Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2020 Weekly Checkins
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Week 21: 5/14 - 5/21
Shannon wrote: "Some jerk-face decided to have a warehouse party with around 500 people last weekend, most of whom are apparently service industry workers. So yeah, that doesn't make me want to go out and support them (even though that's something I've been trying to do with ordering out and getting gift cards and such). The guy's been bragging about it all over social media and getting his followers to mock anyone who dares to speak out against him. He owns a local bar. I sincerely hope it shuts down. But I imagine he'll get support from all those others who think staying at home is an infringement on their freedom. *major eye roll*
"
We are having a similar issue with a concert that has been scheduled for the 30th. The mayor of a nearby city thought it would be a great idea to let a local group focusing on reopening businesses (and Freedom!) hold a Collin Raye concert with booths for businesses, even though it is against all current guidelines. As of this morning, because the city council and county health department is totally against it, they are moving it to another city. I don't know if that city is going to be totally on board either. But those who have turned this virus into a political statement can't wait to flaunt their fearless patriotism. I will not be going.
Cendaquenta wrote: "Evening...man i'm bored. Quarantine hasn't been too bad so far, but now I'm just getting so fed up and there's this weird feeling of unreality. I have these moments of shock every now and again, w..."
Yay, you read Raptor Red! :D It's one of my favorite books.
I'm still at 44/50 for the challenge and might need to do some rearranging to finish. This week I read The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida which was really good. I appreciate books that can dig into a serious subject without making the whole story too depressing to get through. 4 stars
I read The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Sexual Abuse: Hope through Trauma for a community initiative advocates are working on and it had some great information. 4 stars
Even though short story collections rarely work well on audio, I tried out Things We Lost in the Fire and was pleasantly surprised. These stories are dark, but they worked for me. 4 stars
I listened to Long Division just in time to hear the author speak for an online event. The time travel parts got a bit confusing but it had a great ending and was a fun story overall. 4 stars
I finally finished my hard copy of Dear Edward and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. It was a good story, but a few things irked me. It did keep me engaged though. 3 stars
Currently reading: The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories on kindle and listening to The Immortals of Tehran.
**Note: if anyone has read The Paper Menagerie short story (it's great - you should!), I'm hosting a virtual discussion about it with the author Ken Liu on June 14th at 2pm Eastern. Send me a message if you'd like to join us!
QOTW: I've had very vivid dreams every night of my life, but I can't think of any related to books or the library. They used to be very violent dreams (likely from PTSD) but I discovered that smelling rose oil before you go to sleep magically zaps the violence out of dreams. I don't know how, but I've been using it for over two years now and the results are incredible! I highly recommend it for anyone who suffers from nightmares.
Oh man the books I've chosen are taking me forever to wade through.The two I did read I'm not claiming for this challenge (yet) but one did work for my literary destinations challenge.
The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard. It's actually a good mystery set around storm chasing in Oklahoma. I'm sad it was a stand alone because I liked the sheriff.
Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu this is just a fantastic horror-fantasy
QOTW Honestly I don't dream about books or libraries much. I do however dream an awful lot about characters. Then again I write an awful lot of fanfic
Cendaquenta wrote: "I remember hearing that it's impossible to read in dreams, but then only days or weeks later having a dream about a bookshop and being able to read the titles perfectly."Oh yeah, I've had a reading dream too. I was in a huge reading slump in real life, and I dreamed I was in a store and found an interesting-looking book and just sat down on the floor right there to read it. When I woke up I was sad because I'd been excited to actually read something >_>
Teri wrote: "My short hairstyle is now awful, but I'm not ready to brave a salon. I had to take scissors to it myself as I needed to see past my bangs, and it already needs another whack. I'm trying to decide if I'm brave enough for the sides and back. I mean, really, who sees me anyway?"
I cut my hair a couple weeks ago. The bangs are a little uneven and probably the back too, but I decided I don't care because I'm at home anyway. The sides were surprisingly the easiest part.
It's officially my last day of HS! But I haven't graduated yet so we're in sort of limbo right now as class of 2020Finished: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins for book featuring one of the 7 deadly sins
Goodreads 10/15
Popsugar 10/50
Currently Reading: The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman (book on a subjet you know nothing about)
The Revenant (a Western)
Starting: Probably nothing new this week since I just started both of those books in my CR
QOTD: Maybe more when I was younger.
