Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 13: 3/26 - 4/1
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Happy Thursday and happy birthday Lynn! It sounds like a lot of us are going through a lot right now, hopefully this next month will be much kinder to everyone!Finished:
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century- A book about a social justice issue, I love how many different voices you get to hear in this book.
Like Water for Chocolate- magical realism, I loved the writing, didn't love the ending. Maybe I'm just not a romantic at heart but (view spoiler). It's probably silly to use a spoiler tag for a book that's been around for so long, but just in case.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton- this was fine. I don't really love this series, but Eloise is my favorite character so I might at least read the next book
Currently reading:
The Count of Monte Cristo- I really need to make some progress on this
Legendborn- for book my best friend would love
QotW:
I have a list through the library of books I plan to check out at some point, but that's about it
I had a great start to the week! On Monday, I awoke to an email telling me that I won another Giveaways book (hooray!) and attended a virtual event with Barack Obama and Isabel Wilkerson, which was an absolute delight. I finished two books for this check-in period and they both fit open prompts. I'm at 11/40 and 1/10 for this challenge and at 21/100 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews, which was a Giveaways win. I used it for "a book that's published in 2021." This one is a bit of a slow burn for the first two-thirds of the book and then things get wild. While I anticipated some of the twists, it was fun debut and kept me turning pages; and,
* Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien, which I used for "a book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads" (there were 682 ratings and 156 reviews on Goodreads the day I finished it). It was a perfect cozy mystery escape!
Currently Reading:
* The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson, which is the book that's been on my Goodreads TBR the longest (and I've owned it for a million years...and clearly never attempted to crack it open before because it is PRISTINE)...and I am FINALLY reading it thanks to the advanced prompt nudge! Ok, so I haven't made it very far, but I. AM. READING. IT!;
* Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, which is this month's pick for both of my book clubs AND I plan to use it for the "a locked-room mystery" prompt. A triple purpose read! I am tearing through it, so I will likely have it done by the end of the weekend; and,
* Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien, which I started immediately after finishing Egg Drop Dead. Not sure if it will fit any open prompts yet.
QotW:
Do you keep electronic lists of books online at a site other than Goodreads? Only if you count my saved search lists on the Libby and CloudLibrary apps (and my library's website) :) I use those almost like a wish list and scroll through the search history to see if any titles strike my reading mood. I have "wish lists" on Amazon and the notes app on my phone. I've been thinking about checking out The Story Graph though. Not electronic...but...I've also been keeping a book journal. I try to jot down notes right after I finish reading and then use to write reviews later. I'm a little behind on that, but I'm hoping typing this out will help me get back on track :)
Mod
It's never silly!!! I hate spoilers and that argument of "well it's been around so long" is a false one. We can't all read all the books, can we? Sometimes a book has been around forever but someone is still planning to get to it someday.
(I mean, I happen to have read LWfC myself, AND I've seen the movie, so I'm good here. Although I still can't remember how it ends. I thought the movie was better than the book, by the way. One of those rare cases ...)
Mod
Simply proving that no one book pleases every reader! :)
@Nadine: Never heard of the book, but that plot summary was a wild ride lol. Glad you found it!
For Women's History Month, I focused on all female authors (with one exception). I tend to read more female than male authors anyway, but it was nice to focus on it solely. And also great to get a bit of history in as well.Finished
Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself by Jill Biden - 4 stars; PS #33 three generations - actually covered five
I didn't know much about Dr Jill Biden, so I really enjoyed this book about her growing up years, meeting Joe, establishing their family, etc. It does not delve into a juicy tell-all, but it does give a good sense of their family and what is important to our current President. She is definitely a woman to admire.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri - 4 stars; PS #10 1990s bestseller
I thought it would be appropriate to get a female Pulitzer Prize winning author in this month, and I've meant to read this one for ages. Like all short story collections, some were better than others. My favorites were "A Temporary Matter" and "The Third and Final Continent."
King John by William Shakespeare - 3 stars; not for challenge
My one male exception as this was my monthly Shakespeare play. Honestly, this one feels like so many of the other histories of English kings (and politics in general). Bring on a comedy.
