Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2022 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 9: 2/25 - 3/3
Wow. This week flew by and I'm going to be teaching sexting class all morning, so I think today will go by fast as well. I am 43/50. I was pretty worried about finishing the challenge this early in the year, but now I'm starting to get excited, and I figured out this morning that if I read 75 pages per day, I will be done by the end of March.
This week I finished:
The Paris Apartment: Sister city (Paris, I'm going to read a book set in Chicago for the other city): I have been a pretty big fan of Lucy Foley's other books, but this one wasn't nearly as engaging. I thought the suspense was overdone, and the characters seemed like characters rather than complex people. There were definitely a few twists that I did not see coming, but it didn't hold up to the others by this author.
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal: A book with an onomatopoeia in its title: Like all of Mary Roach's books, this is interesting and as entertaining as a book about the digestive system can be. The only reason I'm not rating it higher is because, despite her best efforts, the book is gross, and I think I'm going to have anxiety about my digestive system now. Also, I have a problem with anything about teeth and had to force myself not to fast forward through that section.
Phoenix Rising: A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title: I remember reading this on the school bus when I was 11 and I noticed the girl in front of me reading too. I asked what she was reading and she was reading a different book by the same author. It was her favorite book. This was mine. 22 years later, we're still best friends, so when I found this book at a used booksale I had to buy it.
None Shall Sleep: Cutlery Prompt: I can see why this has good reviews, but it was very difficult for me to suspend my disbelief to get lost in the story. I think if I could have stopped thinking about it, it would have been very entertaining, but I just has trouble getting past the concept of letting untrained teenagers interview serial killers and go to crime scenes.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: after some flipping in my list, I'm using this for 2 languages (there's a good bit of latin and also parseltongue): I have read this book so many times, but I will always come back to this series. I decided that for this reread, I was going to really take my time and read one chapter per day. It has been a highlight of my mornings and has really let me sit with the story in a way that I never have. Something that I noticed, as I keep track of all my favorite quotes in a journal, is how wonderfully executed the end is, and I know I'm going to experience it throughout the series. I can't say enough about a good ending. I'm not even talking about the big reveal or action scenes, which are always epic, but rather the scenes afterward, when the characters are talking about what happened, asking their questions, showing their emotions for one another, and looking forward to the years/summer ahead. Just beautifully done and probably the first time I've ever taken longer than 2 days to read this book. Well worth it.
No Exit: A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2022: another reread for me. I planned to read The Girl Before for this, but when I saw this was being made into a movie for Hulu, I had to read it again, because I remember it fully knocked my socks off the first time. It didn't disappoint on the reread either.
Currently reading:
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper: I need to switch to the ebook of this. The audiobook isn't working for me.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: continuing with one chapter at a time
Sadie: Wow. I really think I'm going to enjoy this one.
These Silent Woods: I have really high expectations for this after the review. I even bought it because my library still hasn't gotten it. I'm liking it so far, but I'm hoping it packs some more punch as I keep going.
QOTW:
I like Lynn's idea of Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee: I have wanted to read it for years. I even started it once and put it down again, not because it wasn't good, but it just didn't feel like the right time.
I finished The Mask of Apollo as my second sister city book, which was just OK.I'm currently reading Crazy Rich Asians as my book featuring a party, and I'm glad to have something light and fluffy to take my mind off things.
QOTW: Nope.
Mary wrote: "Wow. This week flew by and I'm going to be teaching sexting class all morning, so I think today will go by fast as well. .."Sexting class? Do I want to know?
Good morning, everyone!It’s actually been a fairly productive week, both with respect to reading and getting things done around my home. I finally managed to make some headway on several projects that I’ve been avoiding, and I’m feeling pretty good about what I’ve managed to accomplish so far.
This week I had the opportunity to finish reading the Vampire Knight manga, which I started reading last week. I knew this particular series had been sitting unread on my shelves for a long time, but it wasn’t until I found a price sticker from Borders on the back of one of the volumes that I realized just how long it had been. (I miss that store so much�)
In other news, I decided to participate in the March Mystery Madness readathon this month. Although I will probably continue to get caught up on various manga series throughout the next few weeks, my primary focus is going to be reading mystery novels. I’m in a major Agatha Christie mood right now, so I’ll probably spend most of March continuing her Hercule Poirot series. I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read so far.
ŷ: 177/200
TBR checklist: 143/962 � I’m so close to the end of my book buying ban, and I can hardly wait! Only 7 titles left to go!
Finished Reading:
~For Your Own Good
~Murder Most Unladylike
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 4
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 5
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 6
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 7
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 8
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 9
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 10
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 11
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 12
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 13
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 14
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 15
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 16
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 17
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 18
~Vampire Knight, Vol. 19
~Vampire Knight Official Fanbook
~The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
~The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
~The Big Four
~The Mystery of the Blue Train
~Lord Edgware Dies
Currently Reading:
~Murder on the Orient Express
QOTW:
Since I’m already participating in March Mystery Madness this month, I’m not currently planning to read any books specifically for Women’s History Month.
Wow, I can't believe I'm actually on time for a check in! I'm currently on my way home from Scotland after my awards ceremony for work. Thankfully I didn't have to make a speech or anything which I was dreading! It was a lovely evening but I'm shattered now. Today is book day at my nephew's school and he's dressed up as Willy Wonka, looking absolutely adorable.This week I finished The Last Graduate. I'd forgotten a lot of aspects of the first book so I was pretty confused for the first few chapters. Luckily I got sucked back in but I hate cliff hangers when the next book isn't published yet
I also finished Tetris: The Games People Play which was okay. I would've preferred more details.
Currently reading: Reputation which is basically regency Mean Girls and I'm loving it.
Also reading Alone in Antarctica: The First Woman To Ski Solo Across The Southern Ice. Antarctica books are one of my niche obsessions.
