Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 8: 2/16 - 2/23
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Gemma wrote: "Haven't started anything new yet, but planning to pick up Under the Whispering Door next, which is on the listopia for A book with a pet character"Can confirm the pet character!
Harmke wrote: "It’s online!! I started my own book review blog. In Dutch, so probably not very interesting for most of you: harmkesleestips.nl (GR made it unable to share a link).My creative brain needs to creat..."
Congrats on your blog!!!
Mod
Finished:
Elektra not for a challenge. I looooved Ariadne and was incredibly excited to see the author had another book ..."
I've got both books on my TBR (planning to start with Ariadne ... someday ...). Electra sure was an interesting character, very complex, but in most myths she gets just a few lines (and poor Iphigenia gets even less)
I've had a really busy couple of weeks because work has been complicated and my aircon has been on the fritz (it's been 40C/104F so a really bad time for it to go down). However, the heat meant I went to the library to work a couple of times and did some reading there. PopSugar 8/50
ATY 8/50
Finished
My finishes were graphic novels, as that's what I had time for.
The Long Con - about a comics convention that keeps going after the apocalypse, starting a new fan-based political/societal structure. Very funny, but the library only had volume 1, so I'm going to have to search out the next part. For an ATY prompt.
All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa About strikes and protests in pre-apartheid South Africa. Pretty fascinating. It's based on old records of supreme court cases, and the authors show all the documents after each story. Prompt: Book with a map
The Road to Perdition I've never seen the movie, but definitely enjoyed the graphic novel. Those last couple of panels were a big surprise. Prompt: Historical fiction
Did Not Finish
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell It had to be returned to the library - I didn't realize it couldn't be renewed. I might try to get it again later in the year, or might use Long Walk to Freedom for the longest book on my TBR, because it's also very long and I own it and can read at my own pace.
Currently Reading
A Clockwork Orange
Making Dogs Happy: The expert guide to being your dog's best friend
Coming Up
The Animals in That Country
The Kaiju Preservation Society
Breaking the Spell
QOTW
I'm not very active on twitter, but I do follow a lot of authors. I've definitely got recommendations from there before.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "We're still having the bouncing weather which is playing havoc with my destroyed knee. It's even cutting into my reading time th..."And that's a good thing. I luckily didn't internalize it much but it did leave scars
Wow, I don't think I've been this excited about writing a paper for school in a long time. Since my older college days really. Our assignment is to write about a topic we're deeply passionate about, and how and why it should matter in society. I'm doing mine on a Native American topic. I can't get over how fun it has become. It's not due for 2 weeks, but I wanted to get a head start because of all of the research and the word count that it has to be. Already I've written 3 drafts and I'm sure I'll be writing more. Love this!
*****
Also because of this assignment I've been able to add another book to my general book count which has been awesome due to the fact that I'm using it for research:
Teaching Truly: A Curriculum to Indigenize Mainstream Education
*****
What's great about this assignment is that I'm using research from books I already own. The upside to having a well rounded Indigenous library section at home. And they're books I absolutely know my local libraries wouldn't have (they have terrible Indigenous books, hardly any really.)
Mod
wow so HOT!! are you in Western Australia?
Happy Saturday! I posted late since I have been so busy. One of our locations is closing this week. That meant transferring customers to this location and cleaning out the closing store of everything. Only 2 more days till its all done. I can't wait for it to be over!Challenge progress:
ATY 8/52
PS 6/50
Finished:
Project Hail Mary (ATY author read in 2022) 4 stars. A space adventure where the objective is to save earth. This was a great book by Andy Weir. I did end up enjoying The Martian slightly more than this one though.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ATY suggestion that didn't make list) 2 stars. I found this book to be over rated. I liked the world building aspect of this fantasy but not the romance. Tamlin was a dull charcter who Feyre didn't have much chemistry with. And aspects of the romance were problematic.
All Systems Red (PS color in title) 4 stars. Awesome start of this series. A "murderbot" who has hacked its own code to get free will. Free will includes watching a lot of tv and trying to avoid talking to people. I completely understand how they feel, haha. I will definitely finish the rest of this series.