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan - 4 stars; PS #49 (DNF on TBR)
I tried to read this a couple of years ago but didn't get far. It took me most of the month to read this, but it was worth it. This was published in 1963 when I was 3 years old and explained so much of the forces in play for women's lives. I have had a lot of time to think about how this all helped determine the choices I made in my life. I wish I would have read this when I was 18, but I don't know that I would have been able at that time to break through all the conditioning I had experienced. So my life has been what it was and is. At least I have more understanding of it all now and can forgive myself more easily for the parts I wish had been more carefully considered. Some of the book is obviously dated, and it is way longer than it needed to be, but I recommend it anyway. It was fundamental in helping women break through some barriers.
Currently reading
Giant's Bread by Mary Westmacott aka Agatha Christie
My monthly Christie for March, not quite finished.
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
Highly recommended by my bestie for Women's History Month but I didn't get there. Apparently there is a new Netflix movie.
Goodreads: 21/100
Popsugar: 18/50
QOTW:
Only Goodreads.
@Lynn Happy Birthday! Your husband is lucky to have you. I hope April flies by for you guys and your husband's surgery goes well.Happy Thursday and Easter to those who celebrate.
Things are pretty much locked down here so Easter is going to be low key like last year, which is fine by me.
Finished Reading:
The Forever Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 3 genereations)
Enjoyable romance. Mostly about healing damaged relationships.
Big Little Lies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 oxymoron)
Loved this. I had watched half of the first season of the tv show but this book still had twists and turns I didn't suspect. This would also be good for dark academia.
Grave Memory ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
On to book 3 of rereading a favourite series.
Sailor Moon Eternal Edition 4 ⭐⭐⭐
This was still a bit confusing figuring out which character is which and what point in time they are from.
Accidentally Engaged ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2021 Canadian Muslim author)
This is funny. All the descriptions of food made me hungry but I'll pass on the beer. It was nice to understand the references and know places mentioned in the book.
PS 2021 19/50
PS 2017 15/52
Goodreads 69/200
Currently Reading:
Dune
Rule of Wolves
QOTW:
No I just have multiple lists here. I use to keep track of the books I had read on paper but then I joined goodreads.
Teri wrote: "For Women's History Month, I focused on all female authors (with one exception). I tend to read more female than male authors anyway, but it was nice to focus on it solely. And also great to get a ..."Moxie the movie was an enjoyable movie so I've added it to my tbr. The author is a highschool teacher.
Nadine wrote: "We had a taste of Spring here in NY, but now it's back to winter, for a little while. Can't turn the heat off just yet. I took my down comforter off the bed to wash the cover, and was too lazy to..."I'm the first two books (sections) done of Dune and I'm not having the same issues with the book as you. I was thinking that a SF wrote in the 60s with a female main character was the positive step. The world he created is definitely a patriarchy so that is upsetting. Maybe this next section Paul pushing Jessica around will become more noticeable to me. (I am hooked on the science fiction details so maybe I'm just distracted from the characters) I definitely agree it's long and feels like an accomplishment when I make progress on it. :)
Happy Easter to those who celebrate and Happy Thursday to everybody else. Books I finished
Dreams Made Flesh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tangled Webs ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Shadow Queen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shalador's Lady ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Twilight's Dawn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Continuing my reread of the series before I start the newest book that finally came in from the library this week. I know this series isn't for everyone, but I still love it.
Akata Witch ⭐⭐⭐ I liked this, but I didn't love it. Good ideas, but I just didn't connect with it as much as I wanted to.
Books I made progress on:
The Queen's Bargain
QOTW
I use the wishlist on Overdrive. That way I can mark interesting books and then when I need something to read, I can go through and see what's available. And I'm terrible for keeping it in sync with my goodreads TBR.
Best wishes for the health issues you and your husband are facing.Thanks for all the updates!
I finished 4 books this past week, all super fun reads.
Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich - catching up on this series, it's exactly the humor I need at the moment. Used for A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child) - Stephanie, her mother, and her grandmother.
Socks by Beverly Cleary - one of two Cleary reads this week in memory of her passing; I'm choosing books that I am fairly sure I never read (limited by what my library has on Libby at the moment). It doesn't seem like you can pick a bad book from her though. This one is from a house cat's point of view, and it's really touching.
Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary - second Cleary read of the week, and the way she writes the children in her books so authentically is a reminder of why I loved her!
Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket - read for another challenge. So this is a prequel series to A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I loved it - the first book at least. But it also reminded me that I never actually read the original series so I may stop and go read that series first before continuing this one.
QOTW: Online my only list is at Goodreads, but I do also keep an Excel spreadsheet on my computer. It's actually more complete than my Goodreads list.
Nadine wrote: "uh-oh. I've been planning to read this book (someday). Have you read anything else by Whitehead? Some people seem to not like his style. I've read three other books by him so I think I'm okay there."
Yes, I've read The Underground Railroad and I had troubles with that one too. It seems I'm one of those people not liking his style. So I think you're okay.
Katelyn wrote: "It is worth it to not catch COVID though. I just hope I stay negative. Did you get tested multiple times?"
Yes. One on the first isolation day (negative) and one after 5 days (also negative). I hope you stay negative and your boyfriend gets well soon! All the best!
Mod
LOL I was so excited I immediately went to ThriftBooks and bought the five book series. I think I only read the first book. And I see that the first book was actually one half of a book, it continues in a second book, and I wonder if I read both. I look forward to reading it again and either being horrified that I liked this stuff, or enjoying it all over again. The plot summaries sound like the books are FULL of that 1970s craziness that finally gave birth to deliciously messed up books like Flowers in the Attic.
Mod
LOTS of people still LOVE this book, so don't pay too much attention to my moaning!! I hope you love it.
It might be because I'm a parent of teenagers (one of them is 15, in fact) that I got so annoyed with 15 yo Paul bossing his mother around.
I read that Herbert based Lady Jessica on his own much beloved wife. That probably explains why she's the most complex female character - Chani, Hira, Mapes, etc don't really have much depth to them the way she does. And I have to wonder if Herbert's wife let her son tell her what to do LOL I bet she didn't.
But I don't give Herbert a pass just for writing a women character and not being blatantly sexist. I mean, sure, at that time Asimov was writing excellent SF but his women who lead with their boobs at all times, which didn't bother me back then but pisses me off royally now, but Asimov was a creep so he set that bar LOW. Back in the 1960s we still had giants like LeGuin and L'Engle and Tiptree and Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey (and more! those are just the ones I remember reading) writing SF. It wasn't a complete sexist wasteland.
Mod
I tried to read this a couple of years ago but didn't get far. It took me most of the month to read this, but it was worth it. This was published in 1963 when I was 3 years old and explained so much of the forces in play for women's lives. I have had a lot of time to think about how this all helped determine the choices I made in my life. I wish I would have read this when I was 18, but I don't know that I would have been able at that time to break through all the conditioning I had experienced. So my life has been what it was and is. At least I have more understanding of it all now and can forgive myself more easily for the parts I wish had been more carefully considered. Some of the book is obviously dated, and it is way longer than it needed to be, but I recommend it anyway. It was fundamental in helping women break through some barriers. ..."
I never fully appreciated how different upbringings are in different areas and different cultures, all within the same country. I'm a little younger than you, but same generation. It was normal in my family for the women to work, but my generation was the first to go to college, and my mom was all: "you're going to be an engineer," and my dad just kind of ... supported that plan. (My mother started out as a phlebotomist & my father was a truck driver - decidedly NOT engineers. I don't know why mom decided I should be an engineer. We didn't even know what an engineer really was!) I didn't realize how radical this message was.
Tania wrote: "Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket - read for another challenge. So this is a prequel series to A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I loved it - the first book at least. But it also reminded me that I never actually read the original series so I may stop and go read that series first before continuing this one."Reading the original series before finishing that one is a really good idea--some of the mysteries from A Series of Unfortunate Events are explained in the prequels, so it's really fun getting some of those answer--but I don't think it would be as fun if you read ASoUE knowing those things already. If any of that makes sense lol!
Also, random thing--but there are Easter eggs from the All the Wrong Questions series in the ASoUE Netflix show, which made me SO happy! They're small, but I squealed every time haha!