QOTW: I don't follow the theme months tbh
Mod
Every morning I wake up hoping to learn that global pressure, blockades, negotiations, etc have finally ended this. But the entire thing makes no sense so nothing sensible will end it.
duologyThese Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling. YA Contemporary fantasy. Lesbian witches and a witch hunter after them. It was a fun read. I actually couldn't find anything about a third book so I'm using it for the duology prompt.
book from an author you read last year
The Marriage Game by Sara Desai. I read the second of this series last year and I truly enjoyed it. I hated this. I kept reading it hoping that it would get better and it did not. Contemporary romance. Both main characters are awful. She is supposed to be a professional recruiter but like not professional at all and I'm not talking about the blue hair because who cares. I fell like the author was going for the grumpy/sunshine trope but it didn't land. Also, the hero wasn't grumpy, he was just awful and is amazingly awful about ¾ of the way through the book and never really apologizes or atones. Also, the whole conceit is that her dad has set her up with dates and she and the hero have a bet over office space. But every date is just a horrible human being�.like cartoonishly horrible. And that really didn't work for me. Very disappointed by this book.
no prompts from most enjoyable to least enjoyable
Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins. Contemporary YA romance. The 2 main characters are gay. This was sweet and enjoyable and I really like it. Content Warning: homophobia and gay slurs.
It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill. YA romance? Coming-of-age story or figuring out who you are and where you fit in with your friends. The romance was very light and honestly could have been chucked entirely and it would still have been a good ride.
Tyler Johnson was Here by Jay Coles. YA contemporary. The brother of the main character is shot and killed by the police. It's been done better by other writers, but this wasn't bad. The vibe of the cover, however, is nowhere near the vibe of the book.
All the Murmuring Bones by A.J. Slatter. Incredibly slow burn. Advertised as a dark fairy tale and I got none of that really. Kind of boring. Would not recommend.
Uncharted by Adriana Anders. I read and loved Whiteout the first in this series. Whiteout is bonkers and unbelievable but a fun ride. In this book, they are on the run from the bad guys in the Alaskan wilderness (literally the bad guys are on their tails), the hero has been shot and they decide the frozen tundra is a great place to get it on and no. Also, he went from taciturn to I won't leave her side in approximately 12 seconds without any groundwork to get us there. Did not enjoy but I'll pick up the first one based on how much I enjoyed the bonkers first one.
I generally don't deviate from my TBR pile which is in order from oldest to newest (except I read my BOTM when they come in ).
Happy Thursday! We woke up to another dusting of snow on top of an undercoat of freezing rain, so things are slippery and chilly after a mild warm-up from the past few days here in Akron. Spring is COMING, I can feel it!! I keep reminding myself that we got snow in May of last year (or was it two years ago now? Pandemic time has really done a number on my brain), so it's always a possibility.Finished this week:
A bunch more comics! Who's surprised? Nobody!
Paper Girls, Vol. 2 / Vol 3 / Vol 4 / Vol 5 / Vol 6 - 4 stars across the board. This has truly been a wild ride. If you like Stranger Things, 80s nostalgia, SAGA, and don't mind time travel, check these out.
March: Book One / March: Book Two - 4 stars. The final volume is waiting patiently in my Kindle queue. I actually think reading it on my Kindle is the way to go, now that I know I can read comics/graphic novels on it; I've heard a lot of people say that the colors in the original don't necessarily lend themselves to the gravity of the story, and on Kindle everything is black and white. I'm calling it a win.
The Long Way Down - 4.5 stars. Continuing my Craig Schaefer geek-out and loving it. His writing is so smart and funny, his women are incredible, and the pacing is fast and dangerous. More please!
Black History In Its Own Words - 3 stars. A collection of artistic renderings coupled with quotes from the subjects. I don't know that some of the quotes aged particularly well, but it is what it is. And Wimberly didn't just stick to the well-known individuals of the civil rights movement either, which was refreshing.
Sing, Unburied, Sing - 2 stars. This one felt very Toni Morrison-esque, but I just couldn't connect with it and it felt like a slog. Palindromic title
PS 16/50
Currently:
The White Gold Score - I'll make room for the third March volume as soon as I'm done with this Daniel Faust novella, but in the meantime this series is so entertaining.
Daisy Jones & The Six - I might have a new favorite audiobook. The casting for the TV miniseries looks excellent and I can't WAIT until we actually see a trailer. In the meantime, I'll be revisiting my Fleetwood Mac obsession... Book becoming a film or tv series in 2022 (hopefully)
Catwoman, Volume 5: Backward Unmasking - the end is in sight for the Brubaker/Pfeifer run!
Parable of the Sower - This one got nudged aside in favor of Daisy Jones, but I'm looking forward to getting back to it; Octavia Butler's writing is so powerful. Duology #1
The Story of the Irish Race: A Popular History of Ireland - My Big Irish Read for March! Hahahaha
The Silmarillion - Still going
...when did I end up reading six things?? Yikes. Oh well!
QOTW: We have another month’s celebration for March: Women’s History in Australia, the UK, and the US. Are you planning to read any specific books in honor of this celebration during March? If so, what are those? And…are there any specific books you would recommend?
I've actually ended up reading a lot more white male authors than I thought I would to start the year, so it's time to remedy that.
Beyond Daisy Jones and Parable of the Sower on my currently-reading list, other hopefuls for the month:
The Navigator's Touch
The Last Laugh
Infidel
The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
The Dark Is Rising
Nadine in NY wrote: "Every morning I wake up hoping to learn that global pressure, blockades, negotiations, etc have finally ended this. But the entire thing makes no sense so nothing sensible will end it..."I'm worried that Putin has just detached from reality and is living in his own fantasy world, where he believes the lies he's spun over the last eight years.
