Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Weekly Checkins
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Week 51: 12/12 - 12/19
QOTW: 11/22/63-I usually don't even like time travel, but this was just so exciting and gripping.The Nightingale-It was heartbreaking and beautiful
Rebecca-How had I gone so long without reading this?
Wuthering Heights and David Copperfield were rereads, but I loved them as much as I did the first time.
This week I finished:True Crime Case Histories, Volume 2: 12 Disturbing True Crime Stories: This was fine. I needed a quick,easy read. I needed a break from reading this week, because my job is insane.
Question of the Week (A repeat from last year!)
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge).
I read so many good books this year and I have trouble comparing them. No Exit was like reading one of my own nightmares, so I absolutely loved it, and all 3 Fredrik Backman books I read are the ones that stand out most to me.
Looking forward to seeing everyone's favourites! Just had my doctor confirm I have an overactive thyroid, which has been exacerbating my anxiety. I suspect that explains my complete lack of concentration whilst reading lately. Very grateful to the NHS for doing so many tests when I had (unrelated) pain in my side, as I probably would have ignored the symptoms.On audio I listened to Mudlarking which I should have left till next year to use for a subject I know nothing about. What is found in the mud of the Thames is a different way of exploring the city's history, and the author does a great job of narrating the audiobook.
QOTW:
I gave 19 books 5 stars this year, the highlights are:
Sleeping Giants
Pet
Wakenhyrst
The Familiars
After Atlas
War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line
Sanctuary
Other Words for Smoke
The Migration
I read 11 books this week as I’m racing to try and finish all my challenges. Unfortunately I only really really liked 1 of the 11, and 4 of them were 2-star reads! This is what happens when I plan out my reading a year in advance, and end up leaving the books I’m not as excited about until the end of the year. I’m definitely going to be using a different approach next year. 5 more books to go, and I will have finished all of my challenges. I’ve started 4 of them already, so this should definitely be doable.
QOTW:
My top 5 books from this year are:
Home Fire
On the Come Up
Rebecca
The Muse
The Alice Network
Mod
I finished two books this week. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in American History, or more specifically, Native American History. I found it very interesting and it allowed me to put a lot of things in context. Also, one of my very best friends is Sioux and grew up on a reservation. This helped me to connect with her in new ways and I really appreciated that. I also finished Dead Until Dark, which is a re-read. It's been six years since I've read a Sookie Stackhouse book, which is one of my favorite series. They're so light and readable and I loved it. I think I might re-read the whole series. Particularly since Eric Northman is a top-five fictional vampire.
Otherwise, I'm just waiting until January to start my 2020 challenge books. I have quite a few piled up ready to go. I know some people start early, but I just can't do it. There's only about a week and a half to go and I'm super excited to start!
QOTW:
The Pisces, which I know was controversial in that a lot of people didn't care for it, but it was one of my favorites for the year and also one I would not have read except for the popsugar prompt.
Lost and Wanted, I read this one for the ghost story prompt, but it would also fit this year's woman in STEM prompt or the three word title prompt.
A Cosmology of Monsters, best horror book I've read in a very long time. I think Stephen King hit the nail on the head when he said that "if John Irving ever wrote a horror novel, it would be something like this". I also love that Stephen King clearly reads John Irving. How fun is that!
I attended another Silent Book Club meeting last week. There was better attendance, but now I’m sure this is not the book club style for me. No one will say anything. Not even an introduction, much less discussing our books. If I wanted to read a book and not talk about it and make no new friends, I would stay home. I just found out anyone living in Pennsylvania can get a free library card from the Free Library of Philadelphia. I’ve lived here for 7 years and never knew this! It’s unlikely I’ll ever go into a physical library because Philadelphia is 2 hours away, but they have a good collection of ebooks and audiobooks. I’m so excited about my new library card!
Finished
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie. A solid murder mystery, but not my favorite Poirot novel. It was fun to read around Christmastime.
Reading
Nemesis Games (The Expanse #5) by James SA Corey
QOTW
I gave 24 books 5 stars this year. I think my top 5 are probably:
The Winter of the Witch
The Turn of the Key
Uprooted
Trail of Lightning
Sad Cypress
I rarely give nonfiction 5 stars, so honorable goes mention to
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Once Upon a River - Diane Setterfield. I read Thirteenth Tale in high school and LOVED IT so when I saw it at the bookstore there was no hesitation. I think I liked this one better!the Veronica Speedwell books - Deanna Raybourn! Phenomenal! So stoked (ha ha) for the 5th one this Spring
Small Spaces - Katherine Arden was so fun! and Dead Voices was good too, it's going to be a quartet for the seasons and I'm very excited for the Spring and Summer ones!
Orphan Train - Christina Baker Kline! Dual perspective historical fiction is one of my favorite things. I devoured this book
Comic bookwise: Scooby Apocalypse. I love Scooby Doo in all iterations and I thoroughly enjoyed them! Can't wait for Volume 6 coming out on New Years
Nadine wrote: "@Ellie - I’ve picked up Pet twice now, and I just can’t get past the first few pages. Tell me why you loved it so I’m motivated to pick it up a third time!!!"That's disappointing. I really liked Freshwater.