Currently reading:
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts (no prompt)
A Game of Thrones (PS read more than 10 years ago)
Upcoming:
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (PS song lyric)
QOTW: What other bookish social media or blogs do you use regularly? I read bookriot sometimes. Lit hub radio has some literary podcasts I like when I have time to listen but I honestly don't have much time to follow bookish media.
We've had multiple false springs here in Chicago. It's definitely a pretty mild winter overall for the city. Weather snowed last night- it was the magical powdery stuff- melted all today. I'm heading to Miami Beach tomorrow for a work conference, and I'm over thinking wardrobe choices. 14/75 GoodReads Challenge
14/50 PopSugar Challenge
Finished:
1.) We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (#31-Family) ⭐⭐⭐1/2: Read this blind, don't read any summaries anywhere. Great book club pick for discussion alone.
2.) The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (#4-Debut) ⭐⭐⭐: Light hearted fun book about books.
Currently Reading:
1. The Sun Is Also a Star
2. Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
3. Hello Beautiful
QoTW: What other bookish social media or blogs do you use regularly?
Outside of GoodReads, all my bookish stuff comes from Bookstagram or book podcasts (fave is Sarahs Bookshelves Live)
Mandy wrote: "I’m still home. This is one nasty cold. I’m finally seeing the end of the tunnel though. After some night sitting up on the couch because of coughing fits, I’m stopped the deconge..."I hope you feel better soon, Mandy!
Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your good wishes about my fractured ankle!I did have my appointment with the orthopedist on Thursday morning, and the news is pretty good. The fracture is actually minor and it's apparently a fairly common injury; a small piece of bone got chipped away from my ankle when I fell. It can't be set the way a more serious break would be, but at least it sounds like surgery is not going to be necessary. I'm also officially off the crutches/knee walker and wearing a stylish new boot.
I've got another appointment in two weeks to see how things are going, but I'm just grateful to be moving around (if rather slowly) on two feet again.
K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I’m still home. This is one nasty cold. I’m finally seeing the end of the tunnel though. After some night sitting up on the couch because of coughing fits, I’m stopped the deconge..."..."Thanks! I actually got to sleep in bed last night! It was so nice to lay down without dying! I’m well enough to go back to work now. I’ve been off since valentine day. Thankfully I have like 300+ sick hours racked up. Still a bit congested but feeling so much better than Thursday.
I’m so happy to hear that your ankle won’t have to have surgery.
Theresa wrote: "Greetings all! I was distracted with work today, shutting down early as I was seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway one last time (closes April 16th), curtain was at 7 and we wanted dinner before..."You made me laugh with your one star review of Turn of the Screw. It was apparently written because henry James needed money, and I felt like that said everything about the book. I only read it because I knew Ruth Ware had written The Turn of the Key based on it. Her book is a vast improvement on the original.
K.L. wrote: "Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your good wishes about my fractured ankle!I did have my appointment with the orthopedist on Thursday morning, and the news is pretty good. The fracture is ..."
So glad for you! Don't overdo it!
Mod
I did have my appointment with the orthopedist on Thursday morning, and the news is pretty good. The fracture is ..."
That is good news! I hope you have speedy healing. The boot will help so much with mobility. It's amazing how those devices help keep the weight off the painful part.
I got a lot of reading in this past week and finished two of my books-in-progress and also one that I started last week! Two of them worked for open prompts, so I'm now at 9/40 and 1/10 for this challenge, and 19/75 for my overall Goodreads Reading Challenge. Finished:
* Overboard by Sara Paretsky, which I used for the advanced prompt "a book with a pet character" since V.I. Warshawski's two dogs, Mitch and Peppy, are recurring characters and they played an important role in the opening scene where the mystery/case kicks off;
* Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation by John Lewis, which I read in just two days but couldn't find an open prompt option; and,
* Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which was one of my book clubs' picks for February. I was also happy to see it on the Listopia for the "#BookTok recommendation" prompt since I suspected it probably fit that prompt. I really appreciated having the Listopia resource because I'm not on TikTok and don't foresee that changing anytime soon.
Currently Reading:
* Hell of a Book: Or the Altogether Factual, Wholly Bona Fide Story of a Big Dreams, Hard Luck, American-Made Mad Kid by Jason Mott, which I will likely use for the celebrity book club prompt and will likely finish up in the next few days; and,
* Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal, which I received as a NetGalley book via the Book Club Girl Early Read program.
