Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2020 Weekly Checkins
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Week 11: 3/5 - 3/12
Good afternoon from Columbus! Today is my last day of my nail tech program! I have 1.5 hours until I hit my 300 hour mark. I’m so pumped, I already have a salon I’ll be working at so hopefully I’ll transition into working soon. I’m less excited about the exposure risk involved in the field since all of Columbus is shutting down due to the virus being confirmed in the city. Schools just announced they’re shutting down statewide for at least three weeks. Spinning Silver for the bronze, silver, or gold prompt. This had a pretty similar vibe to The Bear and the Nightingale. I loved it a lot, even though it felt like it took me forever to get through this book.
A Room with a View for a book written by an author in their 20s. A classic that had been on my tbr shelf forever. As far as classics go this was fine if not a bit boring.
Not much else to add today. 38 books read this year, 26/40; 1/10 for popsugar. 2/24 for book riot. 0/12 for back to the classics
I finished quite a few books this week, putting me at 14 books for this challenge.I read Ellen Foster - This a short book, that packs more of a punch than I thought it would. 3 stars. I used for author in their 20s prompt
The Alchemist - Not what I was expecting but still really great. 3 stars. I used for a book recommended.
Beowulf - I was let down by this one, not as epic as I imagined. Book I grabbed first with eyes shut.
Milk and Honey - still not sure how I feel about this one yet. 3 word title.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - just finished this and haven't processed it yet. Medical thriller.
Currently reading:
An Orc on the Wild Side
QOTW: I just finished reading a not very cheery couple of books so I can't even think of any right now.
Starting tomorrow, I have to work from home until further notice. The Netherlands is starting to lockdown trying to stop corona. Public events are cancelled. Last week, we were in the phase like Stacey is now in Canada. So buckle up over there… Everyone who is sick or otherwise affected by this nasty virus: best wishes, stay healthy and take good care of yourself and your loved ones!Didn’t finish a book this week.
Currently reading
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Qotw
Pride and Prejudice of course... and if the book doesn't do the trick, then there's always the tv series :-)
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared I laughed and laughed and laughed
Everything by Jill Mansell where the world's biggest problem is 'will she get him or not'.
Mod
NO SHAME! NO SHAME!!
We were told that we must work remotely, so I brought in my own laptop so it could be mapped to the shared server files yesterday and then we were told the University is open except for face-to-face classes which will be taught remotely. Wish they'd get their act together BEFORE sending out an email! :)
the reading slump continues but I did manage to finish one. For the prompt A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins I read A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis. I enjoyed it (though not so much the ending) It follows Grace Mae put in a mental hospital for getting pregnant due to her father's sexual abuse. So lust (along with wrath and pride) are major features of this book, his and the serial killer Grace and her savior Dr Thornhollow are trying to stop.QOTW boy that's hard since I mostly read mysteries but I guess if you consider that usually the bad guy is caught in the end. I don't read a lot of fluffy things. Hmm well Kept Tears b Jana Denardo is an urban fantasy/romance so it has a happy ending.
Hi everyone!The virus has hit Michigan, only two cases, but that was enough to throw the whole state into emergency mode. My St Patricks run/parade was cancelled for Sunday, all the universities are switching to online, DSO cancelled the next week of shows, etc. It's leaving me in a really high state of anxiety, even though I work from home so realistically have a low chance of exposure, and my husband is working on getting permission to work form home (his office is less than a mile from one of the cases). I'm still going to my dance workout tonight since it's only 10 people with minimal contact and no equipment, and a party this weekend that is also only about 10 people and in someone's home. It's so hard to balance the "cancel everything and don't leave your home!" calls with the "you'll probably be fine if you wash your hands and avoid groups of 100+" calls.
Also I got the reading list for the next few books for my book club, not super thrilled that Severance is on the list, haha.
this week I finished:
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep - I can't remember if I was finished with this when i checked in or not, says I finished March 5. In any case, it was pretty good. Felt like I didn't read enough Dickens to really grasp it, but was still a fun bit of magical realism, with an interesting ending. Counted for my book with a (multiple) book on the cover.
Maangchi's Real Korean Cooking: Authentic Dishes for the Home Cook - this is for Read Harder's book about a cuisine you've never tried. I stretched this one a bit, my library's digital cookbooks section is pretty american/european centric, or books about white guys writing about their food travels. I'm counting it though because i'm pretty sure i've never eaten in an authentic Korean restaurant. I've just had a lot of Korean-inspired/fusion food. Bim Bap burgers, Italinan-style bim-bap, breakfast bim-bap, korean-american brunch fusion, etc. I hadn't heard of a lot of the food listed, so I think it's still a reasonably sound choice. I learned a lot about the culture, and that i absolutely do NOT want to ferment my own soybean paste, however much better she claims it is. I appreciated that she gave good western substitutions for the recipes, or clues where to buy the ingredients. She's based in Toronto, so her audience is very much for people living in the west but wanting to cook proper Korean food. She also gave both the English and Korean names for things, and sources to buy online as well. I might make some of the stuff!