It's been hard to concentrate on reading this week, just feeling a general sense of dread about everything.Finished:
Bad Apples by Will Dean for a book set in "my favourite season". I like the aesthetics of autumn/Halloween more than the other seasons so I guess I'll go with that. I hate "favourite" prompts. A very creepy teeth-based instalment of the Tuva Moodyson series.
Breathless by Amy McCulloch for blurbed by a favourite author (James Smythe is quoted on one edition's Amazon page, that'll do for me) and ATY (two sets of double letters in author name). I know Amy actually did the climb that the book revolves around, so it was super interesting reading about everything that's involved. Climbing in the Himalayas seems so commercial now. The "is there a killer on the mountain" aspect was tense too.
QOTW:
I have too many new releases I'm desperate to read and I'm not even sure what themed reading would be. Just women writers? I already read more women than men. Historical figures? I can recommend Remarkable Creatures. I hope to visit Mary Anning's wonderful new statue when it's put in place later this year.
Mod
there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't work.
/poll/show/2...
Mod
I am 43/50. I was pretty worried about finishing the challenge this early in the year, but now I'm starting to get excited, and I figured out this morning that if I read 75 pages per day, I will be done by the end of March. ..."
Wow you are flying!!! Just for you early finishers, I already set up the "I Finished!" post so you can celebrate
/topic/show/...
And I think we all need to know more about this sexting class.
Happy Thursday, y’all.The situation in Ukraine both scares and saddens me. Not to mention anger at Russia -- not the PEOPLE, since so many there seem to protest what's going on, but those in charge. I used to really love Russian mythology and read a lot of books about said mythology, set in Russia (or a Russia-like land, like the Grishaverse), or written by Russian authors. I feel kinda icky thinking about reading those books now -- the authors may not support what Russia's doing, but it feels weird glorifying the country at the moment.
Did that make any sense? Am I rambling? Should I just shut up and get to my check-in already?
Books read this week:
The Housekeeper and the Professor -- for “book featuring a party.� A quiet and subtle but surprisingly sweet and moving story. I admit I got a little lost in the more advanced mathematics parts, but it was still beautiful.
A Door Into Ocean -- for “book about a non-patriarchal society.� The worldbuilding was great, but this was still a slog. The villains were one-dimensional, the story was all over the place, and the characterization was pretty lackluster. Also it got REALLY uncomfortable reading a book about one planet brutally invading another given what’s going on in Ukraine right now�
Out of My Mind -- for “book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid.� Good book about disabilities and how just because someone is disabled doesn’t mean they’re stupid.
Pie -- for “a book with a recipe in it.� The writing’s a little simplistic, but the story is a lot of fun. Plus, plenty of pie recipes!
Oddball -- comic collection, not for the challenge. I relate to Sarah Andersen’s comics so freaking hard�
Regular Challenge -- 26/46
Advanced Challenge -- 2/10
Not for the challenge -- 12
Currently Reading:
From the Dust Returned -- for "a book about a found family"
The Dispossessed -- for “a Hugo Award winner�
My Monticello -- for “a social horror book�
A Children's Bible -- for “a book with a misleading title�
Aquarium -- for “a book you know nothing about�
QOTW:
I hadn't planned on reading any specific books for Women's History month... I should dig through my to-read list and see if there's anything that qualifies, though.
Mod
I hate that in romance novels when one character has been injured and then they have sex. I mean, I stub my toe and I can't think of anything else. If I fall in the parking lot and scrape up my arms and legs, I am NOT thinking about sexy times as the sexy guy cleans me up in the bathroom (I can't remember what book this was, but I hated it). If I got into a fist fight and my lip and face are cut and swelling, no I am NOT going to be kissing someone, but this happens all the time!!! If I've sprained my ankle or dislocated my shoulder or broken a bone, nope I am NOT having sexy times (Weather Girl I am SO looking at you). And if I've just been SHOT, NO I am NOT having sexy times. I mean, what are these authors thinking???
Mod
Awesome!! I observe St Patrick's Day every year (in a very subdued way) but it never occurred to me to read an Irish author in March. I should do that!! Tana French & Dervla McTiernan both have books on my "read soon" list, maybe I can make room for one of them. Just as soon as I finish this Marlon James audiobook. Which, who am I kidding, is not going to be soon (but it might be before the end of the month!!!)
Mod
I've had that thought too. Like, things went so well for him with the previous US President, maybe he thinks he can manipulate everyone that way? idk - who knows what goes through that guy's head, I've never understood. I still think back to that weird shirtless horseback photo op ... just so odd.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "The Story of the Irish Race: A Popular History of Ireland - My Big Irish Read for March! Hahahaha ..."Awesome!! I observe St Patrick's Day every year (in a very subdued way)..."
Last year's attempt failed spectacularly; I was all geared up to read Granuaile: Grace O'Malley, Ireland's Pirate Queen and it was so dryyyyy I couldn't. But yes! I want to continue delving into Irish (and Scottish) history and March feels like a great time to do that. I've got a bunch of nonfiction stuff bookmarked here on GR, plus a shelf specifically dedicated to Celtic mythology and retellings. Wondering if I shouldn't start smaller with Brigid of Kildare or something like that, haha.
Mod
Awesome!! I observe St Patrick's Day every year (i..."
All of my Celtic mythology & folk tale readings have been in picture book form in the last few decades.
Our favorites:
Fiona's Luck
O'Sullivan Stew
Finn McCool and the Great Fish
The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story about St. Patrick
King Puck
The Cow on the Roof
Fair, Brown & Trembling: An Irish Cinderella Story
and Barefoot Books are always fantastic:
Tales from Old Ireland
Another wet Thursday in the PNW. I guess I should be used to it by now. My heart goes out to Ukraine - so awful. Finished:
Cackle by Rachel Harrison. This wasn't terrible. I liked the ease of the story - the main character is annoying at the beginning but redeems herself.
