Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2020 Weekly Checkins
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Week 24: 6/5 - 6/11
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poshpenny wrote: "Lynn wrote: "poshpenny wrote: "Mary Robinette Kowal is beginning her Livestream narration for The Relentless Moon in 5 minutes! And I'm at work! ppfftt
https://youtu.be/0OJZZgj42mI"
Since I'm sti..."
Glad you could hear it as well. That is so much fun to listen to!
https://youtu.be/0OJZZgj42mI"
Since I'm sti..."
Glad you could hear it as well. That is so much fun to listen to!
Lilith wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I don't think these books are what you-all think of as "magical realism," but the book club I facilitate has some members who do not range far and wide in their reading preferences, so..."
I keep meaning to read more of Harris's books but just have not worked them in to my rotation yet! :)
I keep meaning to read more of Harris's books but just have not worked them in to my rotation yet! :)



I read



The book I started next was Berried to the Hilt complete on 14th and then started Brush with Death by same author.
I will note them on next weekly check-in!
Lilith wrote: " Stacey wrote:
I have seen both character info dump and magical realism done together in a way that I actually really enjoyed though in The Astonishing Color of After! I'm having a hard time pinpo..."
Is this Margot Berwin as in Scent of Darkness and Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire?
I'm always on the lookout for magical realism books! :)
I have seen both character info dump and magical realism done together in a way that I actually really enjoyed though in The Astonishing Color of After! I'm having a hard time pinpo..."
Is this Margot Berwin as in Scent of Darkness and Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire?
I'm always on the lookout for magical realism books! :)
Lilith wrote: " Stacey wrote:
I have seen both character info dump and magical realism done together in a way that I actually really enjoyed though in The Astonishing Color of After! I'm having a hard time pinpo..."
And what are a couple of your favorite Alice Hoffman books?
I have seen both character info dump and magical realism done together in a way that I actually really enjoyed though in The Astonishing Color of After! I'm having a hard time pinpo..."
And what are a couple of your favorite Alice Hoffman books?

Aww I love it and I hope that you really enjoy them if you decide to pick them up! :D We definitely can't all have the same tastes in books and sometimes I find that reverse recommendations like that can really work out! :D
I'm someone who has almost always avoided horror as well (although have been looking into it a bit more lately). I guess in terms of whether you should brave McGuire's books or not it depends why you don't like horror? For me, I hate when the tone of the whole book is scary or when it's the type of story that I could easily insert myself into. For me, Every Heart a Doorway wasn't either of those things so it was totally okay. I will just include a small warning though that there are a couple of moments in the story that include a short description of some gore. They weren't really focused on or delved into in the book (you're reading about them through the eyes of teenagers) and I personally didn't consider them really vivid descriptions but they were definitely in there so if that type of thing is a very hard no for you then just be aware! :) I can't speak to the content of her other books but maybe you can find some trigger/content warnings or maybe someone else here will know! :)

I'm not sure if I know the actual definition either, haha because the difference between low fantasy and magical realism isn't always clear to me but I always considered magical realism to be when a book has a real world or real world-like/mundane setting and introduces magical or supernatural elements but the characters either don't react to it or react to it as though it's more or less ordinary and those elements remain kind of minimal. In contrast, I think of low fantasy more as when you're in a real world setting but magic is very apparent and often reacted to and probably also includes a magic system of some kind.
So just as an example.. for me the bits in the Harry Potter series that take place in London, I would consider to be low fantasy. Even in those parts of the books, magic tends to be a prevalent thing and loads of characters react to it as it's happening (like the owls delivering all his entrance letters and the glass at the zoo and the Ford Anglia being spotted etc.)
For me I can see why Every Heart a Doorway would be considered as a low fantasy (because the idea of these portal worlds is brought up, it drives the book and everyone reacts to the mention of them and the kids experiences with them and because the subsequent books in the series include time in those portal worlds) but the first book specifically had way more of a magical realism feel to it.
Also, this whole chat is helping me realize why I didn't like The Night Circus either and why people who usually don't like fantasy usually still enjoy it! I think it often gets considered to be a low fantasy but has several aspects that feel a lot more like MR!
Also I just realized The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (which is on my shelf) is MR and now I'm scared to pick it up (not that I had plans to any time soon anyways)..lol! Oh well, at least I didn't spend any money on it since my sister bought it, read it and then passed it on to me. :P

