ŷ������

HAPPY THURSDAY, ALL!

Edited to add: There is an ATY Team Readathon January 21-29, if anyone is interested�� HERE is the signup thread!

Busy week for me. Two IRL book club meetings on Tuesday, one of which I facilitate and I baked a treat to distribute, as usual! My friend has had two doctor appointments. Anxious for a relaxing day at home today! Though we have a new house being built in the neighborhood and I am so very tired of hearing nails and saws, etc. Ugh. Anxious for them to be done! :)

ADMIN STUFF:
We are currently reading Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney for the January 2023 Monthly Group Read! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #3 A book about a vacation. Teri is the "powerfully provocative facilitator" for this month’s discussion! Thank you, Teri! You can find both January 2023 Monthly Group Read threads HERE in the Current Monthly Group Read folder!

MORE VOTING!! YAY!! We are nominating books for the April Monthly Group Read this week! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. You can find that poll HERE! PLEASE remember to check the listing of those books NOT eligible HERE before writing in a nomination! I checked the ones I posted against that list, so those already listed are eligible. (Yes, I have been known to neglect to do so in the past! ;)) And I am apologizing to Nadine since it was technically her turn to create the next poll... You can do the next two in a row! ;) I just forgot! LOL

The February Monthly Group read is The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon!! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #43 A book that takes place entirely in one day. In honor of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition observed in the US and Canada on February 2! The search is on for a "knowledgeable navigator" to facilitate this discussion! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer! I'm excited to read this one!

We are also on the lookout for a “fascinating facilitator�� to lead the March Monthly Group Read discussion of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea! Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

Question of the Week
What is the most recent book that has surprised you?
I’ve had a few of these reads lately myself!

Firstly, The London House by Katherine Reay totally caught me off guard with two of the characters�� feelings of unworthiness and incapability resulting from their parents�� treatment of them—always telling them how inadequate they were and are�� Once that occurs in childhood it can be extremely traumatic. At least that has proven to be true for me. Fortunately, I was stubborn and self-confident enough to fight back by persevering to prove myself, regardless of these messages. But this constant reminder in childhood does take its toll in adulthood, IMO. It took 5 days for me to read this book because I had to keep putting it down to cope with my own emotional and empathetic reactions based upon the characters�� recollections and feelings. Wow. I was shocked at how powerful this was for me!

Then The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa proved to be much more philosophical than I expected. I thought this would be a cat leading someone through the world of books. And it was, but not at all in the ways I might have expected. This gave me much more to contemplate than I would have thought possible, given the title and cover image!

And finally The Seagull (Vera Stanhope #8) by Ann Cleeves was surprising in that Cleeves didn’t hesitate to depict oversights by both Vera and her staff which prevented them identifying the killer(s) much earlier! I think that is one aspect of Cleeves�� writing I appreciate the most—not only does she do more in-depth characterization than you might expect in a mystery series, but her investigators are NOT perfect or infallible, but quite the opposite!

It was a surprising reading week for me!

Popsugar: 21/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 4/10
AtY: 31/52
RHC: 8/24

FINISHED:
*The London House by Katherine Reay ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ felt like a very personally intense read for me. It’s as if Reay channeled many of my own negative emotional experiences with my mother and depicted them in this book. It took me forever to read it because I had to keep interrupting to read other books that were not so emotionally intense for me. This is the 2nd time that has happened to me within the past few months. It feels very strange and I think it may well be due to my age”extensive life experience��! ;) An absolutely excellent read, IMO! Perfect fit for prompt #17 Love triangle!
POPSUGAR: #1, #4, NEW #17, #19-2017: prompt #33 A book set in two different time periods, NEW #29, #31, #34, NEW #36, NEW #39, #48-French & English
ATY: #3-A book from your favorite sub-genre: Historical Fiction Mystery, #5, #13-fencing, windows, steps, #14, NEW #22, #24, NEW #26, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2017: prompt #14 Read a book about war

*Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ should be read by everyone, especially if you are a US citizen! Along with Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Davis documents so very many reasons to enact decarceration and establish more effective and truly rehabilitative systems for the overwhelming majority of prisoners. The main thrust is that the media and politicians make sure the general populace is scared and fearful so the “prison industrial complex�� can continue and countless corporations can exploit the cheapest labor available. (It is truly an INDUSTRY!) The stats prove this is just yet another version of slavery in the US. There are currently more people with mental and emotional disorders in jails and prisons than in mental institutions. Granted there are many fewer institutions for mental/emotional treatments than prisons, but that is yet again much of the problem�� There are currently well over 2,000,000 (Yes, that is TWO MILLION!) people incarcerated in the US. Too many! As I heard California Governor Newsom state on NPR a couple of days ago, Class and race have more to do with incarceration than guilt or innocence�� (paraphrased according to my memory). I could go on and on, but will stop! Just do yourself a favor and read it! It is only 128 pages long but very informative!
POPSUGAR: #4, #19-2015: prompt #14 Nonfiction book, NEW #26, #28
ATY: #3-One of the top 23 ŷ������ rated books on your TBR, #5, #10-Scary, #28, NEW #34, #45
RHC: NEW #3, NEW #9, #24-2017: prompt #21 A book published by a micropress
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: NEW #10

*Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie ✶✶✶✶�� was absolutely delightful, just as I expected it to be! I have been reading this a bit at a time for about a month.
POPSUGAR: #1, #16, #19-2015: prompt #12 A book of short stories, #28, #50
ATY: #3-A book written by an author who is NOT cis, white, and male, #5, #14, #27, #43, #45
RHC: NEW #21, #24-2015: A collection of short stories

*The Seagull (Vera Stanhope #8) by Ann Cleeves ✶✶✶✶�� for a Buddy Read was simply another wonderfully intertwined and interconnected mystery! I love this series! And there were a few twists that were surprising, depicting instances when Vera and her team overlooked some details that would have helped them solve the case much more quickly. And Vera put herself in danger this time at the end!
POPSUGAR: #19-2017: prompt #14 A book involving travel, #28, #29
ATY: NEW #2, #3-A book from a genre that inspired, or rekindled, your love of reading, #14-Brace is always running a con!, NEW #19-Forensic science very important to ID bodies 20 years later, #27, #28, #37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2022: prompt #11 Read a book with an asexual and/or aromantic main character

*The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai ✶✶✶✶�� for an IRL book club meeting. This was a very interesting read about several different aspects of reading and books: criticism, condensed versions, and publishing. The overall theme was that each book contains a soul and creates compassion in the reader. Though as one member stated, “fiction�� books have been linked to creating compassion, but not necessarily nonfiction books, per the “experts��! I would disagree. Many of the nonfiction books I’ve read have helped me better understand and relate to other cultures, etc., and thereby create more compassion toward others.
POPSUGAR: #2, #4, #19-2017: prompt #10 A book with a cat on the cover, #28, #29, #31, #48-Japanese & English
ATY: #3-A book related to first contact, #5, NEW #6, NEW #7, #13-books, #19, #34, NEW #36, #37, #52
RHC: #24-2022: prompt #2-A book set in a bookstore
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: NEW #3

CONTINUING:
*Cold Earth (Shetland Island #7) by Ann Cleeves for a Buddy Read
Yet another excellent mystery by Cleeves! And it’s set on an island, so I’ll be halfway done with Nadine’s Mini-Challenge! :)
*Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe for a Buddy Read. This is a reread some 53 years later and I'm anxious to see what I think now! Want to finish this one this week!
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed.
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
*Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross #20) by James Patterson for a Buddy Read
*Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen for a Buddy Read

I finished The King's Curse as my book about divorce. OK, the divorce didn't take up much of the book, but let's face it, it affected the Henry VIII and all of England for at least the rest of his life.

I'm now reading The Quaker as my book that takes place the decade I was born. Only sort of works as it takes place the decade before I was born, but only 3 years before I was born, so within the decade of me being born. I'm not loving it or hating it so far.

