Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2023 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 41: 10/5 - 10/12
I finished Black Girl / White Girl. This is the second book I read by this author. The first was years ago. I didn't care for either one, so I think she's now on my no-fly list.I'm now reading The Stewart dynasty. Pretty interesting.
QOTW: I like your advanced theme ideas. A book that takes place in Brazil (the 24th country in alpha order). I don't know I just like the prompts taking place in certain times or place. So, if not that one, I liked the prompt a few years ago that takes place in a country that begins with the letter C. So, any other letter.
It IS Thursday again, isn't it? I've been working late this week so my sense of time is wildly off, and I keep getting distracted by real life to the point where I've switched books repeatedly, unable to settle on any one title until this afternoon.Finished:
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper - 4 stars. I applaud Hallie Rubenhold for shining a light on these five women, and to do so with barely anything in the way of primary source material is frankly astonishing.
On pause:
The Once and Future Witches reread
The Complete Peter Rabbit
Fledgling
Currently:
Starling House - moving slower with this than I'd planned; this is my most anticipated book of the year, and my subconscious must want to savor it because I've made it through 50 pages in several days. Regardless, it's excellent so far!
A Night in the Lonesome October - I'm loving reading a bit every day. May have to try Daily Dracula next year!
Why Did You Leave the Horse Alone? - another poetry collection
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine - the audio I finally settled on today. Crisis demands self-education.
QOTW: What category do you hope to find on the 2024 list?
I'm looking forward to the "advanced" section as well. I'm betting we'll get "book that takes place in one day" again, because 24 hours.
Happy Thursday, everyone!I’m currently in the second week of my yearly Halloween Horror Movie-thon, and I’ve had a chance to watch quite a few movies this week. The movies I watched this week included: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, Corpse Bride, The Bat (1959), House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Addams Family Values, and Sleepy Hollow. I’m also continuing to watch Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Stranger Things, which has been a lot of fun.
I also discovered that Disney+ has a Halloween category where they’ve grouped together all of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, so I’ve started watching those each night as well. It’s probably way too much time in front of the television, but this only happens once a year, and it’s totally worth it.
Even with all of the television/movie watching, I’ve still managed to do a significant amount of reading this week. I am continuing to read mostly horror, mysteries, and thrillers for the FrightFall Readathon, but I also did throw some other genres into the mix as well.
Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…
Goodreads Challenge: 734/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)
📚Physical TBR: 298/634
📱Ebook TBR: 22/236
🎧Audiobook TBR: 12/13
TBR Checklist Total: 332/883 (37.5% complete)
I did preorder one new release this week, which was the hardcover edition of Geneva: A Novel, by Richard Armitage. I actually already have the audiobook edition, which was released last year, but I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. I am planning to listen to the audiobook as I read my physical copy.
I also picked up the most recent books in two mystery series by Kirsten Weiss… From the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series, I got Deadly Divination, Dead End Donation, and Sins of the Sarcophagus: A Laugh-out-loud Cozy Mystery; and from the Wit’s End series, I got The Bantam Menace and Revenge of the Ziti I had a bunch of free ebook credits on Amazon, so I was able to get them all for free! I’ve already had a chance to read all five books, and really enjoyed all of them!
“New” Books Bought in 2023: 420
“New” Books Read in 2023: 395/420 (94.0% complete)
Here are the books I finished this week…
Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Pressed to Death — This is the second book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It had a great mystery, and the story was just fun. I also liked that it was set around Halloween time. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Deja Moo — This is the third book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. This was a really fun book, set during the Christmas season. I had a lot of fun reading this one! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Chocolate à la Murder — This is the fourth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. This was such a fun read! It’s definitely one of my favorite books in the series! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Damsel in a Dress — This is the fifth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Survive the Night — This book is a re-read for me, but since it’s the first time I’ve read my own copy, I am counting it toward my “New Books” list total. I know there are a lot of Riley Sager fans who didn’t like this book, but I actually really enjoyed it. It’s not my favorite of his books, but I thought the concept was really creepy, and even though it was my second time reading it, I had a hard time putting it down. In fact, I read most of the book in a single night. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Going, Going, Dead — This is the sixth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I really enjoyed this story, and read most of it in a single night. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Deadly Divination — This is the seventh book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. This was a great, fast-paced novella! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Dead End Donation — This is the eighth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I really enjoyed this mystery! It was a very fun read! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sins of the Sarcophagus: A Laugh-out-loud Cozy Mystery — This is the ninth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. I thought this was a very fun read! It’s definitely one of my favorite books in the series! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Bantam Menace — This is the eighth book in the Wits’ End series. I really enjoyed this story! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Revenge of the Ziti — This is the ninth book in the Wits’ End series. It was a great, fast-paced novella! 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None
Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Lore Olympus: Volume Five — This was a great continuation of the series! I’m really looking forward to reading the next volume when it’s released next year. Content Alert: (view spoiler) 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None
DNFed:
None
Currently Reading:
~Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind — This book is from the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. I have made a tiny bit of progress on this book since my previous update, but I’m still having a hard time with it. I do plan to finish it, but it’s definitely going to take longer than I’d anticipated. 📚
~Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide — I am currently about 40% of the way through this book. While the writing has been good, I’m not overly invested in the story. I do plan to finish this book, however, and hope to do so over the weekend. 📚
~The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow — This book tells the story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow from Katrina’s perspective. I’ve read about 45% so far, and I’m really enjoying it. I will be finishing this book tonight, or possibly tomorrow. 📚
~Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife — I’m just a couple of chapters into this book, but it has been really interesting so far. 📚
QOTW:
I’d love to see some more TBR-focused prompts in 2024.
Apparently, I did a lot of reading a week ago and not so much since then.Finished: Almost Everything: Notes on Hope
Hatchet
Read For Your Life: Literature as a Life Support System
I have been pulled in so many reading directions this week that I'm instituting a fast that I hope will last until Christmas!
