June 2020 Reading Discussion

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Happy June everyone! We are almost halfway through the year, and summer is right around the corner (for those of us in the northern hemisphere, anyway). It's also Pride Month!

What are your plans for this month? What books do you have on your radar?

[Milena]

I didn't plan this to coincide with Pride Month (but maybe the author did), but I just got Something to Talk About for Kindle from the library.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Milena wrote: "I didn't plan this to coincide with Pride Month (but maybe the author did), but I just got Something to Talk About for Kindle from the library."

The hype for that book is strong! I've seen people talking about it all over.

I'm picking up Dear Evan Hansen, which my friend loaned to me with sticky notes telling me when I should listen to each song on the musical soundtrack. I'm pretty excited haha!

[Sarah]

I'm currently at 40/52 completed, and have the following books on my ATY radar for this month:
#39 A books my and author whose name(s) you're not quite sure how to pronounce: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
#47 A classic book you've always meant to read: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I may also substitute in The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman for #19 A fantasy book (for which I currently have The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien pencilled in).

[[deleted user]]

I have a pretty structured and full reading month ahead of me! Most are BRs/BoM for another group I'm in, or books I'm using for the Summer ATY challenge :)

My June TBR List
Half-Resurrection Blues
Kill the Dead
Sweet Silver Blues
Ghosts & Liars
Race of Thieves
Second Grave on the Left
Polaris Rising

[Pam]

I just passed the halfway point! I have a few library e-books I'm still reading (The Stand, Severance, The Day the Sun Died), a few more on loan that I just downloaded (The Glass Hotel, Nightmare At 20,000 Feet), and a few I had to push out but may receive before July (A People's Future of the United States: Speculative Fiction from 25 Extraordinary Writers, The Nickel Boys). Also, one of our library systems is now open for hold pickups only and I have one there to pick up tomorrow - The Starless Sea. I had to make an appointment to pick it up! I tried to listen to the audiobook but gave up immediately.

[Hannah]

I use the Libby app for nearly all of my reading, which means that what I'm going to read next is determined by a combination of fate and my borderline obsessive finagling with my holds shelf, which is always kept completely full. I just started reading Possession and I have The Dispossessed coming in soon as well, which I'm pretty pleased about since they're my binary pair of opposites and I think it'll be interesting to read them close together (they're very different in terms of genre and plot, so I'm curious to see if the theme of ownership is treated similarly at all - I suspect not!). However, they're also both pretty dense books, so I want to balance them with some lighter/quicker reads. Through careful management of the herd of cats that is my holds shelf, I think I've banished the few long nonfiction books I was waiting on to next month. In place, I think I'm going to get The Bear and the Nightingale and a friend just loaned me her paper copy of Normal People. And of course, I'm still finishing up Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life. So that seems like a decent balance, especially considering all the thesis reading I'm actually meant to be doing...

[Bana AZ]

I'm currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and I'm loving it so so much! I'll probably finish it within the week.

For my LGBTQIA+ book, I'll read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. I'm also planning to read The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker this month.

My book buddy for 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami has been super busy and I consider it a sacrifice on my part that I have to slow down my pace since this is such a great book!

-
Do you pay attention to the "rating details" of books? Not just the GR average rating but the details like how many people gave it 5, or 4 etc stars? I've just recently started paying attention to it and sometimes there's a book that has a high average rating, but the details show that it actually has more 3-star ratings than 5-star ratings, so there's a higher chance that I'll think of it as a 3-star read too. Just wondering.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Ana, that's an interesting question. I personally don't look at anything before I read the book -- the synopsis, the reviews, the rating. I'm too worried that it will spoil the book or make me expect something and make it harder for me to fully enjoy. The only time I look at ratings is when I am cleaning out my TBR and I tend to get rid of any books that have an overall rating below a 3.5. I haven't had success with books that have a lower overall rating than that.

After I read the book, though, I'll go look at the reviews and see how they match with mine. I've found some friends of mine that I usually have very similar ratings to, and I have some friends that I usually have polar opposite ratings haha! It is interesting to see how my ratings and reviews align with everyone else's.

[Entropia]

I usually look at synopsis, rating and negative reviews if they don't seem to be spoilerish. If people complain about something I know I'd have issue with too, then I usually pass.

As for my plans - right now I'm reading Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain for emotion in title prompt (kinda cheating, but it was something I felt like reading the most now) and I'm loving it. I already added another book of the same author Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain to my tbr. Speaking of tbr, I had a relapse and added bunch of books :{

Because I'm reading in order, my plan of using Inne Światy for "book related to arts" prompt got derailed - the book is waiting for at my mom's place in Poland and we were supposed to visit her near end of next month, which probably won't happen anyway due to corona. So I'm left with B options, books written by artists (Insatiability or The Hearing Trumpet), books that would help in work (The Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles, and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators or Game Anim: Video Game Animation Explained). But there is huge chance I will end up picking up The King in Yellow, because I'm in a mood for some weird horror.