QOTW: I have no idea. I think I'm in a bit of a reading slump. Everything I've read lately I think is just so-so. And I usually love all things Tudor. So, I guess it was surprising of how blase I found The King's Curse.

Happy Thursday!

Rehearsals for The Children's Hour are going well - a friend came last night and said my character was his favorite (huzzah!) but I'm so excited to have a night off from rehearsal tonight so I can get home from work later and not have to leave the house til tomorrow.

With that in mind, I'm actually surprised at how much print-book reading I've gotten done this week, snatched during my off-stage scenes and for an hour or so before bed. Still 150-200 pages left til I'm done, but progress!

Finished:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January - 4 stars. Beautifully narrated, and as usual I want to reread a print copy and see which references and asides I missed, because Alix is that clever. Book with a pet character / ATY A book where books are important
Spare - 5 stars. Loved Harry's audio narration, it felt like he was sitting in the room with me telling me all about his life. I laughed, I cried, I felt his warmth. The book hangover lasted a full day. Book by a first-time author / ATY A book with an interracial relationship

PS 4/50
ATY 3/52
Mount TBR 3/60

Currently:
The Secret History - I'm past the halfway mark and enjoying myself even if the characters are all being exhausting. It's not a hate-read, not yet, I'm more so just along for the ride and waiting to see how everything turns out.
Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life - Perhaps a bit lighter of a memoir than the one I finished a few nights ago. I always enjoy listening to Alan's stories.

Upcoming:
Cold Spectrum
The Women of Chateau Lafayette

What is the most recent book that has surprised you?
Is it cliche if I say Spare? I don't know that I had any expectations for the book, but it was refreshing to hear stories I've heard in years past but through Harry's own lens, along with everything else he wanted to share. There are several instances I would've thought too intimate to share with the public (if I were such a known public figure and wanted to guard my privacy), but I commend his honesty and vulnerability.

This week I brought my daughter back college and felt very sad, then I tie dyed another shirt for my at-home daughter, and then I chipped my favorite coffee mug and then I had a BIG POUT. Happily it turns out that drinking from a chipped mug isn't all that awful.

We had a few days of actual cold weather, and now it's back to 40s and raining. What is going on?



I finished 2 books this week, both for this Challenge, so I am now 3/50.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley - this is on the Tournament of Books shortlist, and I really hated it. My feelings went beyond mere dislike and are fully in the Hate spectrum, because this was so overwritten and overwrought. The author was trying SO HARD to make me feel things, but I'm pretty sure they are things she's never felt herself so it all felt very forced and fake. She also used about ten times as many words as I think she needed to use, which is something that will always irritate me. It's also a debut novel from a very young author, so I checked off "first time author." At least I got to check off challenge categories with it!

Book Lovers by Emily Henry - this was my book club's choice for January, and I am so happy that they finally chose a happy book!!! I enjoyed this one A LOT, significantly more than the deceivingly titled Beach Read (which was not set at the beach grrr). Five stars. I checked off "vacation" with this one.





QotW
Surprise? I guess I was surprised by how much I hated Nightcrawling!!! It's rare that I actually hate a book, but I hated that one.

And I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed Book Lovers - I'd been so-so about Beach Read so I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read another book by Henry, but my book club chose this so I read it, and yay! I loved it and I'll read more from this author now.

But I am always hoping I'll love every book, so I don't know if I can count that as a surprise. For a real surprise, I have to go back to last year when I read Earthlings. THAT book was not what I expected!! It surprised me with its content & story, and I was also surprised by how engaging it was and how emotional I got about it. Also last year, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the duology I read for last year's challenge, All These Monsters & All These Warriors - I read that just to check off the challenge category, figured it would be entertaining enough, but I didn't expect to love it like ice cream.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

I woke up with a sore throat this morning, which I’m hoping is due to my allergies and not because I’m coming down with something. I’ve been really careful about avoiding contact with anyone who might be sick, so allergies are the likely culprit. But it’s a good idea to be sure, so I’m taking the day off and resting.

ŷ������ Challenge: 47/250
Mount TBR Challenge: 35/150 (Climbing Mount Olympus)

This week I tried to split my time between books from my TBR list and the books I’ve purchased since the first of the year. I actually ended up making a decent amount of progress on both lists, finishing the Bridgerton series and making it one-third of the way through the Ouran High School Host Club manga.

📚Physical TBR: 30/634
📱Ebook TBR: 5/236
��Audiobook TBR: 0/13
TBR Checklist Total: 35/883

I did end up buying a couple of new books this week, both of which are (unsurprisingly) related to the Bridgerton series. The first was a nonfiction book about the Netflix adaptation, called Inside Bridgerton, and the second was the graphic novel Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron. I ended up reading both within a day of purchasing them, and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I can’t remember if I’ve talked about it before, but one of my goals for the year is to actually read all of the books I purchase in 2023 in 2023. Even though I made a lot of progress on my TBR last year, I added so many new titles to my list that I don’t feel like I’ve made as much progress as I could have. I think if I do a better job of reading new books as I buy them, I’ll ultimately see more permanent progress on completing my TBR checklist.

“New�� Books Bought in 2023: 20
“New�� Books Read in 2023: 12/20

Here are the books I finished this week��

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~An Offer From a Gentleman �� This was such a wonderful book! I really liked Benedict’s story! 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~Romancing Mister Bridgerton �� This ended up being my favorite book in the series. The level of drama is just phenomenal! 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~To Sir Phillip, With Love �� Eloise’s story ended up being somewhat different than I anticipated, but I really enjoyed it. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~When He Was Wicked �� We hardly see Francesca in the Netflix Bridgerton series, so I really enjoyed having an opportunity to get to know her character through this book. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~It's in His Kiss �� Hyacinth’s story was such a fun read! 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~Robinson Crusoe �� I have to say that I was not impressed with this book. I will not be bothering to read the sequel. 📱: ⭐⭐
~On the Way to the Wedding: Bridgerton �� I really enjoyed the drama of Gregory’s Story. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After �� This book of short stories collects all of the Bridgerton second epilogues into one volume, and also includes Violet’s story. I really enjoyed it. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~Treasure Island �� I really enjoyed having a chance to read this adventure. Pirate stories are so much fun! 📱: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
~Inside Bridgerton �� This was a really interesting look at the creation of Bridgerton, seasons one and two. I loved learning more about how the show was made! 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 1 �� I watched the anime adaption a few years ago, and I’ve really enjoyed having the opportunity to finally read the original manga. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 2 �� 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 3 �� 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 4 �� 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 5 �� 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 6 �� 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron �� This graphic novel is an adaptation of the novel Hyacinth and Lady Danbury read in the seventh Bridgerton book. It is every bit as ridiculous as the ladies find it in the novel, and I loved it. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil �� I’m taking a break from this book for the moment. It’s very interesting, but I just haven’t been in the mood for true crime lately. I’ll probably get back to it sometime in the coming week. 📚
~The Paradox Hotel �� This has been a really interesting book so far. I’m glad I decided to pick up a copy. 📚
~Big Shot �� I’m enjoying this cozy mystery so far. 📱

QOTW:
I really haven’t been surprised by any of the books I’ve read recently, but I was definitely disappointed with Robinson Crusoe.

Finished:

Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Vol. 1 by Stan Sakai (5/5, reread, a book with a rabbit on the cover)

The Usagi Yojimbo series is excellent in basically every regard. It's got the quality and basic setting of Seven Samurai but with anthropomorphic animal characters. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles guest star for the first story of this volume. I also love when we get stories featuring Gen or young Usagi.

Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country by Jason Inman (5/5, a book you bought from an independent bookstore)

I bought this from a Humble Bundle of books from Mango Publishing, which I am counting as close enough to an independent bookstore. I have seen and enjoyed the author's work in A/V media, but other books in the bundle proved that that is no guarantee of loving their printed work. Thankfully, I got more than I expected with Super Soldiers.