Started:
The Fragile Threads of Power
First Life: Discovering the Connections between Stars, Cells, and How Life Began
The Commercial Theatre Institute Guide to Producing Plays and Musicals (Commercial Theater Institute)
The Ways of God, Updated Edition: How God Reveals Himself Before a Watching World
Producing Theatre : A Comprehensive and Legal Business Guide
QotW: book mentioned in tv show or movie. (This one is stolen from Kenya because I liked it so much.) Book connecting two different interests. Could also do book that takes place in a single day for the 24-hour tie-in.
Happy Thursday, y’all! It has been a nice week.I attended my first astronomy class and felt so far behind. Apparently, I am a real novice in a group of people who have a more extensive knowledge of terms and things than I.
Then I went to a ballet with a friend. First time in a long time. Kyev Ballet. Enjoyed it – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Followed the next day by Hocus Pocus at an outdoor theater, and two festivals on Saturday. Sunday and Monday were rest days. Then hiking club meeting, a movie for a book discussion to follow next week, and a discussion of Netflix’s Black Mirror.
So, some new, some old. Some learning, and some resting (reading).
Finished:
Lavender Lies - Old challenges. Cozy mystery. 4*
The Confession of Brother Haluin - Other challenges. Medieval tale/mystery with a twist. A brother Cadfael tale. 4*
How to Fly in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons – RwS challenge. Poetry by Barbara Kingsolver. Loved this and I am not a reader of much poetry. 4*
Rosemary and Rue – ATY #37. Urban Fantasy. Paranormal. Right up my alley. 4*
Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend – ATY #38. Paranormal. Cozy Mystery. Fun. 4*
Currently Reading:
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera – PS #2. 27%. Started reading this as part of my photography learning plan.
Against All Enemies– Other Challenges, PS #49. 54%. Making progress!
Pudd'nhead Wilson – ATY #34. 50%. Another that is starting to see the finish line!
Blind Tiger – Audiobook. 29%. Enjoying this audiobook so much that I listen outside the car also.
In a Gilded Cage – Other challenge. To be started.
Listening Woman – ATY #39. 67%. Will finish tomorrow.
On deck:
Bone Deep – Old challenge.
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book. On hold
PS 34/50 (68%) and 7/10 (70%) for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 37/52 (71%) and 6/12 (50%) for Spring Challenge, Fall Challenge 1/10 (10%).
GR 200/200 Finished!
QotW: What category do you hope to find on the 2024 list?
None. I will be traveling for about a month and so I am hoping only to be able to read more ahead of and after the trip.
Happy Thursday all!I'm really enjoying my Introduction to Film class this semester. It's interesting learning about the language and process of filmmaking, and I'm getting to watch some movies I otherwise might never have seen. And it makes me watch movies a little more closely now...
Books read this week:
The Wild Robot Protects -- I know the Wild Robot books are for kids, but they’re delightful and I love them. And this third book in the series is delightful as always!
Curse of the Ice Dragon -- an okay read, but not great. Someone tell the author that "jowls" and "jaws" aren't synonyms please…
The Man Who Fell to Earth -- strange, sad, and lovely. Now I kind of want to watch the movie with David Bowie…
Elatsoe -- entertaining urban fantasy with an Apache main character, though it felt a little more middle-grade than I was expecting.
DNF:
Chaos Awakens -- a fantasy world with lousy worldbuilding and about as much depth as a puddle. Abandoning.
Malamander -- couldn’t get into it. I like middle-grade books but some of them just feel like they’re trying too hard to be cutesy or quirky.
Currently Reading:
Fourth Wing
Desdemona and the Deep
The Monster Who Wasn't
Sink: A Memoir
QOTW:
I always enjoy prompts that make me seek out more diverse authors -- I'd love a return of "book originally written in another language" or any "BIPOC author" prompts. I also wouldn't mind seeing prompts involving books with neurodivergent authors/characters, books set in France (in honor of the Paris Olympics next year), or epistolary novels.
...I feel compelled to add that the Robot Librarian challenge has a LOT of prompts I personally either enjoy or think could be compelling. Link to the Goodreads group here:https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Nadine - you and Lynn are anything but sad volley ball players. It's not easy to run this and come up with questions of the week.I finally finished my 725 page tome! It was a great way to end the series. I also finished buddy reading Harry Potter with the kids. Last summer we made it to chapter 30 of 37. Then there was school. By the time they could restart, they forgot what had happened and we had to start again.
Yesterday was weird. I requested a book in September. It was due back at the library August 25, but we don't have fines so the person wasn't returning it. It was a random book. So, I drew another random book for September and read that. For October, I requested a Grady Hendrix book for Spook-tober. Those take 1-3 weeks to come in. Yesterday, the library emailed to say I had a book in, but it was both books. They came in on the same day. Unfortunately, I need to finish the two I'm reading because you can only have online books for 2 weeks instead of 3.
I am loving both Like a Charm and Daisy Darker.
Finished:
City of Heavenly Fire
ATY prompt: A book by an author you read in 2022
Popsugar prompt: A book that started out as fan fiction
Series - 13/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent, Millenium, Heather Wells, Mortal Instruments
Nobel laureates - 6/7
Random books - 6/7
ATY - 39/40
PS - 34/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 12/12 - Completed!
Around the year in 52 movies - 41/52
Currently reading:
Like a Charm - 88% done
Daisy Darker - 65% done
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life - Just started
The Final Girl Support Group - up next
Buddy Reads:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - We finally finished!
QOTW:
Like Nadine, I'm hoping they have a "24" theme in the "advanced" section, with categories connected to 24, such as a book you can read in 24 hours, a book that takes place in a day, and something about 24 karat gold.
I'm in another group where we vote on prompts and some people hate prompts connected to the year. Me, I love that stuff. I think it makes them unique because it isn't a prompt you are going to see every year. I loved Nadine's 23-related mini challenge because PS dropped the ball. I loved the 22 related advanced prompts from 2 years ago and did them all.
Happy Thursday! Today my dog goes to the vet for blood work. He may have acid reflux or some other random issue. He’s healthy otherwise.
