Week 45: 11/5 - 11/11

[Shannon]

I have read zero of the nominees, which made me laugh, for some reason! I've usually read at least one or two (especially when they were listing cookbooks and picture books)!

I'm not very tied to the awards, since I usually don't get around to books until they're a few years old (I'm perpetually behind on everything). But I do feel like they're less robust this year.

[Jennifer W]

Britany wrote: "Hi friends!! I'm in Tulsa, Oklahoma this week. Left Chicago on Sunday around 4:30am and arrived around 3:45pm. Oklahoma is my 49th state and since I haven't gone on vacation in 2 years, and have ti..."

Was there something that drew you to pick Tulsa? Hope you have fun!

Britany wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I'm all about books that use multiple time lines/ POV, but for some reason, present day chick is getting on my nerves.."

TOTALLY agree with this statement Jennifer! I hated the ..."

Oh good, it's not just me being a jerk! :)

[Theresa]

poshpenny wrote: "Theresa wrote: "GR helpfully tells me which of the nominees I have on my shelves -- a whopping 2!"

They only show everyone two. Each time I go back they show me different books. It would be more i..."

Ah. Well before I settle down to finishing a project tonight, I am dipping in to see what' being promoted.

Am I the only one that thinks the suggestions are linked to whatever books Amazon has deals with publishers to promote? Or am I just too cynical?

[Theresa]

I went through and voted. My tactics are:

Where a suggested book is one I read and woukd suggest, I voted for it. Not many of those.
Where there is a suggested book in my TBR - I voted for it.
Where no book in my read books or TBR, I voted for the one I would or could read.

My rationale is this way there are books suggested that I could and would read were they to win and some challenge requires me to read one of the GR Choice awards.

An ounce of prevention ...

[Teri]

I've read 11 books this year that would qualify for the Goodreads Awards, and 8 of them were nominated. I apparently read only popular books that are recently published.

[Britany]

Jennifer W wrote: "Was there something that drew you to pick Tulsa?."

Weird twist of fate? Geographically it's the closet city to Chicago, so less driving. BUT the Hanson bros are from here and my HS boyfriend was also was here.

[Theresa]

Britany wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Was there something that drew you to pick Tulsa?."

Weird twist of fate? Geographically it's the closet city to Chicago, so less driving. BUT the Hanson bros are from here and my..."

If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa.

[Katelyn]

Nadine wrote: "Goodreads has been putting all these annoying restrictions on us over the past year, and we STILL have spammers coming in regularly. Why don't they just set up two-factor authentication?? And who i..."

HAHAHA this totally made me laugh out loud! Too true!

[Ellie]

Nadine wrote: "They got rid of the "Science" category, too!!! .."

I thought the non-fiction was a bit sparse. I loved using that category to add books to my wishlist. They must have assumed low votes meant people didn't want it, but I always looked them all up. Hmpf.

[Nadine in NY]

Theresa wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks the suggestions are linked to whatever books Amazon has deals with publishers to promote? Or am I just too cynical? . ..."


LOL you are definitely not alone on that one! I suspect that is behind the entire reboot. Along the lines of: Amazon doesn't make money on cookbooks? get rid of that category! etc ...

They keep their selection process vague, but make it SOUND methodical and objective.

[Jennifer W]

Nadine wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks the suggestions are linked to whatever books Amazon has deals with publishers to promote? Or am I just too cynical? . ..."


LOL you are definitely not..."

Agreed.

I was watching a news story the other day about Congress maybe trying to break up big tech and social media companies. One of the things they said they're considering is making Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc let go of the smaller platforms they've picked up over the years. Of course, my first thought was, yes! Goodreads could be its own thing again!

[Shannon]

Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

I'm not in Tulsa but I do cross stitch--what's the name of the shop?? Not that I need MORE cross stitch stuff...

[Lauren]

Jennifer W wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks the suggestions are linked to whatever books Amazon has deals with publishers to promote? Or am I just too cynical? . ..."


LOL you are..."

I would LOVE for Goodreads to be disconnected from Amazon. Hope that happens!

I've read 35 of this year's Choice Awards nominees. I cast my votes yesterday but it's possible I'll change a few before the round closes. I'm generally happy with the options, but there were of course some great books missing I would have liked to see.

[Sarah]

After some rearranging of my books and prompts and finishing a couple of books I've managed to get to 42/50 completed!