And I'm done! I read a total of 65 books in order to complete the challenge. I broke out individual challenges into smaller parts. For example, I read pop, sugar, and challenge. Yeah, I know it's kinda crazy. If you're interested in seeing my list, I'm #568 in the 2019 Reading Lists thread (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...).Challenge Progress: 50/50
Completed:
How the Dukes Stole Christmas: Look, if you're looking for historical accuracy, go someplace else. But if you're simply looking for some enjoyable Regency style romance set at Christmas, this is the place to be. Strong characters, strong attractions, and fun stories from some of my favorite romance writers. ★★★★
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis: While the lives of J. D. Vance and his family may seem revelatory to some, I was not surprised or shocked. His life is like the lives of so many of my former students in rural Missouri. They probably wouldn't call themselves hillbillies (or rednecks), but that's part of it... There's a truth-blindness in so many people who live in that swirling chaos of violence, poverty, and drugs. ★★★
Once Upon a River: Lately I've read a number of novels featuring young women in remote wilderness locations including Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing and Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone. I know I'm the unpopular opinion here, but I didn't really like either of those books. Too much melodrama. But Once Upon a River was different. Yes, Margo's world is harsh, but the disasters that occur in her life aren't portrayed merely to pull heartstrings but actually propel the narrative, and we end up with a satisfying and hopeful conclusion. Beautifully written. (Two books that share the same title) ★★★★
Why Not Me?: It was cute. Amusing. But there wasn't anything compelling or important here. If you like Mindy Kaling, it's a fun listen, but I can't think of any reason why you must read this book. ★★
Currently Reading: The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, and Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America
QOTW: I rated 30 out of 158 books as five-star reads, so I won't list all of them. But here are some I really enjoyed: Becoming, Daisy Jones & The Six, Middlegame, The Lager Queen of Minnesota, and Bitter Greens.
Nadine wrote: "Wow, we have only one week left in the year! (... in the decade!) It's like Antarctica conditions outside right now (seriously - it's 10 deg F and blowing snow) in northern NY. The wind kept waking..."Nadine, I think I recommended Denise Mina to you when you were looking for mysteries centered on tough women. I am so glad you liked Conviction.
I'm excited to check in this week because I have completed books (PLURAL!!) to report! I still have 4 to finish by the end of the year, but I think I can do it. Also, I'm a bit disappointed in our weather. It's been really cold this week, but I looked at next week and it's supposed be 70 on Christmas day. :(
Completed:
My Lady Jane: For "a book written by two female authors," but this had a bonus third female author! I loved this--it was so fun!
Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure: For "choose your own adventure." I had fun with this, even though I failed the mission. (view spoiler)j
The Bromance Book Club: Sadly, this wasn't for the challenge. I'd hoped my library hold request wouldn't come in until January so I could use it for next year's "a book about a book club," but oh well. This was my first ever romance novel. It was silly and fun, and I enjoyed the premise.
Currently Reading:
Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People: For "a book with 'love' in the title"
Murder in the Abbey: For "a book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent"
What's Left:
West: "A book with a one-word title" (favorite prompt from a previous year)
The Secret Keepers: "A book you meant to read last year"
QOTW:
I had 24 5-star reads (a couple were re-reads, though, so I'm not sure if they count). The following were added to my "all-time faves" list:
Once Upon a River
Spinning Silver
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
I only completed audiobooks once again this week, well only one at that. But I have 6 books that I requested from the library sitting on my table waiting for 2020 challenges.Finished:
The Flatshare Very cute romance.
Currently reading:
An Uncertain Place
The Lido
Mrs. Everything
QOTW:
I gave 25 books 5 star ratings this year. Some of my favorites were:
Fiction:
The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky
The Secret History
The House of the Spirits
Rebecca
The Calculating Stars
Little (this book completely surprised me, not even sure where I heard about it)
Non-fiction:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
Educated
Happy Thursday all!It's a bit of a miracle but I finished 3 books this week which brought me up to my personal Goodreads challenge of 100 books this year. I also took a better look at the PS challenge prompts I had left and was able to fit a few books that I've already read (and hadn't used for the challenge) for a few of the remaining prompts and two of the books I read this week will work as well. I only have 2 more prompts to go and both of the books I've chosen for them have already been picked up from the library, so as long as there aren't any unforeseen things that pop up and ruin my reading opportunities it looks like I will likely be able to finish the challenge by the end of the year.
Wayward Son I was so excited for this book after I read Carry On but my library didn't get it for a few weeks after the release date and by then I slid into a reading slump. I enjoyed this one but not as much as the first book. I think the romance aspect (which I adored in the first book) was a bit lacking - which was a plot point and totally made sense to the story. Luckily it seems like there will be a sequel so I'm happy to read that one once it comes out.
I've Got Your Number This was fine. A very solid ok. I think I was expecting a little more romance (again) and some of the character decisions bugged me. A bit predictable overall as well. Still, it ticked the box for what I was looking for this week and was a nice stress free read.
Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow which I used as my second book that shares the same title prompt. I read it purely to check off that prompt. It's actually book #20 in a series (noting that in case anyone is looking for options for next years prompt) and I have read zero of the other books which is maybe the first time I've read something so far down a series without reading the other books first. The writing was good, and the plot was alright but nothing to rave about. I think if I had read the other books I'd have a bigger connection with the characters and the nods to the previous books would have felt a bit more special and less forced.
QOTW: I was really stingy with my 5-star reads this year - only three in total! My criteria lately has been 'would I read this again (and soon)'. I'm not typically a re-reader so if a book makes me want to pick it up again it gets 5-stars. If I just enjoyed it a lot but probably wouldn't put the time in to pick it up again it's 4 stars. Two of the three 5-star picks reminded me of reading Harry Potter which is a pretty good way to get me to love a book. I'm actually ok with how stingy I've been, now when I look back on my highest rated picks I know that I really loved the book. I gave thirty 4-star ratings this year.