I'm counting Caliban's War because I have less than 50 pages left so I know i'm finishing it soon. Doesn't count for a prompt. My library must have gotten recent funding or something, they keep buying books i requested years ago, which I have on automatic checkout/hold. Which is good, except they arent' fitting into prompts, for the most part haha. I know i'll have no problem finishing the challenge, but it's still derailing my plans.
Currently reading;
The Count of Monte Cristo - made a little more progress on this, still slow going.
QOTW:
I don't know if I can think of any obvious all-happy books, since conflict is usually part of them. But my #1 go-to comfort read is The Black Swan. It's a retelling of Swan Lake, but from Odile's perspective. It is a fairy tale, so you have evil and betrayal but it's not overall depressing. It's one of my favorites!
On Sunday, I finally finished all of The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Five books, plus a short story all in one volume, which knocked out quite a few prompts. Nice!I also read A Cure for Dreams as a book that's author has flora or fauna in their name.
And I just finished Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters for my book by an author in their 20s.
QOTW
Microserfs always puts me in a pretty good mood when I finish it.
Spring is in the air but we got some snow-mixed rain today. Also there is the fact of the covid19 virus around us. My husband is directed by his company to work from home if possible and we will see what they say at my work tomorrow.Current status: PS 7/50, ATY 5/52 GR 10/52
Finished this week
The Keeper of Lost Causes A series I have been meaning to read for a long time and I definitely will continue on this series. I used this one for PS prompt 21 Published the month of your birthday and ATY prompt 5 The first book in a series you haven't started
Currently reading
The Wolf and the Watchman historical crime novel, so far I like it a lot eventhough the part I was reading at the moment was quite brutal and gross
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reading aloud for my daughter
The Lightning Thief Reading aloud for my son
QOTW
I usually go to fast paced crimes or to something like the Outlander series
Spring has sprung, and now it's allergy season which means I'm having a minor panic attack every time I sneeze, until I remind myself this is the way I fell every spring. Stupid media induced panic. ;P But in good news, they have a vaccine that's going through initial testing right now.Books I read:
Magic for Nothing,
Tricks for Free &
That Ain’t Witchcraft - So I finished me reread and can now read the newest book which I've had sitting waiting to be read since it came out last month.
Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era - It was fun, but there was nothing in this I didn't already know, and I'll never read it again. But still, my love of Friends continues to this day.Books I made progress on:
Imaginary NumbersQOTW
Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong always makes me smile when I need a laugh.
I didn't check in last week as I was away for uni and could not face checking in with the app... I didn't get as much reading done either, as uni took a lot of mental capacity, and was book-ended by two very busy weekends (I've had a birthday night out, a charity bake sale, a baby shower, and the ball for the team Scotland cheer squads over the past two weekends). I'm looking forward to a quiet one this weekend - reading, sewing and (urgh) housework, with as little outside contact as possible. Though with coronavirus picking up pace here in the UK, we might all be in lock-down before long...so I should be careful what I wish for.I read three books in the last fortnight, two for PS. I'm now at 10/54 (8/44, 2/10) and currently on book 15 of the year.
My first book was my 3rd book for prompt #40 prompt from a previous PS challenge. This was for 2018's book about mental health and I read Yellow WallPaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I am so glad this story wasn't any longer, because I couldn't have taken much more of it. I don't think I've ever read such a razor sharp, terrifying depiction of a mind caving in on itself. Any more, and I'd have been clawing at that yellow wallpaper myself, desperate to rescue the narrator in order to save us both. The claustrophobia and detachment from reality is suffocating as you observe this highly articulate and self-aware narrator fall deeper into her illness. The wry comments on how she is treated allows you to see just how those around her and the general mindset of the time facilitate her plunge into psychosis. The whole thing just comes together as a true horror story of just how close any of us could be to that invisible (at least to the sufferer) line between sanity and mental illness. I was so thoroughly creeped out by the end that I haven't even been able to organise my thoughts on how this is also such a brilliant statement about the rights of women... What an incredible story.
My second book was for prompt #32 by a WOC, and I read The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani. I think it takes a special book for me to see past factual inaccuracies, implausibility and cheesiness. So this book must be special. Yes, the details of both modern-day and historic India were glaringly...wrong, verging on hokey. Even to me, as someone with basically no experience and very limited knowledge. And absolutely there is a lot of artistic license taken in terms of language barriers and societal factors. I wont even touch on the saccharine ending. But you know what? I didn't care. Because I didn't feel that those were offensive or minimised any struggles, and because this book has such a pure heart. India comes alive on the pages, I fell (even more) in love with the country, particularly in the descriptions of the Hindu celebrations. The story opens up like a blossoming rose - yes, you may know what it's going to look like when the petals are fully open but who doesn't appreciate a beautiful rose? Particularly given the themes in this book - pregnancy loss, family alienation, persecution of a race - it's odd to say this, but it is heartwarming read. The story flew in, I just had to know what happened next, and I devoured it.
