that could fit prompts I agonized over filling, I find I fall down these rabbit holes of interconnected themes! Last year it was books of letters (I had 3 that fit) and at least 6 books set during WWII (not an era I am drawn to read), in 2016 it was Tudor era (started with a visit to Hampton Court and ended with reading Wolf Hall for Challenge, with various Tudor themed cross stitch projects in the middle), and so far this year, I have read books set during The Cold War - definitely NOT an era I am drawn to at all, even loving espionage novels as i do! I just roll with it.
QOTW: My primary source for new to me authors/books by new authors is browsing in independent bookstores. Living in NYC, I am blessed with a generous selection of independent bookstores scattered through the 5 Boros, even as the big mega chains close stores one by one. One of my favorite independents, Book Culture, just opened its 4th location in fact, and each location has a distinct personality.
For latest from favorite authors, I browse the ebook new releases and coming soons on B & N and Amazon websites. Or I'm on the author's email list and get alerts or newsletters. Of course, that browsing leads to occasional other finds as well.
But I also read reviews in newspapers and magazines, get newsletters from favorite publishers (like Berkeley Crime). Discussions with friends often leads to fantastic recommendations too - like A Gentleman in Moscow was a 5 star recommendation from a friend who reads all the current best sellers.
Of course, Good Reads - this check-in particularly -- has been an invaluable source. But for all of you, I would never have found or read The Hate U Give (one of my top reads ever), and The Lies of Locke Lamora would not be sitting on my bedside table, awaiting its turn this year (I'm only an occasional fantasy reader).
Mod
This thrills me and my scavenger-hunting, picture book-loving children´s librarian heart! And I have a lot of ideas. I may have to stretch a few prompts a bit, like Nordic Noir. True Crime, A microhistory, Cyberpunk and a few others will be a challenge, but I´m up for it. And I´ll need a recommendation from you guys as well :)"
I LOVE the idea of doing the challenge with picture books. Last year a bunch of people (Tara was one, I think, right?) did it for the 2017 challenge, and I had a lot of fun following along, although I didn't do it myself. I was a backseat driver, throwing out ideas ;-)
Since we have a lot of new members, Here is the original post: Children's Lit! and the post that Juanita created specifically for the 2017 Challenge: Children's literature group: Post your 2017 reading lists!
I created a new post in the 2018 General folder to talk about children's books for the 2018 challenge, so all the ideas can be in one place and not lost! Children's Literature Group: 2018 Version
I've had flu this week so I've had time to read!Finished: 2 kids books which I whizzed through:
A Dog Called Nelson for an animal in the title.
For the ugly cover. What could be uglier than a shrunken head?!!Currently reading: Ploughing on with The Three Musketeers which was originally going to be for a movie I've already seen but may end up being the novel based on a real person.
QOTW: I quite often buy a book after seeing an author's interview on TV or radio, otherwise, I'll check out the new releases in bookshops when I'm passing.
Mod
This week I finished two Books for this challenge:Kohlenstaub by Anne-Kathrin Koppetsch for the 'set in the decade you were born in' prompt and Einstein Must Die! by Chris Kohout for the 'based on a real person' prompt and enjoyed both very much.
QOTW
I don't really track new releases unless they're from my favourite authors, but whenever I stumble across a well written recommendation (like here on goodreads), my wishlist grows. And grows. And grows... :-)
Happy February! Work is going to be a pain in my butt for the next bit, so I'm counting on reading and the Olympics to keep me happy and sane.This week I finished:
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - liked it overall, loved certain chapters. I will make good use out of portions of it for my lessons on the scientific revolution, and on the history and science or race. I'm not sure it counts for any Popsugar categories, except "ancestry" if you want to interpret that prompt VERY broadly.
Burial Rites - another 3 star book. I found it had a lot in common with Alias Grace, and I found the writing quite beautiful. I used it for "Nordic Noir" even though I think that is a stretch. It does have a dark ambiance, but isn't a detective novel. The descriptions of Iceland are lovely, so it would be a good fit if you are "fascinated" by Iceland. The main character is also an anti-hero, IMO. And of course it is a novel based on a real person.