Carry On
Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow
All Systems Red
Milena wrote: "Little (this book completely surprised me, not even sure where I heard about it)"I read Little last year and loved it! I'm so glad you did too.
Mod
Oh! Maybe that’s how I ended up with Conviction on hold! Haha I couldn’t remember what it was or why I put it on hold, but I downloaded it when my hold came in and gave it a try ... Thank you :-)
Hello! I'm excited to say that I completed the challenge, I'm now 50/50. The only disappointment I have is that Artemis Fowl was scheduled to become a movie this year when I read it, and afterwards was delayed. I don't know that I have the will to find a replacement in the next 11 days, though. I have a few other challenges I'm trying to wrap up.Finished this week:
A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt - read for a book set in a vicarage, it was a sweet modern-day romance
The Last Librarian by Brandt Legg - read for another challenge, it was a great premise with a mediocre execution
The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan by Steve Wiley - read for another challenge, I enjoyed the details about Chicago that were woven into this magical tale
Saving Grace by Pamela Fagan Hutchins - the first of the two books with the same title, this was a nice blend of romance and mystery with a Caribbean setting
Saving Grace by Darlene Ryan - the second of two books with the same title, and the last book for the 2019 challenge, it's short but powerful, the tale of a teen mom who doesn't want to give up her baby despite all the forces working against her
I wrapped up 2 other challenges this week besides Pop Sugar, and I have one more that I'm pretty sure I can finish before New Years Eve. I'm now at 146 books for the year, close to finishing my 150 annual goal.
QOTW
This year I've given 44 books a 5 star rating, here are some of my favorites:
Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral-And How It Changed the American West by Jeff Guinn
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee
It's that festive time of year where every book I pick up would fulfill a bunch of 2020 prompts :PCurrently reading:
Velocity Weapon (2020: AI character, has a map, main characters in their 20s) - I actually picked this one up after a blogger I follow de-recommended it, haha. She DNFed it, but I thought the premise sounded cool, and then I found it on sale for $2 so I decided to take a chance. I'm liking it so far! My favorite character is Bero, the starship's AI.
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys (2020: anthology, attention-catching title, passes Bechdel test) - horror anthology yeahhhh. But I don't have a lot of anthologies on my TBR so I should probably shelve it until next year >_>
I should really get back to reading:
Worm by Wildbow - My best friend has been urging me to read this for, like, two years. I tried a couple times but could never really get into it. But now he's reading The Foxhole Court at my suggestion, so I figure I owe his rec another chance.
him: *reading the first chapter* you know, "band of misfits learns to get along" is not my favorite dynamic
me: aww I love that dynamic :(
him: then you should read Worm!!!
QotW: It's been a great reading year for me. Some of my favorites:
Happy Thursday! I'm so excited about the new year. I'm not sure if I'll finish my challenge however. I may be a book or two short. Next year I plan on starting off strong.I completed one book but not for the challenge. I mistakenly thought it was a book for my challenge and I ended up really enjoying The Great Alone
Question of the Week (A repeat from last year!)
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge).
Some of my favorite books were:
The Great Alone
Sing, Unburied, Sing
The Long Walk
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
How Long 'til Black Future Month?
It's finally cold here in Central Texas (it was in the mid-80s on Sunday). Good reading weather!This week I finished some more ToB longlist reads, and on Monday the shortlist was revealed. I'm mostly happy with it, but wish A Girl Returned, Disappearing Earth, Red at the Bone, The Nickel Boys, and Sabrina & Corina: Stories made the list instead of a few of these others. Oh well.
I finished A Girl Returned this week and it was wonderful. Probably my top read from the ToB longlist. It was quiet and slow in a good way, and the unique story really pulled me in. I definitely recommend it for a short, moving read.
I listened to Optic Nerve, which wasn't the best format to absorb this story that others loved. I might read it again in print if it makes it past round one in the tournament.
I also listened to Children of Virtue and Vengeance after really loving the first book last year. For some reason I wasn't as into the story this time (probably more a mood thing than an issue with the writing). It was feeling like a three-star read throughout, but I think it stuck the landing pretty well, which bumped it up to four stars right at the end.
I'm currently listening to On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and The Water Dancer, and reading Girl, Woman, Other on kindle. I want to finish all of these before the 30th since I have a feeling one of them will be my zombie pick for the ToB.
QOTW: I post my own book awards at the end of each year, so this question will help me get started on that. Of the 188 books I've read so far this year, I rated 34 of them five stars. Here are some highlights:
- Most enjoyable reading experience: Cantoras
- Best short story collection (tie): Sabrina & Corina: Stories and Heads of the Colored People
- Best memoir: How We Fight For Our Lives
- Best poetry collection: The Tradition
- Best essay collection: The Reckonings
- Best historical fiction: American Spy
- Best audiobook experience: Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen
- Best YA: On the Come Up (also wonderful on audio)
- Most beautiful writing (that makes you not really care where the story is going): Dreaming in Cuban
- Nonfiction that everyone needs to read before the 2020 elections in the U.S.: One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy
- Best mystery/thriller: My Sister, the Serial Killer
- Best Sci Fi/Fantasy: Kindred
- Caused the most tears while/after reading: Speak No Evil
Mod
Wow! I am impressed...and jealous! :)
We’re finally getting some snow here, but not an overwhelming amount. I’m hoping we’ll finally have some semblance of a white Christmas this year. Also has anyone else had books removed from goodreads? I noticed my goodreads reading challenge number went down by one, I noticed one of my audible originals was missing, and when I went back to last weeks checkin clicking on the book title led to an error. This annoys me more than it should lol
The Essex Serpent a reread from earlier this year, but this time I got the audiobook. I realized that I genuinely could not remember anything that happened in this book so I decided to give it another go. All my remaining challenge books are physical copies so I’m filling my drive time with random audiobooks. Now that I have a firm grasp of the plot, I can still say I like this book. I remember loving how beautifully the author wrote, now I’m excited to read Melmoth.