My final book only ticked an ATY prompt, it was The Missing by Andrew O'Hagan. This book, part-memoir and part-true crime, really gripped me. It traces the author's interest in those who go missing, from the reason his family moved from Glasgow (where violence, and the disappearances of young women, made his parents look to raise their children somewhere safer), to disappearances which touched his childhood in Ayrshire, to his adult life as a journalist in England covering various missing cases and the murders of Fred and Rosemary West. I've read one of O'Hagan's fictional works, and it was interesting to read about his childhood and further back to the generations before him who lived in the East End of Glasgow. As a native of the West of Scotland myself, that appealed to me. But actually I think it would be an interesting read for those who aren't as familiar, as the sectarianism and the Bible John murders - particularly in O'Hagan's telling - are intriguing. This is not a salacious book, and I really appreciated how O'Hagan focuses on the victims and those left behind. Particularly where those missing have been victims of violent crime, he gives them their names and talks about their lives rather than their demises - he doesn't even use the name Bible John, and his discussion on the Wests is focused far more on those who they abused. He is compassionate and introspective in the telling, and I think that's what made this feel very human.
QOTW - Name your favorite upbeat, everything-is-wonderful book!!!
Hmmmm...I'm not sure I have much to recommend. I don't really do sunshine and sugar. But some lighter books I've enjoyed...Where'd You Go, Bernadette, The Summer Book...ok, I went all the way back to 2016 and that's all I got!
Hi everyoneHope you and your loved ones are all well!
It´s been a weird week here in Denmark as in many places round the world. From "oh yeah there is a couple cases of corona" to shutdowns announced by our prime minister yesterday evening. All schools and universities closed. All public institutions with noncritical functions shut down. Amongst them libraries, where I work (I could argue how it's a critical function, but still).
You´d think shutting down the library for a fortnight would be a stroll, but it's been a weird and stressful day. I've been home with a cold, so trying to figure out the shutdown from home with a not-working home connection to my work e-mail. Figuring out how to get my son home without public transportation, which is advised against at the moment (he attends a boarding school). Stuff like that.
And this is not helping my husband's anxiety - he's had his worst day in a looong time.
So, I'm looking forward to things calming down on that front (hoping it´ll happen now we´re all home safe and sound), just doing the little work l can from home, and dwindling down my approximately 80 books I have out from said library. I now have some time, and the everpresent temptation of taking more books home from work is non-existent, so I just might make it!
Bookwise I read:
The Starless Sea I really really enjoyed this book! Using it for "mc in their 20´s". Listened to it on audio - great cast.
Abandoned Places: 60 stories of places where time stopped. Using it for "subject you know nothing about". I wouldn´t say I know nothing of abandoned places, but out of the 60 I only knew a handful. This book had so much potential, but it was meh. The photos and text were not high quality, and I had expected that. Specifically I wished for better, and more, photos.
Overnight Wife mindless romance. As per the qotw, I sometimes read ridiculous romance of the instalove kind, as a sort of stress reflief.
Qotw
Aside from ridiculous romance I´d say fantasy.
I used to reread the Narnia books and Books of Earthsea on a regular basis.
Also mysteries where the charm of the main character and the ambience of the setting is at the forefront, like the Commisario Brunetti series (Death at La Fenice) and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
Well, now Ferdinand (which I loved as a kid and loved when I read it to kids as an adult) is a litmus test for if a person might be potentially evil. So that is nice. My job right now is pretty much telling people I genuinely have no idea whether or not it will be safe to travel to Florida in July. I have no advice. Personally I would only book things where you didn't have to pay up front or things with generous cancellation policies...
I am caregiver for my 80 year old mom (who I mentioned had been in and out of the hospital last week). She's medically fragile. So this worries me on a personal level more than it otherwise would. But just taking the normal precautions. washing, limiting contact with the outside world, for now, at least. Maybe we'll finally get all the family photos scanned.
Read:
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (over 500 pages/between 400-600 pages) My nephew is absolutely in love with this book he reads it out loud every year. So I gave it a go. And the thing is he built it up too much. It was never going to be my whole world. But I liked it enough to try Wayward Son... except it has iffy reviews so I might wait until the third comes out and read them one after the other.
Front Desk by Kelly Yang I've had this middle grade book on my wait list at the library for literally 6 months and so the prompt I was going to use it for has been long filled in a different year but I'll find something. I did want to read it though and I'm so glad I did. This was genuinely delightful for a middle grade book. I am so stoked that there is going to be another one this year. 
The Undefeated Kwame Alexander I've been picking up picture books recently and was excited to try this one. It wasn't what I expect it to be. The art is gorgeous and the poem is great. No complaints but it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but had I gone in not expecting something else I think I'd be raving about it. I'm going to pop through this one again in a few months.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine is another one I put on hold for last years prompts. Finally came through and I liked it. I am not mad I read it. But I doubt I'll read the rest. Although, we'll see. QOTW: Books that are joys
I think the book I recommend the most from last year is Red, White & Royal Blue a book I listened do in a rough time in my life and not usually my genre of choice but I always think about with a smile is The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. For Graphic novels Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey makes me genuinely happy.
And this isn't a book but the television show The Dectorists makes me giddy happy.