Okay, I'll stop geeking out now. :)
I’ve done quite a bit of reading this week, but I’ve only managed to finish a couple of books. I’m planning to tackle some of my longer Reading Challenge titles in the next couple of weeks, so that’s probably how things are going to be for a while.POPSUGAR: 14/50
Goodreads: 114/200
Finished Reading:
~A Dark and Stormy Murder
~Dead Man's Mirror: Three Great Hercule Poirot Mysteries - “a locked-room mystery”
If you’d like to read my thoughts about this book, you can find them at https://theunapologeticbookworm.com/2....
Currently Reading:
~The Silmarillion
~Outlander
QOTW:
No, but I do keep a record of the books I read each year in a notebook. I have a book wishlist on Amazon, but I really only use it to provide my family with gift ideas during the holidays.
So happy to have Friday off this week, it was a much needed break from work. My boss is still trying to push this narrative that people don't realize how much they miss hallway conversations that we used to have when we were all back in the office. I don't think anyone actually misses these, we've all adjusted to working remote and we keep in touch with those colleagues that are meaningful to us and don't have to engage with those that aren't. I think he's trying to mentally prepare us for returning to the office later this year.14/40 PopSugar
2/10 Advanced PopSugar
17/80 GoodReads
Finished Reading:
Nothing... 😬😭
Currently Reading:
1.) Les Miserables
2.) The Good Sister
3.) The Wife Upstairs
4.) The Four Winds
QOTW: Do you keep electronic lists of books online at a site other than Goodreads? Nope, I use GR entirely for online tracking of books, but it does make me a little nervous in case something happens to the site.
Ashley Marie wrote: "cw: death of a loved oneMy husband's mother passed last weekend; they were exactly thirty years apart in age, him..."
I'm so sorry for your loss Ashley Marie. Sending hugs and faith for you and your husband as you process this immense loss.
Lynn wrote: "Yesterday was my birthday. Mid-60's is feeling pretty stressed right now! :)"Happy Birthday Lynn!! :)
Nadine wrote: "Saturday is my daughter's 18th birthday! She's having all the feels about that. So tomorrow I'll be dying Easter eggs AND making birthday cake. ."This sounds like so much fun Nadine!! Happy Birthday to your daughter and Happy Easter! :)
Sara wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm looking forward to some April Fools' jokes, but I haven't had any yet. I'm starting to wonder if everyone forgot, which wouldn't be surprising during these COVID times. I have b..."This is so exciting Sara!!! Looking forward to hearing more about the adoption process and your success with getting matched.
Finished Reading:Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh - gosh I just love Allie Brosh. She reminds me that the content of a story doesn't have to be exciting or revolutionary to make a story interesting if the storytelling itself is done right. She speaks very deeply to me as one funny person with depression and ADHD to another. This was my "oxymoron in the title" book.
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - this was such a wild ride! I was left with a lot of worldbuilding questions, could have done without the section rife with aggressive fatshaming, and don't think the denouement was the strongest, but I really really enjoyed a solid 98% of this book! This was my "hearts/diamonds/spades on the cover" book (which I chose for this category specifically because I thought it was funny that the book right under it on my list for same zodiac sign was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo).
Currently Reading:
the idea of this section stressed me out last week because I am generally flipping between 20 books at any given time, but I'm choosing to think of it as "books I actively read at least a paragraph from over the past week" to quell my anxiety, haha.
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L Gomez
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
QOTW:
Do I use other sites to track what books I've read? No. Do I use other sites to track what books I plan to read? Yes, several.
Mod
I am NOT looking forward to returning. They sent a notice out that they want everyone back by May. But I won't have had my second shot until May 6. I'm in a different city than almost all of my coworkers so I'm hoping my boss let's me continue to WFH for most of my days, unless I need to come in because the lab is testing something for me.
Alex wrote: "Finished Reading:Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh - gosh I just love Allie Brosh. She reminds me that the content of a story doesn't have to be exciting or revolutionary..."
I love Allie Brosh as well, and I really enjoyed reading Solutions and Other Problems. I really enjoy her stories, but what I like best is how relatable she is.
