Week 17: 4/16 - 4/23

[Megan]

I finished two books this week (both worked for advanced prompts!) and (ambitiously :)) started four more. I haven't slated any of my book-in-progress for open prompts yet, so I'll wait until I finish them to see if they work (one seems like it will...but I'm wondering if there's a twist, so I am holding off on that :)).

I'm now at 15/40 and 7/10 for this challenge, and have read 46/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading challenge.

Finished:
* Newcomer by Keigo Higashino and translated by Giles Murray, which I used for the advanced prompt "a book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics;" and,
* Cat's Claw by Susan Wittig Albert, which I used for the advanced prompt "a book from a series with more than 20 books."

Currently Reading:
* Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire;
* The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie, which was a Book Club Girl freebie Friday pick;
* We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time by José Andrés and Richard Wolffe; and,
* The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda and translated by Alison Watts.

QotW:
This week’s question was suggested by Lauren! Do you have any authors that you'll buy/borrow their new books without checking the description or reviews first, since you're sure you'll like it. Definitely! In fact, I probably do that more often than not. Here are a few of the authors who I will auto-add to my TBR list and buy or borrow their new books without knowing more than the title: Attica Locke, Louise Penny, Tana French, Sujata Massey, Charles Todd, Susan Elia MacNeal, Barbara Kingsolver, Megan Abbott, Laura Lippman, Ann Cleeves, Ruth Ware, Vivien Chien, Colin Cotterill, Jasper Fforde, Fredrik Backman, and Keigo Higashino.

[Ashley]

I finished I Am Number Four, which bring me halfway to completing this challenge with 25/20 done.

I am now starting The Guest List, but I am not sure if I will be using it for this challenge.

QOTW - There are a few authors that I will just buy their books because I have enjoyed a few of theirs and tend to like them. Most of the time I put them on a TBR list because I cannot buy as many books as I want to the read. I just don't have the money for that.

[Bree]

Sheri wrote: "Bree, I read Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw. It doesn’t have anything to do with diseases or pandemics, but it was on a list of medical thrillers recommended by medical practitioners. A woman doct..."

Sheri, thanks for the Parasite rec! I checked it out today and am really enjoying it so far. I've read tons of Seanan McGuire but hadn't even thought about looking into Mira Grant.

[Britany]

Another week gone by, my boss mentioned maybe another 6 weeks before we'd be back in the office. I initially thought how fast that seemed, until I realized that we were already 6 weeks in and it legit feels like a year. SIGH, but at least we are moving forward.


22/40 PopSugar
5/10 Advanced PopSugar
27/100 GoodReads

Finished:
1.) Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (#15 - Social Media) ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2- Good, this genre twisted halfway through. It was good, but a bit predictable. Think I might be done with Weiner.

Currently Reading:
1.) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
2.) A Rule Against Murder
3.) Behind Her Eyes

QOTW: Do you have any authors that you'll buy/borrow their new books without checking the description or reviews first, since you're sure you'll like it.

Yes. Jojo Moyes and Kristin Hannah. I have to say that knowing Suzanne Collins wrote another HG book this year, I will read without hesitation. Anything JK Rowling writes. Fredrik Backman might be on that list too.

[L Y N N]

Dani wrote: " It makes me wonder what it is about men and toddlers that make them crave death.."

This made me laugh so hard!!! ;)

[L Y N N]

Roberta wrote: "Newbie here. I just found this challenge a few weeks before the lock down, and I'm trucking my way through my list! I live in CA, but my area isn't too hard hit, and we're seeing some minor opening..."

Welcome! :)

[Andrew]

Finished King of Thorns a book with a map. I enjoyed the read. I find these books to move at a pretty fast pace and keeps one engaged.

Currently reading Emperor of Thorns which is from my favorite prompt from 2018 a book about a villain or antihero. Currently 2/3rds of the way through it.

13/40 completed.

As to the QoTW I find Jim Butcher to be an author I enjoy reading and am looking forward to Peace Talks.

[Delia]

Oi, I need to be better with my check-ins! I think my last check-in was the week ending in 4/9? lol Anyway, since then I've finished/read:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Gosh, I loved it. Using this for "A book with more than 20 letters in its title."

Caraval: I just wanted to see what the hype was all about. It wasn't my cup of tea.

This Life or the Next: I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one. It's such a unique view and fascinating!

We Hunt the Flame: Again, I just wanted to see what everyone loved about it, but it fell flat for me.

I'm 43/100 for Goodreads, and almost halfway through the PopSugar challenge. I don't have a specific number just yet.

I will automatically buy anything from Angie Thomas and Derek Milman.

[L Y N N]

Delia wrote: "Oi, I need to be better with my check-ins! I think my last check-in was the week ending in 4/9? lol Anyway, since then I've finished/read:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Gosh, I ..."

This Life or the Next looks to be a very unique read and definitely one I would like to try. As does We Hunt the Flame! Thanks for these suggestions! :)

[Lauren]

Delia wrote: "Oi, I need to be better with my check-ins! I think my last check-in was the week ending in 4/9? lol Anyway, since then I've finished/read:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Gosh, I ..."

Oh, Angie Thomas! Yes, I will also auto-checkout her future books. They're the best (especially on audio).

[Courtney]

Hi! I'm new here so I am starting as a disadvantage! I just finished my regular Goodreads 2020 challenge so I was really excited when I found the PopSugar challenge list! I am not going to be including any of the books I've read so far this year so it may be a bit of a challenge to get all fifty done starting so late! I think I am going to start with The Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth for a book published in 2020.

Popsugar Challenge: 0/50
Goodreads Challenge: 52/52

4/16-4/23 was a slow week for me!

Finished
Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (The Arcana Chronicles #2)
This is a series that I have been enjoying lately. It is a "YA" novel, though I think it is better suited for adults. It just has a teenage heroine. The main character is kind of irritating but I like the continuing plot line of the major arcana.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
I had been reading a comic version of this on Webtoon and jumped on it when I discovered that it was a book. It was good!

Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole (The Arcana Chronicles #3)
This book was almost 100% about the love triangle but I think that is okay.

Currently Reading
I just finished the two books I had open under currently reading but I am about to start the ones below tonight..

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas

QOTW

So... I am kind of a heathen and I don't read book summaries. I am a sucker for covers and recommendations so I just grab and go. Due to this, I mostly only get books from the library or discount book stores but I have been known to just grab a few books from Target because they seem fine. I also don't usually binge read authors like that either.

[Karin]

I read one with an upside down image on a different edition.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards April

[Brandon]

QotW:

I follow authors who have written stories I like on Amazon, so I am aware of when they are releasing a new book. I will still read the summary, though, or find out something about it before committing to reading it. The closest I come to a blind read is a Claudia Gray Star Wars book.

[Elena]

Late as usual:

Week 17
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Read a banned book during Banned Books Week

(I had to read that book during two different weeks for two different challenges, and I read it during neither for a third challenge...)

[L Y N N]

Elena wrote: "Late as usual:

Week 17
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Read a banned book during Banned Books Week

(I had to read that book during two different weeks for two different challenges, and I read it during neither for a third challenge...)"

That is hysterical! Sounds like something I would do! ;)

[Patricia]

Question of the week

Do you have any authors that you'll buy/borrow their new books without checking the description or reviews first since you're sure you'll like it?
- I think nope. Because there are new books from my author and I try it but it didn't work for me. So, maybe I'm going to check the description first and If I find it interesting, I'm going to add it to my TBR list:D