Jason Inman signed up to be in the US Army and served for about six years, including a year in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He does fill you in on the backgrounds and motivations of 16 comic book characters who also served in the US military, and that would have been about a three star read. What makes the book great are the insights into how recruitment, training, and duty actually work in our real life military and whether the characters fit the ideals of their service branch.

PopSugar 2023 progress: 15/50

Question of the Week:

See my words about the book Super Soldiers above.

Happy Thursday!

I am so excited to finally start planning my redo trip to Iceland & Paris in April! I was supposed to go in September 2020 but (obviously) that trip was postponed. Now I finally get to go! Our plan is to stop over in Iceland for a couple days then fly to Paris and stop back in Iceland for a day on the way back. If anyone has any tips/tricks/etc. to share bring 'em on!

This will probably be my last international trip for awhile - I would like to buy a house and really need to save. I still plan to travel domestically from time-to-time.

Now books:

Finished:

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - this one was different than what I thought it was going to be (probably my QOTW answer) I was surprised by how different the book ended up being from the description. Loved it!

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby - this book got me right in the feels - I was actually teary when I finished it. So good! Probably going to read Blacktop Wasteland at some point.

Currently Reading:

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. I am listening to this on audiobook and I love the narration. There are a lot of characters to keep straight so I do need to reference the book occasionally.

Lucky by Marissa Stapley. This was a quick read - not challenging at all. Chick-Lit maybe? Still good.

QOTW:

I think so far this year all the books I have read have surprised me in some way or another. To Kill a Mockingbird was a very different story than I remember and I had the premise completely wrong. Also The Echo Wife as mentioned above.

Hi all,

Missed last week's check in. Work and live have been kicking my butt, but finally have a little bit of a breather.

I don't really remember where I left off on my one check in of the year, but here's what i've been reading:

Exhalation - i liked this much more than expected! Normally short stories aren't my thing. I tend to find that either they leave me wanting more, or they don't make any impression on me at all. Although I do tend to do better with books that are all one author like this one, since then it's one author exploring different ideas instead of wildly different voices and approaches all over the place. That being said, each story was still wildly different, but i suppose there was still that invisible similar hand behind each one, even if it wasn't totally obvious on the surface. I found all the stories at least interesting, and genuinely enjoyed most of them.

Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes to Make You Smile - read harder has a prompt to read a cook book cover to cover. Usually for prompts like this i choose a cook book that has more of a story, but I didn't feel like LOOKING for one, so i picked one I owned. This didn't' have much to it beyond the recipes. However I'm glad I did sit down and page through the whole thing, because I have several vegan friends now, and I kept turning to the internet looking for vegan deserts to bake and finding mixed results. And here I had a cook book full of delicious looking cakes and cookies, with almost every recipe giving vegan alternatives. I feel silly now. I'm just so used to just googling for recipes I forget I have actual BOOKS with them.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires- i've really been enjoying Grady Hendrix's writing over all, and this is one of my TBR challenge picks from my book club. But last week was an awful week for me and I was in a bad head space. I don't know if it was that, or this is just genuinely a much darker book than his other books. Obviously he's a horror writer, but usually I find he has a bit of humor running through his books that lightens them up to a level that keeps them readable for me. This one was just...very dark and intense for me, in spite of a name that implies that it would still have that humor to it. I don't want to imply it wasn't good, I think he did a fantastic job at dealing with a lot of the issues rampant in the 90s, and pointing out a lot of stigmas housewives faced etc. I just...didn't enjoy reading it as much as I usually do his books. and I don't know if it was because i was having such a bad week I missed the humor, or if he really did write this one darker than usual.

Sorrowland - picked a really dark audio book too to be listening on a week i was in a really bad headspace, but again it was really good. This was for my read harder audio book by a PoC read by a PoC. I liked the narration quite a bit.

Stealing from Wizards Volume 1: PickpocketingStealing from Wizards: Volume 2: Burglary needed some lighter fare to lighten up my week so gave them a re-read. I love these books, it's a good little series. Hoping book 3 will be out soon, but don't want to badger the author too much haha.

Currently reading:

Klara and the Sun - another tbr list pick, would work for character name in the title. I'm enjoying so far, although it's pretty strange.

You Should See Me in a Crown - audio re-read for my books & brew for february.

QOTW:

Maybe Exhalation? Like I said, I don't usually go for short stories. I rarely rate them above 3 stars. This one I actually gave 5, I genuinely liked all the stories to some level, and highly enjoyed many of them. I saw he had other story compilations, so i might grab another.

not sure about what else recently, since it's pretty early on. Bunny was incredibly weird, but I knew it was weird going in. Prior to the start of the new year I was on a plowing through InCryptid/re-reading Murderbot tear which are both good, but not really surprising. That would push me back through november and i think would stop being really "recent" haha.

This week has brought a lot of frost, everything is sparkly and white which is pretty. I'm sure it'll go back to dark and raining in no time. I went through to the second round of job interviews which I'm waiting to hear back from, I guess if they weren't interested it'd be a quick no at least.

Finished:
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo for rabbit on the cover (looks like a hare to me but is a rabbit in the story) and ATY (setting beginning with A, T or Y). Loved it, I hope there's more and not too long of a wait...

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi for ATY (repeated object on cover). Beautifully written gothic horror, quite a departure from her YA fantasy.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley which I'm tentatively using for a fat-lead romance...she's described as curvy and soft a lot, so I'm not really sure. I'll switch it out if I read something better suited, but this was fun, a bit too quick to go from "I want to bargain your soul" banter to mushiness but was enough other stuff going on to keep me interested. Also fits my ATY rejects (a book related to soul) and SFF Titles (witch).

PS: 6/34 | ATY: 5/52 | SFFT: 2/25 | GR: 9/100

QOTW:
I try to avoid knowing too much about a book before going in so in some way I am always surprised by something. I guess most recently The Book Eaters wasn't what I expected but I loved it.

Katelyn wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I am so excited to finally start planning my redo trip to Iceland & Paris in April! I was supposed to go in September 2020 but (obviously) that trip was postponed. Now I finally ge..."

This trip sounds exciting! I can't wait to hear more about it when you go!

Almost Good Afternoon Everyone, I completed one book for the week which was my goal.
...And Ladies of the Club. I used it for the advanced prompt # 49 the longest book (by pages) on your TBR list. .
QOTW : I think the book that surprised me most was The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family. I used it for #31 A book about family. I'm going to read The Invention of Wings finally this year. It's a book I've been meaning to read for years. I knew nothing about the Grimke family. I wanted a non fiction narrative first. I have been burnt before on historical fiction. I was surprised because the real Grimkes story hasn't been as well known as their portrayal in fictional works.

Happy Thursday!

Finished:
The Way of Kings - 4 stars - For the longest book on my TBR. I finally finished this after almost a month. It was really just a 3-star read, up until about 75 - 80%. The beginning of the book was way too slow, despite the complex world-building, and felt like it could have been trimmed down by at least 300-400 pages. I'm now interested enough to continue the series, but probably not until the rest of my challenge reading is done.

Comics & manga:
Skip・Beat!, Vol. 47
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Vol. 24

Currently reading:
Hell Bent - I'm not too far into it yet to have an opinion. Although I liked the first book, I only vaguely remember what happened. Reading for a book with a rabbit on the cover.

Planned/Upcoming:
Mysteries of Thorn Manor

QOTW:
I think the most recent book that surprised me was Tread of Angels which I read toward the end of 2022. It was good, but I was expecting it to be a much different story than it turned out to be.

Spring semester has started, and I am already feeling overwhelmed. Wish me luck, folks... this trying to go to school while also working and trying to eke out some me time is going to be exhausting...