I also like conventional exposition and plot advancement! As for linear time structure, I don't mind stories being told out of order (e.g. Vicious flits between "last week" and "three years ago" and "now"), but I want a linear story to eventually emerge, unless there's cool time loop/paradox stuff going on"
Yess!! I also love a good hard magic system and a strong plot that keeps my interest! I too, don't mind if things happen a little out of order as long as a story emerges. It sounds like you and I might share some of the same preferences which seems so funny since we had vastly enjoyment of Every Heart! xD

I haven't finished reading anything lately, but I'm making good progress in On the Laps of Gods: The Red Summer of 1919 and the Struggle for Justice That Remade a Nation. I had to put it down last night after reading about how the police and other powerful community members were repeatedly, brutally, whipping men and women to force confessions out of them. I just.... there are no words. How does this happen in this country??? At any rate, I plan to resume reading today.
Oh, I think I forgot to mention that my library has started limited lobby entrance pick ups and curbside pick ups! You can't go in and browse, but it's a start. Though I have plenty at home to read....
I think I prefer magical realism to straight up sci fi/ fantasy. To me, it's fun to have just a sprinkling of magic in a story. One Hundred Years of Solitude is a great read, and I highly recommend it, but get yourself a good family tree from wikipedia or something before you tackle it. Everybody has the same name!!
QOTW: The last book I got sucked into was Miracle Creek. I feel like I haven't had many books lately that grab me and won't let go, so I'll have to find some options from some other people's posts.

I don't know. Sometimes I have trouble defining my tastes. If I like it, I like it lol. I was going to say I don't really like realistic fiction, but it's more that I don't like adult realistic fiction.
Stacey wrote: "I'm someone who has almost always avoided horror as well (although have been looking into it a bit more lately). I guess in terms of whether you should brave McGuire's books or not it depends why you don't like horror?"
This is really helpful. It sounds a bit like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in terms of horror levels. I was fine with that one, outside of (view spoiler) So I think I'll give Seanan a try! It'll have to wait for awhile, though haha.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America - A book on a subject you know nothing about
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all, super late posting for me, been busy lately. I'm off work today, and planning on being lazy, reading, watching (last year's) baseball, napping, and maybe taking myself out for ice cream thi..."
I am glad for your day off and some solitude! Enjoy!
I really need to boost One Hundred Years of Solitude and Miracle Creek up on my TBR listing! And I didn't realize OHoS was magical realism so now I am even more interested!
I am glad for your day off and some solitude! Enjoy!
I really need to boost One Hundred Years of Solitude and Miracle Creek up on my TBR listing! And I didn't realize OHoS was magical realism so now I am even more interested!

OHYoS is very much magical realism, was probably my first real exposure to it.
Spent most of my day off napping, guess I needed it!!
Jennifer W wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all, super late posting for me, been busy lately. I'm off work today, and planning on being lazy, reading, watching (last year's) baseball, napping, and maybe tak..."
Good for you! Napping sounds wonderful! :)
Good for you! Napping sounds wonderful! :)

On the Seanan McGuire side, the only thing I've really connected with to date has been her work for Marvel Comics, particularly Ghost-Spider.
Brandon wrote: "For those who may not go for Seanan McGuire's books as much, you might want to try a pen name of hers, Mira Grant. There, her work tends to be more sci-fi oriented, and she impresses me with her ch..."
I've read both. It's her writing style that doesn't work for me, so I didn't like Feed either - and I usually love zombie books and big government conspiracies! The plot was great, but I was very meh on the book.
I've read both. It's her writing style that doesn't work for me, so I didn't like Feed either - and I usually love zombie books and big government conspiracies! The plot was great, but I was very meh on the book.