The Christmas Pact one of December’s audible originals, very lifetime movie romance-y. Which I actually quite enjoy as a quick and easy read/listen.
The Mystwick School of Musicraft an audible original I’ve had for a while. This one is unusually long for an AO, like a full 8 hour book. This was a middle grade story that’s like Harry Potter but with Music. Playing and composing music produces magic, and they have schools for kids to perfect the craft. It was a fun book, my 13 year old daughter enjoyed it as well.
A Christmas Carol not for the challenge, I was just feeling Christmasy
Special Topics in Calamity Physics also not for the challenge, I just wanted to revisit one of my favorite books. It’s been a few years since I last read this so some of the details that led up to the climax had been lost. It was just as fun as reading it for the first time!
I’m at 195 books this year, 39/40; 9/10 for popsugar, 24/24 for book riot, 12/12 for back to the classics, and 35/37 for Marisha Pessl.
Qotw: oof idk. Maybe I’ll come back to this later lol
Dani wrote: "Also has anyone else had books removed from goodreads? I noticed my goodreads reading challenge number went down by one, I noticed one of my audible originals was missing, and when I went back to last weeks checkin clicking on the book title led to an error. This annoys me more than it should lol..."No, but I hope this isn't common because I would absolutely be more annoyed than it probably warrants, lol.
QOTW:I gave 39 books 5 stars. Some that still stick out when looking at that list are:
Man's Search for Meaning
Siddhartha
11/22/63 (on audio)
Strange the Dreamer
Supernova
Educated
Wonder (with my kid)
I read some great books this year some I really liked some I didn't. I found most the books I read about addiction to be worth wile. I have to say my favorite books this year were:The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia
Wuthering heights by Emily Bronte (I resisted this book because I always assumed it was a romance but I am glad I finally took a chance and read it.)
Mod
Also has anyone else had books removed from goodreads? I noticed my goodreads reading challenge number went down by one, I noticed one of my audible originals was missing, and when I went back to last weeks checkin clicking on the book title led to an error. This annoys me more than it should lol..."
YES!! This happens to me far too often, with the individual short stories I like to read now and then. I read them, I review them, and then later some busybody GR person decides to combine all the shorts under a magazine title or something. ”it has to have an isbn #” (Say that in annoying sing-song for best effect). I know, they are trying to keep the list of titles neat and tidy, but grrrrrr
Also, someone combined two older books under one title, which is extremely annoying because they keep showing up in my Duplicates list. They are two separate books! I am certain of this, because I own both of them. (It’s The Natural Habitat Garden & The Natural Garden - they are listed as two editions of the same book, which is incorrect)
I guess you get what you pay for, and GR is free, so ...
Lynn wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I read 11 books this week as I’m racing to try and finish all my challenges. Unfortunately I only really really liked 1 of the 11, and 4 of them were 2-star reads! This is what happe..."I’ve been off work sick for the last few days, so I’ll ive done since Sunday is curl up on the sofa and read. I never normally read this much - I think it’s the most I’ve ever read. And 4 of the books were under 200 pages ...
Dani wrote: "Also has anyone else had books removed from goodreads? I noticed my goodreads reading challenge number went down by one, I noticed one of my audible originals was missing, and when I went back to last weeks checkin clicking on the book title led to an error. This annoys me more than it should lol..."I have when I've had to add some obscure book that's not already in the system.
I have finished nothing this week. But school is out for break tomorrow.QOTW: My favorite books I read this year.
the Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman.
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyou. This was probably my favorite read this year.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green.
Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste by Bianca Bosker.
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Brazen and the Beast by Sarah Maclean
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare
Happy Thursday, y’all!Busy with Christmas prep here, so haven't had as much time to read as I would like. Ah well... I did hit my reading goal for this year (200 books!), so maybe it's okay to slow down a bit, haha...
Books read this week:
I Suck at Girls -- not as good as the author’s first book, Sh*t My Dad Says, but still hilarious.
Balanced on the Blade's Edge -- steampunk-fantasy-romance read. I thought the romance was too rushed (yeah, let’s sleep with the complete stranger after only knowing them a few days…), but overall this was a fun read.
I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story -- Anthony Daniels, the man who wore the C-3PO suit in all the Star Wars movies and voiced him in said movies (not to mention almost every spinoff cartoon, video game, etc.), tells his story. A fascinating look inside the films, the people who made them, and the fandom and universe that sprung up around them.
DNF:
Stepsister -- I have nothing against feminist retellings of fairy tales, but this one was just so heavy-handed it got obnoxious. We get it, it sucks being a girl in a standard European medieval setting, move on with the story!
