ŷ������

Nadine in NY wrote: "And that's a wrap for June!  Why does time fly by so quickly??  It's time to take down our Pride flag and prepare for July.  

My new neighbor has organized a block party for the 4th of July.  She ..."

Growing up our block had a block party where all the cars had to be moved off the street and people would grill and the kids had a parade with their bikes up and down the street. Some of the older kids had a talent show and the younger kids got sparklers.

We had no fireworks and it was still great. I hate that people light off fireworks near houses with dogs and you never know who is suffering from PTSS (I read that they don't call it PTSD anymore because it isn't a disorder it is a syndrome).

Late Check-In. Struggling with "celebrating" the 4th this year. "Hooray for the United States...except women's rights to make their own health decisions" sigh.

I forgot to check in last week - completely spaced until Tuesday and then I figured I would check in on Thursday and that didn't happen so Friday it is!

I am so happy that my dog isn't afraid of fireworks. There aren't many in the city since they are illegal but people still light them. I used to live out in the suburbs and my golden retriever was terrified of the fireworks so I stayed up with him all night while he cried.

Currently Reading/Almost finished with:

Run Rose Run...yes I am STILL reading this book. The middle dragged on and on...I am really close to the end and will definitely finish this weekend.

The House in the Cerulean Sea - I love this audiobook. The narrator is so good he does different voices for the children. I am close to the end and feel like this will be a 5 star read for sure.

Up Next:

Well I blew up my entire reading spreadsheet which I stuck really close to last year and this year it just all went down the drain. I am more into reading what I want and seeing where it fits. Hopefully I finish the challenge and don't panic on December 30th. Ha.

I would also like to weigh in on the JKR conversation...I loved the Strike books when they first came out and honestly didn't even know it was JKR until after I read the first one. I never read any Harry Potter and have only seen movies 1-3.

After she made those terrible comments I heavily debated giving up on reading her stuff but ultimately decided that I wanted to finish the series to see where it would go. I heard she is only writing a few more after the new one comes out this year so I will finish this series and be done with her. The new one is over 1,000 pages...yikes.

QOTW:

When I was in Middle School/High School I read almost all Nicolas Sparks books. I gobbled them down and thirsted for more. Then as I got older I realized that while they are a fun escape it became too sappy for me. I stopped reading his books and never went back because they are always the same.

Now I read mostly thrillers/mysteries. Ruth Ware has never let me down and I will be so sad if/when she does. If she were to ever write a book I didn't like I would still try her future books. Maybe she was in a weird mood or wanted to try something different, who knows? I think an author would have to be continually bad or completely change genres for me to stop reading them. Did I answer the question? I feel like I went off on a tangent...oh well.

Sarah wrote: "Hi everyone. I'm feeling a little deflated. My new job isn't exactly everything I was promised in the interview. I was so excited for the role but now I'm not sure it's for me. I'm going to keep my..."

I don't think that is self-centered at all. You were excited for a job that you weren't fully given and you have every right to speak up. If they aren't willing to use your full skill set then the position just wasn't right for you.

Nadine in NY wrote: "July group read of Piranesi will be getting started
here: /topic/show/..."

This shows it is still locked. I'm ready to get the discussion started as soon as you have a minute. Thanks much!

Glad June is over and hope July has better things in store - although today they traded my favorite player from my NBA team, so it isn't a wonderful start.

My birthday is Sunday, and I've been eating out to celebrate with various friends for a few days now. It was nice to eat something out of my own refrigerator tonight. I've been having a lot of fun, though. And now a 3-day weekend with no set plans. I decided to do what I want when I want for the weekend, and I'm planning to spend my birthday alone with a theater movie marathon and a nice dinner out with a good book. I will officially be a senior citizen (62), so get off my lawn and leave me alone. (haha)

Finished
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith - 4 stars (really 3.5), PS #5 sapphic book
Some of you have complained about the slow start, but it still didn't prepare me. It could have started halfway through and I wouldn't have missed much. However, I was somewhat engaged, although it certainly had issues. Still, it gets a good rating from me based on the fact that she published this book in 1952, which seems incredibly brave, and for the surprisingly suspenseful ending. I'm going to watch the movie Carol this weekend, just because I think Cate Blanchett will be the perfect Carol.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino - 4 stars [picture book]
Cute story of a boy who loves to wear the tangerine dress from the school dress-up box.