Nadine wrote: "The Story of Ferdinand was once banned??????? Why in the world???? Isnt that just a nice bucolic story of friendship?"I think it's weird anyone thinks Ferdinand is communist, he's clearly a pacifist. He also gives no F's for toxic masculinity.
Men: Fight!
Ferdinand: Flowers smell pretty.
Bonus for 2020, it's a lovely story about social distancing.
It has been a rough week as my father was put on hospice a few days ago. I'm self-quarantining at work as I'm a high-risk for COVID-19 complications (not allowing anyone into my office, keeping the door shut, using disposable gloves when I go out to the bathroom or to get water, etc). So I haven't read anything this week, much less finished something. And it's okay.Goodreads: 19/90
PopSugar: 9/40, 6/10
QOTW: The last book I remember telling people about how it made me happy is The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I'm sure there are others, but this book had a big impact on me last spring (April, naturally). It brought me out of a funk.
Where I live all gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned. I take public transit to/from work where I touch hundreds of boxes from China, am apparently obsessed with touching my face (the struggle is real), and I already have unhealthy lungs. Luckily for me I am also a hermit. Finished:
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper - I would love to see a paper copy to see if she includes sources. This was fascinating.
Melted into Air - Sandi Toksvig - Meh. I just wanted to listen to Sandi
Psmith in the City - Bedtime Wodehouse
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption - Recommend
Currently Reading:
Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight - YAS Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb!
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules - Not far into it but enjoying it
Psmith, Journalist - Bedtime Wodehouse
Set Aside: Hurricane Child - because I don't know where I put it.
I'll think about the QOTW
Well, my husband and I were going to go on a cruise next week, but that had to get cancelled. We got credits to rebook a cruise within the year, and the same thing with the flights, but oh the amount of time I have spent on hold the last two days...I'm especially not happy with how expedia has been handling the situation. Like yeah, the circumstances are extraordinary, but your website should still be functional. *sigh* Since we've still got the time off, we're planning a 'staycation' and doing lots of fun touristy stuff next week. Read:
Picnic at Hanging Rock: This one will be in my head for a while, so engaging
The Prophet: just the sort of quiet poetry I needed to deal with the extra stress this week
Skim: YA graphic novel about an angsty teen
QOTW: The first book that popped in my head was Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Also Pride and Prejudice and Evil Under the Sun.
QOTW: Name your favorite upbeat, everything-is-wonderful book!!!When I'm trying to sleep, I've been listening to PG Wodehouse. Usually the worst thing that happens in his books is you accidentally get engaged to a someone you didn't mean to or you lost a fiver on a horse. Especially nice on audio, particularly with Jonathan Cecil.
TOP RECOMMENDATION:
If you can get your hands on them or go to the website, the story that has made me the happiest lately is Heartstopper. It's just so lovely and adorable! Squee!
https://tapas.io/series/Heartstopper?...
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors
Drawn Together
Mac Undercover
Bernard Pepperlin
Fortunately, the Milk
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain - Audio narrator makes this one so amusing
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - Also a great audio performance
Effin' Birds: A Field Guide to Identification
Books that made me happy because they happened to include things I already love:
The Calculating Stars
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
BONUS:
You can't go wrong with a CBeeBee's Bedtime Story. Here is my favorite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUayO...
Well, my school is now closed to students, so we are starting distance learning next week. I am really stressed, which is mostly expressing itself as inappropriate anger, so that is just great. My reading was ok this week, though.Finished:
The Witches Are Coming - side read, loved it!
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present - (title over 20 characters) very good, if a bit repetitive, but I learned a lot
The Cellist of Sarajevo - (Olympic city) beautiful, highly recommended
In progress:
Gods of Jade and Shadow - audio, taking this slow
Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers - anthology of short stories, and I'm only 2 in so far. They were both steamier than I expected.
QOTW: I don't think I've read something that would count as "fluffy" this whole year! I feel like most reading helps me cope, even if it is about serious topics.
Ali wrote: "Hope everyone is having a good week and is keeping well, plenty of toilet roll on hand etc...I've had a great time reading this week just worked out to get through a load of stuff that I was enjo..."
I love Ruta Septys. I recommend Salt to the Sea to EVERYONE!!! Her 1st book is called Out of the Easy set in New Orleans. Not as good as Salt or Shades but still as great read! I havent gotten to The Fountains of Silence yet!
Our school system just shut down indefinitely :/I put in 10,257 library holds in case that shuts down too.....
☆*:.｡. ＤＡＮＩＥＬＡ .｡.:*☆ wrote: "QOTW Ha! Severance is on my list for the challenge! I'm wondering if I should read it now, before things get worse here in the US, or cross my fingers we will be over this by the end of the year a..."
On the read your own adventure I go through til I am utterly bored. LOL. I read that one last year and I liked it!