Currently Reading:
Machineries of Joy
Practical Demonkeeping
The Changeling King
QOTW:
Man, trying to pick my favorite book or books is HARD! Let's see if I can't narrow the list down somewhat...
The Starless Sea
The Twisted Ones
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
The Habitation of the Blessed and its sequel The Folded World
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Lock Every Door
The Rookie
The Carpet Makers
The Priory of the Orange Tree
Jackalope Wives and Other Stories
The Melancholy of Mechagirl
Little Darlings
The Last Time I Lied
The Princess and the Fangirl
Kindred
Circe
I Kill Giants
Snow Crash
The Pros of Cons
Awoken
I DNF'd Death Comes for the Archbishop. There is a difference between having a slow pace and not really having a plot at all, and this ended up being more the latter option. If you are the sort of reader who wants a literary painting, this one may work better for you.I am currently reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January, which can fit multiple prompts. I might use it for the bildungsroman. I have found both January and Ade's stories to be interesting so far, and the writing style is to my liking.
QOTW:
Why We Love Star Wars: The Great Moments That Built A Galaxy Far, Far Away
A Gentleman in Moscow
Before Dishonor
Merry Christmas to all!
Brittany wrote: "I've Got Your Number This was fine. A very solid ok. I think I was expecting a little more romance (again) and some of the character decisions bugged me. A bit predictable overall as well. Still, it ticked the box for what I was looking for this week and was a nice stress free read."I agree! I have read so many of Kinsella's books and this one was not very memorable for me! I remember thinking it was just okay as well and being a little disappointed since I loved some of her others!
Good Afternoon from Indiana! I haven't finished anything this week and probably won't finish anything else before the end of the year.
Currently Reading:
The Goldfinch for a book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title. I've started 2020 early because this book is super long. I'm only 255 pages into it. I am enjoying it, it's just slow going. This weekend is going to be super busy but I'm hoping to at least get to 300 pages before the end of the weekend.
QOTW:
I gave 15 books out of 60 books read for the year five stars. Here is my top five favorite.
1. I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer - I'm still talking about this book with people and trying to get others to read it.
2. Red, White & Royal Blue - This book is such a wonderfully sweet palate cleanser. I want to live in the RW&RB world.
3. The Chestnut Man - I really love mystery thrillers but found myself disappointed in most of the ones I read this year. This one kept me guessing about who-done-it until it was revealed on the page.
4. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World - I challenged myself to read more non-fiction this year and this book was completely outside my wheelhouse but I loved every second of it. It's so informative and fun!
5. The Song of Achilles - I read Circe earlier this year and picked this one up in the fall and loved it. It's so beautifully written, I was so enthralled by the entire story. I knew how it was going to end and reading the journey to it was heartbreaking but it really was worth the ride.
Well, I think I'm actually ready for Christmas - so I'm just left with the nagging feeling I'm forgetting something.... I've got a ton of library books that all came in at once, so I've got lots to read, but we'll see how much I actually get read before I have to send them back.Books I Finished:
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts - I needed a book with a bird on the cover for a different challenge that ended on Dec. 23rd, so I looked through my library's recently added books and found this one. It was a nice surprise. It really reminded me of The Westing Game which I really liked. 
Deadly Class, Volume 1: Reagan Youth - I loved the TV show they made from this, and I think that made me like the book more - I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I'd read it first. 
Once Broken Faith - Continuing the reread. I'd forgotten the hints that were dropped about Casandra and Karen. Books I made progress on:
Glass HousesQOTW
Well not counting rereads, I gave 20 books 5 stars this year. I was really happy because I found 2 new authors to follow - Fredrik Backman & Holly Black - Who between the 2 of them were responsible for 9/20 of those 5 star ratings.
My Top 10
Spinning Silver
Us Against You
The Wicked King
The Bride Test
That Ain’t Witchcraft
Polaris Rising
Beartown
The Unkindest Tide
Storm Cursed
The Darkest Part of the Forest
Happy Thursday Everyone!This week I finished 3 books bringing me up to 45/53 on my PS challenge. I'm about half a book behind where I wanted to be right now according to my plan but the 3 that I tackled are all longer (400-600 pages) and I think I should be able to make up for being half a book behind this week if things stay quiet *fingers crossed*!
8 Books (well 7.5) left to go before New Years...this is going to be tight haha, maybe I'll end up finishing up in early 2020 but that's okay considering I started in August and was only around half finished at the start of November! :)
Read This Week
Alice & Oliver by Charles Bock for 38) A Novel based on a true story ⭐️ - This quickly went from meh to ughh and I ended up skimming a fair amount of it. I'm not sure if it was the disjointed writing: the swap between character perspectives mid chapter with no warning, the unclear/less upfront style, the bizarre descriptions or just the lack of deep emotional disclosure in an incredibly emotional setting that really turned me off. The one redeeming quality (and honestly the ONLY reason I decided not to DNF) was that I did learn some new tidbits about the US healthcare system, what dealing with medical insurance companies in the US can be like. I guess this book made me grateful that I'm Canadian and have access to free healthcare.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See for 26) A Book that's published in 2019 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I liked this a lot more than I thought I would just based on the synopsis but I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised at that because I've basically felt that way about all of Lisa See's books (and I've read several)! Despite not really being a fan of historical fiction, I definitely got into this story and parts of it definitely made me cry. (I expected that too, See's stories get me everytime!) I really enjoyed the cultural aspects tied into this novel as well & I definitely learned some new things about Korea's history.