Whoo it's actually Thursday. I got excited to post in the checkin that Holly Black is publishing a collection of Cardan's perspective in November... only to discover it was Wednesday. This week was over all busy. My niece had a social distancing 6th birthday party throughout the day in the garage. Weird people thought it was a garage sale?? Then I was finally able to hit the highway and visit some family. Singing along to music in the car is so much more fun than at home.Finished:
The Last Wish 4 stars
These short stories had a lot of fairy tales thrown in that they cut for Netflix.
Goodreads 89/150
PS 2020 39/50
PS 2016 27/40
Currently Reading:
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World I learned that the Jurassic park movies don't keep me up to date on dinosaurs with last weeks QOTW.
Ryder Awesome novella that is ongoing.
The Girl in the Spider's Web
Little Women
QOTW
I'm another non dreamer. However I do daydream about the books I've read and beautiful libraries.
Only managed to finish one book this week, I think because work has become busy, busy, busy, and it's eaten into my weekday reading time (how dare it!).Finished: Memoirs of a Geisha for A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics. I really liked this one. I have no idea if it was an authentic representation of geisha and geisha culture, but it 'felt' authentic, if you know what I mean? At least, I felt like I was immersed in a culture that felt real, and was different to mine.
Started: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes for A book that's published in 2020. So far it's an entertaining enough page-turner, but I'm also feeling a distinct 'what's the point?' vibe (which isn't a general reaction to it being a prequel, as I don't think all prequels are pointless).
QOTW:
I can't specifically remember dreaming about libraries or bookshops, but I think I must have had dreams involving book characters. While they're not strictly book characters (although I'm sure there are spin-off novels featuring them) I dreamt about the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who the other night - which was not surprising given that I'd been watching an episode with them in that evening!
This crisis is wearing on me. I don't feel like doing too much reading. Fortunately garden season is here so I'll spend this weekend doing some planting. Hope it recharges my batteries.This week I finished The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. Currently readingFranklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship by Jon Meacham.
Ali wrote: "I'm getting close to that point in the challenge where I only have some quite specific prompts open or things that aren't really in my usual taste. I've done 35/50 now but I'm at the point where I'..."I just finished Long Bright River and I loved it. Although it is often tough to read, the characters and twisty plot made it worth it. Hope you like it!
I also loved the Cromwell trilogy and have The Mirror & the Light waiting for me. Great books.
I’m at 24/50. Since my last check in I finished: The Signature of All Things - I used this for a book about a woman in STEM. I liked this book, but it was too long. The beginning was great, but it really stalled out for me in the middle.
Valentine - apparently there is a horror movie with this name, so it worked! This is a good book about women in W. Texas. Told from multiple points of view, you really feel what’s it’s like to live in this place.
How Not to Die Alone set in a city that hosted the Olympics (London). Charming book.
Long Bright River passes the Bechel test. A literary mystery that is about addiction and families. I really liked it, even though I tend to shy away from books that deal with drugs.
Good reading month for me!
QOTW: not really. I can’t remember any dreams about my books, but I wish I did!
Lynn wrote: "I'm sorry, but I really have trouble believing such people are alive and well. Not only the organizer, but those who participated. What do they hope to prove? I just don't get it...but I guess they have a right to put themselves at risk. I just hope I don't have to inadvertently deal with any of them."
I have never, ever understood people with that kind of "you can't tell me what to do!" mentality, particularly when what they're being told is so obviously a protective measure, not just for them but for others! I really wish I could get a list of places those people work at so I can never go there. But with that many people (and all of them doing a surprisingly good job maintaining secrecy), I know that's not really possible.
Selfish is the best word I can think of.
Teri wrote: "We are having a similar issue with a concert that has been scheduled for the 30th. The mayor of a nearby city thought it would be a great idea to let a local group focusing on reopening businesses (and Freedom!)"I just...don't...get it. The complete lack of regard for other people. The complete lack of common sense. I know lots of people don't like rules, but this isn't some arbitrary thing just to make life annoying!
I'll stop, because I know I'm "preaching to the choir," as they say.
If any of you are enneagram fans, I'm a 1, so this sort of thing pushes ALL my buttons.