He might have ibs from being allergic to a protein so I have to stop using the beef (bought on accident) dry food and place him on all chicken, which is what I usually buy. So in two weeks once he’s on all chicken again, we can see if his poops are better.
We got frost!!! So excited not to have hot weather, but the end of the week will see high 70s again. BOO!!!! (think Lumia Star from Mario movie boo!)
Other than those things not much else is happening. We get to watch the eclipse on Saturday. Pretty excited about that. I want to see the ‘ring of fire’ around the moon.
Popsugar: 30/50
Finished: None
Reading: None that I’m aware of
Aty:39/52
Finished:
Maiden of the Needle, Vol. 1 (light novel) (Maiden of the Needle ATY 19
Shifted: An Enchantment of Ravens to ATY 33. Margaret is in the top 10 of names.
Reading: None that I’m aware of
Goodreads Challenge 553/400
Finished:
Duck, Duck, Dinosaur: Perfect Pumpkin
Third Shift Society Volume One: A WEBTOON Unscrolled Graphic Novel
Since I Was Abandoned After Reincarnating, I Will Cook With My Fluffy Friends: The Figurehead Queen Is Strongest At Her Own Pace, Vol. 5
Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke: Volume 1
Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke: Volume 2
Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke: Volume 3
The Invisible Wallflower Marries an Upstart Aristocrat After Getting Dumped for Her Sister! Volume 1
I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons: Volume 1
Falling for Hailey: An Older Man Younger Woman, Secret Baby Romance
Reading:
Rising from Ashes: My Dear Emperor, You’re Putty in My Hands! Vol.1
Gabriel's Redemption
Fourth Wing
QOTW:
I hope there are some fun ones that got named in the posts. There were quite a few that I really liked and there were ones that I were not too thrilled with, but could put up with. Maybe the X-files will show up again.
Happy Thursday, Everyone!Hope you all have had a good week. My week has been definitely trying to say the least. I've had severe breakouts with my seborric dermatitis. Not cool, especially when it itches like crazy. I might as well put gloves on so I don't scratch like my parents would do when my sister and I had the chickenpox as kids. That's how bad the itching gets.
Other than that I've just been busy with school work so overall not bad.
This past week I did finish 2 books so I feel accomplished.
Finished:
Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief - Hil's book was amazing! It was very spiritual and mystical. Not to dismiss her first book, The Rural Diaries, but this one is definitely my favorite. It gave off witchy vibes which I loved.
If I Ever Get Out of Here - This one I just rated a 3-star. It was okay, but didn't get much out of it.
*****
On another note, now that the prompts for Nonfiction November have been announced, I am super stoked to start preparing. I don't have a lot of books that will fit the prompts so that's given me an excuse to buy quite a bit more so I'm extremely happy over that.
So far I've gotten 6 books that will fit perfectly for the prompts:
Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears
#HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice
Influenced: The Impact of Social Media on Our Perception
Fads, Fakes, and Frauds: Exploding Myths in Culture, Science and Psychology
Buffalo Bill's America: William Cody and the Wild West Show
Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World
*****
QOTW:
What category do you hope to find on the 2024 list?
I'm kind of hoping there will at least be better options for nonfiction. That's cool that so many people love fiction, it just didn't work for me that well this time around. I had to stretch quite a bit to fit in nonfiction books. And even then I was not able to complete the challenge.
Mod
I also discovered that Disney+ has a Halloween category where they’ve grouped together all of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, so I’ve started watching those each night as well...."
My daughter and I have been doing a casual Spooktember/Spooktober viewing - we don't watch something every night, and some nights we don't want something spooky, but we are slowly working our way through.
We watched The Curse of Bridge Hollow too!!
Some other movies we've watched recently: District 9 (I had not seen this since it's original theatrical release, and I was a little worried that it would not hold up, but it does!! My daughter liked it, too. - I know some Africans hate this movie, mostly Nigerians, but the Nigerians are hardly singled out as being uniquely awful - the white South Africans fare the worst. At any rate, the hate and the racism are the point of the movie.), Sean of the Dead, Stay (the trailer made this seem like a horror movie! it is not!! it was good though), and right now we are halfway through Heavenly Creatures which of course is not technically horror but I thought it fit the theme well enough.
I did not know about the Treehouse of Horror shows all collected on D+!!! We will definitely work that into our viewing!! Some of those eps are genuinely scary.
Mod
OH, MY GOODNESS!! I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE I AM B-B-B-A-A-A-C-C-K-K-K!! New laptop and back online!! YAY!! Got a heck of a deal on one that is basically the same as my old one (HP Envy) but of course with the latest technology AND it folds over so I can use it many different ways, which will be so helpful to avoid repetitive stress disorders in my hands and arms!! WHEW!!! We'll have to work out how many times I need to start the Weekly Check-Ins to repay you. Nadine!!! 😁👍 And I would just like to clarify that prior to receiving two titanium knee joint replacements, I was one heck of a volleyball player!!! Now I am not allowed to "jump" so had to relinquish playing volleyball. Otherwise, I doubt we would have allowed it to land between us!! 😉
"On Tuesday I finished the Popsugar challenge AND the AtY challenge, with the same book! I didn't actually realize I had only one book left in both challenges until I checked my spreadsheet, so that was a happy surprise!! I am a dork, and I'm all alone in the room, so yes I did sing "ding! ding! ding! ding!" as if a winning buzzer went off for me :-)"
Wow!! You are amazing! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! (Well deserved!)
"And also on Tuesday, Popsugar finally remembered us (after months of dead silence, not a peep from a group admin on that FB group) and officially assured us that there WILL be a 2024 challenge. Hooray!!"
YAY!! I am hopeful there are fewer repeated prompts from previous POPSUGAR challenges in this year's listing!
"The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo - this book blew me away with its originality, and I loved it. I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up for Hispanic Heritage Month (the author is Argentinia-American) - I might not have read it otherwise. I used this for "related to a geometric shape" in AtY."