QotW:
What other bookish social media or blogs do you use regularly? Goodreads is my primary bookish social media option, so I use this more than any others (not that I'm on many others). I'm one of those relics who still follows authors, reviewers, and bloggers on Facebook and Twitter (though I'm not sure how much longer I'll stick it on Twitter). I don't really follow any blogs regularly but am signed up for a bunch of bookish newsletters (BookRiot, several publishers, various authors, my public library) and listen to a couple of bookish podcasts. I also look forward to the Book World section in The Washington Post each week now that they've brought it back.
Mod
I am so thrilled I was finally able to meet Paula McLain last Thursday! It ended up being a delightful event and she and I visited extensively while she signed the 6 books of hers I own, and have read all but one! I got a hug and she asked me to “send her a note,” which I will do. She is quite genuine and in my opinion, so very talented…and brave! Her life has been anything but stable as she and her two sisters were bounced throughout the California foster care system from the time she was 4 years old until 18 years of age. I am reading her autobiography Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses which is branded as “creative nonfiction.” Her degrees are in poetry and she started her writing career with poetry. It shows in the lyricism of her writing, particularly in her memoir, IMO.
I keep neglecting to update you-all regarding "Myrtle," my VW Jetta! I accepted reduced payment from my insurance company, retained her, and had my mechanic perform basic repairs other than body work. She required a new front axle, but nothing more than that to keep running. And...although the hood has a dent in it just above the latch, it still opens and closes just fine. She looks less-than-new, but like her owner, she's happy and okay with that! I just decided we've invested too much in her already to start all over again with another used vehicle! So far, so good!
This past week has been a very busy one for me and I’ve enjoyed my rest over this weekend!
ADMIN STUFF:
The February Monthly Group read is The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon!! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #43 A book that takes place entirely in one day. In honor of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition observed in the US and Canada on February 2! Katrina is the "knowledgeable navigator" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you, Katrina! This discussion can be found in the Currently Monthly Group Read folder HERE
along with the thread to list the book(s) you’ve read to fulfill this prompt for February! I absolutely ADORED this book! So glad I read it! And now I need to read more of her writing and she is an author whose new releases will be must-reads asap!
I have added the two March Monthly Group Read discussions to the Current Monthly Group Read folder in anticipation of March 1 this next Wednesday! Sheesh! The time does fly! We will be reading The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title in honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, UK, and US. I just realized I haven’t yet purchased a copy of this one, but emailed and should have one reserved for me at my local independent bookstore for a Tuesday pickup. Whew! Talk about cuttin’ it close! And…we still need a “fascinating facilitator” for this discussion! That might just be YOU!! ;) (Cuttin' it close for this as well! LOL)
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE! The final selection for the May Monthly Group Read is Bunny by Mona Awad! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover, in honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty! I do love bunnies, but I admit I will not be reading this book since it is labeled as “horror” and I just cannot do “horror”! But I trust you-all will enjoy it! And we're searching for a "literary luminar" to lead the discussion that month! Hmmmm...YOU?!? ;)
We are currently searching for
1) A “fascinating facilitator” to lead the March Monthly Group Read discussion of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl” in the title In honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, the UK, and the US!
2) A “reading wrangler” to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!!
3) See the announcement above regarding May’s Monthly Group Read above!
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! :)
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE
Question of the Week
What other bookish social media or blogs do you use regularly?