Precipice (Awaken Online #2) by Travis Bagwell for 39) A Book revolving around a puzzle or game ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This was just as action-packed as Catharsis & continuing on with the story was definitely enjoyable! :) The ending of this one also surprised and I'm looking forward to picking up book 3 soon!
Currently Reading
Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu for 41) A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book - So far so good!
QotW
I've only had 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads this year:
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
EDIT It's looking like Legend is going to make my 5 Star list..I originally thought 4 stars but I'm in the last 50 pages now and wow!
I'm currently reading I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella. It's good so far!My favorite (5-star) books this year were:
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The Girl from Berlin by Ronald H. Balson (cried)
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (audiobook - cried)
I loved these books soooooo much!!! I've come to the realization that I love any book that's emotional/good enough to make me cry lol those are always my favorite books.
Jai wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm so excited about the new year. I'm not sure if I'll finish my challenge however. I may be a book or two short. Next year I plan on starting off strong.I completed one book but ..."
The Great Alone is sooooo good!!! <3
Mod
I am quite obviously not going to finish all the reading challenges I have set for myself by year’s end, but…I’m fine with that because I’ll just complete them in January and continue on with the 2020 Challenges! No problem… :)
Finished:
The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag. What a nice surprise! I loved this book! I will definitely read more of her writing! I had feared it might be too “romancy” for me but I was wrong! I loved the way she intertwined all the characters’ lives! Interestingly, of the five book club members, two of us loved it, and the other three only made it halfway through and abandoned it. They felt nothing was happening… Once the two of us who had read it through discussed it a bit without divulging any spoilers, all three decided they would finish reading it. So we will see what each of them think upon finishing it! :)
Popsugar: #4, #11-dress, #18-Etta’s power with her dresses, etc., #19, #30, #31
ATY: #4, #7 or #8-Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery, #9-Romance, Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy, #16, #17-Fantasy, #19, #23-dress shops, #24-agricultural breakthrough made by Cora’s parents, #25-Cora’s parents’ research (actually stolen), #28-Cora’s advisor, #30-Etta and the priest, #39, #42-Cora’s advisor, #43, #47-agricultural research to produce more food in previously nontillable land, #50-physical, interpersonal, psychological, philosophical, social, #52
Reading Women: #7-both Cora and her mother, #11-Catholicism, #18, #21
One Day in December by Josie Silver. This was a DEBUT novel! I would never have believed it if I hadn’t read that it was! I loved this book! Again, I was a bit fearful it may be a bit too “romancy” for me, but it proved not to be so for me! It was so much more! I liked the twists and turns that Silver provided, which served to make it a much more enjoyable read, I believe!
Popsugar: #4, #19, #25, #34
ATY: #7 or #8-Romance, #9-Romance, #16, #23-the concept of “love at first sight,” #26-Laurie in the wake of her divorce, #28-Laurie’s husband and mother-in-law, #42-Laurie’s mother-in-law, #50-physical, interpersonal, psychological, philosophical, social, #52
Reading Women: #18, #21
Continued:
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. This book! I am halfway through and still wondering exactly where it is going! For the Popsugar December monthly read. I am finding it impossible to just read for 15-20 minutes at a time during the week, so am saving it purposefully until this weekend to finish! When I can just sit and read! For hours...
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. I am finding this very easy to read in small time segments during the week. Based upon New Zealand indigenous mythology. Should finish it easily. For the Read Harder Challenge prompt #8 An #ownvoices book set in Oceania, Reading Women #3 A book by an author from Nigeria or New Zealand, ATY #20 A book featuring indigenous people of a country.
The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean. Had to temporarily abandon this for book club reads and though I have yet to get back to this one, I should be able to finish it this upcoming weekend! For the Read Harder Challenge prompt #19 A book of nonviolent true crime.
Black Panther: World of Wakanda by Roxane Gay (writer), Yona Harvey (writer), Ta-Nehisi Coates (consultant), Robert Browne (writer), Afua Richardson (artist), Alitha Martinez (artist), Joe Bennett (artist). I am reading this for the Read Harder Challenge prompt #21 A comic by an LGBTQIA creator. Since I LOVED the Black Panther movie and I love Roxane Gay, this was my choice. I read the first 20 pages or so over the weekend and really liked it thus far, even though comics/graphic novels are not necessarily my thing…
Planned:
Oh, gosh! Not sure what will be next. Excellent Women? When Dimple Met Rishi? Otherworld? So many to choose from… But the first two will complete the ATY Challenge, so I will probably opt for those first!
I’m answering the Question of the Week in a separate posting. (You are welcome! lol)
Favourite Books of the YearI’ve read all of Diney Costeloe books this year, but The Girl with No Name is my favourite.
The Upstairs Room was a chilling mystery book linked to family history, which I read earlier in the year.
Cathy Glass, Angela Hart and Casey Watson’s memoirs have been a new genre for me to discover this year.
If it wasn't so cold and the air so yucky (we get terrible inversions here and my lungs are crap), I'd really be enjoying this time of year. My office overlooks my city's Christmas Village, so looking out the window at the end of my workday is spectacular due to the lights and displays and such. I look forward to December every year just for this view.I am nearly finished with the challenge and am in the process of reading the last three books, but I'm making little headway other than in the audiobook one. It is suddenly feeling like homework and I'm resisting being forced to do it. Honestly, you'd think I was a child. But I heart procrastination, apparently.