A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O'Leary - 4 stars [picture book]
A child is nervous when the class is asked to tell what makes their family special. The ending made me tear up.

ŷ������: 44/100
Popsugar: 20/40, 5/10 (halfway through at the halfway point of the year!)

QOTW:
John Grisham made me nervous for awhile as he seemed to have lost his touch, but I hung in there and he's got his mojo back for the most part.
Liane Moriarty had one book I didn't care for, but the rest have been great.
There have been series I've quit reading, but I didn't consider them such favorites that it really made a difference to me.

Love these conversations we're having over fiction/nf. It's so cool to see everyone's perspectives. I don't have people to talk to in my RL when it comes to my love of nonfiction or books in general so it's nice to have people to do so with and to see other ideas and reasonings.

I can see why many of you like fiction. It can be an easy genre to get into for the various reasons you've all stated.

I don't know, I guess for me I grew up on a lot of fiction because of school. There was maybe only one nonfiction book I read from 7th through 12th grade so it wasn't all that diverse and as I got older that bugged me. College was better but in the lower grades, they played things too safe by reading fiction and not just that but the same old classics that you hear about every year.

For me, I get a rush in nonfiction. Though it's only been within the past year and a half that I've gotten into BAM books (biographies, autobiographies, memoirs), when it comes to others, I like seeing what goes on outside in the world away from my own. I like finding RL people I can relate to. People fascinate me in a way I can't get from fiction because a lot of times people don't make sense.

I've never been good at connecting with others and when I try I'm completely lost because I'm not sure why I should even care. Nonfiction gives me a sense of finding a human connection so that I can semi-get a view. I know that probably sounds harsh, I wonder why I should even care about others, it's just that I spend so much time alone that being around other people is baffling. Nonfiction gives me a closer view as to why I should. I don't feel as "alien" to people in that way.

Teri wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "July group read of Piranesi will be getting started
here: /topic/show/..."

This shows it is still locked. I'm ready to get the discussion started as s..."



Thanks for that head's up! I guess Lynn has been really busy, she hasn't even checked in this week!! I hope her friend is okay. I was able to unlock it. I'll leave it for Lynn to move things back and forth in folders the way she wants them.

/topic/show/...

Teri wrote: "I'm going to watch the movie Carol this weekend, just because I think Cate Blanchett will be the perfect Carol. ..."


Yes it was definitely brave of her to write this! I wondered if she was even afraid to develop the relationship at first, and that's why it moves so slow. When she finally published it under her real name, she changed the title to Carol, which I thought was interesting.

I have not seen the movie Carol yet. But holy cow it's like Highsmith actually had Cate Blanchett in mind while she was writing! Carol IS Cate Blanchett!!

Ron wrote: "I've never been good at connecting with others and when I try I'm completely lost because I'm not sure why I should even care. Nonfiction gives me a sense of finding a human connection so that I can semi-get a view. ..."


That's really interesting, because it's fiction that gives me that feeling of connection to others. Even when I'm reading memoirs or biographies, I still feel removed from the person, like I'm looking through a window. Only fiction allows me to really FEEL for that character.



Did you choose an alien as your profile picture because you feel alien? You are not alien here, you are a fellow reader just like the rest of us! We just all read different things and react different ways.

It’s been a minute since I’ve checked in. And by minute I mean like two months. I haven’t done a ton of reading. I started a new medicine that is treating arthritis in my hands, which stopped me from doing some hobbies like painting, coloring, and even puzzles. Now that my hands feel better, I’ve been spending more time doing those things again. It’s been so wonderful to be able to enjoy those hobbies again.

I have kept a list of everything I’ve read since my last check in and my thoughts.

Finished
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham. This was a cute book, but it lacked the charm and verisimilitude of Watership Down. I enjoyed the rabbit culture of that book so much that it was jarring to read about such extremely British animals in this one.

The War of the Worlds by HG Wells. I have to admit that I’ve wanted to read an HG Wells book ever since I fell in love with HG on Warehouse 13. This book was incredible! I kept forgetting it’s 125 years old. I was shocked every time a horse and carriage was mentioned. It feels like modern science fiction. Clearly, HG Wells is still inspiring sci-fi writers!

Inland by Tea Obreht. WTF did I just read? This shit is why I don’t read literary fiction. It always has to be so ~weirdly meaningful~ I do not pick up a Western to read about ghosts and camels. I would not have minded ghosts or camels. But ghosts and camels was just too much for me to handle.