Love it when that happens!!
"A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet - I loved Millet's recent book, Dinosaurs, which I read earlier this year, and this was highly praised and in the running for many awards, so when I saw it on a discount shelf, I bought it ... and OMG I HATED it. It was a quick read, and I kept expecting it to make sense and it never did. I am angry at this book because it disappointed me so much. To add insult to injury, I BOUGHT this book. I bought it in a little shop in the seaside town where my mom lives, so I used this for "independent bookstore.""
I guess the good news is it proved to be useful to fuilfill a prompt? 👍
"Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo - this book lived up to all the hype!! Isn't it nice when that happens?? (Which was especially nice because the book I finished earlier that day did NOT live up to my expectations at ALL. One star full of anger at that stupid book.) I used this for my secondhand bookstore book (well, I got it from the library sale shelf - it's secondhand, it counts!) for Popsugar, and my book about pride for AtY. So, with this one book, I finished both of my main reading challenges for 2023!"
I am thrilled that you enjoyed this one! It is one of my favorite books EVER!!
"I still have to finish my "must read in 2023" list and the little mini "winter" challenge, so I still have a few more books I need to read for the year!"
But you got the main ones done!!
"Question of the Week
What category do you hope to find on the 2024 list?
Popsugar has asked for suggestions over on their FB page. (Who knows if they will actually use any next year ... but they asked!)
I'm hoping they have a "24" theme in the "advanced" section, with categories connected to 24, such as 24 hours in the day (a book you can read in a day, and a book with a timepiece on the cover), 24 karat (a book with gold on the cover), 1924 (a book from the Harlem Renaissance), the periodic table (a book with chrome on the cover, since chromium is the 24th element), and the alphabet (a book with X on the cover or in the title).."
What a great question and list of answers!! Let's hope they're listening!!
Happy Thursday! Oh, I'm glad to hear there will be a 2024 challenge. I don't know what I'd do without something to keep me on task reading-wise!Currently Reading
The Redemption of Althalus for "book you read over 10 years ago". I'm enjoying getting back into this one. Sometimes it's nice to return to something familiar.
The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society for "book by an author with the same initials as you". I'm actually enjoying this way more than I thought. Should be finished with it soon!
QotW
I like the "24" theme idea and also any themes that relate to anything going on during the year? Like seasonal reads or such. Honestly, as long as it helps me get through my massive TBR list and still be able to read a good variety, I won't complain.
Congrats on finishing, Nadine! There is no more hope for me for the challenge, but I'm at peace with that. I never expected to finish it! I'm back to reading fics now so who knows, maybe I'll actually manage to read Chalice of the Gods before the year is out!
Our Flag Means Death s2 so far does NOT disappoint, and I can't wait for the second episode of season 2 of Loki tomorrow. I've also been playing "Arise" on the Switch and it makes me feel like gamer, haha! Also I cried. Beautiful. Two more levels to go!
OH we also watched Haunted Mansion the other day. We really enjoyed that!
Also made a ton of progress on the fandom bingo! Only have a few things left to do :D
Highlight of the day is that The House in the Cerulean Sea is getting a sequel! I am now impatiently waiting for Amazon here to show a pre order other than Kindle.
QOTW
I miss the year related advanced prompts, so I'm with Nadine on the 24 related prompts. Other than that I can't think of anything right now, which is partly due to me not reading. Just.. less repeated prompts, I guess?
Greetings from a sunny NYC. Weather turns rainy again this weekend - for 3rd in row ... or is that the 4th? Other than an appointment late tomorrow afternoon -- I don't have to go out any of the days it's promising rain...I'm holding at 42/50 in PS but have a couple more reads in the works.
Finished:
Lady Derring Takes a Lover - first in a series and so much fun! Just smutty enough, was exactly what I needed, filled with humor and fun characters. The smuggling plot was very weak but who cares when it was all so much fun?!
Currently reading:
Out of Istanbul: A Journey of Discovery along the Silk Road
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
A Free Man of Color
When Gods Die
QOTW: I actually posted several suggestions:
Book set during a revolution -- which I really really want to see
Historical Fiction set before 1900 -- time to leave the WW behind for a bit
A book by an author from the Lost Generation - there's a lengthy list including Fitzgerald, Edna St. Vicent Millay, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, etc.
A dragon book - it does not have to be fantasy if phrased that way - it can be a book with a dragon on the cover like SJRozan's mystery Family Business or HF set in china with dragon in the title or even a book about a heist where the work of art is a gold dragon statue. Plus it ties into 2024 - which is the year of the dragon.
I'm always happy to see ones like a book with a map, or something on a cover, or a color.
Playing on the idea of 24:
A book published the year you turned 24
A book by an author that was published the year they were 24, 48, or 72.
and a few more tied to 24 that I don't remember.
What I do NOT want to see -- in no way -- always the prompts I hate the most every single year and wish never appeared again, especially have we had multiples of 2 of these on the 2023 list .... any prompt relating to a celebrity in any way, any prompt tied to Good Reads Awards, and any prompt tied ot a film or tv series in any way at all.
Congrat's on Finishing, Nadine!We just got a bird out of our back room. It flew in when we had the door open. It went into the back of the mini fridge where the wires are. but it took three people to get it out. one to block off half the room, and the other two to try to maneuver it to the door. less that 2 feet away.
it took flight and jump scared my colleague. it was amusing.
there's the most excitement i will get for the rest of the year.
Hi all! I had a physical today for my disability. The physical was fine (who knew? I'm easily tired and quickly get out of breath?? *eye roll*), the killer was that it was over an hour drive to get there and another hour + to get back. I'm whooped. I was hoping for at least some nice fall colors on the trees (it was a beautiful day out), but it seems like all the trees are either still mostly green or have dropped their leaves! I finished My Pinup while I was waiting for my appointment for the shortest book on my TBR, at 48 pages. The middle section where the author met Prince was well written, the sections before and after that were dreamy and stream of consciousness and I couldn't follow what he was trying to say. Peach pie? Dorothy Parker? The white girl dies? I dunno. It was not at all cohesive, but at least it was short.
