Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 50 12/9 - 12/16
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Happy Thursday everyone. I had my last choir practice of the year tonight and we finished early and just sang Christmas carols for fun and it's put me in such a good mood, but no I'm back to thinking about all that still has to be done before next week and my panic starts to creep back in..... 😏 Oh well, I'll just put on the Holiday music channel and start making lists. That'll calm me down.👍Either way, I haven't done much reading this week. Most books I want to save so I can use them for next years challenge or at least the ATY read-a-thon. But it has been a good time to finally finish off my reread of the Otherland series. I only had one book to go, but it's over 1000 pages so I just kept putting it off. Now I have no excuse. And it's going faster then the regular length book that I need to finish before the library takes it away from me.
Books I finished:
The Red Files ⭐⭐⭐ - This was a nice little poetry collection, but it didn't completely grab me. Nothing stood out one way or the other for me. But I'm thinking of adding her novel Probably Ruby to my plan for next year.
A Number of Things: Stories of Canada Told Through Fifty Objects ⭐⭐⭐ - I'm not sure why I bothered to finish this. It wasn't bad, but it was just forgettable and meh. But now I can finally take it off my TBR pile and add it to the book of books to donate. (Which gives me room for a new book. 😉)
Books I made progress on
Sea of Silver Light
Don't You Forget About Me
QOTW
Well, the prompt that surprised me the most was A book about forgetting - because I just kept finding books that worked for it. And the book that surprised me the most was Before the Coffee Gets Cold for a book set in a restaurant. Someone had suggested it here so I borrowed it, and I was not expecting just how much I would love it.
Happy Thursday too! I have a great day of reading too! I've already voted the polls :DQuestion of the week
Which prompt from a 2021 reading challenge surprised you the most?
- I think is A book in a different format than you normally read. I always read graphic novels and ebooks and I didn't normally read different formats.
Mod
Finished 50/50
Yay!!!! Still can't believe I finished so soon!"
Well, if you get snow, please keep it! I personally could do without it here in Indiana! 😁 Finishing early must feel good!! Congrats!
"Currently Reading
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation (not for a challenge). This was recommended to me by a family member so I'm eager to finish it before the New Year since it doesn't fit a prompt very well. It's good so far!"
Huh. I was unaware of this book. I'll be anxious to see what you think of it. Definitely added it to my TBR listing.
"QotW
I was (pleasantly) surprised to see the "book on someone's bookshelf" prompt because I clean my grandparents/dad's house every month and my dad had this Brandon Sanderson book on his shelf that I've always been curious about. Well, I'm curious no more! The Emperor's Soul was great!."
How fun! Glad that prompt worked so well for you!
Mod
Ooohhh...I have yet to read a P.D. James, but plan to do so soon!..."
I've never read P.D. James either! I probably should try one. I bet I would like it. Which one should I try first?
Mod
Ah, yes, I know that feeling. I sometimes look at a book that I'm over halfway through and think, "I should really finish reading that one! I really love it!" And then I think, "Yeah, but then it will be over..." 😊
"PS: 36/50
RH: 14/24
RW: 7/28
GR: 438/365
HP: 62/62
ATY: 30/52"
Good grief! Have you managed to read 438 books this year? That is amazing! I only wish I could read that many in a year. I might actually make a dent in my TBR listing then!! 😀 Congrats on that stat alone!
"Currently Reading:
Out of Character- still dislike
Brown Girl Dreaming
Everything Inside
Tender Is the Flesh- also dislike
The Lincoln Highway
The Cousins
The Getaway
James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing
All the Young Dudes"
Oh, my! I am laughing SO hard!!!
Mod
We are going to see that on Sunday!! My older daughter is a HUGE Tom Holland fan, and I like him a lot myself, so it's mandatory viewing for us. I have some misgivings with Covid increasing again, but we will just mask up and wash our hands thoroughly when we get home again.
Teri wrote: "Katy wrote: "I finished My Sergei: A Love Story. It was a beautiful story of her life, but not the best written book."I read this a long time ago because I was obsessed with figure ..."
Maybe I should read this, I was obsessed with them back in the day. To the point that I was disappointed when she married Ilya Kulik. But she deserves to be happy.
Hi all! Cough, sniffle, HONK. Yep. Still sick. :/ I am feeling better, I think, but man, this has killed my December for a lot of things. We just decorated the tree the other night. I haven't put up any house decorations. No Christmas cookies, no cards in the mail. sigh.... I'm off work today for my Birthday tomorrow, the big 4-0! Go me! Aaand, all I wanna do is sleep! But I have to run out and do some errands, including mail a Christmas present that probably won't get there in time (see above, sick!!).
Suffice it to say, no reading, either. More sigh....
QOTW: I think without the prompt for a book about forgetting, I wouldn't have read The Housekeeper and the Professor, which is definitely my favorite book of the year.
And I just realized that I *forgot* to ask for it for a Christmas present. lol!!