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie. This is a hard book to review. It's one of the best Poirot books, but for the final chapter. That chapter is by far the worst ending to any Poirot book. My advice is to read this book, but not the final chapter. If you're curious and don't mind spoilers, (view spoiler)[Rowley attacks and strangles Lynn after she ends their engagement toward the end of the book. Only Poirot's arrival saves her life. In the final chapter, Lynn apologizes for ending things and begs Rowley to take her back. (hide spoiler)]

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. I was bored reading this because I knew the plot from the show, so I switched to the audiobook to finish. I’m debating whether to try and read the second book or just skip ahead to fresh plots.

Reading
Running Wild by KA Tucker

QOTW
JK Rowling. I really disliked The Casual Vacancy, and I think the Cormoran Strike books are mediocre. I will reread Harry Potter, but I’m done reading her new books.

Anne Rice. I devoured The Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series. Then I reached the point where she got so popular she could ignore her editor. Blackwood Farm was my breaking point. I’m surprised I even got that far. She passed away last year, sadly. There are a handful of her books I haven’t read. If I go back and read them, I’ll make sure they were published before Blackwood Farm.

I totally overlooked the fact that this is a new month and I needed to pay attention to the Monthly Group Reads! As you know, I am still completing the Beloved discussion. I have been working outside like a demon possessed. Wait! Can a demon be possessed? I guess they usually do the possessing�� LOL I agreed to help some new neighbors with their garden while they’re on vacation, which has turned into a weeding and mulching project. (They're brand new to gardening!) and my allergies have prevented me working outside until the tree and grass pollen subsided enough. So my own yard is also a mess.

My really good news is that my friend who had to be revived during a heart procedure seems to be making an almost full recovery. Short-term memory is still a bit limited, but she keeps improving a bit every single day. Her daughter is back in town and I have been encouraging her to participate more in her mother’s healthcare, and she has been doing so. I’m so grateful, ‘cause honestly, I at least need a break, if not a long-term overall reduction in responsibility for her health. I’m too old with my own health challenges!! Just grateful I was able to retire and help her when most needed.

I stumbled across a video of Matthew McConaughey and John Grisham in conversation via Live Talks Los Angeles from November, 2020: . It has restarted my interest in reading Grisham’s books. Also, now I am interested in reading McConaughey’s memoir Greenlights. I appreciate the title now that I know why he selected it!

I got to visit with friends from out-of-town whom we haven’t seen in almost 5 years and was amazed at how we have all aged and overcome physical challenges: two with cancer (one had a kidney removed), one with one knee-joint-replacement, one with two knee-joint-replacements, one with two shoulder surgeries and a HoLEP surgery, one with their fourth bout of cancer (the second time with breast cancer) as well as removal of portions of their colon due to battling severe colitis for decades. I swear, each year after you turn 60 can be a real challenge. Also, for those of you who are younger, THIS is why we old folks talk about our medical challenges—they consume much of our time and energy! LOL

Anyway, I was shocked that one couple have an ALEXA in their house. (Isn’t that just a thing younger folks do? LOL) I personally see no need for such a device. And now your dead relatives/friends can be heard through it: . Sorry, but as much as I adored and am grateful for my grandmother’s presence in my life, yeah, no, I do not want to hear a replication of her voice now. It just seems wrong to me!

ADMIN STUFF:
The July Monthly Group Read discussion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is now in the Current Monthly Group Read folder along with the posting for July’s “I Finished�� discussion thread. Those are HERE. Thank you so much to Teri for leading this month’s discussion! Piranesi will fulfill prompt #47 A book featuring a parallel reality I am leaving June’s discussion there as well for now and hope to finalize that this next week.

I apologize for not checking the listing of October Monthly Group read nominees against the list of previous Monthly Group Reads! I totally spaced doing that! Thanks to Nadine for creating an additional poll to determine whether we want to keep this limitation for future Monthly Group Reads or not! And she has also posted the final selection poll for the October Monthly Group Read HERE. The October Monthly Group Read will fulfill prompt #16 A book about witches in honor of “Spooktober��/Halloween!