I occasionally visit the Facebook Popsugar page, but honestly don’t do much of anything on social media beyond Goodreads any more. I got turned off from it all in 2016 and now believe it to be a time-waster. I could be reading!! :)
While I was really enthused about my own blog and regularly visited other blogs, etc., for 4-5 years, I have become uninterested in blogging book reviews or reading other bloggers’ reviews. It took me forever to compose reviews and I finally realized, I would rather be reading during that time! There are just not enough hours in each day! LOL If only we didn’t need to sleep! :)
Popsugar: 31/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 41/52
RHC: 10/24
FINISHED:
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi ✶✶✶✶✶ provided much fodder for good discussion at book club. Interestingly, Kawahuchi adapted this from a prize-winning play he wrote and It was intriguing to conjecture about what aspects of this book fit with staging a play. Such as the fact that there was only ONE chair where the occupant could time travel and other details. So glad I reread it before book club! And now I’m anxious to read the two further installments in the series…but there are February Buddy Reads and our February Monthly Group Read I need to complete first! ;)
POPSUGAR: #19-2015: prompt #44 Originally written in another language (Japanese), #31
ATY: #1-set in Tokyo, Japan, #2, #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #5, #13-chairs, #36-Japanese to English, #37, #42, NEW #46, #52
RHC: #24-2015: A book published in 2015
*Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz by Coyne S. Sanders ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was an absolutely compelling read and so very informative! Lucie Arnaz declared this to be an accurate depiction of her parents. Fascinating details of their life together and the creation, management, and eventual sale of Desilu studios. Amazing what these two people created!
POPSUGAR: #4, #6, NEW #11, #16, #19-2015: prompt #14 Nonfiction, #28, #31, #35
ATY: #3-A book from a genre that starts with any letter in your name—Nonfiction (Lynn), #4, #5, #11, #19-television/movie production, writing, directing, #26, #37, #38-Lucille and Desi are certainly “stars”!, #40
RHC: #24-2015: A microhistory
*Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball ✶✶✶✶✶ was a reread from 4 years ago. It was quite interesting to learn of Lucille’s perseverance and varied work experiences from frying burgers at the local amusement park to modeling expensive clothing in New York boutiques. The fact that she achieved all she did in show business/TV and was actually expelled from drama school for lack of talent! All our book club members enjoyed it! But then we are all I Love Lucy fans!
POPSUGAR: #4, #6, NEW #8, #16, #19: 2016: prompt #15 A book written by a celebrity, #28, #31, #36, #50
ATY: #3-A book club read (The book club I facilitate selected it for February 2023.), #4, #5, #11-rheumatoid arthritis, #12-Although Lucille loved live birds, she could not tolerate representations of birds in art, etc., #19-acting, television/movie production, directing, #26-Lucy refused to allow herself to be filmed without extensive makeup to camouflage her age as she grew older, #37, #38-Lucille is definitely a “star”!, NEW #44
RHC: NEW #19, #24-2018: prompt #1 A book published posthumously
CONTINUING:
*Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses by Paula McLain
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
PLANNED:
February Monthly Group Read:
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
February Buddy Reads:
*The Darkest Evening (Vera Stanhope #9) by Ann Cleeves
*Wild Fire (Shetland Island #8) by Ann Cleeves
*Cross My Heart (#21) by James Patterson
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Mod
I did not know any of this. Can you IMAGINE how much fun she must have been to work with in a burger stand????
K.L. wrote: "Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your good wishes about my fractured ankle!I did have my appointment with the orthopedist on Thursday morning, and the news is pretty good. The fracture is actually minor."
Congrats on the good news and mobility!
Mandy wrote: "K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I’m still home. This is one nasty cold. I’m finally seeing the end of the tunnel though. After some night sitting up on the couch because of coughing fits, I’m stopped th..."As someone in Europe, the thought of having to rack up 'sick hours' is baffling. Glad you're on the mend, though!
Carmen wrote: "Mandy wrote: "K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I’m still home. This is one nasty cold. I’m finally seeing the end of the tunnel though. After some night sitting up on the couch because of coughing fits, ..."My public library is part of the the county so it gets money from the local government. that's why i have sick leave hours. on my last time card i had 438 hours. So now i have 374 hours of sick leave (about 47 days worth). I don't get sick that often so they've accumulated a lot over the 7/8 years i've worked.
Mandy wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Mandy wrote: "K.L. wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I’m still home. This is one nasty cold. I’m finally seeing the end of the tunnel though. After some night sitting up on the couch because of ..."That's great! Glad you don't have to worry about it. My brain just struggles with having hours of sick leave at all. Most definitely not a thing here 😅
Mod
Do you have unlimited sick leave in Europe? At my job, its tracked in days, not hours, and it's reasonably generous. I have no idea how many sick days I have, because I have never needed them all. Each year the count start over for me, I don't accumulate them indefinitely.