Happy Thursday.Read:
Ninth House 3 stars almost a 4
This was an interesting start to a new series. I've seen mixed reviews for this book and I wasn't planning on reading it any time soon.. but it looked at me in the library. Leigh Bardugo can make great characters for sure.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely and A Heart So Fierce and Broken 4 stars and 3 stars respectively
Book 2 of this series is a book club book this month. Book 1 came in from the library at the perfect time and book 2 was available when I finished. Both books follow two characters and go back and forth between perspectives. For both books I liked only one character. Book 2 ended well and I'm excited for the 3rd book. (Why do I keep liking Beauty and the Beast retellings when I don't really like Beauty and the Beast?)
Big Mushy Happy Lump 3 stars
This graphic novel was disappointing because I loved the first one so much.
Alone in the Wild 4 stars
Favourite author alert. Kelley Armstrong writes really awesome characters and her urban fantasy series are awesome. Alone in the wild is the fifth installment in a mystery series. I used this for set in a country that starts with C; Canada. This was hard to put down and I read it real quick.
Currently Reading nothing yet, but I'll being starting Red, White & Royal Blue soon.
PS 2020 27/50
PS 2016 12/40
QOTW:
Adulthood Is a Myth graphic novel about being a woman. I laughed out loud throughout the book.
Tracy wrote: "Our school system just shut down indefinitely :/I put in 10,257 library holds in case that shuts down too....."
LOL. I am planning a "probably no wait" list for both libraries in my area just in case.
Hello everyone! Happy Thursday! Hope everyone is staying healthy. I haven't checked in here in awhile, so here's everything I've finished in the last few weeks.Finished
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death - 33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
Becoming - 30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
All the Birds in the Sky - 2. A book by a trans or nonbinary author
Come Tumbling Down - 35. A book with a three-word title
The Test - BR17 Novella
Other Words for Home - BR19 About a refugee
Islandborn - BR18
El Deafo - ATY 2 One syllable last name
Sulwe
Mango Moon
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment
DNF
Split Tooth - Wasn't holding my attention enough. Might give it another try some other time
Progress
PS - 13/52 | ATY - 13/52| BR - 8/24
Currently Reading
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death
Pet
Sadie
QOTW
Can't think of anything that fits this.
Finished: Subcutanean for book published in 2020. The coolest thing about this book (besides that it takes place underneath what was my bedroom), is that the medium extends the content: it's about infinite universes and each copy of the text is unique. I was a bit worried since it is horror, which is not my favorite genre, but it struck a good balance by being deliciously creepy without giving me nightmares.Peacemaking Circles: From Crime to Community used for a book I know nothing about. I actually discovered I knew about it more than I realized as I read it, but I still think it counts since I told someone I literally know nothing about restorative justice prior to reading it. It was all right. Pretty dry. Somewhat helpful, but I certainly don't feel fully qualified to lead a peacemaking circle just based on reading the book.
Started: Internal Family Systems Therapy I didn't find this structure helpful, so it was a DNF for me.
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict This is a re-read of my favorite book in the series.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants for author with flora or fauna in their name. This is the second time I've tried to read this. It seems like a beautiful book, but I'm having trouble getting into it.
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling a re-read for book with a great beginning line: "What do you fear most in your life?"
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close re-read just for fun.
QotW My favorite feel-good book is The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. It is a rare book because it makes me laugh out loud while reading it.
We're settling in for comparative isolation with the coronavirus. The county libraries have closed as of today. I'm in the middle of a book fast for Lent, otherwise I would have been stocking up books just like canned food. Soon, I won't even have that option. (Our city system is still open atm.) I guess this will be even greater incentive to re-read some favorites in my collection.
Happy Thursday - hope everyone is staying healthy. The stress really just started to get to me today. On the upside though, I can tell myself my (fairly standard) weekend plans to stay in are now for a good purpose.Finished 3 this week:
Raven Stratagem 4 stars. Read the first in the series for the trans/non-binary author prompt and enjoyed it enough to keep going. This one squeaks into at least a 4 star rating, but I read it without even knowing it whether it fit a prompt. It might also work for the Bechdel test, but that's a little complicated. (view spoiler) Slightly less enjoyable than the first, but enough to keep me reading in this world.
My Sister, the Serial Killer 3 stars. Thoughts in thread.
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir 3 stars. Completed the Canada Reads nominees! A worthwhile book and definitely important for representation - I don't think I can name any other queer Muslims, either real or fictional characters. But that said, this memoir felt a little flat to me - like the same amount of attention and detail was paid to both her school bullies and her forced arranged marriage. Pulled a little switch with this one - previously had Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club as my pink cover and was going to use this for 20 letter title. However, since it relies on it's subtitle to get to 20+, it feels a little better to me to switch them up.
Still reading The Count of Monte Cristoand next up with probably be Dark Matter for my book club in two weeks.
QotW:
A lot of my comfort blanket reads have been mentioned (Jane Austen, LM Montgomery, YA fantasy, rom coms) but the ones I don't think I've seen yet are anything by Mil Millington or Christopher Brookmyre. Bad things may happen in their books, but chances are I will be laughing reading about them.