Mod
Oh no, get well soon!!
On Sunday morning, I officially finished the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!I’m really excited to have finished all three of my reading challenges for the year. I plan to spend the rest of 2021 continuing the various series and trilogies that I started earlier this year.
POPSUGAR: 50/50
Beat the Backlist: 52/52
Goodreads: 315/200
Finished Reading:
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 18: 1985-1986
~Three Dark Crowns — “a book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)"
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 19: 1987-1988
~The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone
~Cats on Catnip
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 20: 1989-1990
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol 21: 1991-1992
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 22: 1993–1994
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 23: 1995-1996
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 24: 1997-1998
~Lore Olympus: Volume One
~The Sword in the Stone
~Phantom Evil
~The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 25: 1999-2000
~Death of a Gossip
Currently Reading:
~The Throne of Fire
~The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
~Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle
QOTW:
I think the prompt that most surprised me was the “body positivity” prompt. I’m not a big fan of contemporary YA fiction, which is what I chose to read to fulfill the prompt, but I ended up really enjoying Dumplin'.
I took a two month hiatus from reading because... I don't really know why. I just haven't been feeling it lately. I've been playing a lot of Words with Friends. But I checked in an realized I was three books away from finishing this year's challenge, so I buckled down.I finished one book, Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty for the book published in 2021. I really liked it, but did feel the ending dragged on too long.
Then I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie for my book by an indigenous author. It wasn't my original choice, but I needed a quick read. It was a good book, but tainted when I read about the accusations made against him.
Final book for the year and the challenge will be The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, which I am listening to and enjoying immensely.
QotW: I *loved* The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller! I wasn't looking forward to reading it, but once I started I couldn't put it down and I thought about it when I wasn't reading it. I read it very early in the year and I'm still thinking about it. What a great book!
I'm already planning for 2022, which includes the 2022 challenge and finishing the 2020 challenge, which I am five books short of finishing. I'm renewed in my quest to read, read, read!
Mod
I had the same problem. I try very hard to separate the art from the artist, but the reality is that I cannot separate the two. So I can't read anything else by Alexie.
Moving day is tomorrow-- it feels like I've been packing forever, but still there is stuff everywhere! This feeling is the worst, I know I've made progress but hate still seeing stuff everywhere! I'm going to take a load over today, and need to find a drive thru Goodwill to drop off some things to.I did finish the challenge officially!!! WOOOO
40/40 PopSugar
10/10 Advanced PopSugar
76/80 GoodReads
Finished Reading:
1.) The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (#45-TBR Longest) ⭐⭐: I just don't think I'm here for Hemingway's writing. Thank goodness this was short. Maybe this is a true case where his writing just doesn't hold up.
2.) One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (No PS Prompt) ⭐⭐⭐⭐: REALLY enjoyed this one from TJR's backlist. Emma is widowed and finally moves on and falls in love again when she gets a phone call from her husband, who is alive. What will she do? Who will she choose? Brilliant premise.
Currently Reading:
1.) Once Upon a Wardrobe
2.) The Girl with the Louding Voice
QOTW: Which prompt from a 2021 reading challenge surprised you the most?
Afrofuturist prompt made me nervous because it sounded so specific, but I finally got a chance to read Binti (which was intimidating since I don't enjoy SciFi at all) but it really was good. This was a good case of I'm so glad I finally know what it's all about.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!! I'm fortunate enough to have worked for my employer for many years now, and that means I've racked up a lot of vacation days, and this year I was so thrown off by working from hom..."Woo HOO Nadine-- enjoy your well deserved time off!! Hopefully it will provide some time for you to finish that dang long book!
Christine wrote: "Hi everyone! I have the bestest news (that will also free up many more of my brain cells for reading). My recent yearly mammogram had shown something suspicious near my lumpectomy scar from six yea..."Congrats on finished the challenge and great news on the lumpectomy!!!! Great updates all around!
Trish wrote: "Sadly, it's "41. Longest book", which for my sins is Les Misérables. I started it with great hopes way back at the start of the year...and I'm still only just under halfway through it. I'm going to do my best in the remaining 19 days of 2021, but it might be 500pg too far!You can do it Trish!!!
Mod
Soon it will all be over, and you can take your time settling into your new place!!!
I read An Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian last year, I think for the banned book. I guess…luckily? I didn’t hear about the accusations until a few months after. So I really enjoyed it at the time but wouldn’t read anything else/recommend it/re-read.
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! Cough, sniffle, HONK. Yep. Still sick. :/ I am feeling better, I think, but man, this has killed my December for a lot of things. We just decorated the tree the other night. I haven't put u..."Oh Jennifer - I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebrating a milestone!! I also hope you start to feel better soon, it shouldn't be allowed to be sick in December!!
K.L. wrote: "On Sunday morning, I officially finished the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!."WOO HOO Congrats!!!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Soon it will all be over, and you can take your time settling into your new place!!!."You are absolutely right Nadine!! Who knew even when you think you're done, there's still more left to do? I think I can finally shut down my computer and head to bed. Hopefully, the next time I login, I'll be in my new digs!