Continuing:
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I love this series - the last one comes out this August. I can read through this so fast when I actually sit down and read it. I will finish this weekend for sure.
Starting:
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. I will start this one today or tomorrow. I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan last year and really liked it so I hope I will enjoy this one.
QOTW:
I never really thought about reading books by Black authors during Black History Month and then ended up reading quite a few. I am sure the same thing will happen during Women's History Month. I will not plan for it and it will just happen. Definitely reading The Island of Sea Women but will have to see what else is on my list.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "The Story of the Irish Race: A Popular History of Ireland - My Big Irish Read for March! Hahahaha ..."Awesome!! I observe St Patrick's Day every year (in a very subdued way)..."
If anyone is interested in Ireland history, I loved reading The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero. The audiobook is great for anyone who has trouble reading nonfiction.
March is the month where I am officially sick of winter. (I mean I dislike it in January, but March is where it's really, really overstayed it's welcome.) I do Lent with my kids, which for the first 5-10 days is like herding cats until they fall into habit. But, I am excited about new March books.Finished:
Red Prophet
ATY prompt: A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history
Popsugar prompt: A book featuring a parallel reality
ATY - 10/52
PS- 8/35
Series - 4/13
Clearing my TBR list: 8/40
Currently reading:
The Girl Who Played with Fire - about 20% done
The Woman in the Window - about 15% done
(This book is hooking me - I've only been reading for 2 days)
QOTW: I haven't done a good job of syncing my books up to official months. I read Martin Luther king on his birthday in January instead of the official Black history month. I generally read more books by female authors in a year than male authors, but right now I'm reading books by male authors in Women's history month. I'm mostly trying to follow ATY prompts instead of official months.
Katy wrote: "Mary wrote: "Wow. This week flew by and I'm going to be teaching sexting class all morning, so I think today will go by fast as well. .."Sexting class? Do I want to know?"
I want to know about this too.
Mod
I finished three books this week, one for this Challenge, so I am now 18/50.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - a Tournament of Books selection; I just don't get it with Ishiguro. I found this book to be dull, flat, and depressing.
Catwoman, Vol. 4: Wild Ride written by Ed Brubaker - Catwoman and Holly go on a road trip - this marks the end of Brubaker's first noir run of Catwoman. I really enjoyed the full series, but this last volume was just okay.
The Maid by Nita Prose - this was an enjoyable modern cozy mystery set in an unspecified Canadian city. I checked off "published in 2022" with this one.
I JUST finished The Maid yesterday, and I'm not quite sure what to start next. I read the first page of these books:
The Trees (dang, just like with There There when it first came out, The Trees is NOT EASY to find in the add book drop down - do better, ŷ!)
Grave Reservations
Children of the Street
Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships
Usually, the "first page" test works well to find that one book that I just don't want to stop reading, but they were ALL GOOD! In honor of Women's History Month, I settled on a book by a woman. Of the two women, I chose the library book to read first, so I am currently reading Grave Reservations. I spontaneously put this book on hold last week only because the second book in this series just came out and it looks really good. And just this morning I noticed there is a reflection in her glasses, so voila! another Challenge read!
QotW
Yes! This year I'm taking it easy on myself, so I've simply lined up a bunch of books I'm planning to read for this year's challenges that are women-centric, plus a few classic and contemporary women poets. Rather than retyping all that, here's my list: Nadine's possible reads for WHM
Some books I've read in the past that I think would work well for WHM? ... SO MANY good books, actually!!! I will list just a few books about women in history, books about the continuing fight for equality in today's society, memoirs and classic novels by women:
Dust Tracks on a Road &;Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot This was the book that convinced me that non-fiction can be fantastic.
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier A fantastic novelization of Mary Anning's life.
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore It's not just about Wonder Woman, not exactly, but it's an interesting picture of a certain period of time in US history, when Margaret Sanger was working to make birth control more available.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women & Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World - an excellent antidote to the history books that imply that men invented everything.
The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua - this very silly graphic novel is a fun (and fictional) introduction to Ada Lovelace
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria E. Anzaldúa - maybe a little dated now, but I don't think any other book has been published that could replace it.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
and, finally, the BEST book I've read recently about women's struggle for equality:
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister
And there have been some FANTASTIC picture books about women in history (primarily US history), including
Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote
I Could Do That!: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote
Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom
and a whole bunch by Laurie Wallmark, including Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
There are so many, really! Books are published faster than I can read them; A Mighty Girl is a great resource.
And, finally, two books I keep wanting to read but haven't yet (and probably won't read this month, but hopefully sometime THIS year):
The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science
The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World
It's warming up quite a bit here in Texas! The sun is out and it's lovely. I'm still sad we never did get snow, but at this point, I'm ready for spring.I'm also at a loss about Ukraine. I saw a post about how these things have happened before but it's a lot harder now because social media exposes us to it all day, every day. It's just this constant "TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. LOOK AT IT. IT'S TERRIBLE. PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING." with pretty much no way to do anything about it. It's overwhelming and scary.
Finished:
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas - A book set during a holiday. It's not necessarily *set* during a holiday, but it is *about* a holiday, so I'm counting it.
I really am being loosey-goosey with my reading this year!
Currently Reading:
The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech - I don't know if this will count for anything. I've been going through my enormous book collection and trying to weed, and this was one I've read before but don't really remember. So I'm re-reading to see if it's one I want to keep. So far, I'm enjoying it! It's a fairy-tale style story (although no magic so far!).
QOTW:
I don't really plan anything particular for this month. I read way more female authors than male authors already.