Books read this week:

Lost in the Moment and Found -- no PopSugar prompts, fits the prompt “last book in a series�� for Extreme Book Nerd. (I know it’s not the final book in the series, but the librarian in charge of that challenge says the latest-released book in an ongoing series will count.) Another great entry in the Wayward Children series, albeit a bit darker than some of the others, especially in the beginning. Thank you Seanan McGuire for prefacing the book with a content warning!

Illuminae -- for the PopSugar prompt “book your friend recommended�� and the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “recommended by another person taking the challenge.�� This was fantastic! And it was presented in a unique format that made it even more entertaining to read.

Bigger than a Bread Box -- for the PopSugar prompt “book about divorce�� and a “Free Space�� on the Extreme Book Nerd challenge. For being about something whimsical (a bread box that can grant wishes, so long as said wishes fit inside the bread box), this was a heartbreaking read�� but it was good.

Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2019 edition -- for the advanced PopSugar prompt “longest book on your TBR list�� and the Extreme Book Nerd prompt ��600+ pages.�� Like any anthology, some of the stories were better than others, but on the whole I enjoyed this diverse collection of fantasy and sci-fi stories.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl -- for the PopSugar prompt “book with the word ‘girl�� in the title.�� Great story about a math genius who has to solve the ultimate equation -- how to survive middle school!

Shark Princess -- graphic novel, not for either challenge. Cute, but fairly light on actual story and obviously aimed at very young kids. Still nice to see a kids�� book about sharks focus on whale sharks for a change, though.

DNF:

The Iron Butterfly -- yes, I know it’s self-published. But I still have standards even for self-published works, and this one was full of errors. And the story and writing weren’t good enough to hook me despite the mistakes.

Challenge stats:

Regular challenge -- 7/47
Advanced challenge -- 2/10

Extreme Book Nerd Challenge -- 8/50
Extreme Book Nerd Advanced Challenges -- 2/20

Not for either challenge -- 1

Currently Reading:

Melancholy Elephants
The Plot
Minor Mage
Daughter of the Moon Goddess

QOTW:

"Illuminae" proved to be much more than the typical YA romance I was expecting. The leads had actual personality, the story was suspenseful and fun, and the layout and formatting really fit the story instead of feeling like a cheap gimmick. Going to read more!

Finished: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Fantastic! Lives up to the hype. Used for prompt set in decade you were born in.

Reflections from the Inner Light: A Journal of Quaker Spirituality Didn't get as much out of this as I was expecting. More focused on the author's personal experience rather than explanation of how the inner light functions.

Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists I enjoyed this one. Maybe didn't come away with enough specific actions though.

How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth This is very informative, however, difficult. I didn't come away with a story to tell.

Ain't Burned All the Bright Beautiful as an object. I really should have slowed down and looked at how the visuals supported the text better.

The Heart of Philosophy

Started: Nina Simone's Gum Jury's still out.

Critique of Judgement Kant is such an ambitious philosopher!! This third critique was not even on my radar until I read Needleman's The Heart of Philosophy.

It's Here-- Somewhere not as helpful as I was hoping.

QotW: The Heart of Philosophy surprised me by how good it was and also that it dealt with teaching kids philosophy. If I did know that at some point, I had forgotten. The book captures the magic of doing philosophy and renewed my interest in reading Kant.

Happy Thursday:

We are getting more snow. Every weekend my BFF and I talk about getting together, but Fridays and Saturdays have been bad. I'm over winter already. Once of my favourite kid's books The Penguin Who Hated The Cold is my come back to anyone who suggests that I learn to love winter.

I didn't get a lot of reading done this week. But I did finish one book and by doing so finished the series.


Finished:

Charmed & Deadly
ATY prompt: A book with 4 or more colors on the cover
Popsugar prompt: A book your friend recommended
Nadine's 23 challenge: A book with flames on the cover or in the title

Series - 2/15
Series Completed: 2 - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch

Nobel laureates - 0/7
Random books - 0/7

ATY - 3/40
PS - 2
3/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 3/10
Around the year in 52 movies - 3/52

3. In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood sign, watch "A movie related to Hollywood" - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
(Technically, it was a movie that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the list this year.)

Currently reading:

A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories - 55% done

The History of Rome, Vol 1: The Period Anterior to the Abolition of the Monarchy - 25% done

City of Lost Souls - 80% done

QOTW:
Hench surprised me because I'd heard it was good, but I hadn't expected to like it that much.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles surprised me because it wasn't as good as I expected. But it was Agatha Christie's first book and it surprised me (although it shouldn't have) that she improved as a writer and a crafter of plots as her career progressed.

Brandon wrote: "Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Vol. 1 by Stan Sakai (5/5, reread, a book with a rabbit on the cover)

The Usagi Yojimbo series is excellent in basically every regard. It's got the quality and basic setting of Seven Samurai but with anthropomorphic animal characters. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles guest star for the first story of this volume. I also love when we get stories featuring Gen or young Usagi...."


Okay so this means I NEED to read this. I know NOTHING about this character or this story. I know very little about the TMNT (I know their names, they live in a sewer in NYC, they like pizza, there's a woman, there's a scientist. That's the extent of my knowledge.)

Questions:
1. who is Gen?
2. I see this "volume 1" collects books #8-#10 according to GR. So there's a 1, but there's an 8. Is this the place to start? My library has "Usagi Yojimbo saga vol 1" (which I assume is this book) and "Usagi Yojimbo vol 1 Samurai" and "Usagi Yojimbo bunraku" (as well as a few others that are not numbered "1") - which one should I read?

Good morning! Happy Thursday!

I partook in the first episode of The Last of Us on Monday. I thought it was good. I have a small bit of running knowledge of the games from my coworker (who loves them and played them multiple times). So I knew what to expect. We discussed it at work, and it's interesting to see the difference in knowing (loving) something a lot versus just having enough knowledge to understand what's happening. Btw, John Hannah creeped me out in the prologue. He said the same thing i do about the zombie funguses out there mutating into things that can infect humans. Shudder.

My heater is fritzing out for the past week. It's pretending to run, but it's actually defaulting. I'm 85% sure there is carbon scoring on the igniter, which is an easy fix. Sadly, I don't know anything about heating systems. if i did, I would be doing it myself and saving $80 or more dollars for a repair person from coming out. It's literally a 5 minute fix: get into the heater, take the scoring off, put heater back together. Sigh.

My sister, mom, and I had a good time on Saturday. We went grocery shopping in Fallon. We went to the Wok, and then went 8 feet from the Wok to the Fallon International Market, where I spent way too much money on Thai Tea packets, two cans of the same Thai tea that i consumed at the Wok, and multiple flavors of mochi (daifuki, seasame, peanut, melon, lemon, and one other multi-fruit pack i can't remember the flavors of). And, because we spent so much money, we got a free bottle of chardonnay. My sister took that because ma and i don't drink.


Popsugar: 2/50
Finished: None

Reading: Legends & Lattes ps 41

Aty: 3/52
Finished:
My Fair Concubine aty 21

Reading:
Legends & Lattes aty 8
Instant Karma aty 16

Nadine's Mini Challenge 6/10
Finished:
My Fair Concubine nmc 9
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 4 nmc 3
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 5 nmc 8
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 6 nmc 10
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 7 nmc 7

Reading: None

ŷ������ Challenge 41/400
Finished:
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 3
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 4
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 5
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 6
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 7
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 8
My Fair Concubine
Disney Manga: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - Mirror Moon Graphic Novel
Claimed by my Ex's Dad & His Friend
The Apothecary Diaries Manga, Vol. 5
The Apothecary Diaries Manga, Vol. 6
Craving the Opposition
Daughter of the Emperor, Vol. 1
Daughter of the Emperor, Vol. 2
Pete the Cat: Snow Daze
The Librarian and the Orc

Reading:
The Werewolf Count and the Trickster Tailor
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: Volume 2
The Librarian and the Orc
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 2

Mount TBR:
8/150 Ebook
11/150 Physical

QOTW

I think i'm still surprised at how funny Way of the Househusband is despite being a reread. I don't normally laugh out loud when reading a book except maybe a small chuckle. When I can reread something (wothh 1-3, bofuri 1-4) and still LOL a lot that surprises me.