This week I finished “behind the beautiful forevers”. If you’re looking for a book by a journalist, or possibly a book about a subject you know nothing about-I recommend this account of a life in Mumbai slum by Katherine Boo. It’s fairly quick, and she has a beautiful writing style. I’m engrossed in “Americhana” right now and will probably finish it this weekend. Gorgeous prose, a little lengthy, plot is not riveting, but I’m enjoying it.” WOTW: I just had a peculiar and beautiful dream-a book with a yellow warbler on the page that was fluttering its wings-like the newspapers in Harry Potter! I mean that was the whole of what I remember. I think I was sitting with the book on my lap.
Finished reading: Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics (a book on a subject you know nothing about): An interesting and informative read, took me a while to get through it but glad I've read it!
A Sky Painted Gold (a book with gold, silver or bronze in the title): Picked this up as I loved Under a Dancing Star, really enjoyed the descriptions and the main character in this is great.
Currently reading:
Wolf Hall (a fiction or non-fiction book about a world leader): I'm counting it for this prompt despite seeing some debate on this! I've had this on my TBR shelf for about seven years so it's finally time to read it, and it's probably going to take me the rest of May to finish it. Good so far but takes a lot of focus to keep going with it.
QOTW: I've definitely dreamt of libraries, bookshops and fictional worlds/characters, but I can't remember the specifics right now!
Mod
Sure wish I had known this trick when I was suffering from nightmares! That is so cool! Thank you for posting, as well as adding yet again to my TBR! Definitely interested in obtaining a copy of The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and participating in the Ken Liu event.
Correction: I just ordered a copy of this from Better World Books! :)
I totally forgot to post yesterday. It's been busy at work so I was distracted. I'm glad it's Friday though and a three day weekend even if there is nowhere to go. Finished:
Big Summer- I was pleasantly surprised that this book had a bit of a mystery to it because I didn't originally see it described that way. It was a fun read. 4 stars
Little Whispers - I had an ARC of this and have enjoyed this author previously. This was not my favorite though. It moved a little slow for me. 3 stars
Rich People Problems - I used this for prompt #19 - a book set in a country that begins with "C". This was not my favorite series, but I stuck with it to see how it ended. I honestly preferred the movie to the first book. I guess I wanted the story to be mainly about Nick and Rachel, but there were a lot of characters to keep track of. 3 stars
Challenge Progress:
Regular Challenge - 22/40
Advanced Challenge - 6/10
Total - 28/50
Currently Reading:
A Good Marriage - I'm reading this for an online book club and really enjoying it.
The Jane Austen Society - I have an ARC of this I'm hoping to finish before the end of the month.
Ghosts of Harvard - I'm listening to this on audiobook and although it's not exactly what I expected, it's very interesting.
QOTW - do you have dreams about your libraries, bookstores, or books, characters, etc?
I think I had a dream about Barnes and Noble once. I know I dream about books, but can't remember any specifics.
I've been working from home since mid-March but our office building will be opening back up next Friday, so I should be getting back to a new normal soon. This is only my second check-in (didn't realize this was here!), but I finished 5 books this week...If you are looking for a book with Gold, Silver or Bronze in the title or maybe a book on a topic you know nothing about - I recommend The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II - it's a true story of women ferrying planes for WWII but in an environment where men ruled.
I also read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - loved it!!
Last night I finished Twenty for the book prompt of a book with 20 or Twenty in the title...It was good, but I did not like the ending.
That's it for me - stay safe everyone!
Mod
Finished: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins for book featuring one of the 7..."
CONGRATULATIONS!! How exciting! :)
Mod
That is one of the best books I have ever read. I believe anyone and everyone in the US should read it.
Quarantine has never been a completely stay at home thing for me. My work reduced down from 40 hours to 20 hours. Recently we started a 16 hour week. Today I found out June 1 we will be back to full time as our state opens back up and the university starts getting ready for fall semester.Recently I finished 3 books for the challenge:
Caught in Time by Julie McElwain (upside down image- it’s at the top very light image)
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (western)
Remedial Rocket Science (title caught my attention)
Question of the week: I don’t dream about characters or reading or libraries etc. I have dreamed a movie complete with credits rolling so I wonder sometimes if I dream plots that could become a book if I expanded on the movie dreams. As with a lot of dreams, details start to disappear the more I wake up.