Hello everyone. It's been a tough week. I took over a new process at work back in November when the person who created it retired, and I've discovered so many weird little things wrong with it ever since. This month was that we tell people to get a specific license as part of company policy, but we have never reminded them to renew it when it expires. So we have roughly 150 people who have let it lapse (that's a lot). But March is also my busiest month of the year, so when I told my big boss about this, I told her I absolutely did not have time to do anything about it.Between worrying about the state of the world and all the work stuff, I have gotten precious little read.
Finished This Week:
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Finished the audiobook. Still love this book. Not for prompt.
Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire. With the next one in the Incryptid series out, now focusing on Alice, I decided to reread this one because of how much Alice there is. I haven't reread this book in a while, but the subtle foreshadowing of what was to come in Antimony's books was so well done. Reread, not for prompt.
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians I have declared this to be French Revolution fanfic, with magic. It seems like all of the same events still play out at the same time as they did in our non-magic timeline, but now have magic reasons. It seems to be a duology, so I put the sequel on hold at the library, because I might as well knock out that prompt. Using for #44, Duology.
PS: 8/50 GR: 28/100
Currently Reading:
Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders The problem with reading a good book on writing is that it makes you want to write.
QOTW: We have another month’s celebration for March: Women’s History in Australia, the UK, and the US. Are you planning to read any specific books in honor of this celebration during March? If so, what are those? And…are there any specific books you would recommend?
March is my busiest month, so I often only do comfort rereads. I don't think I'm going to get to any Women's History books this March, because this March is going to be worse than usual. I'll read some later in the year.
Recommendations:
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II by Liza Mundy
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II by Katherine Sharp Landdeck
Praying for Ukraine and they're people not matter their ethnicity or religion.I'm not stressing about prompts this year but if I read a book that fits I'll add it. I read
which I bought years ago. I read it Sunday evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you're a cat person or just want to find out what makes us "different" this is the book for you.Work is stressful and there are many unfinished projects at home to keep me busy but I'll read more during Lent - I gave up computer games (a definite time and brain killer).
Cindy wrote: "Praying for Ukraine and they're people not matter their ethnicity or religion.I'm not stressing about prompts this year but if I read a book that fits I'll add it. I read [bookcover:Cat People|441..."
Cat People looks so fun! I'll definitely have to borrow it from you.
Also, just a fun fact for everyone here, Cindy is my mom. :)
Katy wrote: "Sexting class? Do I want to know?"So I'm a juvenile probation officer and my county has a huge problem with juveniles sending nude photos to others and forwarding other people's pictures around school. In PA, that's a crime, so they get referred to me for diversionary class and depending on how serious, probation. I worked with a local domestic violence agency to develop a class on Digital Boundaries and Technology in Relationships. It also covers sexting laws and consequences, sexual consent, and how to create balance between online and real life. I teach the class one-on-one. I have a kid watching a video right now haha.
Shannon wrote: "I'm also at a loss about Ukraine. I saw a post about how these things have happened before but it's a lot harder now because social media exposes us to it all day, every day. It's just this constant "TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. LOOK AT IT. IT'S TERRIBLE. PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING." with pretty much no way to do anything about it. It's overwhelming and scary."Yes, exactly this.
Mary wrote: "Katy wrote: "Sexting class? Do I want to know?"So I'm a juvenile probation officer and my county has a huge problem with juveniles sending nude photos to others and forwarding other people's pict..."
Thank goodness. I thought you were teaching people how to sext. I mean, probably nothing wrong with 2 consensual adults sexting, I was just wondering what kind of institution would teach a class on it.
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Sexting class? Do I want to know?"
My thought as well!! LOL
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Every morning I wake up hoping to learn that global pressure, blockades, negotiations, etc have finally ended this. But the entire thing makes no sense so nothing sensible will end it."
I'm so very scared that you are correct.
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So I'm a juvenile probation officer and my county has a huge problem with juveniles sending nude photos to others and forwarding other people's pict..."
That sounds like a really useful class.
I haven't given my kids many hard and fast boundaries, but one thing I've really hammered home is: Never send nude photos to anyone. I really hope they listen. So far as I can tell, they've complied with "don't smoke or juul" and "don't drive if you're drinking" and "no marijuana until you're 18" so I can hope they follow that rule too.
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I'm worried that Putin has just detached from reality and is living in his own fantasy world, where he believes the lies he's spun over the last eight years."
Honestly, as a US citizen I keep wondering why he waited 'til now? I mean, why not when a similar personality was in office as POTUS? Although I assume he may have been scared that DT might actually push the nuclear button first... But the world has allowed him to overtake other countries, though (as far as I know) this is the largest and most "European" one thus far, and right on the border with EU countries. I wish nuclear weapons had never been invented, but...there is no undoing such "technological advances"...
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there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't work.
..."
Ugh. I'll check it out. Sorry 'bout that!
Beautiful weather in Santa Fe. It feels like spring! Our daily walks are longer, and my grandson Eli loves going to the playground. We're going to a brewpub with outdoor seating this afternoon, and I've got a wine tasting with girlfriends this weekend as well as my monthly book club meeting. It feels hopeful and happy and... then you turn on the TV. My chest tightens and my heart rate rises, but I can't stop watching. It's terrifying that one man can cause so much destruction.Challenge Progress: 16/50 I'm still not planning my reading around challenges (only one of my reads this week counted for this challenge), but it seems to be working out so far. I won't start panicking yet.