Hello friends and neighbors. The world is crazy right now and I am kind of over it. (Aren't we all)16/40 Regular
2/10 Advanced
Finished
18. Made up language
(Flowers. They used a flower language)
I liked this one a good deal. very patriarchy based dystopia (when aren't they)
Currently Reading
QotW:
Name your favorite upbeat, everything-is-wonderful book!!!
I don't re read books very often and I honestly don't know if I do a lot of everything is wonderful books. I guess To All the Boys I've Loved Before would fit. Based on my read list it looks like I read themed cookbooks. lol
Very late reporting after a long busy work day. Work for (most) lawyers increases on so many levels when all is going wrong in the world. Finished - none for challenge: EDITED: ACTUALLY ONE CHALLENGE READ!
Death of a Winter Shaker
The Astronaut Wives Club
Julie of the Wolves - prompt bildungsroman - fab ya. I loved it and if I had read as a kid, I would have adored it and read it over and over.
Currently reading:
A Brief History of Time
Crewel and Unusual
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening
Ghost of a Chance
Notes on a Cowardly Lion: The Biography of Bert Lahr, With a New Preface by the Author
And Proust...still.
QOTW:
I head to cozy mysteries, regency romances and beloved rereads...Frederica is already on the nightstand.
I haven't read any books for the PopSugar challenge this week. Since I started the ATY challenge I'm catching up on that first. Finished:
Timeline by Michael Crichton
Ophelia by Lisa Klein
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Currently reading: Wilder Girls by Rory Power
PS: 16/50 ATY: 4/52
QOTW: I honestly can't think of any upbeat books off the top of my head. Though I do read books that I consider pallete cleansers. Books that don't have super heavy topics. That's why I read The Carrie Diaries this year. I was reading a lot of stuff that was leaving me with a sense of dread and needed a break from that. I feel like a lot of books aimed at younger people(YA) are decent palette cleansers. While I wouldn't say they're carefree and upbeat, the writing is simpler and and the descriptions of really heavy stuff isn't as vivid and dreadful.
Lynn wrote: "I would like to encourage you to try Half Broke Horses, especially if you enjoy historical fiction. It relates her grandmother's life at the turn of the century and I found it fascinating. :) I have yet to read The Silver Star."Ohh considering her family had a pretty interesting life I probably will pick it up at some point. :) I didn't realize that Half Broke Horses was tied to her Grandmother's life (but I also didn't look into at all, I just happened to know that she had a third book with that title and meant to check it out a little to determine whether I'd want to read it or not at some point). Do you happen to know which Grandmother? Her maternal one that lived in Arizona or her paternal one that lived in Virginia? I enjoyed The Glass Castle so much more than The Silver Star. :)
I'll read just about any genre, historical fiction included. It's not my fave (Fantasy takes the cake on that) but I have definitely enjoyed some historical fiction in the past and anytime I pick up one of Lisa See's books I'm almost instantly drawn in!
Harmke wrote: "Last week, we were in the phase like Stacey is now in Canada."You know it's funny...today brought so many changes after I posted this morning! xD
All announced today: The NHL has suspended it's season - so no more hockey games for now. All public schools in the province of Ontario are closed for 3 weeks starting monday (although the vast majority were already to be closed for next week due to March break). Several colleges/universities have switched to online classes only for the remainder of the term. Our prime minister and his family are in quarantine at home because his wife just returned from the UK and is now confirmed to have the virus. The Ontario Superior Court has suspended all jury panels for scheduled trials that haven't started yet.
There are still only 138 cases nationwide here (we have a population of about 37.5 million just to add some perspective). 59 of those are in Ontario (which has a population of about 14.5 million). Basically everything is shutting down to make the virus spread much more slowly to prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed so we can avoid what Italy is experiencing because if everyone were to get sick at once there's no way we could keep up and because the virus has such a long incubation period it's hard to say if those 138 cases could drastically increase in the next couple weeks etc.
The media and the government are pretty much drastically overreacting as a preventative measure. :P
Jackie wrote: "Well, my husband and I were going to go on a cruise next week, but that had to get cancelled. We got credits to rebook a cruise within the year, and the same thing with the flights, but oh the amou..QOTW: The first book that popped in my head was Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Also Pride and Prejudice and Evil Under the Sun.."
Evil Under the Sun is a FAVE! Have you seen the Maggie Smith Peter Ustinov movie? Not a pri e adaptation but has a cult following triggered by 2 things: all the polka dots and the tray of classic cocktails.
Finished reading:The Secret Commonwealth (no category) - As this was such a big book, I found myself skim reading it just so I could finish it. There wasn't a lot going on either, although I do really like the style of writing.
Currently reading:
Noah Can't Even (no category) - Hoping to finish reading this today! I am mostly enjoying this, lots of funny moments but sometimes the main character annoys me.
QOTW: Name your favorite upbeat, everything-is-wonderful book!!!
Going to have to go with Harry Potter - it always cheers me up when I'm feeling down.
I'd just like to say to those feeling extra stressed about cases in their area, we had a case in an office building on the same road where I work at the beginning of the week and there have been zero new cases in the whole county since. So a local case doesn't mean an outbreak will happen.The county where I live is a different matter, but our grocery driver had to deliver to someone self-isolating, and he just left the crates outside, so you can still be isolated and buy loo roll, plus much yummier things than tinned veg.