We still need a "marvelous manager" to lead the August discussion of The Dog Stars and a “savvy superstar�� to lead the September Monthly Group Read discussion of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

The comprehensive listing of Monthly Group Reads for 2022 is here.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
You have an author you are loyal to and always anxiously anticipate their next release, but you read one of their books that deeply disappointed you. Name that author and tell us whether you kept reading their books or not.
I have never had this happen to me. I have been a bit disappointed by the last three Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich, but I’m still plugging along with them nonetheless. I just don’t find myself (literally) laughing out loud with them as I used to do. I don’t know if it is a change in my sense of humor or her writing�� I’ll just assume it may well be me��

While I totally (and surprisingly, to me) enjoyed Emma Donnoghue’s Room, I did not find The Wonder nearly as enjoyable. I think that was mainly due to the subject matter which didn’t really interest me much. I have no real interest in religious icons or “miracle��/saintly believers�� But I own another three of her books that I plan to read because I enjoy her writing overall.

FINISHED:
Witness to a Trial (The Whistler #0.5) by John Grisham 5 STARS is a short-story prequel and was kinda creepy, IMO, but only because I do not like being inside a perpetrator’s mind and ‘hearing�� (reading) their thoughts�� A good setup to what I am sure will be an enjoyable mystery in the first full-length installment in the series, The Whistler. I am a huge fan of Grisham and for some reason never get around to reading his books. I’m trying to change that! Not counting for any challenges.

*I, Robot (Robot #0.1) by Isaac Asimov 5 STARS These were thought-provoking and humorous interrelated short stories. It has been more than 50 years since I read Asimov and I had forgotten his sense of humor! I will continue with the robot series.
POPSUGAR: #22, #24, #36, #40-2015: #6 A book written by someone under 30
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7-Dr. Susan Calvin, the robopsychologist, #15, #40-Strength, Death, Judgment, The World, #44, #46, #49, #50
RHC: #11, #24-2018: prompt #3 A classic of genre fiction (sci-fi)

CONTINUING:
Beloved by Toni Morrison is an amazing word of classical fiction, IMO.
For June Buddy Reads:
*When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe
*Double Cross (Alex Cross #13) by James Patterson
I am sooooo behind!

PLANNED:
July Buddy/Group Reads:
*The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*Cross Country (Alex Cross #14) by James Patterson
*One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie #2) by Kate Atkinson
*Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves
STILL PLANNING THESE BELOW AS WELL!
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

I don't read a lot of non-fiction generally (and when I do, it is most likely travel related) but this year I decided to try and read at least one non-fiction per month. I've only just realised that I completely forgot to read one in June so I better try for two this month

Nadine in NY wrote: That's really interesting, because it's fiction that gives me that feeling of connection to others. Even when I'm reading memoirs or biographies, I still feel removed from the person, like I'm looking through a window. Only fiction allows me to really FEEL for that character.



Did you choose an alien as your profile picture because you feel alien? You are not alien here, you are a fellow reader just like the rest of us! We just all read different things and react different ways.

I've heard a lot of people talk that way about reading fiction. Funny how for me it's the opposite.

As for the alien thing/icon, I just like aliens and UFOs/UAP's. I'm really into that kind of stuff to the point where I have a whole book collection on aliens and UFOs/UAP's

Wow- June has ended and it's been a very low reading month for me. I only read 3 books this entire month. I usually average between 5-6 safely going up to 8-9 on a good month. I looked back and I read exactly 3 books last June too. I wonder if this is just a tough month (for whatever reason) for me to read. I got food poisoning this week. Tried this new-to-me taco place I had been really looking forward to trying and had breakfast tacos and frozen margaritas last Sunday. Fast forward to Monday at 11pm and I didn't think my body would ever recover. After purging every single thing in my body, couldn't even keep water down, I had a 3 day migraine from dehydration. The absolute worst thing I've ever experienced--

Really excited to have a long weekend, and hoping for few fireworks and few crime in the city this weekend. 🎆🧯

35/80 GoodReads Challenge
30/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
Nothing womp womp

Currently Reading:
1.) Black Cake
2.) We're Going to Need More Wine
3.) Parnassus on Wheels



QoTW: You have an author you are loyal to and always anxiously anticipate their next release, but you read one of their books that deeply disappointed you. Name that author and tell us whether you kept reading their books or not.

I'm SURE that this has happened to me, but cannot think -- will come back to this.

Nadine in NY wrote: "On a very sad and sober note, I just learned that Jenny "Reading Envy" Colvin passed away in May."

