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Hi Everyone!

It's been a sunny summery week here, but I'm doing yet another drawing challenge so not as much reading time!

This week I finished:

The Book Thief - This was my book related to my heritage. I am a Euro-mutt, so I don't have any real connection to one part of my ancestry. But I do have some German in me, I liked books, and I wanted to read this anyhow. I really loved it, even if it made me cry.

An Unkindness of Ghosts - I had this on my challenge list since the list first came out, and I only now got around to reading it, haha. All the other library books seemed to pile up before I had to just say "ok now is the time". I liked it, it was really interesting. It counts as my allegory, the space ship was segregated into upper and mid deck people (who were wealthy and white) and lower deck people (who were of color and seen as little better than animals). It was an allegory for apartheid South Africa.

Currently reading:

Butterflies in November - Iceland really fascinates me right now and I want to visit soon. (as in a few years, not like a few months). I had a little trouble finding a book that a) wasn't nordic noir, b) looked interesting and c) I could get through the library. This one worked! I like it so far, but it's not something I'd have picked out otherwise.

So I have two questions this week. Question one: I noticed last week no one else commented on the post. I know it was a holiday in America and in Canada, and it's summer time for the norther hemisphere resulting in travel. Is that why there's a lack in check ins? Or is there anything else I can do to make this more engaging so people want to post and join in?

Question two, of the normal discussion kind: Got this idea from Stephanie. Do you ever form an immediate connection with a character, where you miss them when the book is finished? On the flip side of that, are there characters that you dislike so much, you can't wait to see the back of them when you're finished.

I'm trying to think about specific characters, but The Night Circus stands out for just a world I wish I could just step right into. I want the circus to be a thing, I want to go to it. Every time I read the book I just want to paint endless black and white circus scenes. It just feels so magical and lovely!

I'm sure there's a ton of characters I'd like to see the back of. Offhand I can think of in The Death of Bunny Munro, and this isn't really a spoiler considering the book title, by the time the death part came I was just "good riddance. you deserved it" Haha. He was probably THE most unlikeable protagonist I've ever read.

I do read all the check-ins eventually even if I don't comment! Thank you for leading discussion every week!

I just finished Pinesbased on an FoE recommendation of books that kept you up past bedtime. I liked it, but it was a little creepy for me in a Twin Peaks sort of way. (At the end the author confessed to the show having a huge influence on him.) I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had seen that many people classified it as science fiction, but may have skipped it if I saw some other people classified it as horror.

There are tons of characters that I feel are old friends, and I reread them whenever I need some familiar company. Amelia Peabody, Vicky Bliss, Deborah Knott are a few. Night Circus was a book I immediately read again because I didn't want it to end. I tend to avoid books (and movies) with unpleasant protagonists- I guess my reading selection leans toward following the FoE rule of maintaining a happy space.

I don't comment because 1) Im new here and missed where the challenges are and 2) I've been reading the same book for a month and I'm overwhelmed by how much you guys read in a week.

Kathy, you're welcome! Is that the book the Wayward Pines show was based on? I liked the first season of that, although I didn't bother with the second since I thought the first season ended in a way that I was satisfied with the story.

Jessie,

You don't have to be doing a challenge to comment! There's others who sometimes comment who just chime in with what they are reading at the moment. I made the thread as a way to check in for the challenges, but that is in no way a requirement. Also don't worry about your pace! You'd be welcome to just say what you're reading and what you think about it. I read an abnormal amount compared to most people I know, so don't feel bad. Or even if you don't want to continually update on the same book, you could chime in on the questions or other people's posts if you wanted.

I'm not saying anyone HAS to comment, but I want to make sure this place is welcoming so people WANT to comment :)

Sheri wrote: "Kathy, you're welcome! Is that the book the Wayward Pines show was based on? I liked the first season of that, although I didn't bother with the second since I thought the first season ended in a w..."
Yes, the book must be the source for the show. I was happy the book ended without leaving things hanging too much, as I'm mixed on whether to read the rest.

Jessie wrote: "I don't comment because 1) Im new here and missed where the challenges are and 2) I've been reading the same book for a month and I'm overwhelmed by how much you guys read in a week."
I always thought I was a pretty fast reader, and am on target to meet my goodreads challenge of 2 books a week. But Sherri amazes me at how many things she gets through!

QOTW #1: The last couple weeks have been crazy for me, so I haven't been as active here. I still really like the weekly check-ins and do read the comments though!

Last week I finished High Crimes: the Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed. In the last couple years I've been an avid reader of books detailing Everest climbs - I'm not a climber, just have this curiosity for why people want to put themselves through that kind of pain, suffering, and mortal danger. The author of this book told about his experience climbing Everest twice, focusing on all the crime that happens there. I was surprised to read about the tales of theft, swindling, and fraud. It seems like in such a harsh environment, the last thing you'd be thinking of is stealing someone else's gear.

After that I wanted something more light-hearted, so I'm currently reading Legendary. The first book in the series, Caraval, reminded me of The Night Circus. (I also loved The Night Circus and was sad when it was over.) It had the same whimsy, magic, and fantasy bits with a bit more action. The ending was weird - it was like the set-up for the next book was an afterthought. Nonetheless, here I am reading the second book. So far it's OK. The magic hasn't quite returned for me, but perhaps by the end.

QOTW #2: Generally I'm more attached to the universe/world that the author creates than the characters themselves (e.g. The Night Circus, Harry Potter, LOTR, etc.) There are definitely characters that I've grown fond of - like most of the HP characters and Stephanie Plum. On the flip side, I can't stand Catniss Everdeen (I was OK with her in the first book, but by the end I couldn't stand her anymore).

Hi Sara,

I might check out Caraval then, at some point, since I love Night Circus so much :)

Also I feel you on the Catniss. In general I liked book one, and the series kind of spiraled downward for me after that.

Also just as a note to people commenting how much I read, please don't feel intimidated! I in no way expect anyone else to be reading the same amount. Also keep in mind that a lot of times if I'm posting 5 books completed, some of those are often graphic novels or otherwise short books. Or in some cases audiobooks that I was listening to while doing other stuff. I don't have kids, I'm not a student worrying about homework or exams. I work full time, but I work at home. So I can snatch pages here or there that other people might not be able to. Taking a walking break to get some steps in? Read a few pages. Eating lunch by myself? Read all through it. Waiting for photoshop to run through a big batch of files? Read while I wait. etc.