I really enjoyed The House of the Spiritstoo. The historical events are well developed as well as the personal events and attachments in the family saga - definitely well balanced, which isn't always easy. The story is well-rooted in a historical time and place while the magical elements enhance - and never overshadow - the "real". And thanks for the appreciation!

Is this Margot Berwin as in Scent of Darkness and Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire?
"
Yes indeed! Hothouse Flower I the lighter of the two. The MC has a sense of fun and openness to new experience. She'll tell you why in the first chapter. I think you would really enjoy her journey.
I loved the Scent of Darkness, but it's "darker" than the first one. Not scary or horror, just that the sense of humor of the MC is less highlighted, and she is willing to explore things that might have been more esoteric for her. More of an internal journey for her.
I loved them both! Looking forward to a third book from Margot Berwin.

The Third Angel - This explores a family through different decades. The 60s in London are highlighted, and I could relate to all my wishful childhood dreams and all my teenage rock eperiences.
The River King The characters are amazing. I till think about Gus. It's a little sad, but it is balanced with hope.
Practical Magic - Long before it was a movie, there was the book. I HATED the movie! But the book was the start to my magical realism love. The book just took me to Western Massachusetts- such a sense of place - and the characters were - and are - brilliant.
I wasn't blown away by her early writing, but by Practical Magic, I was hooked. Loved the "middle years" of her writing. Her later books are more of an exploration of her personal and ancestral history. They don't grab me as much. But always a good thing to explore.
Lilith wrote: "Lynn wrote: ": And what are a couple of your favorite Alice Hoffman books?
The Third Angel - This explores a family through different decades. The 60s in London are highlighted, a..."
Thank you!
The Third Angel - This explores a family through different decades. The 60s in London are highlighted, a..."
Thank you!
Lilith wrote: "Lynn wrote:
Is this Margot Berwin as in Scent of Darkness and Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire?
Yes indeed! Hothouse Flower I the lighter of the two. The MC has a sense of fun ..."
Cool! Thanks!
Is this Margot Berwin as in Scent of Darkness and Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire?
Yes indeed! Hothouse Flower I the lighter of the two. The MC has a sense of fun ..."
Cool! Thanks!

The Third Angel - This explores a family through different decades. The 60s in London are highlighted, a..."
Thank you, Lilith. I have only read Alice Hoffman from her personal and ancestral heritage period (The Dovekeepers, etc). Looking forward to exploring her magical realism works.

[Practical Magic - Long before it was a movie, there was the book. I HATED the movie! But the book was the start to my magical realism love. The book just took me to Western Massachusetts- such a sense of place - and the characters were - and are - brilliant.."
The movie was so terrible. It left out the heart and soul of the book, IMO.

[Practical Magic - Long before it was a movie, there was the book. I HATED the movie! But the book was t..."
That makes me sad--I LOVE that movie! But I didn't even know until last year that it was a book. Now I'm scared to read the book because I'm worried it'll ruin the movie lol.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Third Angel (other topics)The Dovekeepers (other topics)
The Third Angel (other topics)
The River King (other topics)
The Third Angel (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Karen MacInerney (other topics)Seanan McGuire (other topics)
Sarah Addison Allen (other topics)
Mary Robinette Kowal (other topics)
Mary Robinette Kowal (other topics)
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Authorial reticence is the "deliberate withholding of information and explanations about the disconcerting fictitious world". [...] Explaining the supernatural world or presenting it as extraordinary would immediately reduce its legitimacy relative to the natural world.
I like magic systems explained! (Not every explanation has to be detailed on-page, but I want to feel that the author has a system of rules in mind and isn't just making stuff up as she goes)
[T]he reader must let go of pre-existing ties to conventional exposition, plot advancement, linear time structure, scientific reason, etc., to strive for a state of heightened awareness of life's connectedness or hidden meanings. Luis Leal articulates this feeling as "to seize the mystery that breathes behind things."
I also like conventional exposition and plot advancement! As for linear time structure, I don't mind stories being told out of order (e.g. Vicious flits between "last week" and "three years ago" and "now"), but I want a linear story to eventually emerge, unless there's cool time loop/paradox stuff going on.