Katelyn wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I am so excited to finally start planning my redo trip to Iceland & Paris in April! I was supposed to go in September 2020 but (obviously) that trip was postponed. Now I finally ge..."




Exciting!!! My daughter really wants to go to Iceland someday, and I kind of would like to go too. Last time I was in Europe, cell phones didn't exist, so I have no tips!!



Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby - this book got me right in the feels - I was actually teary when I finished it. So good! Probably going to read Blacktop Wasteland at some point.

Everyone has been LOVING on Razorblade, but I was kind of disappointed in that one. I LOVED Blacktop! LOVED IT. So, either readers who like one do not like the other, or Blacktop was tons better.

K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

I woke up with a sore throat this morning, which I’m hoping is due to my allergies and not because I’m coming down with something. I’ve been really careful about avoiding..."




Here's hoping it's nothing, but nowadays it is wise to be extra cautious.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Brandon wrote: "Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Vol. 1 by Stan Sakai (5/5, reread, a book with a rabbit on the cover)

The Usagi Yojimbo series is excellent in basically every regard. It's got the quality and ..."

I'm excited that you get to read these for the first time, Nadine!

1. Gen is the rhinoceros bounty hunter that Usagi sometimes teams up with, willingly or otherwise. He's got a gruff exterior, sarcasm, and a heart of gold underneath.

2. Fantagraphics published seven volumes of Usagi Yojimbo before the Saga collections start. The first of those seven is subtitled The Ronin. The complete seven volumes is available as a special edition book ($49.99 ebook on Amazon currently).

Stan Sakai writes the stories in such a way that you can jump in at the start of any arc, and the relevant backstory is recapped and sometimes footnoted (like *UY Bk 4).

Bunraku is Book 34 of the series. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds like it is the start of a new comic volume or publishing run. Samurai is part of the Origins series that colorizes some of the older adventures, so that would not be a bad place to start.

Happy Thursday! I missed last week due to being in the Virgin Islands for our second honeymoon. :) Soooooo beautiful and relaxing! A much needed trip!

Finished 1/50

The Final Empire for "book you meant to read in 2022". Sanderson is just a gem. So far, I've enjoyed everything of his that I've read!

Currently Reading

Mort for "book about a vacation". Well, one of the characters goes on vacation anyway, which ends up being pretty chaotic, so I'm assuming it counts.

QotW

ProbablyHouse Divided. I was really surprised by how much I liked this book and just how wild the plot is! Really excellent for a historical fiction war novel!

Good afternoon from a sunny and warm columbus (I’m just going to pretend global warming isn’t happening and enjoy the sunshine 👀). It’s been a slow work week, which is typical of January, but I’ve also been obsessively playing my son’s Pokémon Violet and haven’t really devoted a lot of time to reading. Whoops.

Finished
Ithaca not for a main challenge but works for the European reading tour challenge since this takes place in Greece. I’m really, really loving Ancient Greek tales told from the perspective of women. I literally can’t get enough, and I really enjoyed this new look at Penelope holding down the fort while Odysseus was out just sucking in general.

Taste: My Life through Food for the celebrity memoir prompt and I put this on the European challenge list since he lives in the UK now. This book was so delightful, I’m probably going to go buy a physical copy so I can have those recipes on hand. Tucci has always been one of those actors whose work I will actively seek out because he always kills it, and I love his tiktok content so I’m not surprised I really enjoyed this book.

Ordinary Monsters for a book riot prompt. This was a dense book, a historical fantasy about kids with supernatural powers and an evil force that’s threatening their existence. I liked it but I feel like I missed out on a lot of details because I listened while multitasking, and this really needed my undivided attention. I will likely reread this sometime this year or right before the second book comes out.

Currently Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
A Flicker in the Dark

QOTW
Going down my recently read list, I think The Last Book Party surprised me in that it wasn’t the rom-com type easy read I thought it was going to be. But truthfully, I go into books knowing next to nothing about them so I guess they all tend to be surprising lol

Progress
7/175 books for 2023
Popsugar: 2/40; 0/10
Read Harder: 2/24
Classics: 0/12
European: 2/10

Meant to read in 2022

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon. YA romance. Its cover and marketing suggest cute YA romance. It is not.

celebrity memoir

Spare by Prince Harry. There is not a lot of new territory from the Netflix documentary but I do feel for him because it's obvious that he wanted and needed an affectionate family relationship and that just was not there.

two languages

Gravity by Tal Bauer. Contemporary romance. Tal Bauer is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance author.

no prompts

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall. A woman revisits the crime scene from where she was stabbed as a child. One of the better thrillers I've picked from Book of the Month lately.

Bite Me! by Fae Quin. Vampire romance and it was enjoyable.

Studious by Leslie McAdam. Contemporary romance. It was a good read

QOTW:
Instructions for Dancing and I've read her previous books and they aren't necessarily romance but the cover and marketing really made this seem more cutesy romance than anything. And I know the author doesn't have a lot of say in covers usually, but the cover and tone of the book should match.

The neighbors are doing some construction, and the noise is killing me. Sounds like jackhammers. I'm shocked that the baby (Ewan, 3 months) sleeps through it!

Challenge Progress: 7/50

Completed: I've been on a bit of a nonfiction kick. It might be time to lighten things up!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Q1.1: a book involving genetics/genealogy) ★★★★��
Sankofa (P30: a book from a celebrity's book club list - Reese's Book Club) ★★★★
As Good As Dead: As much as I loved the first two books in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, I hated this one. Pip's actions are completely out of character. There's a huge difference between finding justice and taking it into your own hands. ★★
Butts: A Backstory (P19: a book with a subtitle - 2017 favorite past prompt) ★★★★
Raising Them Right: The Untold Story Of America's Ultraconservative Youth Movement-And Its Plot For Power ★★��
Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion ★★★★
Bloodbath Nation ★★★★



Currently Reading:

Just Like Home
Fin & Lady (P21: a book set in the decade you were born - 1960s)
The Christie Affair
Game: An Autobiography
Picture in the Sand
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (P5: a book with mythical creatures)
Hell Followed With Us (P22: a book with a queer lead)

QOTW: The last book that surprised me was As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. Its twist felt like a betrayal of the characters I thought I'd known. I'd so been looking forward to the finale of this series.

Mandy wrote: "Finished:
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1..."



Doesn't he have a cat? (In which case, this would work for the book with a pet!)

Brandon wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Brandon wrote: "Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Vol. 1 by Stan Sakai (5/5, reread, a book with a rabbit on the cover)

The Usagi Yojimbo series is excellent in basically every regard. It's..."


Thanks for the extra info!! I'm glad to know he includes backstory to start the volumes - that was one of my frustrations when I started reading different superhero comics a few years ago (and it was something I REALLY appreciated about Squirrel Girl! And I think deConnick's Avengers Assemble had some good footnotes, too.)

We had snow this morning! Just 1 cm and it was gone by 9 am, but: snow is snow. O, and we had 2 days of sunshine! First this month (omg).

PS: 4/50
Total 2023: 4

Finished
Crisis! by Beatrice de Graaf - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS #1, a book you meant to read in 2022
This book was an essay written for the national History Month (October). Last year’s theme was ‘crisis��. Beatrice de Graaf is one of the Netherlands' prominent historians. And she is a christian and doesn’t hesitate to involve that in her media appearances. I admire that.
About the book: this essay is on the history of how people managed crises throughout history. And why the way governments are trying to control and prevent crises is producing its own crisis: they make people believe we can prevent and solve all crises. Which we can’t, because life isn’t makeable. Very interesting!