Something Wicked This Way Comes - for book with a black and white cover. This was okay- I had a hard time discerning sense of setting because I listened.

Wylding Hall - for book set in a place I'd like to visit. English countryside-haunted mansions- what's not to love? lol

Too Like the Lightning - slotted in for the favorite prompt from a past challenge (book guaranteed to bring joy- this was that since it's a re-read!).

I'm now hopeful with 3 weeks of PTO still left in the year I can eke out a 2021 PS reading completion. If I manage to finish I'll probably skip next year's challenge. I have too much I want to be able to just pick up and go with.

Favorites this year that fit multiple prompts:
Oryx and Crake - set mostly outside (at least in the present timeline), also a genre hybrid

The Goldfinch - a book about art or an artist, a book everyone has read but you, a book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title (gold)

Malibu Rising - a book pub'd in 2021, prettiest cover, a book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021 (Malibu?)

[Britany]

Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

WHO knew? I don't cross stitch, but I'm intrigued by it!! Right now I barely have time to finish this reading challenge, but maybe in another world, I can find time for more creative hobbies!

[Theresa]

Shannon wrote: "Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

I'm not in Tulsa but I do cross stitch--what's the name of the s..."

It is The Silver Needle - https://www.thesilverneedle.com/count...

I personally have not been to the brick & mortar but friends have and rave about it. I have ordered online especially as they have spe ial designer projects made just for their customers. Lindy and the rest of the owners and upper staff build strong designer relationships. I met Lindy the years I attended trade shows. I design... or more accurately designed...as Arachne's Silken Web. My day job as a lawyer means I have spent kast few years just selling existing designs not doing new. Arachne is on Facebook if you want to look.

Love seeing another cross stitcher here!

[Theresa]

Britany wrote: "Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

WHO knew? I don't cross stitch, but I'm intrigued by it!! Right ..."

I am passionate about cross stitch but my work life since April 2019 leaves almost no time...I am a lawyer and a major complex case landed in my lap then. It is something you can pick up whenever.

[Shannon]

Theresa wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

I'm not in Tulsa but I do cross stitch--what's t..."

Arachne's Silken Web is the MOST BADASS name for a cross-stitch designer! And thanks for the website--I'm trying to get into crocheting and knitting, but I have a ton of cross-stitch projects to work on, as well.

Too bad I'm terrible at staying on top of such things!

[Jennifer W]

Theresa wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Theresa wrote: "If you do cross stitch, one of the largest brick&mortar and online shops specializing in cross stitch is in Tulsa."

I'm not in Tulsa but I do cross stitch--what's t..."

OMG, now there's a rabbit hole I didn't (DID??) need in my life! Lol! I used to cross stitch, but haven't in ages. My MIL does all the time, so I suspect I will be ordering in the near future...

[Theresa]

@Shannon and @Jennifer W - so pleased to have spread the joy.

As for not staying on top of projects...I made myself some rules when I picked up stitching again in the 90s:

1. No finish deadlines. I am a lawyer and have enough of those in my life. The point of this is to relax and create.
2. It need not have a purpose other than you want to stitch it. Meaning it need not be framed or made into anything. I have many finishes living in my cedar chest. For me it is about the process, the stitching, not the end result. Note: I do actually get itms framed and finished from time to time.
3. I do not stitch requests. This is for me. I occasionally gift, but only where I absolutely know it is appreciated and treasured.

What is hilarious about my rules is that I became a cross stitch designer which is all about deadlines and finished work for others. I still apply them to my personal stitching.

[Shannon]

Theresa wrote: "@Shannon and @Jennifer W - so pleased to have spread the joy.

As for not staying on top of projects...I made myself some rules when I picked up stitching again in the 90s:

1. No finish deadlines...."

I like your rules! Unfortunately, I started making birth info cross stitches for each of my friends' kids and I feel like I need to continue because it's not fair to those who wouldn't get one. And my friends keep. having. babies. Hopefully someday I can't get back to just doing it for fun.

[Teri]

I used to cross-stitch avidly in the 1980s and 1990s, but stitching and typing as a legal secretary burned out my wrists (chronic tendonitis) and I had to give up stitching. I had started doing birth infos for my nieces and nephews, but only the first 4 of 10 got them. They are now mostly adults and seem to not have held it against me.

I've wanted to start stitching again, but now I have essential tremors and can't thread a needle, much less put it in the correct hole.

I gave away as gifts everything I ever did, and now have nothing of my own to show for it. Oops!