Josie wrote: "It's officially my last day of HS! But I haven't graduated yet so we're in sort of limbo right now as class of 2020"Congratulations! My state had graduations this week, and many of the high schools came up with some really clever ways to honor their seniors (drive-bys, car graduations, parades, etc). Many of the grads said that they thought it was much more fun than sitting through a three hour ceremony. If nothing else, your class is experiencing its own unique graduation experience. Best wishes for a wonderful rest of your life.
Shannon wrote: "I just...don't...get it. The complete lack of regard for other people. The complete lack of common sense. I know lots of people don't like rules, but this isn't some arbitrary thing just to make life annoying!I'll stop, because I know I'm "preaching to the choir," as they say."
Unfortunately, I have several close family members who have this "you can't make me, I'm a patriot" mentality. In fact, I have made a couple of them mad at me for making a comment about their boycotting businesses who make them wear masks. At least they get that I'm high risk and stay away from me, but I've lost some respect for people that I really love. It's difficult.
Machell wrote: "If you are looking for a book with Gold, Silver or Bronze in the title or maybe a book on a topic you know nothing about - I recommend The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II - it's a true story of women ferrying planes for WWII but in an environment where men ruled."Glad to hear about this book. It just went to the top of my list for this topic. I've been reading The Lady Astronaut series, and the main character (fictional) had been one of these pilots. So it would be great to read about the real pilots.
Teri wrote: "Unfortunately, I have several close family members who have this "you can't make me, I'm a patriot" mentality. In fact, I have made a couple of them mad at me for making a comment about their boycotting businesses who make them wear masks. At least they get that I'm high risk and stay away from me, but I've lost some respect for people that I really love. "I'll say this much. Better to just boycott the business than to go there and demand their rights to not wear face masks. Which is absolutely ridiculous. A business can set whatever rules they want. You don't like it, you don't have to go. Which sounds like the route your folks are taking.
For some reason this week has been a tough emotional week. Thinking about body/mind and trying to start taking small steps to listen to my body and clear my head. Walking is helping...27/40 PopSugar
6/10 Advanced PopSugar
33/100 GoodReads
Finished Reading:
1.) The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan (#36-Pink Cover) ⭐️⭐️ - Great premise, sloppy execution.
2. Long Bright River by Liz Moore (#10-Recommended by Podcast/Blogger) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2- Really well done! Characters were well drawn - complications run amok and the tension held pretty steady throughout the book. Bravo!
Currently Reading:
1.) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
2.) The Tattooist of Auschwitz
3.) Waiting for Tom Hanks
QOTW: do you have dreams about your libraries, bookstores, or books, characters, etc?
Do daydreams count? HAHA- I can't remember actually dreaming about anything book related, but for sure have escaped into my head many times to visit all of the above.
Mod
Indiana is reopening. Slowly. I was able to get my hair cut Saturday and my favorite stylist was working, so YAY for me! The only way you could enter the shop was by wearing a mask which was fine by me. Our masks arrived Saturday just before I went to town. It will take some getting used to, but I intend to wear it wherever…at least for the foreseeable future. My University is planning to reopen research labs beginning June 1st since they have IU Health prepared to test any employee for COVID-19 if they are presenting suspicious symptoms. We’ll see how that goes.
I lost all connection to the university server last week. Very strange, because I can connect anywhere else just fine. So the department decided to purchase a new laptop for me to use for work. (I did feel it was unfair not to be provided with a computer to work from home. Faculty all have laptops with docks on their desks. I feel they should do the same for staff. Especially with this emergency situation at present.) It is to be shipped directly to my house and then I will have to load the programs, etc. I don’t mind, since one of the most patient IT folks in our department will be helping me. But…according to them, it will most likely take 2-3 weeks for it to arrive. That tells me one thing. They plan on staff working remotely for at least that much longer. I am rather assuming we may well be WFH at least throughout June.