This is heartbreaking, Nadine, but I do appreciate you sharing. She's one of my GR friends as well and I'm so sad to hear this. I always wonder who I can have come on and update my groups if something should happen to me. :(

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi- apparently this title is from a Florence + the Machine lyric. I don't know what went wrong here - I LOVED Emezi's other two adult novels, and I generally love the romance genre, but I did NOT love Emezi's take on the romance genre

I got this as an ARC, it was my first read by them, and I was not prepared. I had nothing to compare it to, since I hadn't read anything else they wrote, but the protagonist was mad reckless in my humble opinion, it was a crazy ride. I think I gave it 3 stars.

Reading 23rd June to 30th June

Books read
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior A delightful elderly rebirth lit book in which octogenarian Veronica McCreedy goes to Antarctica to do her bit to save the penguins and along the way impacts the lives of the scientists and her grandson Patrick. Here is my review

Illumine Her A paranormal romance by Pacific Islands author Sieni A.M. with the backdrop of Samoan island culture and family. Here is my review

challenges
Popsugar: 42/50
ATY52: 47/52
Aussie Readers June Challenge: 10/10
Aussie Readers Winter Challenge: 5/12

Question of the Week
I’ve always enjoyed Susanna Kearsley but her most recent novel The Vanished Days while not dreadful just felt a little mediocre. I’m sure I’ll still read the next one though.

Rachel wrote: "I’ve always enjoyed Susanna Kearsley but her most recent novel The Vanished Days while not dreadful just felt a little mediocre. I’m sure I’ll still read the next one though...."



Good to know! I've only read a few of her books, and I really enjoyed them. I'll make sure to leave that one for last (if I ever get to teh point where I've read everything else she's published, which I doubt I will, I don't read her books that often)

Alex wrote: "Happy Thursday! It has been a really rough week for us. Lots of people in our immediate sphere have suddenly lost loved ones in unexpected ways."

I'm so sorry for your losses Alex. May you find peace to grieve and rest. Sending virtual hugs your way.

Teri wrote: "My birthday is Sunday, and I've been eating out to celebrate with various friends for a few days now."

Happy Birthday Teri!!! Hope you are still celebrating in style! :)

Just a short check-in for me since I forgot to post earlier. I finished one book this week and used it for one of the advanced prompts. Still not sure if any of my books-in-progress fit any of my open prompts (two work for a prompt I completed already -- of course 😝). I'm now at 11/40 and 5/10 for this challenge, and 39/75 for my overall ŷ������ Reading Challenge.

Finished:
* More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez, which I used for "a book with two POVs" since the chapters alternate between the two protagonists. I received a NetGalley copy of this one and really enjoyed it.

Currently Reading:
* Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, which I will finish one of these days!;
* Her Name Is Knight by Yasmin Angoe, which has been a fun, fast read -- I should finish it up before the next check-in; and,
* The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, which is one of my book club's picks for July.

QotW:
You have an author you are loyal to and always anxiously anticipate their next release, but you read one of their books that deeply disappointed you. Name that author and tell us whether you kept reading their books or not. I can't say that I've ever been deeply disappointed by a book by any of my go-to authors. There are some books in long-running series that I've liked better than others, but none that caused me to question whether I would continue with the series or any standalone novel the author might write in the future.

I was disappointed in myself that I read 2 out of 10 books that were fiction in the month of June. It should be no big deal but to me it was. This month for July I'm determined to read all nonfiction.

A lot of my books have historical elements and since I annotate my books, they're going to take a lot longer to read and a lot longer to finish. Because of that, I'll be adding the books I'm currently reading to my book count because they're books I'm reading throughout the month since they're going to take up a lot of time.

That being said, I'm unfortunately not going to be reading any for the book challenge because they just don't fit into any of the categories.

Crazy at how the challenge gears more towards fiction. It's been a struggle finding NF books that work. Take the 'party' topic for example. I can think of so many for fiction but I took it in a different direction and included political parties.

Here are the books I'm currently reading:

90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of Gender Equality
(416 pgs.)

Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom
(304 pgs.)

Woman: The American History of an Idea
(600 pgs.)

An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States
(272 pgs.)

What prompts do you still have to fill, Ron? Don't doubt the collective power of this group to find you plenty of options! ;)

Ron wrote: "I was disappointed in myself that I read 2 out of 10 books that were fiction in the month of June. It should be no big deal but to me it was. This month for July I'm determined to read all nonficti..."