Completed:
Basketful of Heads: Gory fun! It's a graphic novel from Joe Hill so what do you expect? I loved this one. Joe Hill is a genius. (PS13: a book set in the 1980s) ★★★★
The Sweetness of Water (ŷ Giveaway): This is a complicated book reminiscent of The Underground Railroad. There's that mix of historical fiction and magical realism, interesting and complicated characters... and that tiny spark of hope. This was Nathan Harris's debut, and I'm looking forward to more. ★★★★
You Can’t Be Serious: Kal Penn... How do you know him? Probably from Van Wilder or Harold and Kumar, but this thoughtful and funny memoir is about much more than that. I'm a little bit sad that I didn't listen to this on audio. ★★★★
Shakedowners (ŷ Giveaway): A really nice break from serious sci fi. I loved starship captain Iridius Franklin - a little bit James T. Kirk, a little bit Galaxyquest, a little bit Redshirts, and altogether fun. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. ★★★★
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers: Fascinating... and not nearly as gross as you'd think it would be. This was my first book by Mary Roach, but it won't be my last. ★★★★
The Magicians: Alice's Story: I love the Magicians series of books as well as the SyFy television series, but this graphic novel adaptation is a little bit of a disappointment. Although it's marketed as Alice's Story, it's really just a retelling of the first book. ★★�
Less: “Strange to be almost fifty, no? I feel like I just understood how to be young.� “Yes! It’s like the last day in a foreign country. You finally figure out where to get coffee, and drinks, and a good steak. And then you have to leave. And you won’t ever be back.� This is the second time I've read this novel (it's a book club pick). The first time I don't think I appreciated the humor, and I wasn't sure I even liked/commiserated/identified with Arthur Less. But this time? I got it. ★★★★
Currently Reading:
How the Penguins Saved Veronica
We Are the Brennans
Summer of Hate: Charlottesville, USA
Our Harlem: Seven Days of Cooking, Music and Soul at the Red Rooster
Sharks in the Time of Saviors
All the Murmuring Bones
The Spanish Love Deception
QOTW: I don't really plan my reading at all, but I read widely so something I read this month will surely count as "Women's History." I've got Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot slated for later this month...
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there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't work.
..."
And in trying to fix that I lost part of the posting! EGAD!!
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there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't wor..."
oh no!! undo! undo!
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These do sound like wonderful plans, though!! I would like to go to a brewpub this afternoon!! Actually, we do have a brewpub nearby with outdoor seating, and my ex keeps trying to get me to go with him, but I have been reluctant because of Covid. Now that rates are wayyyy down, maybe once it warms up I'll go check it out.
Katy wrote: "Thank goodness. I thought you were teaching people how to sext. I mean, probably nothing wrong with 2 consensual adults sexting, I was just wondering what kind of institution would teach a class on it."Haha. I should have given the proper name of the class Beyond Screens: Digital Boundaries and Technology in Relationships.
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there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't work.
..."
OMG! That took like 20 minutes to fix that posting. I ended up updating and rebooting my laptop and it still kept messing up! Criminy! Let that be the MOST frustrating moment of my day! PLEASE!!! 👍😂
Finished: Rebellion of the Lost using for found family prompt.Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life A little too messagey for me.
Started: The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers An easy read, which is a relief in the field of philosophy
Qotw: No. My only criterion for the period of Lent is to only read books I already have.
The conflict in Ukraine pains me more than I have words to express. I have both personal and spiritual connections with both Ukraine and Russia, so this is truly horrific and heartbreaking to see. Lord, have mercy. Finished 9/50
Rhythm of War for "book about a found family". This series is seriously one of the best I ever read, and this particular book was beyond fantastic. It's GREAT to see mental health portrayed so wholesomely and accurately in a fantasy! (And yes I did see the Sanderson video that dropped this week, and yes I did do the thing. If you know, you know).
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story for "Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner". I honestly never knew that MLK Jr. wrote a book. This was just a beautiful, stirring read. One everyone needs to read imho, especially given recent events.
Currently Reading
The Book Thief for "#booktok rec'" . It hasn't grabbed me yet. I hope it gets better.
QotW
Not really, no. I typically forget about these months until they happen.
Lynn wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Lynn wrote: "And for your consideration we have a new poll! ..."there's something wrong w that link. The poll is there (and I added my nomination!) but that link doesn't wor..."
There seem to be tech problems with the group pages today. I could only get here to post my update using my tablet rather than my laptop. Infuriating. Will try later so I can type update on a real keyboard.
Finished:Vectors by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch (reread, 3/5)
The story gives us Pulaski and Occupation-era Bajor and Terok Nor, so it has a different flavor than the preceding book in the Double Helix series. The plot itself is fairly standard, so it gets the three stars.
I Don't Care if We Never Get Back: 30 Games in 30 Days on the Best Worst Baseball Road Trip Ever by Ben Blatt and Eric Brewster (3/5, past prompt: book involving travel)
The voice takes a little getting used to. It is mainly told in third person style, but when both of the authors are involved in an action, then "we" will get used.
Like the road trip itself, the book is a bit all over the place. I was mostly interested in the writing about the ballparks and the experiences there, as well as some of the attractions visited. The driving parts were an essential part of the authors' experience, but they got a bit tedious to read about. I am now convinced that it is not wise to cram so much driving into a 30-day period, even with helpers.
The sample of the book is accurate to the style throughout, so check that out if the premise is interesting to you.
Hi Everyone,It's been quite the week and I haven't done much reading. I found out on Monday that my mom passed away. I was adopted as a kid by my grandparents so I haven't had much of a relationship with my mom but it's still difficult to hear. On top of that I've been sick and hurt my back and still working so I'm just very distracted by life.
Finished: The Lost Apothecary - Very entertaining. Super unique plot and I really enjoyed it. Prompt: A book with a recipe in it
Currently Reading: Every Day
QOTW: Nope. I don't plan my reading any farther than what I'm reading for the PopSugar Challenge. That's way too much planning and structure. I'm sure I'll read a book this month by a woman so all good!