What Happened - 5 stars. It was at turns inspiring and so disheartening. The voice was perfect and authentic. I almost felt re-traumatized by reading the chapter about election day. I am sure that someone who isn't a fan of HRC would not respond as I did to this book, but I do wish some of her detractors could find their way to reading it with an open mind and heart.
QOTW: I try to fit in some new releases each year. Sometimes I hear about them from the GR blog, others I get through the Amazon Prime first reads program or whatever they call it now. A lot of suggestions come from posts in the various challenge groups I'm in. Of course, if I really liked a previous book from an author who has a new release, I might push it to the top of my TBR list.
This year, I'm excited for:
KateNZ wrote: "The extraordinarily hot weather we've been having in New Zealand has broken (temporarily) - we now have the edge of a tropical cyclone pounding us! Sounds like the perfect excuse to hunker down and..."Better batten down the hatches if that cyclone heads your way. (although it is great weather to stay inside and read). :-)
Hello from Brisbane Australia. It is looking a bit rainy today and the weather has not been too humid so it might be nice reading weather.This week I finished:
The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts (a book set at sea). The story is interesting but there was a lot of detail and it was quite a dry book in some sections.
Jack of Diamonds (a book with lyrics in the title). This was Bryce Courtenay's last book before he died. This was not his best (because some of his books are amazing) and the ending was a bit rushed (for obvious reasons) but it was still a good tale.
A Tale of Two Cities (a book mentioned in another book). I had been meaning to read this book for ages but never got around to it. I am glad I did read it as it was a good read. A bit emotional though.
What I am currently reading:
I am still reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (book with two authors) from the previous two weeks. I promise I will finish it this weekend. I don't know why it is taking me so long as I am enjoying the book but I keep getting sidetracked.
I also started The Midnight Club (a book with a time of day in the title) and Moby-Dick or, The Whale(an allegory). I am finding Moby Dick a bit of a slog. *sigh*
Next on the list:
Rubies and Runaways (book with an alliteration) - Short YA
Kindred (book about time travel) - also short
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts (a book involving a heist)
My Brother Jack (a book linked to your ancestry)
QOTW:
I have a fortnightly coffee catch up with my cousin and Aunt which normally ends at our local Dymocks (a popular bookshop in Australia). In the Queens Street Mall in Brisbane they have the largest bookshop in the southern hemisphere (or so they claim). As you go in there are the new releases on the wall and we spend a bit of time checking them out. For example one new release that was there was The Tattooist of Auschwitz and I am thinking of using it for my prompt about a real person.
Kenya wrote: "Everyone seems to be reading The Bear and the Nightingale this year! I have it picked out for the "book set in a country that fascinates you" prompt but haven't gotten to it yet... ..."That was a monthly read last year and the general consensus was that it was really good. I haven't read it yet either so I might have to get my hands on a copy.
Happy February! We have roller coaster weather in the northern plains. It is 9 degrees today, supposed to be 50 degrees next week.I finished Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. It was a great history on World War II and it went well as a sports story with an Olympic theme.
Not really sure what my February plans might be. I will probably read Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper. My husband recommended it for the book set on another planet prompt.
QOTW: My favorite place to find books is Amazon. I get a daily Kindle reads in my E-mail. I also like to search Goodreads recommendations.
Olá, Last week I read 2 microfictions:Macau Noir * O Mal dos Outros, but keep reading A Rapariga Que Sonhava com Uma Lata de Gasolina e Um Fósforo, for nordic noir and 2nd of a series; and also Auto-retrato do Escritor Enquanto Corredor de Fundo for this month /sports prompt.QOTW: I read newspapers or magazine with a cultural section, with a bunch of new books and some reviews.
I only finished 2 books this week. Beartown - I read this for the sports prompt. It was a good book, but it stressed me out so much!
The Devil You Know I don't think I was able to use this for the Popsugar challenge. It was an ok read.
I'm currently reading Frankenstein.