You could think of the Media as a parallel reality to our own.

Jennifer W wrote: "What prompts do you still have to fill, Ron? Don't doubt the collective power of this group to find you plenty of options! ;)"

I have the plane, train, cruise ship: though for this one I have a book in mind.

Cutlery: I'm trying to find one that isn't kitchen/cookbook related

Romance Novel by BIPOC: I have one in mind but I'm also thinking of a romance in terms of like a "love letter to the fans" kind of thing maybe

During favorite season: Kind of have a couple in mind but I'm not entirely sure.

Last Letter of Previous Read: This one just depends.

Kendra wrote: You could think of the Media as a parallel reality to our own

Really, hadn't thought of that.

So would this possibly work: 90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of Gender Equality

Ron wrote: "Kendra wrote: You could think of the Media as a parallel reality to our own

Really, hadn't thought of that.

So would this possibly work: [book:90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of..."

That's what I was thinking.

For romance - you could just read a memoir where they discuss meeting and falling in love with their spouse. And as long as they're BIPOC, it would count.

I mostly read first, figure out how to fit things in to a prompt after, so I have fun trying to squeeze my nonfiction in to the prompts.

For romance - you could just read a memoir where they discuss meeting and falling in love with their spouse. And as long as they're BIPOC, it would count.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I was going through all of the books I own and while they fit half the category none are bipoc so that's tricky. I do have one, To Selena, With Love, but I've read it a dozen times and I'm not much of a re-reader.

I'll probably have to go to the bookstore to see if I can find any. I've checked local libraries and nothing.

Ron, you could try The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements for book with cutlery on the cover. I’ve not read it but I’ve seen it come up on my timeline. It’s more anecdotes than a deep dive into a subject, but it IS nonfiction.

Also for parallel worlds, Mark Everett is the son of Hugh Everett III who was the originator of the multi-worlds theory. He wrote a memoir Things The Grandchildren Should Know about growing up “with his father in a parallel universe of his own invention��. Could maybe work with that?

Cool thanks for the suggestions you two.

Ron wrote: "Cutlery: I'm trying to find one that isn't kitchen/cookbook related"

This is a bit tricky to find for nonfiction, but I did have a couple of thoughts...

One book I read years ago that should fit this requirement is the memoir Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor. You can clearly see the handles of a few spoons on the cover, and Rose appears to be holding a teaspoon (though that's difficult to tell for sure). I found it a really interesting read.

You might also have some luck finding a cover with a knife on it if you check out some true crime covers, or behind the scenes books about movies. Behind the scenes books about horror/slasher movies (like Halloween) are practically guaranteed to have a knife on the cover somewhere.

I plan on reading Oneida: From Free Love Utopia to the Well-Set Table for the cutlery prompt, though it might be hard to find outside of NY.
I can also recommend Disappearing Spoon, I read that one a few years ago.

Ron wrote: "Love these conversations we're having over fiction/nf. It's so cool to see everyone's perspectives. I don't have people to talk to in my RL when it comes to my love of nonfiction or books in general so it's nice to have people to do so with and to see other ideas and reasonings."

Reading non-fiction makes me feel smarter, but I still don't read as much as I should. I made a goal this year to read at least 12 non-fictions and try to cover a lot of different genres within that framework. I've only read 4 so far this year, so I'm behind. But I get why you love it. It does make sense that if you don't interact with people a lot that you prefer the real world to fictional worlds. I love reading your reviews of your books and have added a few to my TBR.

Heather wrote: "Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie. This is a hard book to review. It's one of the best Poirot books, but for the final chapter. That chapter is by far the worst ending to any Poirot book. My advice is to read this book, but not the final chapter."

Right? It makes me sad women have so often thought so little of themselves.

I'm not sure if Jewish counts as BIPOC, but I found Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind on my TBR.
Also found It's Not About the Burqa on Mt. TBR, which sounds like some of the essays are about finding love.

Ellie wrote: "I haven't finished anything this week. My autoimmune thyroid disease has come back with a vengeance, and I have not been able to concentrate on anything. They've put me back on beta blockers while ..."

I've been there too. My thyroid levels had been off since March, and it was rough. They're finally in the normal range now, and I can't believe how much better my quality of life is. Mine won't stay in the normal range (it's part of my treatment before starting medication), and I'm dreading the day they're off again. I'm sending you well wishes for a quick and effective treatment.