The only book I finished this week was Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett. It is a fun retelling of A Christmas Carol, obviously from Jacob Marley's point of view. It hit my heart by the end.
GoodReads - 92/90
PopSugar - 45/47, 9/10
QOTW:
I've read a lot of really great books this year. I don't give out many 5 stars, but here's the ones I did.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family by Miep Gies
Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
I'm actually posting on Thursday this week! I finished just one book this week, but it was the last one I needed for the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge (hooray!). I'm at 135 books for the year (one not in GR yet). Finished:
* The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Currently Reading:
* A Necessary End by Peter Robinson, which I vow to end before the end of the year!; and,
* Have a Nice Guilt Trip by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella, which I'm almost done with already :)
Question of the Week (A repeat from last year!):
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge). Of the books I gave 5-star ratings to, these were my favorite reads of the year:
* Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston (used for "a book published posthumously"; the audio version was incredible!);
* The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (used for "an "own voices" book");
* The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Andrew Lawler (used for "a book that makes you nostalgic");
* Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman (read the ARC version; loved this one so much and felt that it was quite possibly her strongest book to date...which is saying something!); and,
* Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis by Ada Calhoun (read a Netgalley ARC -- I still cannot stop thinking about it!!).
Mod
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge.)
Favorites are always a challenge for me. Just because I usually have so many…
By my count, 73 of the 92 books I have read so far this year were 5-star reads. I will not list all 73…though I could! ;)
That last two I finished, The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag and One Day in December by Josie Silver were excellent, IMHO!
ABSOLUTE FAVORITES:
1) The Arrival by Shaun Tan. I am not particularly into graphic novels, but this was amazing! My BEST FRIEND got it for me at an estate sale which automatically made it special anyway! I was particularly impressed by its depiction of immigration.
2) One of my greatest discoveries this year is the Wayfarers Trilogy by Becky Chambers: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, and Record of a Spaceborn Few. The 2019 Hugo Award for best series winner. So well deserved, IMHO! Also loved To Be Taught, If Fortunate. So glad she self-published that first book!
3) Becoming by Michelle Obama. Perfect!
4) The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth Church. Her debut! I connected so deeply with this book! I now own her second release and am anxious to read it.
5) When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele. Everyone should read this book. Especially if you identify as “white”/caucasian…
6) A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. So powerful! Wish I’d read it sooner!
7) Chocolat by Joanne Harris. One of my favorite movies of all time and loved the book! Anxious to continue with the series.
8) The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Published in 1924. Groundbreaking in that time. Unfortunately, still rather pertinent today.
9) Beartown by Fredrik Backman. This man. Can write. I love them all and am anxious to read the sequel which I now own.
10) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. What an immense imagination this woman has!
11) Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. This book will stay with me forever! How tragic and poignant!
12) Beloved by Toni Morrison. So very tragic and powerful! What a treatise on the mental/emotional toll of slavery, especially for women/mothers!
13) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Absolutely excellent in every way! Cannot wait to read Daisy Jones & The Six!
14) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. One-of-a-kind! So unique!
15) Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. I want to watch the movie adaptation now.
16) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. What a shock! I have never been into mythology much, but I loved this book!
17) The Witch Elm by Tana French. Tana. French. ‘Nuff said!
18) Binti by Nnedi Okorafor. I will read the other two in this trilogy in 2020.
19) James Herriot's Cat Stories by James Herriot. Love felines! Love Herriot!
20) One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Excellent writing and such a historical glimpse into a different culture! I now own the next installment in this trilogy.
21) The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. So informative and powerful!
22) George by Alex Gino. Loved the juxtaposition with Charlotte’s Web! Adorable! Insightful!
FAVORITES:
1) We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. This is the first book I completed in 2019 and it has remained with me so strongly!
2) The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro. Loved the movie AND the book!
3) The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. So powerful! Anxious to read The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward to compare!
4) Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. I adore Baldwin’s writing and this tragedy will stay with me forever…
5) An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. Anxious for the sequel!
6) They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple. A timeless classic. Another tragedy IMHO!
7) Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Silly and yet powerful!
8) The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows. She may have just finished her aunt’s manuscript for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but she proved herself as a writer for adults with this historical fiction novel! And I also loved Ivy and Bean which is the first in this children’s series authored by her.
9) Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver. Powerful stuff!
10) This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. Insights into a child who identifies with the other gender.
11) The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. I especially loved the humor! But the science was cool as well! I own the second and plan to read it in 2020.
12) Wonder by RJ Palacio. This was so good! Loved the movie adaptation as well!
13) The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I will read anything they write! Anxious to read An Anonymous Girl, their second release!
Children’s series:
The Magic Series by Andre Norton. Read Steel Magic, the first installment. Perfect for children!
Nate the Great and the Stolen Base by Majorie Weinman Sharmat. Love this series and the mysteries are just perfect for children, IMHO!
The Maltese Feline by Mary B. Christian. What a delightful mystery and perfect illustrations! Another perfect mystery for children!
Mystery series I dip into every now and then :
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Isabel Dalhousie by Alexander McCall Smith
Sarah Booth Delaney by Carolyn Haines
David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series
Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie series
A newly discovered one in 2019—Kate Carlisle’s Fixer-Upper Mystery series
This is why I answered this question in a separate posting. I love so many of the books I read! And really, on a different day I would probably prioritize differently!