Keizerlijk geel by Lucas Zandberg - ⭐⭐
PS #9, a book with a color in the title (‘geel�� = yellow in Dutch)
The main character was too distant due to the writing.

Currently reading
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

QOTW
A positive surprise was a book about the history of our country’s landscape (Het landschap, de mensen. Nederland 1850-1940). I learned so much from it! A disappointment was Roller-Coaster: Europe, 1950-2017. It was more like newspaper clippings than a coherent history book.

Nadine in NY wrote: "This week I brought my daughter back college and felt very sad, then I tie dyed another shirt for my at-home daughter, and then I chipped my favorite coffee mug and then I had a BIG POUT. Happily i..."

I love that your cure for being sad is tie dyeing.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Finished:
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1..."



Doesn't he have a cat? (In which case, this would work for the book with a pet!)"

OMG! I totally blanked out on that!! Yes, they have a pet cat. who goes around an talks to other animals. we get cat pov. this manga is wild.

but i will probably find lots more in my quest to get through some of my ott tbr of physical books that live in my house. that have overflowed into more than one room. that i need to thin out. so there are no stacks of books in the living room. or boxes. because there's no room left in my room. because i save too many books from stores. which i shouldn't do anymore. but i will anyway.

😵 Tommy Roe is singing in my head at the thought.

All day long I have been checking to see if this post had gone up yet; nothing. So I had my psychiatrist's appointment, my carer coming by, dinner, and then helped my sister and dad plan their Disney trip, with the plan of 'after that I'll check in' but then ... we learned my sister's been talking to her mentally abusive ex girlfriend again.

For the second time.

We are so tired. So we are also 3 hours later and I am only now getting to take a breath. I got my yoghurt, muesli and fruit, and am ready to check in. I will read the posts afterwards, before I burn myself out on those, haha!

It's been one hell of a week. I was already exhausted from all my appointments and the stress of Ezra and his new gf in their mating stage, and Mickey's bum being dirty and Mia attacking him after washing because he smells differently. My blood results came back (rheumatism factor is low, but infection value thingies are too high so I am seeing a rheumatologist (?) in 2 weeks for a check up)

On the upside, I did lose some body fat in the first few weeks I have been seeing my food consultant! And those weeks include Christmas and New Year's! So yay! I am very proud of myself (typing it is easier than saying it and believing it) for making the changes I already have, but I fear for adjusting dinners, haha!

I also watched 4 episodes of Euphoria to take a break from reading on my phone (and not having the mental capacity to read) and I'm not wholly sure what to think of it just yet.

ALRIGHT, reading update! All in all it wasn't a great reading week, but here goes:

Finished
Deepest, Darkest for a book with mythical creatures. I figured they were present enough to count still, and also I am lazy so *shrugs* The third and final (?) book of the Oddmire trilogy, and I really enjoyed it! Wonderful trilogy I wouldn't mind owning for my shelves one day. This was also an eARC I had left from years ago, haha!

Popsugar: 13/52
for any other challenge I don't know right now

Currently Reading
Moby-Dick, 15/136
Doing great so far! I've been reading two chapters for several days so I'm ahead of schedule! Tomorrow's chapter is 16 pages, wish me luck. I want to go back in time and grab Melville's shoulder and say "We get it, you know words, tone it down".

In the Lives of Puppets
I got the eARC of this (against literally all odds- I barely had a 30% on NetGalley, but did always review Klune's books so that might have tipped me over) and I was SO EXCITED. I wanted to start immediately but also knew that if I didn't finish Oddmire first, I never would, so I stayed strong, read Deeply, Darkly, and started this soon after. But cuz I've been so busy and exhausted I haven't gotten overly far yet. I'm almost to the true start of the Story, so I hope I can properly binge after that, to get truly immersed. So far, it's the perfect start of a winteriron AU (Tony Stark/Bucky Barnes) so I am super excited xD

A Man Called Ove
Everyone recs this, including my best friend, and I've been wanting to read this for years. My plan was to read this, watch the original movie, and then the new Tom Hanks movie. But now I'm seeing the latter on February 5 during the Pathé Festival, so my timeline moved up and got a deadline. The only way I could read this was on audio, and via audible, and imagine my surprise when the narrator's a woman. I can think of a reason why, but I'm not sure yet if that's it. Even if so, it's so disorientating, and hard to listen to. On top of that, a 'suicide ideation' warning would have been nice along the 'uplifting, feel good story' reviews.

My main goal is to finish these (save for Moby-Dick, of course) over the weekend, so fingers crossed I will manage!

QOTW
I'm Glad My Mom Died, I think. The terrible-ness of human will never cease to surprise me, because they will always find a way to get worse.

I had *hoped* The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes would surprise me, but alas.

Dubhease wrote: "I love that your cure for being sad is tie dyeing. ..."



LOL it's so effective!! Right now I've got a vertical fold ready to rinse, two green spirals downstairs under dye, for St Patricks Day, and four more shirts tied and waiting for space to dye. And LOTS and LOTS of plans for more. I got myself a white sweatshirt to dye, but I can't decide what I want to do with it.

Carmen wrote: "All day long I have been checking to see if this post had gone up yet; nothing. So I had my psychiatrist's appointment, my carer coming by, dinner, and then helped my sister and dad plan their Disn..."




I am sorry about your sister. I think people who find themselves in abusive situations get somehow addicted to it, and it's just as hard for them to break free as for any addict to quit their addiction. Be there for her, and eventually she will truly break free.

Nadine in NY wrote: "I am sorry about your sister. I think people who find themselves in abusive situations get somehow addicted to it, and it's just as hard for them to break free as for any addict to quit their addiction. Be there for her, and eventually she will truly break free."

Thank you. Yeah that's exactly it. She knew it wasn't bringing her anything except responses like 'hm' and 'eh', but she just kept chasing that spark they had before everything went to shit. Her low IQ really didn't help here. We were angry at first, of course, but we will never drop her. Very glad she's starting a round of intakes soon to get proper professional help.

In spite of it being the start of a new semester where everything about the online portion seems to be on fire or otherwise self destructing I got some reading in.

I read Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History and Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman for the prompt A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022.

I don't have words for how furious the banning has made me. (the reason I saw was nudity, apparently the two panels of naked mice men was too much) Mostly I don't even buy into the flimsy reasons for the banning when it seems to me the far more obvious underlying reasons. These two graphic novels are heartbreaking. You might not always like Vladek Spiegelman (even his son, Art's relationship with him is troubled) but you have sympathy and empathy for him and everyone who lived through what he did.

For the prompt A book you read more than 10 years ago I picked up The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander. I'm am so not a rereader. I did in my teens but I can barely make it thru my tbr pile let alone reread but I found the audio of this which made things easier. I'm also cautious of rereading things from my youth in fear that it won't stand up to the passage of time. This one does. It's a solid entry in the fantasy field.

And for no challenges I read Chainsaw Man, Vol. 3 by Tatsuki Fujimoto. It's still violent and a little gross but it's holding my attention.


QOTW Rosemary's Baby which I'm reading for the published in my birth year thing is surprising me in that it's holding my attention in spite of me having seen the movie countless times.

I mentioned it in my post at the beginning of the month I was surprised at how well adapted A Christmas Carol is in movies. Shocking really.

It's been grey, rain, cold all day here in NYC (and still into the evening) and I have not minded because this was yet another day this week my nose has had to be to the grindstone for very long days and little time to read. The weekend is nearly here though! I am finally taking a look at social media and posting update here while waiting for my mexican food delivery. The joys of living in NYC - basically delivery of anything at any time.

I'm 6/50 for PS and 8/52 for ATY. Up to date on bookclubs and other challenges too. Not bad.

Finished:

Cheatgrass - a modern day western mystery thriller set in the Sierras of California and Nevada. Setting is spectacular, mystery and thriller good, just not as great as it could be. Used for Western in ATY and also Western in PS but favorite prompt from 2020. I do love westerns!
Family Business - why have I not been reading this series all these years? 14th in series, easily a standalone, this one has Lydia and Bill solving a murder and dealing with an inheritance situation involving the tongs in today's Chinatown NYC. The food! I have a whole walking tour of Chinatown restaurants, bakeries, and tea bars to check out next time I'm down there. Great location and really great mystery. It was nominated for the Sue Grafton Edgar award in 2022. Prompt: I didn't need it for this but it does fit well with About a Family prompt in PS. I ended up using it only for ATY - book by author with more than 7 published books.
The Expats - set in contemporary Luxembourg with side trips to Paris, Switzerland and the US, this is an espionage and heist/con set in the complex world of global banking. It's also the story of a woman who leaves her physically active career to have a family then leaves her deskjob to become a fulltime stay at home mom when her husband gets a job in Luxembourg and is not handling it well. Not Pavone's best by any means but the locale is so well presented and integrated. Used for PS first time author prompt - author a journalist but this was his debut book and thus by my definition a first time author when this was published in 2012. ATY - fit con, deception with perfection.

Notice that all these books were strong on geography, location? My last finish is a short story with a locale in Iran but that's not really critical to the story.
Parsnips in Love, a very short story, is an homage on how love can strike you at any time in many ways and from the most unusual set of circumstances -- a bit of a fable or fairytale. For now I used it for ATY prompt - items repeated on cover.

Currently reading:
Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
Honor 'N' Duty
Sad Cypress
Improbable Patriot: The Secret History of Monsieur de Beaumarchais, the French Playwright Who Saved the American Revolution

I have the 2 non-fictions going more or less at the same time, with breaks into fiction that keep me happy and moving forward in the NF. I'm not a big reader of NF but I have a lot of NF books in my TBR and I'm enjoying slowly working through them.

QOTW: This happens pretty often for me -- a few times a year. Of course, when put on the spot I can't pinpoint specific books. Looking over my read shelf for the last couple of months I'd say:

Legend of the Highland Dragon - don't laugh but this was really well done and enjoyable even if the plot was weak to non-existant. It was an amazingly charming Beauty and the Beast retelling.

The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II - who knew Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote such wonderful adult fiction? Before she wrote The Secret Garden, she was a highly successful and acclaimed novelist, and an American at that!

A Curious Beginning - the first of the Veronica Speedwells and a wonderful set of characters and a great ride of a story. I was not expecting the quirkiness.

I have to add a NF read from early in 2022 -- The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson. Told from the fields of battle rather than the politicking in Philadelphia, reading this was like watching a great movie unfold before your eyes. You think you know about the American Revolution? Think again and read this. We have been left hanging in the winter after the Battle for Princeton while Atkinson finishes researching and writing the 2nd in his trilogy on the American Revolution. It's gonna be a long war.

Good evening and Happy Thursday! Im back feeling excited for Thursday's for several reasons lol.

READING:
The Gilded Ones I have 10 pages left and I've been devouring this book. I'm so in love with the story!!! It's already 5 stars and I know my review will be long. Once I finish I will promptly be buying the second book in the series!

Lakewood I'm using this for Prompt #1- I started listening to it last year but it seems that I would always fall asleep on it. I'm about 60% finished and I feel like there should be some big reveal about what's going on. I still feel slightly confused.

Bitter Root, Vol. 2: Rage & Redemption I just started back on this series. It's interesting so far. I may use it for the prompt about a family.

Question of the Week
What is the most recent book that has surprised you?
I can honestly say that The Gilded Ones truly has surprised me. I like some YA but this book has really blown me away.

Happy check-in! I’ve just signed up for the aty readathon so we’ll see how that goes. I’ve got a few shorter books to go so hopefully it will be a good reading week to come.

I read two of my most anticipated 2023 reads this past week and really enjoyed them.

QOTW:
I was surprised when I reread Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews because it was even better than when I read it the first time.

Happy Thursday! I didn't check in last week so this is 2 weeks worth.

Finished:

This Time Tomorrow (ATY 4 or more colors on cover) 3 stars. Time travel! It's one of my favorite tropes. This has a slow start but I did enjoy the end.

Cop Town (no prompt) 3 stars. I love Karin Slaughter and her story was good. However, this book is set in the 1970's Atlanta police department. So I would be remiss if I did not warn about the sexism, racism, homophobia, and police brutality. Good book but definitely triggering.

The Princess Bride (ATY unusually large version of animal) 4 stars. One of my top favorite movies and yet I had never read the book. The book was excellent. You got to go a little deeper into the characters heads than you did in the movie. Still just as engaging and funny.

Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution (ATY school subject in title) 4 stars. A bit of a slow start but I really enjoyed this one. I do wish they had shown slightly more magic.

Rock Paper Scissors (PS vacation) 4 stars. A great book. There were a couple twists that I didn't see coming which is the mark of a good mystery.

Currently reading:

Less (PS queer lead)

Fangirl (PS NaNoWriMo)

QOTW:
Like I said above Rock Paper Scissors had a few twists that definitely surprised me. A lot of mysteries you can predict what the twists are. Being surprised by some is genuinely exciting.

Mandy wrote: "Good morning! Happy Thursday!

I partook in the first episode of The Last of Us on Monday. I thought it was good. I have a small bit of running knowledge of the games from my coworker (who loves th..."

I had never heard of/played the game before but my boyfriend did and we watched the first episode. It was really good (I did have to pause and google if the dog died) - these types of shows scare me only because it could actually happen - the fungus is real and that scares me more than The Walking Dead.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Katelyn wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I am so excited to finally start planning my redo trip to Iceland & Paris in April! I was supposed to go in September 2020 but (obviously) that trip was postponed. ..."

Iceland is a good 7-8 hour flight so we figured it was a good stopping point on the way to Paris. I am very excited to see the sights!

I have not read Blacktop yet but now that I know I like the way S.A. Cosby writes I will definitely read that next!

Hello! I am in Kansas City, Kansas tonight, visiting with my in-laws. After the past week in Texas where everyone was wondering what happened to winter, we've found it as we traveled north. Only 38 degrees where we are tonight. We'll finish our trip home on Saturday, getting out of KC before the football game and the snow they're supposed to get.

Finished This Week:
Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews. New Kate! I got half of the new novella read Tuesday night and finished on Wednesday. I enjoyed seeing Kate again, and would love to have more Kate again soon. Not sure about PS prompt.

Watership Down by Richard Adams. Finished the audiobook today as in northern Oklahoma. Loved the unabridged audiobook, even if there were a few voices I didn't agree with. But still a very good story, which I haven't reread in a while. Not for PS prompt.

Currently Reading:
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams. About 71% done. Enjoying it, which is not what I expected after failing to read the hardcover twice in the past year.

QotW: What is the most recent book that has surprised you?
In a very basic sense, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. I'd never read or seen the play, and I was surprised at how little Caesar is in it, and how early he dies. There was a lot of play without Caesar for a play named for him.

Katelyn wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Good morning! Happy Thursday!

I partook in the first episode of The Last of Us on Monday. I thought it was good. I have a small bit of running knowledge of the games from my coworker..."

Right! Read a book about the zombie fungus in ants. Creepy as eff!

Well, Thursday snuck up on me, and I didn't see the thread until later in the day. By that time, I was trying to get bills paid, get over to my neighbor's house with a camera, and get myself to the HOA board meeting! Needless to say, posting here was definitely not in the cards last night.

However, bills got paid and HOA board meeting attended. And, I did get over to the neighbor's house. He had carved a bird that he is giving as a gift this weekend and wanted me to take a picture of it. He is very proud of his accomplishment. The bird was nice and recognizable as a Black-capped Chickadee...but I was not so impressed with the carving. Oh, well. Pics done, and it gave me the chance to use my camera (novice) and I will practice using Lightroom to edit it. All good as camera and Lightroom are part of my 2023 goals.