I did get to sneak into my favorite local used bookstore Tuesday and came away with the one book being held for me as well as another 10 from the clearance shelves for $10! Cool! Plus I had over $5 in credit to use. I am one happy addict! :)
My gym is going to try to slowly reopen sometime in June, hopefully before the 15th, with many restrictions (limited reservations to attend class, etc.) and as an instructor, I will be volunteering to go in and help deep clean the whole facility over the next 2 weeks. I don’t mind. They’ve been paying me this whole time, so the least I can do is work for them now.
As many of you have stated, I fear we are pushing the reopening too soon, but all I can really do is try to protect myself and my husband as much as possible by continuing to stay home as much as possible, and ‘mask up’ when out and about for necessities.
As you look at my listing of books read this week you might note that three of them had the SAME title. Yes, the exact same title. This is due to the Popsugar 2019 reading prompts of reading two books with the same title. I ran out of time last year, but fulfilled those prompts this year! And I discovered a new series that I will continue reading with Mary Alice Monroe’s book. Double bonus!
Popsugar: 43/50
ATY: 45/52
RHC: 16/24
Reading Women: 11/26
As others have mentioned, I am now at a point that I need to start reading the books for specific prompts for these challenges. But I am relatively happy with the progress I have made. Yes, I do double- or triple- or quadruple-dip! However many prompts I can fill with one book, I do!
FINISHED:
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway which is the first (and only) Hemingway I’ve read! I did initially read it at age 13-14, but certainly did not get out of it what I did on a reread some 50 years later! This was a remarkable story of strength, courage, endurance, faith, and utter determination. And yet to what end? I felt so very sorry for Santiago, though he did prove that he could do it!
Popsugar: #3-“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eight-four days now without taking a fish.”, #6, NEW #19, #20, #24-I know nothing about fishing in a skiff on the open sea, nor living in a shack with no conveniences, #34, #38, #40, #43-impairment from sun’s reflection on the water, #46, #48
ATY: #4-Living in a shack with no conveniences in a hot tropical climate like Cuba, #9, #16-Gulf Coast of Cuba, #18, #22, #33-I would argue Santiago and Manolin formed a non-traditional family, #43-Death, #52
RHC: #10
The Talented Clementine (Clementine #2) written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee was so adorable! I love Clementine and Frazee’s illustrations just bring the whole story to life! I will definitely purchase the rest of the series and then send it on to my grandchildren. So darned cute! Just the “breath of fresh air” I needed.
Popsugar: #3-“I have noticed that teachers get excited confused with boring a lot.”, #6, #12, #20, #33-4.13, #34, #35, #46, #47
ATY: #9, #12, #13, #25, #36-on a whim. #49
Reading Women: #20
The Beach House (Beach House #1) by Mary Alice Munroe. This was much more complex than I expected, and yet so enjoyable. Much as with The Book Club when I read it 5 years ago. (Everyone in my book club really liked it!) I laughed at times, chuckled a few times, and cried a couple of times. Concisely drawn characters and realistic relationships. There is a particularly fraught mother-daughter relationship that was so poignant. I could relate well to both perspectives. I felt the romance was well written, too. I will definitely continue with this series!
Popsugar: #3-“It was twilight and a brilliant red sun lazily made its hazy descent off the South Carolina coast.”, #6, #12, #20, 24-I know nothing about living in the Barrier Islands or on a beach, #27-Greed, Envy, #33-4.20, #34, #35, #40, #46
ATY: #5, #9, #10-491 pages, #16, #18, #22, #33, #34-Romance, #43-Death, #52
RHC: NEW #5, #10
Reading Women: #12, #22-New-to-me publisher: Mira
The Beach House by Jane Green was such a great read! I loved this book. This is the second Jane Green book I’ve read and certainly will not be the last! I own several more and hope to get at least one more read this year. In some respects I don’t believe her characterization, at least in this book, was quite as intensely detailed as that of Monroe’s above, but the plot was certainly complex and I believe this book will stay with me for a while…
Popsugar: #3-“The bike crunches along the gravel path, weaving around the potholes that could present danger to someone who didn’t know the road like the back of their hand.”, #6, #12, #13, #20, #24-I know nothing about marrying a rich man or being a widow, #27-Lust, Greed, Envy, Wrath, #34, #35
ATY: #2, #9, #18, #22, #23, #25-Michael is a jeweler/jewelry maker, Daff is a painter, and Bee is a writer, #29-Underrated at 3.66, IMO!, #33, #34-LBGTQ+, Romance, #43-Death, #52
RHC: #14
Reading Women: #12, #20, #22-new-to-me publisher: Viking Adult
The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge was a typical Patterson crime thriller, IMO. And honestly, if not for reading three books with the same title, I might not have finished reading it. I purposefully avoid his thrillers because they are typically too violent for me. I just don’t need that many dead bodies nor so many violent acts, nor as many violent details. I am such a wuss! All that said…this was a good mystery with many twists and turns that I did not expect.