For goodreads awards prompt I have quite limited choice, I've already read The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays and Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction, so my options are: Exhalation: Stories and Song for the Unraveling of the World.

For history prompt I have tons of options and I will narrow it down when I get there ;)

[Suzanne]

Hannah wrote: "I use the Libby app for nearly all of my reading, which means that what I'm going to read next is determined by a combination of fate and my borderline obsessive finagling with my holds shelf, whic..."

I just started Possession too!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Possession is one of my favorite books ever!

[Cheryl A.]

I am continuing with book 3 of The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries, Murder Most Maine, by Karen MacInerney.

I am reading for pleasure now so I will put them what ever prompt they happen to fit (if at all!) I find I focus better this way. Allergies are hitting pretty hard the last couple of weeks so reading had to be around headaches (some days no reading and some days I could go through 4 to 6 chapters.)

Here's hoping for some relief from this pandemic (not to mention the violent protesting) and praying for all peaceful protestors during this difficult time in our nation and the world in general.

[Sherri]

I didn't plan to coincide with pride month either but I finished Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I enjoyed it. Gave it 4 stars.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Sherri, I read that one in April and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I knew nothing about Glennon Doyle before reading it, so I was really intrigued by her life story.

[Sherri]

The exact same here. I knew nothing about her. I had never read her books before. I was also intrigued by her story.

[Jillian]

Right now, I have A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas and Uprooted by Naomi Novik going. My library copies of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel just came in.

[Ashley]

I have just finished reading Cell and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I just received a book in a giveaway and two books from book of the month. I am reading Divergent, which I have been meaning to read for awhile.

[Anthony]

Hey everyone, newbie here. Robin convinced me to jump in with both feet and just match up what I have read so far with the categories. I’m trying to update my list this weekend and will add comments to the weekly threads as well. I also use the Libby app for much of my reading so like Hannah mentioned what o read next depends on my holds and how quickly I can get through them. I’m about a third of the way through Catch-22 right now. I have The Hate U Give already borrowed so I am trying to finish Catch before I have to return The Hate.

[Cheryl A.]

Completed today (another 5 stars - love this series!)

I can't afford book 4 and it is not available at my library so I will just continue with what I do have and what I can get from the library!

Next read: then onward!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Welcome, Anthony! The Hate U Give IS WONDERFUL and a quicker read (well, probably quicker than Catch-22 lol), but so impactful.

I'm working my way through The Girl with the Louding Voice, which I'm hoping to finish today. I love the main character, Adunni... she's feisty and determined. Putting this one towards the -ing prompt, even though Louding is a made up word lol

[Sherri]

I finished The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. I used it for week 10 a book between 400-600 pages.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Sherri, wasn't it amazing?

[Sherri]

It was. I loved the story & the writing. I was totally engaged.

[Sherri]

I finished In The Woods (Dublin Murder Squad #1)by Tana French for week #41 A mystery.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Nice, Sherri! How did you like it? It's a series I've been thinking about picking up.

[Suzanne]

Emily wrote: "Nice, Sherri! How did you like it? It's a series I've been thinking about picking up."

I love this series. It is so, so good. I have enjoyed this new series too The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

We read The Ruin for book club last year and it was a hit with everyone! I haven't picked up the next in the series though.

[MaryAnn (EmilyD1037)]

I have been reading a little, no particular book from the list.
I am going to place the ones I have read into an appropriate topic

I plan to read one from LGBTQIA+ topic from some I have already started, which is several.

I will pick another topic and post it later.

I have a lot to catch up on *sigh*

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

I've been sticking to just getting kindle books from my library, even though they've been doing curbside for a couple weeks now. However, I'm just not feeling anything currently available on overdrive, so I decided I'd put in some holds for physical books. And then I went and requested 15 books. 🤦‍♀️

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Hahahaha Jackie I'm the SAME. The first day our library was open, I went and returned all the books I had over quarantine (read or unread). I wanted a clean slate... then the next day, I went check out 12 physical books and haven't even taken them out of the bag lolol. Sigh.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I just finished Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, which, oof, was a super powerful and super upsetting look at the American justice system (particularly in the South), and how it often fails the poor and minorities. I'm glad I listened to it and heard these stories... I plan on watching the movie tonight!

[Sherri]

I completed for week #52 A book about time. I gave it 4 stars. Well researched & written. Very deep.

[Anastasia]

Black Mad Wheel by Josh Malerman is a good book that has music and sound as its main themes. He wrote Bird Box as well. So if you liked that one, you may like this one. What is really cool is that he is also a musician.