Finally got around to picking up The Complete Maus, ya know, since I'm leading the discussion and all. About halfway through the first book. Still love it. Come join us!
I started Hanging Mary, seems promising.
I may have read some other stuff this week, I don't know, mush brain.
QOTW: I was watching a show on the Bermuda Triangle and I was thinking it could be fun to have a prompt on things that are uneXplained. ;) Bermuda Triangle, unsolved crimes like Jack the Ripper or DB Cooper, Bigfoot, aliens, etc.
Mod
I attended my first astronomy class and felt so far behind. Apparently, I am a real novice in a group of people who have a more extensive knowledge ..."
You really stay busy!!!!
Happy Thursday!Challenge Progress:
52 Book Club: 52/52 (October Mini-Challenge: 0/3)
ATY: 52/52 (Fall Challenge: 7/15)
Popsugar: 48/50 (Nadine's Mini-Challenge: 10/10)
Completed:
A Twisted Love Story ★★★★
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope ★★★
The Old Place (ATY Fall Challenge 1: a book that has an orange cover) ★★★★
Penelope in Retrograde (ATY Fall Challenge 7: a book that makes you think of Thanksgiving or giving thanks) ★★★
Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear ★★★★
Black Cloud Rising (Goodreads Giveaway) ★★★
Prom Mom ★★★★
How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told ★★★★
Currently Reading:
Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original (Goodreads Giveaway/ATY Fall Challenge 14: a book that features an athlete)
Wreck the Halls (ATY Fall Challenge 6: a book that feels cozy)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
This is How You Lose the Time War (PS 6: a book about a forbidden romance)
Her Fearful Symmetry (52 BC 3: a book that has a graveyard scene)
Sisters of the Lost Nation
The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch (ATY Fall Challenge 15: a book published in October)
QOTW: I would love to see some non-fiction prompts! And how about "a title that is a complete sentence"? On the theme of (20)24, I like "a book with an X in the title or in the author's name" and "a book with a dragon on the cover." I do NOT want to see "a book that takes place in a single day." I've seen it on multiple challenges the past few years, and I'm running out of books that fit the prompt!
Mod
I'm really enjoying my Introduction to Film class this semester. It's interesting learning about the language and process of filmmaking, and I'm getting to watch some movies I ..."
Any good movies you'd recommend? There are so many classics I have never seen ...
The Man Who Fell to Earth -- strange, sad, and lovely. Now I kind of want to watch the movie with David Bowie…
Do it!! I watched it years ago, when VCRs were current technology. There was this confusing sex scene where he and his wife were in anti-gravity gel or something. Is that in the book? Are you reading the book because of your film class?
Kenya wrote: "...I feel compelled to add that the Robot Librarian challenge has a LOT of prompts I personally either enjoy or think could be compelling. Link to the Goodreads group here:
https://www.goodreads.c..."
Yes you do!! And you've got some hard prompts!!! When we weren't sure if Popsugar would come through, I was thinking to myself "well I guess we'll all be reading the Robot Librarian list! And oh boy a few of those might be really tough!"
Mod
I finally finished my 725 page tome! It was a great way to end the..."
Thank you!!!! :-)
I felt like such a doofus when I realized it was Thursday! It was around 3pm and I was thinking ahead to what I needed to do that evening, my daughter has band practice so I'd drive her to school at 5:30 and what might I make myself for dinner while she's at band ... and then I was like "WAIT A MINUTE! BAND PRACTICE IS ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS! IS TODAY THURSDAY???"
Mod
Oh right how could I forget that one!! I'm going to suggest it on FB. I'm feeling cynical like they are just asking for input to pacify us adn they aren't going to actually read it but ... just in case!!
Nadine in NY wrote: "Do it!! I watched it years ago, when VCRs were current technology. There was this confusing sex scene where he and his wife were in anti-gravity gel or something. Is that in the book? Are you reading the book because of your film class?."I read the book because I purchased it in an airport bookstore years ago and decided to finally read it, haha. The sex scene wasn't in the book. As for movies I recommend from this class, "Rear Window" was really good. "Citizen Kane" is interesting to watch through once. "Midnight Cowboy" was tamer than I expected and SAD but good.
Also, I know some of the prompts for Robot Librarian are hard... I guess this was in response to the prompts from this year's PopSugar not being challenging enough, haha.
Mod
Oh WELCOME BACK!!! I have missed your happy voice in the group!!!
"Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo ...
I am thrilled that you enjoyed this one! It is one of my favorite books EVER!!
Yeah everyone loves it!! My younger daughter gave it 5 stars, and my college daughter's best friend gave it 5 stars. (haha college kid herself is behind the ball and has not read it yet) And so I was skeptical: how can any book be THAT good?? At first I was a bit annoyed with it, because it read younger than I expected - I thought the characters were in their 20s. But once I got into it, I was into it.
The last time I loved a book that EVERYONE else loved was The Hate U Give. Every once in a while, the hype is real!!!
Mod
Oh I am super excited for that, too!!! I loved season 1 and it ended in such a WEIRD place, I have no idea where they go from there, but I'm going to find out!! But I'm not going to find out until college kid is home and we watch it together (and we still have to finish Only Murders in the Building s3, too, so we have a lot of TV viewing to do and not much time with her home!!)
OH we also watched Haunted Mansion the other day. We really enjoyed that!..."
That movie looks good, too!! I forgot it was out! Is it streaming for free w Disney + subscription? If it is, we'll work that into our Spooktober viewing. If not, well ... I'll wait hah!
Mod
I've seen Rear Window (my kids hated it because they couldn't get past how sexist it seemed to them with their modern sensibilities - they hated Vertigo for the same reason - at this point, college kid just refuses to watch anything with Jimmy Stewart in it), and I saw Citizen Kane once but that was a long time ago so I am due a rewatch. I have actually never seen Midnight Cowboy, I'll add that to my list of classics to watch (if it's not already on there)
Mod
I haven't read that one yet but Julie Ann Long is one of my favorite romance authors!! Her contemporary romances (Hellcat Canyon) are good too! She should be wayyyy more popular than she is, so I'm glad to see her getting some more love.