Popsugar: #3-“It’s like dancing sitting down.”, #13, #15, #20, #24-I know nothing about being a law student or intern, #27-Pride, Lust, Greed, Wrath, #34, #35, #46, #50
ATY: #4-I cannot imagine living among the pretentious super-rich in a place like the Hamptons. Yuck!, #12, #22, #23, #33, #36-On a whim since it was the third one entitled The Beach House, #39, #41, #43-Death, #52
RHC: #3
Continuing:
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. Neglected this last weekend. Determined to finish it this weekend. Somehow I suspect this will not be a "happy read"!
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Over halfway through. Plan to finish this weekend. This one really challenges my sense of perception!
Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt. Yep! That Roosevelt! He wrote a mystery series involving his parents, FDR and Eleanor. I picked up three of them for $1 each at the sidewalk sale for my favorite local used bookstore this past summer. They are the older editions, too! I’m only 8 pages in and so far it seems a bit dry. We’ll see how it goes.
Planned:
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi Buddy Read and I assume that once I start reading this I won’t stop for anything else! I was totally enamored and enthralled with the first book in the series. This is what I plan to read tomorrow! Fantasy immersion!
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. Buddy Read and reread. Hope to read this one on Monday. I hope that reading for longer periods of time will help this one gel for me this second time around.
The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar. For the Popsugar June Monthly Book Discussion.
Question of the Week
(from Jennifer W) do you have dreams about your libraries, bookstores, or books, characters, etc?
This is a perfectly timed question for me. I was reading The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge Wednesday night before bed and ended up dreaming about the characters and the violent scenes. (Unfortunately, when I selected this book as the third entitled The Beach House I failed to notice this was a Patterson crime thriller. I purposefully avoid those as a rule, ‘cause his books are just a tad too violent for my taste.) They weren’t nightmares, per se, since I didn’t awake with my heart pounding, etc., but they were definitely unpleasant. So, I finished reading this early in the evening so there are no more such “dreams” with which I must deal…
Many nights since I started working remotely, I will dream I am reading and/or writing a book. It seems so real that when I awake I am surprised I am lying in bed and not sitting up! It takes a moment for me to realize I was only dreaming! I don't recall that ever happening before.
Mod
Congratulations, soon-to-be grad! I know your senior year was not at all what you anticipated, and there were probably a lot of disappointments, but this will be a year like no other, you'll have stories to tell! Hopefully your school can have a graduation ceremony.
Good morning, everyone! I hope that you all have a fun (and safe) Memorial Day weekend!A lot of local businesses have opened in the last couple of weeks, but I've made the decision to continue staying home as much as possible. Most of my family is considered high-risk for Covid-19, including myself, so it seems wise to continue isolating for the time being.
I’m mostly sticking with fast, easy reads at the moment, but I’m still managing to make some progress on the Reading Challenge.
POPSUGAR: 38/50
Goodreads: 113/150
Finished Reading:
Tales from Jabba's Palace - "an anthology"
Alien: Echo - "a book with an upside-down image on the cover"
If you'd like to read my thoughts about these books, you can find them at https://theunapologeticbookworm.com/2....
Come Tumbling Down
Death at Victoria Dock
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 1
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 2
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 3
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 4
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 5
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 6
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 7
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 8
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 9
Assassination Classroom, Vol. 10
Currently Reading:
I have not yet begun reading another book, but I am planning to read Network Effect and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes this week...as soon as I can figure out which one I'd rather read first.
QOTW:
I usually read right before I go to bed at night, and frequently dream about the books I am reading. I can usually read pretty much any genre right before I go to sleep without my dreams bothering me, but I don’t read anything related to zombies after sundown. That always results in nightmares.