I used it for #25 related to the arts.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Emily wrote: "I just finished Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, which, oof, was a super powerful and super upsetting look at the American justice system (particularly in the South), ..."

It’s an amazing story and the author regularly shows up on TV and radio now. I like how he admits he was rather naive when he went to the South and was just taken over by his mission.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I mean, the things he's done for law, especially in the South (where I live) is just incredible, and he seems so humble, despite all of his success. I can't stop thinking about this book!

[Hannah]

Robin wrote: "Emily wrote: "I just finished Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, which, oof, was a super powerful and super upsetting look at the American justice system (particularly i..."

My hold on this has just come in, so it's good to hear you both think it's an incredible book.

[[deleted user]]

Jackie wrote: "I've been sticking to just getting kindle books from my library, even though they've been doing curbside for a couple weeks now. However, I'm just not feeling anything currently available on overdr..."

I'm picking up our first curbside order today and yeah. It's bad. LOL :) Actually most of my holds are for my kids. I only have 2 coming, which I am so proud of my restraint hahaha. I've really switched over to ebooks though over the past few months of pandemic wackiness. I even bought a Kobo, to compliment my Kindle, so now I have two ereaders, plus I just started getting into audio-books on my phone, which I'm borrowing from Hoopla/Overdrive. I really like the ereaders abilities to adjust font/light, and I don't know if I'll really get back into print books at this point?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I've realized I have a habit of looking at where my bookmark is every time I stop reading. Like, I close my book, then turn it and look at the top to see how far my bookmark progressed through the pages.

That is why I don't use an ereader lol. It's not as satisfying to finish a book when you can't judge your progress by flipping pages! (Of course, I have plenty of access to paper books and have no real need for an ereader at this point in my life.)

[Brooke]

Emily wrote: "I've realized I have a habit of looking at where my bookmark is every time I stop reading. Like, I close my book, then turn it and look at the top to see how far my bookmark progressed through the ..."

Emily I do that with my hard copies, too! It is indeed satisfying to see the bookmark move.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

When I picked up my books, I called the number and told them my name, and the library worker goes "Oh *you're* the one with the *three* bags!"

Wow, thanks, didn't need that judgement.

[Entropia]

Emily wrote: "I've realized I have a habit of looking at where my bookmark is every time I stop reading. Like, I close my book, then turn it and look at the top to see how far my bookmark progressed through the ..."

I get the same feeling from ereader's percentage finished, it feels really satisfying to me to see those numbers grow to 100% :)

[Lin]

My library opened for pickups this week. I was so excited to pick up some books!!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Yay, Linda! That's the best!

[Sherri]

Since I last checked in I have completed two books. Fleishman Is In Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. It wasn’t for this challenge. I gave it 3 stars. I really didn’t like the characters. The other book was Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I used it for week #31 A book Inspired by a leading news story. I gave it 5 stars. I currently have 2 books going which is something I never do. The Overstory by Richard Powers. I started it 6/16 but put it down to read Between The World and Me. The other book is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.

[Hannah]

I was saying last month that although I read a bunch of 4 and 5 star books, they were all pretty slow burns and I was kind of missing the feeling of just being completely caught up in something and tearing through it. This month I read Possession, which was incredible but basically the definition of a slow burn, and then I hoped that The Bear and the Nightingale would be my fun fast read, but I ended up not feeling it at all. But FINALLY, I got to Normal People, which I read almost entirely in one day and was exactly what I was looking for. Yay for books you fly through because you just can't put them down!

[Cheryl A.]

Completed and then completed two days later. Both of these are by Karen MacInerney

Started Brush with Death, again by Karen MacInerney, over a week ago. Then our city's Coronavirus levels started spiking. My stress level went up along with the spike and focus level all but disappeared. Finally, I realized I can't do anything about this except wear mask when I must go out in public, do morning grocery/medical needs and get back and stay home where I know I am safe! That helped so I am going to finish book 5 of the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series tonight. Tomorrow I will begin, I hope, book 6 of the series then complete all the books that fit somewhere in the series but are stand alone short stories.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I listened to The Poet X on audio and HOLY COW it was so, so good. I'm not sure I would have appreciated it when reading it, but the audio was perfect and beautiful and so impactful.

[Traci]

Pretty sure I just DNF'd The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. There's a chance I'll come back to it, but I just can't get into it. I don't know when the last time I DNF'd was, and I kind of don't like it (I always have the existential crisis of what if it was going to get better???).

[Traci]

Emily wrote: "I listened to The Poet X on audio and HOLY COW it was so, so good. I'm not sure I would have appreciated it when reading it, but the audio was perfect and beautiful and so impactful."

Ooh, good to know. I recently finished Clap When You Land, which I loved, and added her other two to my library holds (both in audio).