QOTW: I mostly just stumble upon new releases through GR. I watch youtube and hear about some on there too.
Morning from a cooler middle of the great state of New South Wales. We've had temperatures well over 40C lately but this week we've dived back under 30C which is a wonderful cool change. My daughter said last night that it was only 8C where she is up in the mountains. Funny Summer this. Apparently it was snowing in Tasmania again. Someone said that Katherine Arden's next book after the Bear and the Nightingale is coming out. I think it's out already. I think I saw it in the New York Times bestseller download for this week when I looked yesterday.
Finished 2 books this week. I've read 17/52 so far this year for my main Goodreads challenge. Don't know how many prompts I've fulfilled for PS though. Basically I just tick off the prompts that each book can satisfy on my spreadsheet and I'll sort it all out later. A lot of the prompts have been filled a few times lol
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I was using this for the death and dying prompt. Fun easy book.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Could be for book of a movie I've already seen (the original one and the one from the TV series which I liked much better as he's an excellent Poirot) or for something else. Haven't gone through the prompts properly yet.
Currently reading
Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims. Gill is the blogger behind the runaway success on Facebook of Peter and Jane and the Instagram judgydogandgill. She basically tells of her life as a middle class Mummy trying to fit in and be perfect. Which she never seems to achieve IRL or in her book. I've been following her blog for ages. Some days I can really see myself in there lol
Also have Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss on the go. Been more in the mood for funny stuff latelyans it's sitting there hardly touched. I might get back to it later once I've finished giggling at Gill and her misadventures in Middle class Mummy land.
QOTW
Mostly I just look on here and see what everyone is reading or waiting for or see them on the Goodreads Facebook page. That's why I love these check in threads or the FB posts asking what people are reading. I've found heaps that way. Or the Realm Facebook page tells me about new sci fi and fantasy or horror ones. I also stand in front of the new books at Big W and read the reviews from my Goodreads app as I wonder what I'm buying next.
That was me - I meant the next book in the series, the third, is coming out this year.
Hi Chinook 👋 I woke up to so many checkins I was a bit overwhelmed. And I have to read them all to get new recommendations :) Takes a while but it's worth it. Yeah 2 The Girl in the Tower came out in December which is the one I saw yesterday. Just looked and the third is due in August I think it was. The Winter of the Witch. I might put off Name of the Wind (again) and read the Bear and the Nightingale instead. I have it on my iPad. I have The Girl in the Tower on there too for that matter.
Hello everyone!This week I finished:
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo which I slotted for next book in a series you've started. It was good to get closure on the story and even though this was intended as a duology I can see some of these characters being mined for future books. Same flaws as the first but entertaining and a quick read. And I love the attention to detail on the art direction of these books. Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence for a book involving a bookstore or a library. Incredibly quick read, mostly funny, and a great mine for the book mentioned in another book prompt.
Tara Road by Maeve Binchy for my celebrity book club slot. This was an Oprah pick way back when. I read it because I had been so charmed by Evening Class but this book, though similar in style, just didn't have the same magic for me. A major plot point that is described on the book jacket doesn't happen until about 200 pages in and while the story does pick up considerably at that point, I wonder at why it took so long to get there.
A bit shocked at myself being at 10/50 as I only read 16 books all of last year and every single one was a reread. Timing is everything I guess!
QOTW: definitely here on goodreads and general internet osmosis.
Happy Thursday everyone! I love February because I used to live in Chicago and February is the WORST there, but now I live in Phoenix again and February is warm and wonderful and I take full advantage of it. Also my birthday is in February.I've finished 6 of the 50 challenges which is HUGE for me. I'm feeling great about where I'm at.