A book by an author that was published the year they were 24, 48, or 72.
Ohhh that would be really REALLY tough to search for though!! First you pick an author, find out what year they were born, then see if they published anything in the years they turned 24 / 48 / 72, then pick another author and check them, and so on. Tedious.
Mod
We just got a bird out of our back room. It flew in when we had the door open. It went into the back of the mini fridge where the wires are. but it took three peopl..."
oh my gosh!!! That happened to me at home once, a long time ago on a sunny winter day, I was out on the back deck filling bird feeders, I'd left the back slider door open because it was nice out, and a chickadee flew into the house!! The front door was open to let in some sun and I guess chickadees are pretty smart (and sassy LOL) so it flew right through the house and found the front door, all I had to do was open the storm door and it flew out again.
This MAY have been the start of my older daughter's irrational fear of birds LOL
Mod
it has not been a great Fall for leaf color. I don't know why, since we have had LOTS of rain this year, and I thought that helped bring on the color. The trees have been rather drab, and then they just ... drop their leaves. Blah.
I hope you have a nice quiet day tomorrow to rest up!!!
Mod
VALID!!! :-)
Happy Thursday!Finished
Fates and Furies For banned book (banned in Florida). The writing was gorgeous, the characters not so much. When I got to the second half and realized there was going to be a replay of many things from her perspective, I was kind of excited. But then her scenes didn't really cover any of the territory I wanted.
Wrong Place Wrong Time A different, fun take on the thriller. Wrote more about it in the monthly read thread.
Reckless Girls Picked up for ATY's tropical setting, but realized on finishing that I could also use it for PS about a vacation, so I'm doing it. It just took a really long time for anything to happen, there was so much set up. And I got a little annoyed because I looked up Meroe Island (in the Indian Ocean) to check that the setting was right but then on reading discovered this Meroe Island is actually a fictional one in the Pacific.
Currently Reading
Dreamsongs Vol I Still getting through this, enjoying a lot of the stories.
Stormsong Decided to keep powering through the series after finishing Witchmark recently.
The Mysterious Flame Of Queen Loana Picked this book, which has been sitting on my shelves for quite a while on a whim today. Seems like it's just going to be various lists of stuff, but I like the images embedded in it.
QotW
Really, I'd just like some fresh prompts!
There's no specific ones I want to see, I think I can make anything work in the end, I'd just like to feel like I'm looking at some new option lists.
I really like prompts that hit the sweet spot where there's only certain books that can fill the prompt (rather than the ones you can twist most books to fit) but not too limited. I'd say this years "Girl in title" and "rabbit on the cover" are examples of the volume of options I like.
Happy Thursday! I guess computer trouble is catching, cause my laptop completely crashed on Sunday. It's had its hiccups in the past, but was working fine Sunday at lunch. Then I left for a while, came back and it is refusing to work. I'm giving it until Saturday for more attempts at trouble shooting, but it looks like I'll be buying a new laptop soon. So annoying! At least I can use my work laptop at home to watch Netflix. Between that and my phone I should be set until I get a new laptop. But I'm so mad! So much for not spending much money this monthFinished:
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop- finally got my loan from the library again to finish the last 20 pages. This was very sweet, a love letter to reading and used bookstores
-no prompt
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror- such a good collection! Some stories really creeped me out- especially the eyes one, and the air pressure one. A good mix of authors I know and new to me writers. It's a varied enough collection that I think there's a story that would appeal to any fan of horror.
-no prompt
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories- this has been on my radar for a while, so I'm glad I got to it. I didn't like it as much as Out there Screaming, but it was an interesting collection
-no prompt
Currently Reading:
Silver Nitrate- got sidetracked by other books, but I'm back to it! Liking it so far
QotW:
I hope there's a lot of prompts to do with 24, since those tend to be creative. Maybe title contained the 24th letter?
Since it's leap year next year, maybe something to do with time, time travel, gaining extra time?
Also with the election coming up- something to do with a campaign, or competition?
Happy Thursday!Finished:
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford - I really enjoyed this. Good historical fiction.
Comics & manga:
The Apothecary Diaries 03
The Apothecary Diaries 04
Currently reading:
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow - I am about two-thirds through and loving this book so far.
Upcoming/Planned:
Nothing definite at the moment aside from some more manga
QOTW:
I'm not sure. I like the ideas around the 24 advanced theme. I just hope they're a little more creative this time around.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Lady Derring Takes a Lover - first in a series and so much fun! Just smutty enough, was exactly what I needed, filled with humor and fun characters. The smuggling plot was very weak..."I don't even know how Lady Derring ended up on my TBR, but it poppedup Friday, fit my mood and I am ready for more of the series. The whole premiseis ripe for great characters, humor and just enough mystery.
Will also keep that contemporary series in mind.
@LYNN - welcome black! Enjoy that new computer!@Nadine - congrats on finishing PS!
I'm still very much mired in my reading though I did finally get two more prompts knocked out (neither are books I'd rec though)For A book written during NaNoWriMo I read Wolfhaven by Jay Shaw. I just can't get into the A.B.O. stuff you find so often in wolf shape shifter stuff and you toss in the misogyny (such as public matings) and yeah not the book for me.
For A book based on a popular movie I read X-Wing Fighter: Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston which I used for X in my alphabet challenge which is literally the only reason I kept reading. This was incredibly dull.
I also read some fun graphic novels and manga, The Moth Keeper by Kay O'Neill, a sweet middle grade fantasy, The Little Trashmaid, Vol. 1 by s0s2, about a mermaid trying to live in a polluted ocean (so you can imagine the message of environmental responsibility in this) and The Wolf Never Sleeps, Vol. 1 by Shienbishop a relatively forgettable fantasy manga
QOTW Hmm, that's hard (surprisingly) I'd like to see something middle grade or YA geared. Mostly I'm hoping for a few less repeats. It's easier to say what I don't want (celebrity anything)
Happy check-in! Covid delayed our Thanksgiving plans so it was weird to not eat turkey and the usual foods for Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful weekend and I got a lot of outdoor work done.A bunch of 2023 graphic novels I've been waiting for came in from the library which was awesome.