Finished:Last Day, which I ended up assigning to A book that passes the Bechdel test. Fairly decent page-turner, but nothing special.
Thief River Falls for A book with a three-word title. Again, nothing special, although apparently enough of a page-turner for me to finish it in a day!
Started:
Spinning Silver for A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title. Liking it so far, although possibly not as much as some reviewers. Having said that, I need to take the opportunity to really get my teeth into it this weekend, which will hopefully allow me to form a better opinion.
QOTW:
I'm not really sure I have a favourite upbeat book, specifically. Books that make me feel good/better are old favourites that I return to, although they're not necessarily upbeat. I have started reading more rom-coms/chick-lit over the past few years, though, which are nice, cheerful interludes when I want something non-challenging and happy-making :)
Good morning! We are supposed to be in the upper 70’s all week, so I foresee some beach days in my future. :)I keep reading all of these “work from home” posts and, I have to say, I am a little envious. There is no “work from home” for us ER nurses! My recommendations as far as corona goes- wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and DON’T COUGH IN YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ FACES! You wouldn’t believe the number of people who will cough directly in the face of someone caring for them in the ER (and I’m sure elsewhere). I did find one meme that made me giggle... a girl who is basically “vogueing” in an attempt to not touch her face. I didn’t realize how much I touch my face until I’ve been making a conscious effort not to.
Books I’ve finished this week (I’m now at 15/50 for PS Challenge):
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite- 4 stars
I loved how it was written and how it flowed. It was so easy to read and in such a short amount of time. I will definitely look forward to future books by this author. Used for “a book by a WOC.”
Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle- 5 stars
I love short reads like this that just make you laugh the whole way through. The jabs at how weird humans are is just great. I used this one for the prompt “a book with a made-up language.” I didn’t really see a “made-up language” within the book, but actually found this book by googling the prompt, which led me to a long list of books on GR for this prompt.... so I feel like if it made the list, then I’m gonna use it!
Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom by Sylvia Plath- 3 stars
Well. What to say? I understand the deeper meaning. But still... yawn. Sorry for those of you who liked it. I used this one for the prompt “Your favorite prompt from a past PS reading challenge- 2016 A Book with Less than 150 Pages.”
Books I’m currently reading:
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore (will be using for the prompt “A book with more than 20 letters in the title”)
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben (will use for the prompt “A book on a subject you know nothing about)—still plugging away at this one... it’s interesting but not enough to hold my attention for long...
QOTW:
Name your favorite upbeat, everything is wonderful book...
I turn to poetry or any kind of comedic book/illustrated book. Strange Planet was definitely one I would keep around to re-read... it was just so funny. Also recently I read Love Poems for Married People, which was fabulous for a laugh and extremely relatable after 28 years of marriage :D
What a week it's been, and not in a good way. I've been suffering from a sinus and ear infection since last Saturday. The worst symptom is vertigo. One of the movements that caused a vertigo spell was looking down so I couldn't read. All I could do most of the week was look straight ahead and watch TV. I tried switching to audiobooks, but it's difficult to pay attention when I couldn't keep my hands busy. I'm on the mend now, so hopefully I can get back to my books soon.Reading
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (a book about a woman in STEM)
If We Were Villains by ML Rio (a book featuring one of the seven deadly sins)
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (a book with only words on the cover)
QOTW
My favorite feel good author is Sarah Addison Allen. Her books feel like coming home.
Re: feel good reads: I forgot about graphic novels! On a Sunbeam is a graphic novel/webcomic about found family and first love, and it's just really sweet and cute and heartfelt.
Heather wrote: "What a week it's been, and not in a good way. I've been suffering from a sinus and ear infection since last Saturday. The worst symptom is vertigo. One of the movements that caused a vertigo spell ..."I would have never thought to use the Outlander books for that prompt! Now, I have a reason to read the next book in the series! Thanks for the idea :)
Bree wrote: "Hi all! I haven't updated in a few weeks so prepare for a longer-than-usual post. Our Costco is out of toilet paper and water because apparently the apocalypse is coming.I work at a gym and attendance has definitely dropped ..."That's funny, because just this morning my husband told me that he's expecting one of these mornings to get to the gym and find it closed, since everything else is closing - but that with this illness (and obviously probably most illnesses) it's better if you are in shape so he thinks they should keep it open...
Tania, I'm mostly relieved that the weather's getting warmer so not wanting to go to the gym right now is mitigated by the weather mostly being nice enough to go running. And I have some hand weights and do a lot of body weight type workouts anyhow. Also my fitness-class gym just started doing virtual classes, where you sign up and then get a password for a video, do the work out at home.