Britany wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! Cough, sniffle, HONK. Yep. Still sick. :/ I am feeling better, I think, but man, this has killed my December for a lot of things. We just decorated the tree the other nig..."Thanks Britany!
Good luck with the move!!
Britany wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Soon it will all be over, and you can take your time settling into your new place!!!."You are absolutely right Nadine!! Who knew even when you think you're done, there's stil..."
Moving is the worst, but if you're like me, maybe you'll get to enjoy setting up the new place! Either way, all the luck to you!
- I can read that many, because I get a major serotonin boost from reading. I read all the time, because I just love reading.- I originally started All the Young Dudes for my Fan Fic, but its over 1500 pages and I love every moment. It doesn't hurt that this is everything JKR was missing
- I can't DNF a book. It's like the book would just keep reminding me that I don't know what happened. That being said, Out of Character is trying its best to make me hate it. I started it on audiobook, and the narrator's voices are annoyingly pretentious. When I switched to the paper copy, the cover is illustrated roughly, so now I just envision these "meh" love interests, and I'm trying hard to care.
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! Cough, sniffle, HONK. Yep. Still sick. :/ I am feeling better, I think, but man, this has killed my December for a lot of things. We just decorated the tree the other night. I haven't put u..."Agh, feel better!! I just got my COVID booster shot yesterday and it's given me the headache from hell today :P
Britany wrote: "Moving day is tomorrow-- it feels like I've been packing forever, but still there is stuff everywhere! This feeling is the worst, I know I've made progress but hate still seeing stuff everywhere! I..."I felt the same way about the Afrofuturist prompt! I also read Binti since it was short and was on my list anyway. Sci-Fi is not my favorite but I did enjoy this one!
Me too Katelyn. Hoping that's the case for the couple of SciFi ajace prompts this year.
All moved in, and while it has been nice to find homes for things, the task feels like a lot, it's going quicker than packing though, which is nice. I return to work tomorrow, and fly home Thursday for Christmas, so fully prepared not to finish until I'm back. May be a good excuse to take some time off in the new year.
Mod
oh no, you're traveling? it's going to be rough to come home to all the boxed up stuff. Focus on the fun of finding new places for your things!
Mod
How exciting! 😲😁👍
"This week I finished:
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake Sometimes this dug a little too far into small historical details, but otherwise I thought it was great and I learned some new perspectives on how historical knowledge is passed down. 4 stars"
Sounds like a good read!
"Doctor Zhivago This was for a book club and I knew it was going to be tough. I struggle with most "classic" literature and it's difficult to explain why. It's fine on a sentence level, but all together I get lost easily and this was a long one. I tried. 3 stars"
Kudos to you for trying! I reread this a couple of years ago and found it didn't hit quite the same notes for me. I much preferred the movie's ending as opposed to the book's ending, for one thing! Though I do love Pasternak's writing!
"I'm currently reading a bunch of things:
The Trees"
Everett is scheduled to be here in Indianapolis in January! He was originally to be here in 2020, but, you know...that pandemic thing got in the way! I already own a couple of his books so now I'll read them before seeing/hearing/meeting him! I'll be anxious for your reaction to this one. It sounds quite intense!
"Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing"
Ooohhh...that sounds like one I would enjoy!
"Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants"
I'm going to try to get to this one in 2022!
"Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo
The Writer's Field Guide to the Craft of Fiction"
So exciting that you're writing!
"QOTW: I'll say I was pleasantly surprised with what came from the "shares your astrological sign" prompt since that helped me find Edwidge Danticat who is fantastic. I'm now working my way through all of her books."
You just never know... 😊👍
Nadine in NY wrote: "oh no, you're traveling? it's going to be rough to come home to all the boxed up stuff. Focus on the fun of finding new places for your things!"Yes, back to Florida. Have to go into the office next week and then will spend some time with my family. Will be back Thursday, and you're right- it will not be fun.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Binti (other topics)Out of Character (other topics)
Once Upon a Wardrobe (other topics)
One True Loves (other topics)
The Sun Also Rises (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Taylor Jenkins Reid (other topics)Ernest Hemingway (other topics)
Gregory David Roberts (other topics)
Robert Jordan (other topics)
Taylor Jenkins Reid (other topics)
More...
Finished
Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (a book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021). This was a fantastic, classic Poirot novel. You can tell how much Agatha Christie loved to travel, and this was a great setting too. I got the motive of the killer right, but guessed the wrong person. It was very satisfying.
Reading
Leviathan Falls by James SA Corey (your favorite prompt from a previous challenge - a book set in space)
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (a book by an Indigenous author)
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren (a book featuring three generations)
QOTW
I think “an author that shares your zodiac sign” was a surprise, but I loved it. I read a book by Lisa Jewell. For better or worse, I could tell she’s a Cancer. ;)