Finished Reading:
A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings ⭐⭐⭐
Like always my ratings on memoirs are about artistic choices. The author chose to draw everyone as birds which made it difficult for me to figure who was who. Every page seemed to be a different thought and that didn't work for me. This was funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
The Goblin Emperor ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It took a little bit to get into this but I didn't want it to end. Some excellent characters. Sadly the sequels follow other characters.
Lore Olympus: Volume Five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this was my favourite of the series so far.
We Only Find Them When They're Dead, Vol. 1: The Seeker ⭐⭐
This was confusing but it had good artwork. Too much time travel.
Big Panda & Tiny Dragon ⭐⭐⭐
I didn't realize this was philosphy. The artwork is really cute.
The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marjorie M. Liu + Sana Takeda = slam dunk.
Stone Blind: Medusa's Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Greek myth retelling following a character usually portrayed as a villain.
The Good Neighbors ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three graphic novels in one. Holly Black wrote graphic novels about fairies long before she created Elfhame.
PS 49/50
ATY 52/52
Nadine's 10/10
Goodreads 219/250
Currently Reading:
The Iron Hunt
QOTW:
I really liked that there were themes to previous Popsugar challenges so one surrounding 24 would be great.
I made two suggestions for ATY voting and both were disliked so I would still like a challenge with them.
A book with a poem
A graphic novel/comic with a female main author and female main artist
Erica wrote: "Happy check-in! Covid delayed our Thanksgiving plans so it was weird to not eat turkey and the usual foods for Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful weekend and I got a lot of outdoor work done.A bunc..."
I'd love to see the female graphic novel creator/main character prompt
A couple more prompt suggestions I made for '24':A book set or published in 1924 or 1824.
Abook with 24 chapters.
Oh, and I think somebody said read a book suggested by someone doing the Popsugar challenge. LOVE that one! So meta.
I don't know where my time is going, you'd think not working I'd be getting lots of books read. But I sit down at my desk in the morning to do something productive (job search, write, blog, code) and next thing I know the morning's over and I have done one tiny thing. I at least managed to plot out the middle bits of my novel so when I do have the oomph to write, I won't be floundering about what happens next. I just feel a bit unmotivated about everything right now.Finished:
The Undetectables by Courtney Smythe, not for any prompts but would have worked for holiday that's not Christmas if I hadn't already cheated on that one (Samhain features heavily). It was a bit slow in places but overall was fun enough that I would read another. I liked the magical entomology . I've seen some criticisms that Mallory is defined b y her illness but if you're constantly in pain and fatigued, that is going to get in the way of life stuff, and I felt that was reasonably realistic.
I'm nearly finished listening to The Wake-Up Call and am very slowly reading She Who Became the Sun.
QOTW:
I suggested some prompts in Popsugar, more so that they have some new ideas rather than me especially wanting them. I just don't want a bunch of repeats of prompts I disliked the first time round or have been done to death.
I saw someone lifted ten of the prompts from 2024 ATY and suggested them on the FB page like their own suggestions without changing the wording at all. I don't think it would be a good look to be so obviously copying another challenge.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all!I'm really enjoying my Introduction to Film class this semester. It's interesting learning about the language and process of filmmaking, and I'm getting to watch ..."
My boyfriend loves classic movies! Casablanca is his favorite. It's a classic for a reason. (also, I bought him We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Legend and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Film, which he hasn't read yet, but would work great if someone needs a book based on a movie!) Actually, we have yet to see a Humphrey Bogart movie we don't like (but yes, they are 'of the times' as far as misogyny etc). Key Largo is another one he really likes.
Hitchcock's movies are also great classics! North by Northwest, The Birds (though maybe not for Nadine's daughter!), and of course Psycho would be great for this time of year. I don't do horror movies, but even I like these.
My boyfriend also loves James Cagney and Edward G Robinson movies, most of them are gangster movies. I can't remember any specific titles, but I've liked the ones I've seen, too. I think there was one with Bogart where Bogart was actually the bad guy!
So I have currently started this one:
Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears
Someone suggested that for the NFN challenge when it came to the topic of 'fraud' I could end up going the way of acting and such and so I stumbled across this one. The title seemed interesting and the cover art looked fun which is something I always lack in my books.
Starting it early because the book is over 550 pgs. My average is around 310 or so.
Nadine in NY wrote: "My daughter and I have been doing a casual Spooktember/Spooktober viewing - we don't watch something every night, and some nights we don't want something spooky, but we are slowly working our way through.We watched The Curse of Bridge Hollow too!!
Some other movies we've watched recently: District 9 (I had not seen this since it's original theatrical release, and I was a little worried that it would not hold up, but it does!! My daughter liked it, too. - I know some Africans hate this movie, mostly Nigerians, but the Nigerians are hardly singled out as being uniquely awful - the white South Africans fare the worst. At any rate, the hate and the racism are the point of the movie.), Sean of the Dead, Stay (the trailer made this seem like a horror movie! it is not!! it was good though), and right now we are halfway through Heavenly Creatures which of course is not technically horror but I thought it fit the theme well enough.
I did not know about the Treehouse of Horror shows all collected on D+!!! We will definitely work that into our viewing!! Some of those eps are genuinely scary.."
I loved The Curse of Bridge Hollow! It kind of reminded me a little of the Goosebumps movie (the one with Jack Black) that came out several years ago. I think it was the combination of the scares and humor that reminded me of that movie. I would definitely watch Bridge Hollow again!
It's been a really long time since I last watched District 9, but I remember it being really interesting, I've got a couple of SciFi movies that I'm thinking about adding to my movie marathon lineup, but I've got so many horror and family-friendly Halloween movies left on my list, I just don't know if I'll get to everything.