Finished this week:
Born to Run (28. Song lyric title) - listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Springsteen and I found it very enjoyable. The stories were interesting and compelling, and I found it very refreshing how open he was about his family's and his own mental health.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (33. Childhood classic I've never read) - just finished this last night and I'm still figuring out how to process it in my thoughts. I definitely liked it and felt it was very well written, but I wish I would have read it as a child or young adult. I think it would have had a huge impact on me as a child. Reading it as an adult I now know a lot more about the Jim Crow years in the South, but I didn't learn really anything about it as a white child growing up in the 80's. I think this book would have been a great way to teach and talk about that time with older elementary or middle school students. My teachers did a pretty poor job of having us read books by and about people of color. We read A LOT of stuff by white men. I'm curious if any of you read it as a student and how it impacted you.
Currently reading:
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood (14. Book by author of different ethnicity) - Just started this but it's fascinating and I don't want to put it down.
QOTW:
I also primarily use Goodreads for recommendations, and I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly magazine and get good recommendations there.
Megan wrote: "I didn't read a single thing this week - but I have a good excuse (well - its a good excuse if you like dogs).. We got our puppy over the weekend and I'm now a helicopter pawrent (I follow her arou..."Congratulations Megan! She is absolutely adorable! My puppy is 40 pounds and a year and a half old, but she's still my puppy :)
I hope your baby doesn't take after Nadine's and chew books! Sacrilege!
This week I completed:A Wrinkle in Time for my time travel prompt
Red Queen for a book with my favorite color in the title
Glass SwordFavorite prompt from another challenge #28 2017 a book set in wartime
I have really enjoyed this series but I'm nervous about reading the others as the reviews are terrible. I started reading Cruel Crownbut put it down to start on The Last Mrs. Parrishwhich is very disturbing but I simply cannot put it down.
I listened to Breakfast at Tiffany'sfor a book that is also a stage musical or play. There was something quite disturbing about Michael C. Hall aka Dexter reading this to me. I also agree that the book is a huge disappointment from the movie.
QOTW: I look anywhere and everywhere for upcoming book releases. Barnes and Noble and Book Riot are probably my frequent flyers but I'm new to the book planning scene.
I'm very pleased to be at 17/40; 1/12, and 32 books read this year.
Mod
I'd never heard of this book until this year. I see it was first published in 1976, when I was 8, so there's no excuse other than I grew up in a very white NJ town and I guess my public library and my teachers let us down. The first book I remember reading by a black author was Native Son which was assigned in 12th grade.
Maybe I should read it and suggest it to my own kids.
Nadine wrote: "Tara wrote: "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (33. Childhood classic I've never read) - just finished this last night and I'm still figuring out how to process it in my thoughts. I definitely liked it ..."I love "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" so much! It's actually book 4 of an entire Logan series. Have you ever read any of Christopher Paul Curtis' books? I just love The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 and [book:Bud, Not Buddy|368468.
I read Roll of Thunder about five years ago, while backpacking around East Timor and left my copy in the guesthouse. Hopefully it’s well travelled. I agree it might have had more impact if I’d read it as a child. I’m not surprised I didn’t, since I grew up in Canada. We actually read a decent number of American lit books and a few by POC, but obviously there wasn’t any real prioritizing of the American South. I feel like Obasan was the first book that really opened my eyes to racism.
It't taken me a month to actually do a check in, but I have been reading away. (5/52 on the book challenge & 2/42 for comics)This week I finished:
Altered Carbon - I bumped this up so I could read it before the Netflix series starts. The world is interesting, but I had some trouble with how the women were written. I am going to check out the tv show because it it full of actors I love. And I can hope they do a little better with the women (though I am not holding my breath.)
Clover - An adorable novella that answers the question of what happened to Patricia's cat from All the Birds in the Sky (which I read earlier this year & loved.) The experience was enhanced because my little girl kitten was curled up on me while I read. I am definitely going to search out more work by Charlie Jane Anders
Six-Gun Snow White - I read this for the Read Harder western prompt. I appreciated the take on Snow White, but I just didn't get into style. I'm not sure if it was the western elements that turned me off or not. (I do understand that this is not a classic western, but I was having trouble finding anything I would want to read that qualified.)
Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York - For the Read Harder celebrity memoir prompt. It's the second book this week where I stretched the prompt, but comic celebrity memoirs that I wanted to read are hard to find. (I loved the March trilogy, but I re-read them all last year.) I love Roz Chast even more after reading her good about her aging parents last year, and this book was a delightful love letter to New York. Plus, I figure she officially counts as a celebrity as local museum did an exhibition of her work.
Currently reading:
- I'm Just a Person
- Not Your Sidekick
- Her Body and Other Parties
- Jane Eyre
QOTW:
Typically I don't care about new releases, unless I am waiting for another book in a series I love or something from a favorite author. Any other new releases on my radar would likely come from the librarians panel at Emerald City Comic Con, from my local comic books shop, or from my friend who reads a lot & twitters about upcoming comics/novels.
That said, this question made me sign up for the newsletter at my local sci-fi/fantasy bookstore. They have lots of cool author events and I hope to go to readings for some of the books I am eagerly anticipating in 2018.
This week, I finished The Fireglass: A Pioneer Tale of the Ohio Valley. It was my "book by a local author." I also finished The Little Prince, which was my "childhood classic you've never read."QOTW: I look at GoodReads, obviously. I also find some on Instagram and Pinterest. Sometimes, I will go on to Barnes and Noble and browse some of their lists.
Gosh this week has just flown by. Finished Dark Matters, great book. Decided since The Rules of Magic was such a fantastic book I would pick Practical Magic as my book that I have already seen as a film. It is one of my favorites too! I also finally spotted a stranger reading what looked like a book on her phone. I was at lunch with my husband and she was at the next table. So of course to my husband's mortification I politely interrupted this poor lady's lunch and explained my quest. She was reading We Two: Victoria and Albert. She said it was good.
Nadine wrote: "Maybe I should read it and suggest it to my own kids."I think that's a great idea Nadine. It does a great job of showing the racism of the Jim Crow era through the eyes of a black child. So though it does address some horrific injustices, it does so in a way that is accessible for an older child and I think would lead to some really important discussions. My kids are too young for it (7 and 4), but I intend to have them read it when they're older. I would say maybe 5th grade and up would be appropriate depending on the maturity of the child.
Jessica wrote: "I love "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" so much! It's actually book 4 of an entire Logan series. Have you ever read any of Christopher Paul Curtis' books?"I haven't read any of the other Logan series books or Christopher Paul Curtis but I'll put them on the list!
This week I finished The Underground Railroad for # 14 A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone!QOTW: I mostly find out about new books on Goodreads and also word of mouth.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
No Country for Old Men (other topics)When the Moon is Low (other topics)
A Princess of Mars (other topics)
The Color Purple (other topics)
She’s Come Undone (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nadia Hashimi (other topics)Allie Brosh (other topics)
Madeleine L'Engle (other topics)
Jane Corry (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
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FINISHED
Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances for my library's Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge - Wonderful! The first story in the collection, Rose Lerner's "Promised Land," is a new favorite. Now at 2/13 for that challenge.
Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York for Read Harder's prompt of "a comic written and illustrated by the same person" - I know this is a graphic novel, not a comic, but I'm counting it anyway! It was extremely good fun, and it made me want to visit New York again.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda for Read Harder's prompt of "the first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series" - I listened to this one on audio in preparation for the movie adaptation that's coming out in March, and it was wonderful! So sweet and thoughtful. I didn't think it would count for any challenge, buuuuut I just saw that the author is releasing a book about one of secondary characters, and I'm definitely going to read it! Now at 7/24 for that challenge.
The House on Mango Street for Popsugar Advanced's prompt of "a book with fruit or vegetable in the title" - My coworkers couldn't believe I'd never read this before, and now that I've finished it, neither can I! I love snapshot books, and this was so beautiful. Now at 6/50 for this challenge.
IN PROGRESS
Still working on We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy and Living a Feminist Life. I think for February, which is Black History Month in the U.S., I'm going to focus my energies on black-authored books.
DNF
I quit the New Adult fantasy romance novel The Siren and the Sword - I just wasn't interested in it.
QOTW
I just grab stuff from the New shelves at my library.