K.L. wrote: You might also have some luck finding a cover with a knife on it if you check out some true crime covers, or behind the scenes books about movies. Behind the scenes books about horror/slasher movies (like Halloween) are practically guaranteed to have a knife on the cover somewhere

Thanks. Hadn't considered the BTS route. I'll see if I can find something along those lines.



Teri wrote: Reading non-fiction makes me feel smarter, but I still don't read as much as I should. I made a goal this year to read at least 12 non-fictions and try to cover a lot of different genres within that framework. I've only read 4 so far this year, so I'm behind. But I get why you love it. It does make sense that if you don't interact with people a lot that you prefer the real world to fictional worlds. I love reading your reviews of your books and have added a few to my TBR.

Still, 12 is a pretty good goal and even if you've just one that's perfect.

I always have a hard time finding NF readers on socials like BookTwt, Book Stagram, TikTok so I can see how difficult or unpopular it is for a lot of people.

And thanks for liking my reviews. It means a lot that you've added some to your TBR. And glad I can be of service even in some small way.

Ron wrote: "K.L. wrote: You might also have some luck finding a cover with a knife on it if you check out some true crime covers, or behind the scenes books about movies. Behind the scenes books about horror/s..."

Hunting Jack the Ripper has a knife. If you haven’t read it yet.

No haven't read that one. Serial killers terrify me if I'm being honest.

I'll just have to go to the bookstore and do like a scavenger hunt or something.

As it was, it's been difficult finding NF books for many of the categories but now with the ones I have left, they're even harder.

Sheri wrote: "Ron, you could try The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements for book with cutlery on the co..."


Agreed, this is a non-cooking non-fiction choice that has cutlery on the cover! I read this a while back, it's fairly interesting if you like reading about science.

Cool, I appreciate that.

I [Ron] wrote: "Kendra wrote: You could think of the Media as a parallel reality to our own

Really, hadn't thought of that.

So would this possibly work: [book:90s Bitch: Media, Culture, and the Failed Promise of..."



Kendra wrote: That's what I was thinking.

Awesome. I'm looking more into it; blogs and articles and such and the more I find, media as parallel realities can work. We're so use to our own way of living that when we hear or see other aspects of life, via media (news, social, etc.) then it opens up this whole other world that we weren't even aware of.

I also think cults or conspiracy theories could work as parallel realities, if either of those sound like interesting reading subjects.

My answer to a difficult prompt to find something I really am willing to read -- and it happens even though I will read just about anything - with or without words - is to s-t-r-e-t-c-h how I define the prompt to breaking point.

Parallel reality - certainly reading books about someone who worked as a spy or undercover, or is schizophrenic, or even some histories of dictatorships and such would in my mind fit because they are talking about a world that's split into 2 alternating worlds.

For example: Spies in the Family: An American Spymaster, His Russian Crown Jewel, and the Friendship That Helped End the Cold War would absolutely IMHO fit parallel worlds because tt's a daughter talking about her father and his life as one of US top spies while keeping it hidden from family.

There are certainly plenty of books out about Philby -- and you could look at many like Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy now being published.

Think outside the box is my philosophy....

Theresa wrote: "My answer to a difficult prompt to find something I really am willing to read -- and it happens even though I will read just about anything - with or without words - is to s-t-r-e-t-c-h how I defin..."



If I don't like the category, I read a picture book if I can

Thanks for the suggestions: cults/conspiracies, mental disorders, I can work with those.

Cults and picture books are both fantastic ideas!

Finished:

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur (4/5)

The best parts of the book are 5/5 quality. This is basically an introduction to moral philosophy written in a way that people can actually understand.

A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament by Brant Pitre and John Bergsma (5/5)

This does a great job of laying out the contents of each book of the Old Testament, the history and authorship, literary genres and structures, theological issues, some of what the historians and scholars have said about the books, and their connections to the New Testament and current Catholic tradition. The sources of information and quotes are easy to find and use, especially in the Kindle edition.

Heather wrote: "I've been there too. My thyroid levels had been off since March, and it was rough. They're finally in the normal range now, and I can't believe how much better my quality of life is. Mine won't stay in the normal range (it's part of my treatment before starting medication), and I'm dreading the day they're off again. I'm sending you well wishes for a quick and effective treatment...."

Thanks. It's weird how you go your whole life not even thinking about your thyroid and then when it goes wrong it affects so much!