Hello!I am waving to you from a distance while I suffer through a cold. Maybe light flu, given I have a low fever. Who knows? What I do know, is that it sucks and I'm quite done with it jakdsf
The situation in Ukraine is heartbreaking, though I am also severely pissed off that Black people are being refused on trains. Either blocked from getting on, or dragged off to make room for white people. Absolutely unacceptable. Apparently even in such crisis times like these, humans can't be civil.
To balance that, Disneyland Paris announced two days ago that the mask mandate is lifting, and today that we can hug characters again! Not the face characters just yet, of course, but the others? I'm so excited. Stitch is back for photos starting tomorrow and I'm there next week (12 & 13) and I am so excited!! It's been 13,5 years since I hugged Stitch, but I don't even remember it so you can't possibly imagine how stoked I am. Let's hope this cold fudges off in time.
It was also announced that Mary and Bert will have a spot, and even my dad is super excited, so I gotta make sure me and him can go sometime soon to get our photo with them, because Bert is our inside joke and we just have to! I got a lot coming up though (trip to London end of April (gonna see Taron Egerton on stage!! And the Play that Goes Wrong!!), mid-may trip to Scotland to see my best friend, feed penguins, and see Jeff Dunham, mid-June trip to Glasgow to see Ed Sheeran and end-June trip to Paris for family vacation, so we need to squeeze it in somewhere!
France is also dropping the Pass Vaccinal which will make my dad's life a whole lot easier as he got J&J and the Dutch government just refuses to give them an extra jab. He already had to go to Germany for one last December to be able to get into Disney. The day we got there was his first valid day, it caused a lot of stress, safe to say! So while on the one hand I did like the Pass Vaccinal, I am glad for people like my dad it'll be gone soon.
Let's see, what else ... OH I watched Fresh today! It's a movie with Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar Jones that's dropping tomorrow on Hulu/Disney+ (depending on where you live). It was absolutely amazing, my fannibal heart adored it. If you can't handle chewing noises, though, make sure to turn on subs and mute the sound when they're eating, as there is a serious emphasis on the sound.
Also Rick Hoffman got announced for a con nearby, and it dragged my back into my Suits trashcan, so instead of reading books, I'm reading Marvey fics, superimposing Winteriron while I do so xD
Read
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World for book by a Latine (or Latinx) author for Popsugar, and 22 or more letters in title for ATY. Well. I loved the first book. Severely disliked this one. Feel free to check my review of it, but to put it this way: It made me appreciate the authors who give us happy queer stories even more. I literally checked all synopses I could find to see if it was my fault for not knowing, but nope. If I'd known I'd be going into (internalized) homophobia and AIDS-fear & deaths I would not have picked it up just yet, or maybe at all. So here's your warning if you need it. The shocking loss some synopses mention doesn't happen until the final third of the book. Just, be safe.
Currently Reading
Besides reading about my favorite characters falling in love over and over and over again? Nothing. I meant to start Love Hypothesis a few days ago, but then Rick got announced and here we are. Not that I particularly want to read Love Hypothesis but eh. Was also supposed to start a reread of Song of Achilles two days ago but at this point who knows if that's even happening xD I got until the end of the month so if all else fails I'll just blast through the audio, haha!
QOTW
I never read for specific months. I've always liked the idea, but prefer much more to diversify my reading year-round. But then again, I don't generally look at authors at all, not even when I was reading 125+ books a year. I was very happy to say cis male white authors were *not* the majority. Now, I'm glad to be reading anything at all, so I'm definitely not gonna limit to what I can pick up, as that's just a recipe for disaster. I do love that people can dedicate their entire months to it in terms of reading, but it's sadly just not for me.
Carmen wrote: "Let's see, what else ... OH I watched Fresh today! It's a movie with Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar Jones that's dropping tomorrow on Hulu/Disney+ (depending on where you live). It was absolutely amazing, my fannibal heart adored it. If you can't handle chewing noises, though, make sure to turn on subs and mute the sound when they're eating, as there is a serious emphasis on the sound."Thanks for the sound note! I'll have to make sure and watch this when my husband isn't around because it'll bother him to no end, but a friend of mine is a serious SebStan fan and she's been talking my ear off about this movie for weeks now! Excited to finally see it!
Hello from Columbus! We’re getting some spring teaser days and it’s so lovely. And a happy Lent to those who celebrate. I hope this season is fruitful and may you never forget that it’s Friday halfway though making pork chops like I tend to every year 😅One Hundred Years of Solitude for a back to the classics prompt. I gotta admit this book was hard for me. I think I like the idea of magical realism more than I actually like it. Or maybe everyone in this booking having the same name really threw me off lol. Idk, I don’t really know what happened but I enjoyed the ride. What a metaphor for my life.
Where the Drowned Girls Go for a book published in 2022. This is the latest book in the Wayward Children series (Every Heart a Doorway). I did not enjoy this as much as I have past books. I guess there was too much real world and not enough alternate worlds, but I did read this in nearly one sitting so I was obviously into it.
Solutions and Other Problems not for a prompt, I just read her first book last week and figured I’d do this one too since it was available over overdrive. What a serotonin boost, Allie Brosh is so funny and her work is very nostalgic for me. I hope she puts out more work in the future!
A Discovery of Witches for a book about witches. I really enjoyed this one! But funny enough for the longest time I had mentally placed it in the category of “books everyone seems to have read but just doesn’t seem that interesting to me�. And anytime I read one of those books, I end up really enjoying it. This had some dark academia vibes I really enjoyed, and I’ve already placed a hold for the second book.
27/150 books for 2022
12/40; 0/10 Popsugar
5/24 Book Riot
2/12 Back to the Classics
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
A Discovery of Witches (other topics)A Discovery of Witches (other topics)
Shout (other topics)
The Bennet Women (other topics)
Muted (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nguyễn Phan Qu� Mai (other topics)Neal Bascomb (other topics)
Lauren Anthony (other topics)
Sarah Penner (other topics)
James Clear (other topics)
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Other than that, I am happy to be reconnecting with this group on another Thursday! I hope each of you is relatively safe and secure!