Well, this week I made a big dent in the large number of library holds that came in all at once. I had about 20 books from two different library systems on my desk all at the same time! I am now down to 8 to go after I finish what I am currently reading.

Finished:
Enter A Murderer - 4*, ALCM challenge.
Strangers on a Train - I came the closest in a long time to DNF'g this book! My actual rating was 2.5*, although GR records 3*. I didn't hate it...but I came close. I think the problem for me was that I did not like any of the characters and the mystery was whether or not it would be DNF or Read, not the story at all. PAS old challenge.
Death in D Minor - 4*, ALCM challenge
The Paper Bag Christmas - 3*. Christian focus. Cute story, but I did not relate with most of the characters. However, I loved the narration of the child from India.
Zen in the Art of Writing - 5*. 2023 NY goal. First, I adore the writing of Ray Bradbury. Second, this book was as much a memoir as it was about writing.
Fiddler on the Roof - 3*, play. ATY and old challenges. I found myself singing some of the songs!
Pumpkinheads - 4*, ATY. Quick read, cute story, wonderful graphics.
Masquerade - 4*, PAS and ALCM. I enjoyed this romp through Paris. A bit of romance in the end, which may show up in further series books. Definitely historical mystery with well-known writers making an appearance (Ernest Hemingway was the most outrageous!) A lot of emphasis on lesbians and attitudes in 1920 French society.
The Trouble with Turkeys - 3*, PAS. Quick read. Kind of a novice writer.

Will finish today (because due at the library!):
Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
Town in a Strawberry Swirl
Family History 101: A Beginner's Guide to Finding Your Ancestors - 2023 NY goal.

Currently Reading:
The Labrador Pact - PAS, RwS
Buried Magic - PS
Kitchen - PAS, PS
This Lie Will Kill You - PAS
I am a Japanese Writer - PAS

On deck to start:
Deadly Inheritance - ALCM, PAS
Rock Paper Scissors PS, PAS
To Shield the Queen - PAS, old challenge
Murphy's Law - PAS, ALCM
The Cat Who Smelled a Rat PS, PAS

Challenges I am in:
PS - PopSugar
ATY - Around the Year
GR - Good Reads
RwS - Reading with Style
ALCM - Aussie Lovers of Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Thrillers
SRC - Seasonal Reading Challenge (leaving group after Feb)
PAS - Pick-a-Shelf (also a moderator)

PS 1/50
ATY 5/52
GR 18/200
RwS 16/30
SRC 11/67
The other two groups have multiple challenges.

I finished:

The Lucky One: not for the challenge: I was disappointed with this one. The idea was interesting, but it fell flat for me. I kept hoping there would be a big twist that I didn't see coming or an unexpected element, but that didn't happen.

Under the Whispering Door: A book your best friend would love: I needed an amazing read, and I had high hopes for this one, and it DELIVERED. What a beautiful, interesting, unique story. Highly recommend. Someone replied last week that this is the book you NEED and that person was so right. A balance of such real themes and emotions with lovely imaginative escapism.

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life: Celebrity book club: I hadn't originally planned this one, but it caught my eye on Libby and I want to read more nonfiction, because I always connect so well with it, but it isn't what I normally gravitate to. This was exactly what I expected it to be, plus lots of interesting personality. I really enjoyed it. I listened to the entire audiobook in a day while I did chores.

Currently reading:

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six: alliterative title: Also a buddy read, which is kind of a new experience for me: I love checking in with my coworker each day about this chaotic mess of a book. I am committed to finishing it and it is entertaining, but it is trying to do WAAAAY too much. This author should've written all her ideas for the this book on the wall and then only kept about one-third of them.

Hallowe'en Party: holiday not Christmas: This is the first Agatha Christie that I'm not captivated by. It's readable, but didn't age well at all and seems very repetitive for me.

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing: family: Deb Caletti wrote one of my favorite books, so I'll give anything she writes a try. I'm not very far into this one yet, because it hasn't grabbed me and refused to let go, so I've been spending more time with the other two, but I plan to get to this over the weekend.

QOTW:

I love this question so much and when I have time I'm reading everyone's responses for good recommends. There are so many interpretations. Book you loved when you didn't expect too? Book with a twist that shocked you? Book that was so beautiful? I feel like there are so many possibilities. In the Dream House is the book so far this year that surprised me the most. I don't always care for that style of writing, but I committed to it and it was so beautifully written and special.

Mary wrote: "Under the Whispering Door: A book your best friend would love: I needed an amazing read, and I had high hopes for this one, and it DELIVERED. What a beautiful, interesting, unique story. Highly recommend. Someone replied last week that this is the book you NEED and that person was so right. A balance of such real themes and emotions with lovely imaginative escapism."

Aaahhh I'm so glad you loved it, and that you didn't think my comment about it being the book you need was ridiculous, haha! I can't wait for the right moment to reread it!

Hi all! Late posting because I had an endoscopy yesterday and was sleepy as hell for the rest of the day! Otherwise, life is good. Still no snow here in Central NY, the Weather Channel says we're 40 inches below average (and if I know NY weather, we'll try to make it up all at once in some blockbuster storm!).

It was a very busy week watching football and having people over last weekend, then 4 doctors' appointments, so I literally read 1 chapter in When Christ and His Saints Slept this week and that was it! I did stop at the library and check out 6 more books....

QOTW: I don't know that I have a recent book that answers this question. I'm a little surprised at how quickly When Christ and His Saints Slept has pulled me in, given that it's a large book.

Jai wrote: "... The Gilded Ones I have 10 pages left and I've been devouring this book. I'm so in love with the story!!! It's already 5 stars and I know my review will be long. Once I finish I will promptly be buying the second book in the series! ..."


Wow! I've had this one on my TBR for a while now, but lately I just haven't been feeling it with YA so I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this. Your rave review has settled it for me - I will definitely read this.

Hi everyone. No sign of winter here either. It poured so hard yesterday. Now it reminds me that there was an actual thunderstorm last week. In January!

Finished:
Light from Uncommon Stars This book was so great!
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna My friend recommended and let me borrow this book, so I used it for that prompt. This was also great.
A Confederacy of Dunces I really enjoyed this book. I know it's very polarizing.
The It Girl For girl in the title, obviously.

Currently reading:
I'll Be the One
I Sing the Body Electric! & Other Stories
The Tale of Genji
Last Night at the Telegraph Club

QOTW:
I am so bad at this. Maybe Shutter surprised me by how much I liked it. It's great when you find a debut mystery that really gets your attention. I hope she writes more.

I haven't commented on the weather, but here we've had a lot of snow, haha!

Happy Friday! And Happy Lunar New Year to anyone who's celebrating. I got reminded today that we have Monday off at my job for the holiday, which is great. I'll have to read through the comments later- if I don't sit down and post now, I'll never get to it

Finished:
The Employees- I feel completely neutral about this book, which is disappointing since I'd really thought I'd like it. A reminder that I don't have to buy every book. The library is there for a reason.
-2 A book you bought from an independent bookstore

They Called Us Enemy- this was a really great graphic novel memoir from George Takei dealing with his childhood spent in the internment camps. Highly recommend.
-8 A celebrity memoir

Currently reading:
The Pachinko Parlor- I don't know how I feel about this one yet

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick- I'm loving this. It's such an interesting look both at Milicent's life, and the author's journey tracking down information on her.

Qotw:
I'm pretty surprised with how much I'm liking The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick. Picked it up on a whim, figured it be interesting enough, but I'm really enjoying it.

The most surprising book from last year I think was probably Convenience Store Woman. I wasn't expecting to love it, and it was one of my favorite books of the year.