I’ve only had one dream about a bookstore that I can remember, which involved an all-expense-paid shopping spree. Unfortunately, I woke up before I managed to reach the checkout line.
I finished The Uncommon Reader, Origin, and Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes.I am at 29/50 for this challenge.
QOTW: I do not have have dreams about your libraries, bookstores, or books, or characters. I usually read before I go to bed, but just sleep until the alarm goes off or I wake up. I don't really have/remember dreams, especially lately.
I did dream about books last night! I went back to my parents' house and I picked out some books to re-read, including Atonement and The Book of Dust Vol 1. I considered Never Let Me Go but decided not to pick that up for some reason XD
By the way, on the group front page, how come we're currently reading The Bane Chronicles? I liked the book but offhand I don't think it fits any of the challenge categories (except maybe anthology if the stories were published separately first).
Mod
Hi Folks!While much of Maryland has started slowly reopening some things (too quickly for my taste), here in Baltimore we're still in a 'Stay at home' phase.
I've TOTALLY forgotten to update my POPSUGAR challenge, but have finally gotten back to doing a lot of reading. This month is was all about book clubs in that four of the five I belong to (virtually) are reading books that were interesting to me. So here is what I've knocked out on the POPS Challenge so far in May:
A BOOK ABOUT OR BY WOMEN IN STEM: "Seven Days in May" by Kim Izzo. This is historical fiction based in fact about the men (and many uncredited women) who worked on using math to decode secret transmissions in World War I against the German Navy and tried to stop the sinking of the 'HMS Lusitania.' The main character is a using woman who is a natural with mathematical logarithms.
A BOOK WITH 20 LETTERS IN THE TITLE: "Creatures of Light and Darkness" by Roger Zelazny. This was for the Science Fiction Book Club here on Goodreads. I'd read other works by Zelazny and really liked them. While this volume was quite good, it was REALLY trippy! Imagine mixing Science Fiction with Steampunk and Egyptian Mythology and.... GO!
A BOOK SET IN THE 1920s: "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie. This was the first of TWO Agatha Christie books that came up for DIFFERENT Book Clubs. This one being the 'I'm not obsessed, I just like to read" Book Club on Facebook. This book was written in 1923 and was written in a contemporary setting for that time. This is the 3rd novel featuring the great Hercule Poirot. I really quite liked it, the discussion was pretty lively as well.
A BOOK WITH A 4 STAR RATING ON GOODREADS: "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie. This is the other Agatha Christie book for a local book club that meets at our local bookstore (Shout out to Atomic Books in Hampden) with the yearlong trend of 'Page to Screen Books.' I'd never read the book, even though I saw the movie probably 30 years ago. I had forgotten enough to make the reading very interesting. Let's see how the Zoom Book Club meeting goes!
Hope everyone stays safe!!!
Bobbie
Hello everyone! Hope you are all safe and healthy. Virginia has started phase 1 opening in pretty much all of the state except for Northern Virginia and the city that I live in, as I'm in a city where a delay in phase 1 opening was requested. The weather has been pretty nice the last few days so I'm excited to sit outside this week.Currently Reading
This week I am currently reading The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar. This satisfies the challenge prompt a book with a pink cover.
Finished
Last week I finished Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo and this week I finished The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan. Clap When You Land is being used for the challenge prompt a book published in 2020.
Popsugar: 12/50 (my personal goal is 15, but currently rethinking this)
Goodreads: 13/20 (I just increased my goal from 15)
Since I work a lot, I increase my goals as I go because sometimes I am guilty of letting work get in the way of fun things like reading and end up beating myself up because of it.
QOTW
I will fully admit that I have dreamt about book characters before. If I find a book good enough to stay with me, usually I spend a few days reflecting on what I read and occasionally my brain decides to do that through a dream.
As states begin to open, I hope you all are staying safe! Have a good week!
Mod
I have learned to start out with a lower goal than I hope to read and then increase if I can, too! :)
Same, I lowball my reading goal. Generally I read between 150 to 200 books in a year, and I set my reading goal initially to 100, then increase as I get close.I think this year I'll keep it at 100, though - I am not stressing myself at all beyond - *gestures broadly at apocalypse* - the unavoidable.