I had a busy Easter weekend as time was spent with both sides of the family including hosting for one of the nights so Thursday/Friday were spent cleaning and baking.Completed:
Jada Sly, Artist & Spy- Jada is an incredibly observant 10-year-old who is constantly sketching faces and profiles. She is also a spy in training and is convinced her mom is a real spy based on a game they played when Jada was younger. Moving from France to New York for her dad's job as owner of the Sly Museum Jada is determined to discover what really happened to her mom after the plane crash which supposedly left her dead. As Jada begins her sleuthing, she realizes she is being followed and enlists the help of her new friends from her school's SPY club to help find behind all these occurrences. Jada is a quick thinker and I loved her character as well as her diverse group of friends. A strong beginning for what will hopefully be developed in to a series.
Prompt: A book about art or an artist (Popsugar)
Prompt: By the author of one of your 2020 best reads (ATY)
Love & Luck- When her Aunt Mel decides to have her wedding in Ireland a heartbroken Addie jumps at the chance to leave her current situation behind. Her plans to visit her friend Lina in Italy for a few days soon take a turn when she discovers a Guidebook through Ireland for the brokenhearted and her brother Ian leaving the hotel for a road trip of his own through Ireland with his friend Rowan. Ian's road trip is problematic for Addie as they got in a huge fight after the wedding and have been charged by their mom with staying together and fixing their fractured relationship. When Addie realizes many of the stops on her brother's road trip paying homage to his favorite band Titletrack coincide with stops in the Guidebook she reluctantly agrees to go with. The second book in a series that started out strong; I disliked much of this one outside of the storyline of road tripping to a music festival and the bits containing the Guidebook.
Prompt: A book that has a heart on the cover (Popsugar)
Currently Reading:
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
The Windsor Knot
Cogheart
The Next Great Jane
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
The Great Alone
QOTW:
In an effort to keep my TBR reasonably under control I have a "secret" list on my phone of 2021 books being released I have interest in reading.
Nadine wrote: "I never fully appreciated how different upbringings are in different areas and different cultures, all within the same country. I'm a little younger than you, but same generation. It was normal in my family for the women to work, but my generation was the first to go to college, and my mom was all: "you're going to be an engineer," and my dad just kind of ... supported that plan. (My mother started out as a phlebotomist & my father was a truck driver - decidedly NOT engineers. I don't know why mom decided I should be an engineer. We didn't even know what an engineer really was!) I didn't realize how radical this message was."I grew up in very religious and conservative area, and women in my neighborhood didn't work. It was a typical middle class neighborhood, and everyone could have used the extra money, but it wasn't what was done. I completely bought into the idea that this is what you did. My mother was very happy being a housewife and although it seemed boring, I didn't really aspire to anything else. There were a few other girls around me who fought for more, including my younger sister, but I didn't see the point. I went to college for a couple of years but didn't have much of a purpose in mind. So although I have really enjoyed my single, childless life, I probably should have done a little more with it. Still, I have few regrets.
Britany wrote: "Nope, I use GR entirely for online tracking of books, but it does make me a little nervous in case something happens to the site."Same. I would never be able to figure out all the books I've read. I kept lists of books since 1988 and added them all to Goodreads a few years ago and got rid of the written copies. There is a way to back up your lists, but I haven't ever done it.
Nadine wrote: "I am NOT looking forward to returning. They sent a notice out that they want everyone back by May. But I won't have had my second shot until May 6. I'm in a different city than almost all of my coworkers so I'm hoping my boss let's me continue to WFH for most of my days, unless I need to come in because the lab is testing something for me.."Crossing my fingers for you Nadine- we have a townhall about return to office plans this Friday from our CEO, hoping we still have a ways to go, I don't want to go back.
Teri wrote: "Britany wrote: "There is a way to back up your lists, but I haven't ever done it.."Teri, we should try to figure this out soon. Just in case!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Alone (other topics)Love & Luck (other topics)
Cogheart (other topics)
The Windsor Knot (other topics)
Jada Sly, Artist & Spy (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
William Shakespeare (other topics)Betty Friedan (other topics)
Jennifer Mathieu (other topics)
Jill Biden (other topics)
Jhumpa Lahiri (other topics)
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We had some summer days this week. ..."
It is very weird to be separate in 600+ square feet of space. We both wear masks when in the same area. I sleep in a different bed in a different room (which I don't actually hate) but it is very different. It is worth it to not catch COVID though. I just hope I stay negative. Did you get tested multiple times?