Yeah, Treehouse of Horror has been awesome! I'm finding the episodes more funny than scary, but some of them definitely would have freaked me out when I was younger. I'm currently on #16, but I think my favorite is still the first one. Lisa reading Bart "The Raven" is one of my all-time favorite things!
Disney+ also has the new Haunted Mansion movie, and it is streaming for free if you've got a subscription. I think the Blu-ray also comes out on Tuesday (the 17th), which I'm really excited about. I'm really looking forward to watching the special features.
Jennifer W wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all!I'm really enjoying my Introduction to Film class this semester. It's interesting learning about the language and process of filmmaking, and ..."
Casablanca is probably my favorite classic movie and possibly favorite movie of all! Every time it shows up on a big screen in a theater in NYC -- usually some anniversary showing -- I turn up because even though I watch it everytime TCM plays it, there is nothing quite like seeing it on the big screen.
If he hasn't read it, I highly highly recommend Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Making of Casablanca--Bogart, Bergman, and World War II - Aljean Harmetz. Author also wrote a similar book on the Wizard of Oz that is good too.
Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "OH, MY GOODNESS!! I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE I AM B-B-B-A-A-A-C-C-K-K-K!! New laptop and back online!! YAY!! Got a heck of a deal on one ..."Oh WELCOME BACK!!! I have missed your happy..."
I will be the dissenting voice here and say that I liked Last Night at the Telegraph Club, but did not love it. I can't exactly put my finger on why. I think it was missing a warmth that really pulls me into a book.
Mod
well that was a new term for me that I had to go Google!!! Definitely not a thing for me. This is why I generally can't stand paranormal shifter fiction, and that's why I tend to avoid "urban fantasy" in general, because it's rife with this trope. (Not ALL urban fantasy, of course, but it's hard for me to tell in advance.)
Mod
OMG that is my life!!! My daughter comes home from school and says conversationally: "so what did you do today?" and I'm all "uhhhhhh ... I did a crossword puzzle and a load of laundry?"
I'm impressed that you've plotted out your novel.
Mod
I'm really enjoying my Introduction to Film class this semester. It's interesting learning about the language and process of filmmaking, and ..."
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed Casablanca!!!! I watched it with my kids and I THOUGHT they liked it too but now they claim they don't even remember watching it. I've never seen another Bogart film, I guess I should add some to my list!
North by Northwest was good, too, and it has Martin Landau (briefly)!!! My formative years were spent watching Mission Impossible & Space 1999, both feature Martin Landau & Barbara Bain, so I've always been fond of them, and then their daughter was Drusilla on Buffy so that clinched it for me. My kids have also seen Psycho (they liked it), Vertigo, Strangers on a Train, and Rear Window. So we've seen a lot of Hitchcock. I used to enjoy that "Hitchcock Presents" TV show as a kid, too.
You are correct, Lily is not allowed to watch The Birds!! I've got enough problems w/ her and birds hahaha
My boyfriend also loves James Cagney and Edward G Robinson movies
I have not seen any of their movies! (But I bet I did see a few on TV long ago and forgot, back when movies were regularly shown on TV before VCRs existed) Double Indemnity is on my list but I want to read the book first.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Hollywood's Native Americans: Stories of Identity and Resistance (other topics)A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South (other topics)
Hollywood's Native Americans: Stories of Identity and Resistance (other topics)
A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South (other topics)
The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Kolker (other topics)Ann Cleeves (other topics)
Erin Morgenstern (other topics)
Travis Baldree (other topics)
Sally Hepworth (other topics)
More...
On Tuesday I finished the Popsugar challenge AND the AtY challenge, with the same book! I didn't actually realize I had only one book left in both challenges until I checked my spreadsheet, so that was a happy surprise!! I am a dork, and I'm all alone in the room, so yes I did sing "ding! ding! ding! ding!" as if a winning buzzer went off for me :-)
And also on Tuesday, Popsugar finally remembered us (after months of dead silence, not a peep from a group admin on that FB group) and officially assured us that there WILL be a 2024 challenge. Hooray!!
This week I finished three books, two for this Challenge (and I'm FINISHED!)
The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo - this book blew me away with its originality, and I loved it. I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up for Hispanic Heritage Month (the author is Argentinia-American) - I might not have read it otherwise. I used this for "related to a geometric shape" in AtY.
A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet - I loved Millet's recent book, Dinosaurs, which I read earlier this year, and this was highly praised and in the running for many awards, so when I saw it on a discount shelf, I bought it ... and OMG I HATED it. It was a quick read, and I kept expecting it to make sense and it never did. I am angry at this book because it disappointed me so much. To add insult to injury, I BOUGHT this book. I bought it in a little shop in the seaside town where my mom lives, so I used this for "independent bookstore."
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo - this book lived up to all the hype!! Isn't it nice when that happens?? (Which was especially nice because the book I finished earlier that day did NOT live up to my expectations at ALL. One star full of anger at that stupid book.) I used this for my secondhand bookstore book (well, I got it from the library sale shelf - it's secondhand, it counts!) for Popsugar, and my book about pride for AtY. So, with this one book, I finished both of my main reading challenges for 2023!
I still have to finish my "must read in 2023" list and the little mini "winter" challenge, so I still have a few more books I need to read for the year!
Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 75% 9 /12
Nay's Winter 70% 7 /10
AtY 100% 52 /52
Question of the Week
What category do you hope to find on the 2024 list?
Popsugar has asked for suggestions over on their FB page. (Who knows if they will actually use any next year ... but they asked!)
I'm hoping they have a "24" theme in the "advanced" section, with categories connected to 24, such as 24 hours in the day (a book you can read in a day, and a book with a timepiece on the cover), 24 karat (a book with gold on the cover), 1924 (a book from the Harlem Renaissance), the periodic table (a book with chrome on the cover, since chromium is the 24th element), and the alphabet (a book with X on the cover or in the title).