I feel seen! I am currently contemplating increasing my gr goal from 100 that I think I will hit in the next month or so (I also read and count picture books etc otherwise that number would have been a lot lower). I like a nice round number, so I want it to be 200, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. On the other hand I don't like to meet the number when there's a half year left... What to do. It also seems there's no-one else who will understand my dilemma, but you guys ;D
My reading goal, rather than a number, is to always be reading something good. If I am, then curiosity will propel me to read more. If I need more motivation, then library due dates and wanting to be caught up in my series provide it.
Brandon wrote: "... If I need more motivation, library due dates and wanting to be caught up in my series provide it. ..."Ha, yes, this is also me :)
Mod
I set a lowball goal (52 books a year) and don't adjust it. I like goodreads always telling me I'm ahead of my goal, haha.
I always set mine at 52 too! This year is the first time I think I might not make it. Stupid apocalypse :D
I always set mine fairly high, but that's because I read a lot of comics. When I go on a binge I easily can knock out 5+ trades in a week so it kinda inflates my numbers.
Hello!Here in São Paulo we are still in isolation. Next week we will see what happens next to us.
This week I finished Physik. Really great story. When going to libray is a possibility I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.
I started Two Truths and a Lie. I watched the TV series, but it was cancelled after season 2, so it left me with lots of questions, I want to see if the book series will solve them.
QOTW: I probally had a dream were a character from a book appears. I think Hermione Granger could have gave me some good advice to do what I need to do in the dream. Or maybe I was in Hogwarts studying or in Jane Austen time and annoyed to have to wear clothes from that time. I only could think of that. Libraries or bookshops I don`t think I have dreamed about.
Lynn wrote: "I have learned to start out with a lower goal than I hope to read and then increase if I can, too! :)"I'm happy to see that others think the same way Lynn! :)
Nadine wrote: "I don't create a reading goal on GR because I hate how the site hassles you about it. On my spreadsheet, I create achievable goals and "stretch goals" that are more challenging, and I don't move th..."Ah that's smart Nadine. I've never thought of it like that. Definitely something to think about this year!
Cendaquenta wrote: "Same, I lowball my reading goal. Generally I read between 150 to 200 books in a year, and I set my reading goal initially to 100, then increase as I get close.I think this year I'll keep it at 100..."
Honestly I dream of being able to read 200 books in a year :D. It's cool to know that even people that read more than me lowball their goals as well :)
Johanne wrote: "I feel seen! I am currently contemplating increasing my gr goal from 100 that I think I will hit in the next month or so (I also read and count picture books etc otherwise that number would have be..."First year I seriously set a goal, I increased it at least, maybe 4 times...and still read about a dozen boojs over. Did the a couple of years. Last year I set a goal that was average of prior 3 or so years, and was a few books short primarily because my woekload increased exponentially and I joined a Proust reading and discussion group in Sept. I reduced my goal this year to below what I read last year because work demands were continuing and Proust runs through June. I am currently 11 books behind where I should be. I blame the pandemic.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Two Truths and a Lie (other topics)Physik (other topics)
The Uncommon Reader (other topics)
Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (other topics)
Origin (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Liz Moore (other topics)Ruth Hogan (other topics)
Jon Meacham (other topics)
Amy Tan (other topics)
Agatha Christie (other topics)
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Finished:
A Cast-Off Coven. I love this series! Juliet Blackwell really does her research. This was just going to be a visit with some favorite characters for mood reading, but there are books on the shelves behind the trove of Edwardian dresses, so I'm using this for a book with a book on the cover.
Christmas in Plains: Memories. Because who doesn't "need a little Christmas, right this very minute"? Very sweet memoirs from Jimmy Carter, great family memories and details not made public prior to this writing. In the very first presidential election in which I was eligible to vote, this is who I voted for, do I've been meaning to read his writings for a while. Book non-fiction by a world leader.
Currently reading:
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President. Word of caution: if you read one Jimmy Carter memoir, you might wanna read another. just sayin'.
QOTW:
I have dreamed of my library! A couple weeks into quarantine, we had a stretch of stormy weather. I dreamed I broke into our library, ostensibly to get warm and dry, if anyone asked (in the dream). When the security guard found me crouched on the floor in the new fiction aisle, I told him I just wanted to look at the books - I wasn't going to touch them. LOL, I dream a lot, and usually weirdly detailed.