Dubhease wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Greetings all! I was distracted with work today, shutting down early as I was seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway one last time (closes April 16th), curtain was at 7 and we want..."Totally agree!
Not only was this written on spec, it was SERIALIZED! All that extra waffling, words, words, words, meaningless stentences.... he was paid by the word!
But it did upend the format of the gothic - which is why I gave it 1 star.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Do you have unlimited sick leave in Europe? At my job, its tracked in days, not hours, and it's reasonably generous. I have no idea how many sick days I have, because I have never needed them all. Each year the count start over for me, I don't accumulate them indefinitely."Pretty much? I can't of course speak for all of Europe, I only have in-depth knowledge of the Netherlands, but workers are protected here. You can't fire someone for being sick, or while they're sick. After a year of being off sick (like, in one go) the employer is entitled to lower your salary to 70%, but they still can't fire you. They need serious grounds for firing you, and while being sick all the time might eventually be part of a cause for that, there would need to be more. And a judge has to agree on it in cases like that.
At the very least, this is how it works at my dad's company. It's a shit company who does not care about its factory workers, so it's not as if he's in some high end job where it's all cushiony, haha! At least they were kind enough to only lower my dad's salary to 80% when he hit the one year mark. But he had to fight to get back into good graces with the people above him when he went back to work.
The only exception to this as far as I know is when you're still on a probationary period at the start of a job. If you're sick through that, they are allowed to not actually hire you on. (that happened to me, and they were shitty about it too; didn't even let me know until I called them to tell them I was better and could come back)
Mod
Wow!! The USA really does not care about its workers. I think if I were out sick for more than two weeks straight, with no end in sight, my company would start making noise about it. If you are ill for an extended time, you go on short term disability, and you get a percent of your salary, for a limited time. And I do not know what that limited time is. I think it's half a year.
If you are permanently disabled, you get social security, but I'm sure it's a very small payment each month, barely enough to get by. I really have no idea.
Technically you cannot be fired for being ill, and you cannot be fired while out on short term disability, but ... I'm sure the company has ways around that. Head count reductions wait for no man! we all get the chop.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Do you have unlimited sick leave in Europe? At my job, its tracked in days, not hours, and it's reasonably generous. I have no idea how many sick days I have, be..."I have some recent experience in this....
I had worked 14 years for my agency and they were *very* nice and supportive about my health issues, way more than they legally had to be. Legally, a company has to hold your job for 12 weeks if you use Family Medical Leave. You only get that time every 52 weeks, and it doesn't have to be paid. If you take 12 weeks off for a new baby, go back to work for 2 days and then get in a car accident, tough, your company can let you go.
My agency held my job much longer than they had to. I didn't have any sick time to use by that point, so I was able to get NY short term disability, a whole $170 a week!! My company gave us 8 hours of personal time and 1.2 hours of extended illness time every 2 weeks. (very generous compared to many)
After you've been sick for 6 months, you can get long term disability, but you have to apply for it and be approved, and that can take years to get Social Security. How much you get depends on how long you worked before getting sick. Because I knew I had health issues that could force me out of work, I paid into a disability plan through work (which many companies don't offer) and through that, I am getting monthly payments almost the same as what I made while working. That's the only way I'm able to stay home. Otherwise, I'd be killing myself trying to work at McDonald's or something. And if I was calling out from McDonald's all the time cause I still have health issues, they could fire me for it. So yeah, that's the *nice* version of the American health/disability system! (most folks have way, way less than the supports I have)
In the UK, you're entitled to up to 28 weeks sick pay in a rolling year paid by the employer, but reclaimable from the government. That kicks in once you've been off work for more than 3 days at a time. Companies will also have their own sickness schemes which may be more generous, and act as a top up. You will need to provide medical evidence from your family doctor. It is possible to dismiss someone who is either off sick long term or takes a lot of days off, but this would only be fair if the employer has investigated, got medical reports, looked for alternative work etc. You are protected more (not completely) if you have a mental or physical disability as defined in legislation. It's unfair to dismiss anyone for reasons related to pregnancy or childbirth. This is current situation, but it may change post Brexit.....
Statutory sick pay in the UK isn't really enough to live off though. I understand the rest of Europe is much more generous! On the bright side, at least we still get free healthcare.