Hi everyone. On a high from coming back from seeing the new Star Wars movie. No spoilers from me though *zips mouth*This week I finished The Bees. This is so different from almost anything I've ever read but at the same time, it had a very predictable ending.
QOTW: My top five in no particular order:
The Goblin Emperor
The Song of Achilles
Les Miserables
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Daisy Jones & The Six
Sarah wrote: "Hi everyone. On a high from coming back from seeing the new Star Wars movie. No spoilers from me though *zips mouth*"I've gotten this brilliant idea to watch the previous 8 movies before I see this and picked up 3 of them from the library to watch this weekend. But I'm getting worried that spoilers will find their way to my ears too soon.
Hey all,I finished two books this week:
1222: which was a very enjoyable murder mystery with a group of people stuck in a hotel during a snowstorm. I am trash for this trope; I can't help it.
Step Aside, Pops: I enjoyed the first Hark! A Vagrant collection and I liked the second one as well.
And with that I have finished my Popsugar challenge, and with not much time to spare. I have one more book to finish for my Around the Year challenge because I have just been putting off Notre Dame. It's going to be a tough one.
QOTW:
My top 10 Best Books of 2019, in order, assuming nothing in the next 2+ weeks beats these out:
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Becoming
The Death of Mrs. Westaway
Daisy Jones & The Six
The White Darkness
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
Homegoing
Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places
Smaller and Smaller Circles
On a Sunbeam
I'm so excited about starting the 2020 Challenge that I want to start posting NOW, even though that's kinda cheating.Finished this week:
Ducks, Newburyport, a double-dip for 2020 challenge a bird on the cover and an upside down image on the cover. The book had a plot, but it didn't need one. It was so enjoyable being let in on the thought process of the protagonist. It was in the spirit of James Joyce, but better.
My Neighbor Totoro This book was based on the movie, but it was surprisingly well-written despite that.
Started this week: The Story That Cannot Be Told maybe for 2020 challenge, a book that you picked up because the title caught your attention, although that's such a good prompt that I'm a bit reluctant to use it up already.
Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process, for 2020 challenge, an anthology, a book I found by accident and that so far is fitting in well with my desire to journal around a relevant quote each day.
QOTW: Best books of the year
Ducks, Newburyport and How the World Thinks: A Global History of Philosophy which is a historical and comparative analysis of philosophies throughout the world, which I ended up reading in Spanish and English since I found the book while in Spain.
Hope you guys won't mind my getting an early start to my contributions!
Hello everyone!!! I cannot believe how fast December is flying by! I have done my book club secret santa and Christmas dinner with my bestie and got 2 new books. Yay! Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life and The Starless Sea. I will try to fit them both into next year challenge.34/40 Regular
8/10 Advanced
Finished:
Book club pick for December. Didn't fit in any of my remaining categories but it was a fun read. Albeit very weird.
Currently Reading
QotW (A repeat from last year!)
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge).
Completed the challenge earlier this week and now I've passed my Goodreads goal of 100 books. And there's even still time to read more!Finished
Ariel- 13. A book published posthumously
The Tea Dragon Festival
They, She, He Easy as ABC
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Light in the Attic
Falling Up
Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook
Runny Babbit Returns: Another Billy Sook
Progress
PS - Complete! | ATY - Complete! |
Currently Reading
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
QOTW
Not counting rereads, these are my top 10 books:
@Teri, I skipped the prequels but rewatched the other five plus Rogue One over the past couple of weeks to get hyped up 😄
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Eleven (other topics)The Player of Games (other topics)
Quicksilver (other topics)
The Gilded Wolves (other topics)
The Daughter of Time (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Leigh Bardugo (other topics)Kate Carlisle (other topics)
Alexander McCall Smith (other topics)
Spencer Quinn (other topics)
David Rosenfelt (other topics)
More...
Admin stuff:
The remaining group reads for first quarter of 2020 have been chosen:
February: The Nightingale
March: My Sister, the Serial Killer
This nomination & voting process went really well, we plan to use the same method again for the second quarter voting (which will happen sometime late January), but next time I’ll remember to make the nominating poll a book poll :-)
I think the group has found it helpful this year to have a group discussion leader for each book. If anyone wants to volunteer for these or for Red Sister in January, let Sara or me know.
I’ve been reading some great books this week, but I haven’t finished many.
Conviction by Denise Mina - wow this book really surprised me! I was riveted by the story, didn’t guess the ending at all, couldn’t wait to find out how all the loose ends were resolved, and I loved the dark humor. How have I never heard of Mina before?? I’ll definitely be reading more from her.
Delights and Shadows by Ted Kooser - reading these poems felt effortless and soothing.
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips - just finished this and wow! So good!
Question of the Week (A repeat from last year!)
What are your favorite books that you read this year? (Any book you read, not just for this challenge).
I realize I’m jumping the gun a bit and we still have over a week left in 2019.
In 2019, I gave 5 stars to just over 60 books. I’m not going to list them all!! Of those 60, there are 7 books of poetry, 4 graphic novels, 22 full-length books, and 14 audiobooks. (The remaining books are picture books or single short stories.) I guess I’ve really been loving my audiobooks, because almost half of my five star novels were audiobooks!! Six of my five star reads were also added to my “all time favorites” shelf (my way of saying I’d give the book more than 5 stars if I could), so I’ll just list those six:
American Spy
The Plague of Doves (audiobook)
Her Body and Other Parties
The Borrowed (audiobook)
Broken Monsters (audiobook)
Disappearing Earth