Good morning! I haven't updated since the end of February. It's been crazy at work (grant-writing) and at home (remodeling). In COVID-19 news, Wyoming got our first case of it 2 days ago and people are either panicking or not taking it seriously. I'm trying to remain sane, although I am being a bit more cautious than I may otherwise be since I'm due to have a baby in 5 weeks or less. Luckily, I work in an office with only 1 other person and very little public traffic. For the challenge I'm at 24/50. I've read 5 books so far this month:
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie - Only words on the cover
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - Country beginning with "C"
and these didn't fit any prompts I hadn't filled:
MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
QOTW:
I usually gravitate towards YA fantasy when I need something to get my mind off real life.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Renegades
Caraval
Strange the Dreamer
Or a good/mediocre mystery
The Dry
In a Dark, Dark Wood
Any Gillian Flynn
Late check-in for me, I've been very caught up in following Covid-19 outbreak and prepping my household for isolation as my country had announced that we have 14 of the 16 first cases in our state, and trying to determine if we cancel family trip to Chicago for a murder mystery dinner next weekend. I don't want to unnecessarily expose my 80+ year old Grandma to anything, but so far the show is still on with extra hygiene precautions, so it's a tough decision.I haven't finished any books this week, but did make great progress in War and Peace over the weekend, I'm nearly done with Marilla of Green Gables, and could probably finish today if I can stay away from browsing public health pages and news articles about Covid-19. I'm about halfway through the Map of Salt and Stars, and really enjoying it, although I feel like the main character seems to be much younger than the age she is supposed to be. I'm looking forward to discussing when we get to month where this is the group read.
QTOW-
Anne of Green Gables series is my go to comfort read. Also The Mrs. Pollifax series, the Cat Who series, and the number one ladies detective agency series. My current cozy mystery series, The indigo teashop works for this as well.
Drakeryn wrote: "Re: feel good reads: I forgot about graphic novels! On a Sunbeam is a graphic novel/webcomic about found family and first love, and it's just really sweet and cute and heartfelt."Oh good, I have a copy and I've been eyeing it, but wasn't sure how dark it was.
Theresa wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Well, my husband and I were going to go on a cruise next week, but that had to get cancelled. We got credits to rebook a cruise within the year, and the same thing with the flights, ..."I have seen it and Maggie Smith gets props but Peter Ustinov is my least favorite Poirot. The version of Death on the Nile with him made me swear off watching any more adaptations with him as Poirot.
Hello All, With all that is going on, I just want to crawl into bed, cover my head, read a good book and wish for it all to go away. But that is not how the world works, So on top of virus concerns, we have a winter storm warning going on this weekend expecting 40cm of snow and below -20 (Celsius). So no signs of spring here yet. SighFinished
Golem in the Gears Returned to this series (Xanth) to fill the prompt more that 20 books in a series (there is 43 so far). I started reading this series as a teenager and revisit it every once and a while. I forgot how much I loved it.
Currently reading
Silent in the Grave Still trying to figure out if I am going to finish this or not. I have stalled, as I am not really getting into the characters I find them really bland and reading it has become a bit of a chore. Which is sad cause I really enjoy the Veronica speedwell books and had high hopes for this one.
Ghost of a Chance I am almost done this one, Actually really enjoying it. I read the otherworld/sisters of the moon series from the authour (which if someone is looking for a series with more than 20 books that one works) I am using it for the Bechtel test prompt as most for the characters are female and have lots of conversations very few of them about men.
QOTW,
Adventure or romance are my usual go to if I am looking for a happier read.
Paranormal romance is more my speed as it usually has a bit more to add to the story than just the basic love story.
Adventure or people going on a quest with some humour added is always a good time.
Happy Reading everyone
P.S. Wash your hands.
Mod
I put in 10,257 library holds in case that shuts down too....."
OMG! You almost made me laugh out loud at work!! Stop it!!
I work in sales in a hotel and it has been a crazy week with cancellations so I'm posting late. I finished 3 books this week and all of them were for the challenge. Finished:
You Are Not Alone - I used this for prompt #27 - a book featuring one of the deadly sins. There was a lot of envy in this book so I thought it worked well for this prompt. I loved this book and gave it 5 stars.
Less - I used this for prompt #8 - a book with an upside-down image on the cover. I found this book a little confusing with all of the characters, but liked all the places that Less visited. I think I might have been less confused if I read the actual book instead of listening to the audio. 3.5 stars
Well Met - I used this for prompt #34 - a book you meant to read in 2019. This was a cute rom-com! 3.5 stars
Challenge Progress:
Regular Challenge - 14/40
Advanced Challenge - 3/10
Total - 17/50
Currently Reading:
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird - so far I really like this one, but I'm not too far in.
In the Woods - I'm listening to this for a book club I'm in. It's interesting so far.
I also plan on starting The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell this weekend.
QOTW - Name your favorite upbeat, everything-is-wonderful book!!!
I think the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is great to take your mind off things. It might not be considered upbeat, but the books are funny!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
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Winter in Paradise (other topics)
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Contraband (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah J. Maas (other topics)Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
Kate DiCamillo (other topics)
Jean Craighead George (other topics)
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I'd say you can count it once you have finished one 'storyline'. When you get to an ending, you have finished that cyoa. If you want a little more rigor, you could get to one ending with each of the love interests. I loved that book, btw, such fun.