Damn. Sometimes I forget how good we have it on some fronts, compared to the countries around us. (this doesn't mean we don't have our issues, of course) Our benefits system is quite a disaster and does not take into account people who can't work (and are acknowledged by benefits people to not be able to do so) but also don't qualify for disabled benefits (because they're dicks) so are stuck getting half the benefits because they dare to still live at home, and are only allowed out of the country 3 weeks a year and can't have any sort of income or they'll be cut. *sighs* but then I know that benefits systems around the world leave things to be desired.A coworker of my dad's was loathed by everyone, and they tried to fire him for the things he did. It would have been valid too, if they hadn't been lazy with the yearly reports they do on their staff. So he fought it, and won, because the judge was like 'if he was so terrible, why are all his reports glowing?'
Safe to say, the next year, his report was not glowing (and still truthful) and he was fired with a huge (for them) check to go.
I am so confused. I have several books that can fit in multiple prompts.- Queer Lead
Lesbians on Television: New Queer Visibility the Lesbian Normal
Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America
Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family
*****
-Spring 2023
Lesbians on Television: New Queer Visibility the Lesbian Normal
(pub. Feb. 2023, but close enough)
*****
Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America
American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump
Ron wrote: "I am so confused. I have several books that can fit in multiple prompts..."Have you read them yet? When I run into that problem, I read the books and put them in what seems like the hardest prompt to fill in other ways. You can always rearrange later!
Jennifer wrote: Have you read them yet? When I run into that problem, I read the books and put them in what seems like the hardest prompt to fill in other ways. You can always rearrange later!That's an interesting concept. I'll have to give it a try.
Mod
Overall, I would say it is warmer than expected for this time of year.
"My dog is all better after last week's UTI, so that's good. My tie dyes are still happening - the shirt I hand-painted with the dragon Haku's face came out wonderfully!! (For the curious, this is my shirt: https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.ne...) Now I've got a sweatshirt waiting to be washed - it's the first sweatshirt I've dyed, fingers crossed for it - and I'm getting ready to try a new fold called a "Klink.""
I love the fact that you are creative in addition to being an engineer! Yay you! The link didn't work for me, but I'm using my imagination!
"We made a daytrip down to Corning to visit the Museum of Glass (detouring into Binghamton to get my college kid, of course), and I guess my kids didn't believe me when I said it was a good museum, because they were both amazed at how much they enjoyed it."
Isn't it the best when you can show your children something you enjoy and they also enjoy it? :)
"I hope your February reading is on track and where you want it to be. Mine's not! I thought I'd get to a lot of Black History Month books this month, but I got distracted by a few new 2023 publications that came in from the library."
Ahhhh...that is a sigh of relief that I am not the only one behind!! :)
"Admin stuff
Our April MAY (ETA: somehow I totally skipped April and thought bunnies was was April instead of May!!) group read results are in, it was a tight race, and the winning book is: Bunny! I've heard this book is really weird, so naturally that makes me want to read it and discuss it with someone, this should be perfect."
I am thrilled you want to read it. I won't be doing so, since it is horror and I cannot do horror! :)
"Now we will take a little pause for a month or so on the polls so that we don't get too far ahead of ourselves.
Let us know if you would like to lead discussions for March or April or May (or any future month). March is getting close!! Let us know if you want to step up and lead the discussion of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. I feel like somebody DID express interest, but we don't have a name written down, so maybe you weren't' sure? Or Lynn and I dropped the ball haha!"
I looks like LeahS is leading! She offered to post some questions since she read this last month and I encouraged her to do so. I hadn't really planned to read this one, but picked up a copy yesterday and have begun. I had forgotten it is a mythological retelling...
"The Shadow of Sirius poems by W.S. Merwin - I LOVED this! This year I am focusing on reading Pulitzer prize winners and former Poet Laureates, and that strategy is paying off so far! I love this so much I bought a copy for myself to keep. His poems reminded me a lot of Mary Oliver's."
Always happy for you when you enjoy a poem collection! :)
"How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones - this was okay. It was a bit messy and disjointed, I'm not sure what Jones' goal was. To my surprise, there was a love triangle so I checked that off on my Challenge. This was also on my short list of books I "must" read in 2023.
Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper - I LOVED Harper's last book (She Rides Shotgun - it was amazing, go read it if you love gritty crime novels), and I have waited years for his next one to come, so I JUMPED on this. With my hyper fervent level of anticipation, it's not really a surprise that I was a little disappointed, because seriously what could live up to the extremely high expectations I had developed? I enjoyed this. It's a solid neo-noir mystery / crime thriller. AND it's all about Hollywood!! Which I was NOT expecting. Two surprises in one week :-) SO I checked off "about Hollywood" on my Challenge list."
Love those kinds of surprises!
"Question of the Week
What other bookish social media or blogs do you use regularly?
* The Millions - twice a year, I become VERY excited about The Millions, when they release their Most Anticipated lists. https://themillions.com/2023/01/most-... Other than January and July, I'm never there. But come December and June, I start searching every day to see if they've released the new list yet."
Ugh. There went an hour reviewing these titles and adding to my already huge mountainous TBR listing! ;) Thanks! I think... :)
Mod
LOL!! Or, should I do the evil laugh MWAaaaHAHAHAhahaha
The Millions can be addictive like that. It's why my TBR list is so ridiculously long.
Mod
Yeah the mom was unrelentingly awful, and I didn't understand why Harmel wrote her like that. It was for almost the entire book, the mom just verbally attacking her daughter. I'm sure many people at that time at first thought things wouldn't get so bad - Maus handles that really well. But the way her mom blamed her for everything was over the top.
I have the same criticism of The Violin Conspiracy - like, dang, his mom just did NOT let up. There was no goodness at all in her, she just hated on her son, for no reason. Why did the author write her like that??"
Ugh. Both these moms sound like my mother. I guess I can just play back memories and skip reading these? LOL
Mod
I am sorry. Those can't be happy memories.
Mod
I am sorry. Those can't be happy memories."
Not happy, but certainly memorable! :)
I've worked hard during my adulthood to NOT be like my mother. I hope I have succeeded. It really has been my main motivation for so much! So maybe that's good? ;)
Its interesting, because when I break down and repeat a few of the meaner things she said to me as a child/teen and even adult, people's jaws usually drop and they're shocked that anyone could be so unkind, but especially my own mother! Thank goodness I am an only child, at least she didn't have the opportunity to try to make others' lives miserable! :)
Nadine in NY wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Melissa wrote: "The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. ... I was very annoyed with the main character's mother ..."I just finished The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion. The mother Lenore Simmons Krackenberry is awful. She is terrible. I also thought the mother & the whole family in the Violin Conspiracy was unrelenting & terrible.
K.L. wrote: "Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for your good wishes about my fractured ankle!I did have my appointment with the orthopedist on Thursday morning, and the news is pretty good. The fracture is ..."
Oh great news considering KL. I'm glad that you don't need surgery and hope for a good update in two weeks.
I'm just about to start the Violin Conspiracy and not sure how to feel about reading about a terrible mother.
Mod
She's not a main character. Mostly the book is about Ray and his stolen violin.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion (other topics)Lesbians on Television: New Queer Visibility & the Lesbian Normal (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Travis Baldree (other topics)Axie Oh (other topics)
Coyne S. Sanders (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (other topics)
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What did you think of The Menu??"
I almost don't know how I feel. It was suppos..."
The Menu here wasn't even advertised as a horror comedy, I wouldn't even call it proper horror. It's more of a psychological thing. I really loved it, and while I of course have no official answers, I can give you my view! (view spoiler)[The chef was pretty much done with life, burnt up by all those entitled customers over the years. He brought them on to punish them, while also making sure he never had to deal with it again. Why the staff agreed to it, however, I have no clue. I chalked it up to the messed up part of any psychological thriller/horror movie. Also of course Tyler showed up. Bringing someone else along with him, however, was a major dick move. He was just desperate to try the food of his hero, and would do anything for it, even die. Sadly people like him exist. And as why the guests didn’t fight harder, I assumed it was because of (misplaced or not) guilt, maybe in combo with shock, terror, and knowing there was no escape, ending in resignation. (hide spoiler)]
I do always feel like a cheeseburger after watching xD