This week brings us Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ash Wednesday for those who celebrate these events!
ADMIN STUFF:
A new month, a new monthly group read! And a new month of celebration—Women’s History in Australia, the UK, and the US! (Check out the QotW!) Here is the discussion thread for the March monthly group read of The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. I will do my best to facilitate this month’s discussion since no one else expressed an interest in doing so! You can also list any book you’ve read to fulfill prompt #3 A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society here.
Thank you so much to Sherri for leading this month’s discussion! Way to go!!
Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.
And for your consideration we have a new poll! Might as well move right along with selecting monthly group reads for 2022, hadn’t we? 😊 The monthly group read for June is to fulfill prompt #10 An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner. This award “recognizes books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity." This is quite compatible with Juneteenth on June 19, 2022, also known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. And is the most recently declared National Holiday in the US! Please vote HERE!
Question of the Week:
We have another month’s celebration for March: Women’s History in Australia, the UK, and the US. Are you planning to read any specific books in honor of this celebration during March? If so, what are those? And…are there any specific books you would recommend?
The first book that came to mind was Casey Cep's Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. I have been telling myself I MUST read this for at least two years! Time to do so!
*Gene Stratton-Porter: Novelist and Naturalist by Judith Reick Long
Porter was one of my former mother-in-law’s absolute favorite authors and I know virtually nothing about her so I picked up this biography cheap from my favorite used bookstore and I have a couple of her books to read. I guess as an homage to this woman who greatly influenced my young adult life�
*Maeve Binchy: The Biography by Piers Dudgeon
An author whose work I always enjoy very much!
*Writers & Lovers by Lily King
*The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
*Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
*The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
*Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry
*The Stories of Eva Luna Luna by Isabel Allende
*The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) by Robert Galbraith
*The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) by Robert Galbraith
Popsugar: 24/50
ATY: 39/52
RHC: 10/24
I have not even had time to document these books into appropriate prompts yet! I’ve been so busy at work that I’m exhausted and doing little else other than working out 3 nights a week and waiting for the weekend to try to recover and prepare for the week ahead! I'll finish this whenever I can find the time and energy!
FINISHED:
Granta 148: Summer Fiction edited by Sigrid Rausing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A collection of short stories from diverse authors:
Nuar Alsadir (poetry)
Julia Armfield
Jem Calder
Te-Ping Chen
Matthieu Gafsou (photoessay on transhumanism with introduction by Daisy Hildyard)
Ben Lerner
Sara Majika
Magogodi oa Mphela Makhene
David Means
Haruki Murakami
Thomas Pierce
Adam O’Fallon Price
Amor Towles
This is now my favorite short story collection! I found all but 2 or 3 to be compelling reading! I would definitely read any Granta publications! I also loved the cover!
POPSUGAR: #24, #36, #40-2016: prompt #14 A book you can read in a day
ATY: #14-119 ratings, #15
RHC: NEW #5, NEW #15, #24-2020: prompt #23 Read an edition of a literary magazine
*So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for my University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group read. This is a good read with practical suggestions for communication. I appreciate Oluo’s openness. My only additional comment is that I have learned through experience to simply approach those who appear to be “different� from myself the same as I would approach anyone else. Additionally, I am a bit proud that I have evidently mellowed a bit in my interactions with other white folks who are still mired in prejudicial discriminatory biases and behaviors. I no longer have an immediate anger-filled response where I am obviously trying to keep from yelling at them! Rather, I am able to calm myself somewhat and communicate much more respectfully and calmly than in the past. This is probably a good thing. Though I wonder if it is more or less effective in the aftermath. 😉
POPSUGAR:
ATY:
RHC:
Back Bay (Peter Fallon #1) by William Martin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I could have definitely used a Family Tree for this book. There were sooooo many characters to track and many had the same first names in different generations! But…this was an excellent mystery, IMO! I love William Martin’s writing!
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #40-2015: prompt #1 A book containing more than 500 pages
ATY: #4-Near them, on the sand,/Half sunk a shattered visage lies-
Unfortunately, this “treasure� was finally unearthed and then totally buried/lost at sea, #6, #11, #14-2,010 ratings, #15, #25-532 pages, #29, #31-1979, #40-The Lovers, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #44, #49, #50
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #7 A historical fiction novel not set in WWII
The Chase (Lionboy #2) by Zizou Corder ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was another purely enjoyable read. I cannot imagine not enjoying this trilogy as a child. I’m pretty sure I would have loved it! Anxious to finish it.
POPSUGAR: #9, #19-summer, #25, #40-2015: prompt #7 A book with nonhuman characters, #49-set in Venice, Italy
ATY: #1-Aneba, Charlie’s father, #4- A book related to Shelley's poem Ozymandias (Nadine’s proposal): Near them, on the sand,/Half sunk a shattered visage lies,…Round the decay/Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare/The lone and level sands stretch far away. Charlie and the lions were shipwrecked and washed up on a sandy beach!, #14-2,653 ratings, #29, #31-2004, #33, #36, #40-Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #41, #44, #46, #49
RHC: #13, #24-2016: Read a middle grade novel
CONTINUING:
*Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
*Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
*Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
*Paradise by Toni Morrison
PLANNED:
For Literary Wives review March 7: I'm Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán
For the POPSUGAR March Monthly Group Read: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
4 for March Buddy Reads:
*Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Daddy-Long-Legs (Daddy-Long-Legs #1) by Jean Webster
Murder at Queen's Landing (Wrexford & Sloane #4) by Andrea Penrose
*London Bridges (Alex Cross #10) by James Patterson
To complete some 2021 year-long challenges:
1) *Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
2) *The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
To complete the 2021 Read Harder Challenge:
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff