Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
>
Week 1: 1/1 - 1/7
date
newest »
newest »
I finished Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did, but I really liked it. I'll be participating in the group discussion about it. Can't wait to hear what people think!QotW:
I could not stand The Shack by William Paul Young. It was so weird! No other way to put it. I did not understand why people were so into this book. I finished it but only because I skimmed the last 3/4 of it. I usually give my books away to someone who I think would enjoy them. This book I couldn't do that. Just had to toss it in the Goodwill pile.
oh gosh, I feel that I'm so behind on picking my books. I've been trying to catch up but it's just giving a headache. I love reading you guys though. Happy reading.
Shannon wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Wow. I looked up The Autism Puzzle because the title immediately set my teeth on edge (given the puzzle piece so often used is so incredibly harmful), and well. I read the reviews, t..."I'm sorry if I have upset so many people because I wrote about a book I read. And I DO have autism.. I'm NOT trying to cure my autism. It's who I am. The book is about toxic chemicals that we are exposed to everyday. I had thought maybe this explains why I can't actually GO anywhere where there is an air freshener because they make me sick. And I react to other people's perfume outside. I'll be walking along doing my cardio (I walk and not run because all of my joints are hypermobile and my knees hyperextend so running is not good) and my eyes will start burning because of their perfume or whatever scented products they are wearing, and I start itching too. I can't meet my peer support person in person anymore because I reacted to her shampoo. I think my body just can't detox. And when I was a kid I was being exposed to my grandfather melting metal and welding. The fumes...it was his hobby and my mother (who I'm sure was autistic too) would have been exposed to that too. My stomach and gut don't work right. I'm on a very limited diet. So even if this pandemic goes away and things go back to normal for most people, I'm stuck living in a pandemic state because I react to too much stuff. Air freshener are everywhere. I also react to other people cooking fumes so I can't go to museums and stuff because they all have restaurants inside. I react to restaurants outside. I have a logical brain and I just felt this book had explained a lot of stuff about why I react to so much stuff. I read this for the info on chemicals and how those chemicals can be hidden, like in a landfill that is turned into a park. Which was across the street from the house I grew up in and my great-grandfather house was next to it (and he was melting metal too).
But I'm sorry I have made you upset.
I will go away and not bother you anymore. I'll just do the challenges on my own. I was excited about this but now I just feel bad and have anxiety again.
Mod
Welcome!!
QOTW: What was the most recent book that you really really disliked? What made you dislike it? What book in that genre or about that topic do you recommend instead?
The most recent book that I really really disliked was The Island of Doctor Moreau It was a selection for my book club and I read about 20 pages and I was like no thank you! The book was boring and I couldn't get into the causal racism and classism. I'd recommend To Kill a Mockingbird or The Diary of a Young Girl."
Yeah, The Island of Dr. Moreau does not interest me in the least. I love your recommended alternatives though! :)
"Planned
Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife for 18. A book about a subject you are passionate about
7. A book where the main character works at your current or dream job The Doula Blueprint:: How to Become a Doula and Create a Successful Business"
I just have to ask... Are you a doula?
"8. A book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction The Song of Achilles"
I hope you enjoy it. One of my favorites!
Mod
That is soooooooo awesome! Good for you! I agree, if it is a chore it is not fun!
"QOTW I don't tend to read or finish books I hate nor keep records of them but Umbrella Man by Willow Rose came close. I think I might hate it more by well this author does with books this bad. The characters had zero depth, the main character seemed utterly unaffected by the betrayal (and death) of one of her few relatives whom she liked but mentions like once post death. The plot was ripped directly from Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors and the big twist was the Freddy Kruegeresque villain was an albino African American. No lie, that was the big twist. There is so much better horror out there. Pick up a Stephen King or give The Only Good Indiansby Stephen Graham Jones or Hallelujahby Kim Fielding & F.E. Feely jr a try"
I don't do horror at all, but am glad you addressed this for those who do!
Sarah wrote: "I will go away and not bother you anymore. I'll just do the challenges on my own. I was excited about this but now I just feel bad and have anxiety again.."Please don't let this drive you off the forum, that was never my intention. I know intention doesn't matter, but I am sorry and I hope you'll be back to discuss the rest of the challenge with all of us!
Is anyone else having issues posting comments? I tried to post a comment on a Goodreads article and it tells me my account isn't authorized to perform this action. Wat.
Mod
I think the thing about autism is that it really is a broad spectrum, and not everyone who has autism experiences it the same way. I'm not diagnosed with autism so I try to stay out of conversations about it, but that's been my observation.
I had no idea that the puzzle piece symbol is offensive to some people, so I learned something in this discussion.
It's really helpful to remember that no one is criticizing the reader, the criticism is aimed only at the book. We can all be friends and still not like the same books. That's certainly true for me, anyway! Our discussions will always be better if everyone stays and speaks up.
Nadine wrote: "I had no idea that the puzzle piece symbol is offensive to some people, so I learned something in this discussion."Yeah I didn't know at first either! But yeah:
'The origins of the puzzle piece, the primary symbol for autism, go back to 1963. It was created by Gerald Gasson, a parent and board member for the National Autistic Society (formerly The Society for Autistic Children) in London. The board believed autistic people suffered from a 'puzzling' condition'
Let's just say we don't like to be seen as a puzzle to be solved, as a piece that must fit into society without showing any differences.
'Included with the puzzle piece was an image of a weeping child. The weeping child was used as a reminder that Autistic people suffer from their condition.'
I mean ...
Then there's the fact that it was known as blue which alludes to the time when they thought only (or at least for the major majority) boys were autistic.
It's also been described as it representing the missing piece of us and let's just say I'm not missing anything. Allistics think we're confusing and puzzling, while in reality they're the ones that make us guess as to what they're thinking, because they hardly ever say what they mean, haha!
I like the rebranding of the puzzle piece, but it's done so much harm already, and it is so associated with Autism Speaks (an organization to avoid At All Costs) that I think it is time for a new symbol. I personally like the rainbow infinity symbol!
You are so right on it being a broad spectrum, though! My sister and I are so very different, also partly cuz her IQ is very low and mine is very high. It's different for everyone! It was said best in my opinion in NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently: "If you've met one person with autism, you met one person with autism." (It was written before we shifted back to using 'autistic') It is so true, though!
In the latest DSM they even scrapped Asperger's and just named it all "Autism Spectrum Disorder", I think it was in an attempt to stop trying to push us in more defined boxes, even if we didn't wholly fit. I personally prefer it this way!
Anyways, if you ever want to know more, I'm more than willing to talk! In DMs, so I don't clog up the thread, hahah!
After reading the comments about autism, I realize I'm quite uneducated. Could someone please recommend a book that would be a good place to start?If it fit into the challenge that would be great, but it is not necessary.
I’ve finished Hillbilly Elegy, The Subtle Knife and Fifty Words for Rain. Each was enjoyable it a different way, but 50 Words was probably my favorite. I thought the characters were well developed and most had both desirable and undesirable characteristics, making their decisions frustrating, yet understandable. If you watch the H. E. movie on Netflix, it doesn’t do the book justice. It’s more like a series of vignettes, some of which I don’t even remember from the book. I also watched season 2 of His Dark Materials on HBO, which is essentially The Subtle Knife. It’s a plus to have read the books as the series will make more sense, but there are quite a few differences. QOTW: The last book I really hated was The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. I just reread my review, which started with “painfully predictable”. Predictable story lines aren’t always awful for me-only about 90% of the time😉, and this one just didn’t much for me.
Currently reading The Invention of Wings. So far, it’s heading for the 4 star rating.
I've finished my first two books for the 2021 Popsugar Reading challenge!For 42 - the shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list I read Waiting on a Bright Moon by J.Y. Yang.
For 29 - a book set in multiple countries I read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (which is absolutely beautiful, by the way).
For 25- a book that was published anonymously I have just started reading The Arabian Nights.
Next I'll start on 41- the longest book (by pages) on your TBR list which for me is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
Looking forward to a year of reading! :)
Sarah wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Wow. I looked up The Autism Puzzle because the title immediately set my teeth on edge (given the puzzle piece so often used is so incredibly harmful), and well. I rea..."I have a feeling my comment saying that "we should learn about autism from those with actual experience" played a part in making it seem like I was upset or attacking, or that I assumed you didn't have said experience -- that was not aimed in any way at you, but at authors and speakers who try to talk about an experience they've never had. I've never lived that experience, and so would never try to talk about it as though I know what it's like.
I know others have said this, but please don't leave the group and stop posting. Reading other perspectives given in a kind way is one of the reasons I love this group so much. My comment was only there to support Carmen in feeling comfortable speaking about her feelings and her experience, and my comment pertains to you, as well--I promise you, we want you here.
We're all interested in learning along with our reading, and we can't really learn unless the people who truly know chime in.
Allie wrote: "After reading the comments about autism, I realize I'm quite uneducated. Could someone please recommend a book that would be a good place to start?If it fit into the challenge that would be great..."
I personally found Neurotribes (I can't add the link cuz apparently the search function is currently not working, but I think I added it in a previous comment!) really good! The part about the second world war was incredibly hard to read, it left me feeling physically ill, but it taught me a lot! I have learned plenty more since online. We learn so much so fast books quickly grow outdated, haha!
I finished the monthly group read for January, Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano for the fresh starts prompt. I'm currently reading The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder for the "book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover" prompt.
QoTW:
A recent book that I hated was Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler. It was either last year or the year before last, for the 'retelling of a classic' Goodreads prompt. It was just really bad writing, although the plot was fine.
Happy (belated) New Year! It hasn't been the calmest start to the year, so I haven't been reading as much as I'd like, but I've gotten two prompts taken care of.For Week 1 I read:
Such a Fun Age- for book everyone has read but me
The Cousins- for family tree
Right now I'm reading The Kindest Lie for book published in 2021. And then maybe Anxious People for locked room mystery- but I'm not sure if I'll get to it before it's returned to the library.
QotW: my least favorite book recently was a historical where everything was tied up so easily at the end, that it made the rest of the book even more ridiculous.
I finished my first book of the year!The Stone Sky I am sad this series has ended for me, but can you believe my luck when I saw that this fit perfectly into a prompt this year? I had planned to buddy read it in January months before the prompts were even released, so that was nifty.
^Great, unique series. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
I'm currently reading now:
The Hero of Ages on audio and Station Eleven
Yes, by the end of this month I'll hopefully have completed two trilogies haha. But I desperately want to start the second Mistborn trilogy after because I'm hooked and need more.
Station Eleven is far too real at the moment. I'm highlighting all the quotes that are relevant to life right now lol.
QOTM:
OMG, in November I read The Zodiac Killer. What a truly awful book. I will say the plot itself was engaging, but I had to get past the abundance of misogyny in it (it was written by two female authors which was disappointing) and the way the book ended. There's meant to be 13 books in the series and apparently the crime isn't solved until book 13 and... no thank you.
In December I read Scrublands and this was a much better introduction to crime. It was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. What I liked about it was the way bits of information were revealed throughout the book rather than everything resolving at the end. You were able to piece it together as the book went along and I thoroughly enjoyed that about it.
Mod
Always nice to get that first book out of the way! And congratulations on finishing both of those in 2020! Look out 2021! :)
"Currently Listening To:
A Promised Land by Barack Obama (PS: The longest book on your TBR list by pages, ATY: A book set in a state, province, or country you have never visited)."
I hope to get to this one sometime this year... I am really tempted to listen to it as well. I tackled a rather long book first thing last year as well.
"On Deck:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley (PS: No prompt, ATY: A book whose title and author both contain the letter "U"). After two biographies of US Presidents this will be a nice of change of pace."
I hadn't even thought of that book for that prompt. I enjoyed it last year...though it's not my favorite mystery by any means...
"QOTW:
I DNF'd Followers by Megan Angelo. I am really not big on Social Media (I only have Instagram which is just pictures of my dog) so I don't know why I thought I would like this book. No regrets.."
You made me laugh! :)
Mod
Somehow, I never added this one to my TBR listing, but I did now! It sounds excellent. I am also trying to read more scientific books this year! I have 3 planned.
"QoTW
What a fun question!! Haha what does it say about me that I enjoy talking about books I didn't like?"
You are too funny! LOL
"The last book that I didn't like was The Guest List. I gave it two stars. I like the psychological thriller subgenre and other books I'd recommend in this genre are Into the Water (I know, not everyone loved this one), The Girl on the Train, Strangers on a Train, Dark Places, Sharp Objects, The Wolf Wants In, Sunburn, Conviction, The Kind Worth Killing, or Pieces of Her."
I own Sunburn and hope to get to it finally this year! I want to read Strangers on a Train sometime as well...
"In 2020 I didn't really persist with any books I was actively detesting, so I didn't have any true hatereads. The only full-length book that I finished in 2020 and gave one star was my medical thriller, Host. This is the only medical thriller I've ever read, so I don't have anything else I'd suggest. I plan to just avoid that subgenre in future hahah"
Sometimes it isn't that we find books we enjoy, but we discover books/authors we really DON'T enjoy (side-eyeing Gabriel Garcia Marquez!) :)
Mod
How cool is that?!?
"My grandmother had two books of Japanese fairy tales for me, too - I guess I must have taken them long ago, which means they are lost in a box somewhere in my house right now. Too bad. I would have liked to read them again."
It is rather depressing to have to hunt through everything... :(
Mod
I'm making certain I listen to my meditation faithfully every morning and keep up with my workouts. I'm also trying to speak with friends more often. *sigh* If we can just get through 1-20-21 with no more violence and/or lives lost in the US...
"This week I finished:
Waiting to Exhale I probably wasn't the best audience for this, but it was my only BIPOC author option for the '90s bestseller prompt. Still decent though. 3 stars"
I am so looking forward to this one. I have read several of her books and loved them!
"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man I used this for the anonymous prompt, and I was intrigued for most of it, but I find it really difficult to give a rating to books that are older like this."
I guess I have no trouble with that, but I try to put the book in context before I rate it and then try to list any exceptions to reading it now...
"Silver, Sword, and Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story This had a lot of intense history, but it's always good to brush up on that. (mineral/rock prompt) 4 stars"
I probably really need to read this one!
"The Scent Keeper This was pretty creative, although sometimes it was too heavy handed on the theme of everything being connected to smell."
Bauermeister is one of my very favorite authors and I know that scent/smell is one of our strongest links to memories, etc., so I guess it didn't feel that heavy-handed to me, but I can see where it might seem that way...
"Currently reading: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies in print and listening to Where We Come From"
I am totally blaming you for the recent increases in my TBR listing! :)
"QOTW: Hmm good question. I also didn't like Normal People, but plots that revolve around romance are not for me. I'll say that the short story collection I'm reading now (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) has plenty of romance, but I've really enjoyed it so far. Such beautiful stories. Highly recommend!"
I like that recommendation!
Mod
Literal LOL at this!!! I just started a re-read of Dune!! I haven't gotten very far, just the first few pages, and I was surprised at how the tone feels like a kids' book. Is it possible we didn't have the "YA" category back then because the "adult" books were written at an elementary school level??"
Exactly. According to Wikipedia: The modern classification of young-adult fiction originated during the 1960s, after the publication of S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders (1967). This was originally published in 1965. I sometimes think that is one reason why I enjoy YA books now...now that I'm in my mid-60s! LOL
I finished In a Holidaze for a book about do-overs or fresh starts. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie, but quite steamier! Highly recommend
Mod
Definitely! Keep concentrating on the positive! "Trash fire" seems very accurate to me! :(
"Moonflower Murders (set in multiple countries): Seems good, but I just got a bunch of library holds in, so this one might have to go on pause."
Ooohhh.. really want to read Magpie Murders...
"QOTW: For suresies A Town Like Alice! There is a great plot in there, and some interesting characters, but oh myyyy with the casual, persistent racism. It's not a meet-cute when the male lead calls the female lead a racial slur, y'all. Ughhh. Some people have claimed that it's reflecting the times rather than being racist itself, to which I say IT CAN BE BOTH. I'm sure there are better books about both Malaya and Australia."
I can only imagine since it was first published in 1950.
Mod
One more side note for Nadine specifically--we tend to have opposing tastes in books, so keep that in mind too. ;)"
I always celebrate when she and I agree! :)
Mod
That looks like a good one!
"Qotw: How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't I think it was trying to be funny, but was too despondent to succeed.
The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr Norris/Goodbye to Berlin had some disturbing content. Fortunately, I don't remember what anymore."
I don't know. Neither of those titles encourage me to read the books! :)
Mod
At least you got a "balanced" start though! :)
"Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels - used for 17, same title as a song; this was just not my cup of tea. I found the characterization of law enforcement, particularly DEA, as seriously lacking, quite a few plot holes, and the dialog - just no. The book had fairly good reviews, so I was really disappointed."
I just read a novella written by her and found her disappointing as well...
"Seriously good reco's from such young readers (9 and 11), lol. I loved it!"
I love it when that happens. Our book club read one of the member's 9-year-old grandson's recommendation and we all loved it!
"QOTW: The last book I really hated was listed above, Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels. I only finished it because it fit several challenges. Try an Evanovich romance instead, like The Rocky Road to Romance."
I like Janet Evanovich's romance novels that are not in the Stephanie Plum series as well.
Mod
I noticed the other day I have several of his books I have not yet read. I need to do that!
"The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl: The shortest book on your TBR (it's one I'm pretty sure I read as a child, but I don't remember it very well)."
And this is a good reminder that I have yet to read a Dahl book...
"I've made the decision to allow myself to swap some of the prompts from this year's challenge that I really don't like (*cough* women's prize for fiction *cough*) for prompts from previous years. I want to enjoy the challenge, not have it feel like a chore and reading a book a really have no interest in."
Sounds as if you have it all planned out to suit you and make sure you enjoy your reading! Excellent!
"QOTW:
I apparently like books more often than dislike them. I remember being disappointed in Highfire last year because the premise was SO GREAT, but it felt like the humor was all pointed at 14-year-old boys (even though it's definitely an adult novel)."
That is typically true for me as well. In fact, if I wasn't reading for challenges I venture to say I would rarely ever encounter a book I didn't at least enjoy reading... And I couldn't help thinking that there are some 'adults' who definitely still enjoy '14-year-old boy' humor! LOL
"Three Dashes Bitters is probably the last one I remember actively hating (but I still gave it 2 stars, because I met the author at an event and felt bad giving it 1 star lol). Gosh, talk about modern-day sexism! I'm still offended he compared himself to Jane Austen (supposedly because of the "social commentary" but...no.)."
Oh, my. Ugh! That sounds like a bad reading experience! And meeting the author experience!
Tomorrow is check in day, but I just want to pop back in here and say real quick:I finished the Popsugar 2020 challenge!
Now let's get cracking on this year's!
Carmen wrote: "Tomorrow is check in day, but I just want to pop back in here and say real quick:I finished the Popsugar 2020 challenge!
Now let's get cracking on this year's!"
At first I thought you meant this year's and I was like, whoah, that was fast.
Katy wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Tomorrow is check in day, but I just want to pop back in here and say real quick:I finished the Popsugar 2020 challenge!
Now let's get cracking on this year's!"
At first I though..."
Wouldn't that be something?? :O
Carmen wrote: "Tomorrow is check in day, but I just want to pop back in here and say real quick:I finished the Popsugar 2020 challenge!
Now let's get cracking on this year's!"
Congrats Carmen! :)
Carmen wrote: "I finished the Popsugar 2020 challenge!"YAY! 🥳
Katy wrote: "At first I thought you meant this year's and I was like, whoah, that was fast...."
Imagine that kind of reading power!
Late start with the accounting, ha.That first week I managed to finish two books,
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, for prompt 13, locked room mystery, and
Wind Chime Café by Sophie Moss, for prompt 14, set in a restaurant.
QotW:
I only hate one book with the burning passion of a thousand suns,
Beim nächsten Mann wird alles anders by Eva Heller. Though I did finish it. I can not remember not finishing a book (or planning to finish it eventually), but this was the only book I ever actually threw across the room for being so very annoying.
Last year I had to almost force myself to finish Bright Messengers by Gentry Lee because it is so very pointless and badly written. This year I am determined to get through the last one in the Rama Omnibus, Double Full Moon Night, just to finish the damn thing.
I know I do not HAVE to finish books that annoy me, but I guess that is a symptom of OCD... I just can not leave them unfinished, it unsettles me more than READING that dreck.
Question of the weekWhat was the most recent book that you really really disliked? What made you dislike it? What book in that genre or about that topic do you recommend instead?
I think the little house in the big woods. It was a slow pace but I like the writing. I think, Island of the blue dolphins by Scott O'Dell because it has Young adult, middle grade, School, and Survival.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Beim nächsten Mann wird alles anders (other topics)Wind Chime Café (other topics)
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (other topics)
Bright Messengers (other topics)
Double Full Moon Night (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ann Napolitano (other topics)Jostein Gaarder (other topics)
Min Jin Lee (other topics)
J.Y. Yang (other topics)
Donna Tartt (other topics)
More...
Finished:
The Bitch
Saga, Vol. 3 I used this for book featuring three generations.
This Tender Land I read this for a book club, but it also ended up fitting perfectly for a book set mostly outside.
Yes, Chef on audio
Currently reading:
A Deadly Education
War and Peace
Moonflower Murders on audio
QOTW:
One book I really did not enjoy was The Last Story of Mina Lee. A book that I enjoyed more which was also about Korean immigrants and a mother/daughter relationship was Miracle Creek.