Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2021 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 24: 6/10 - 6/17
Nadine wrote: "It's summer (almost)! This is the last full week of school here for my kids. Next Friday my older daughter graduates from high school! (Gasp!) What they say about time going so fast is true. ..."
I have The Mysterious Island pencilled in for the challenge this year but I keep putting it off. Maybe I should give it a go
ooh! ooh! how about the mysterious stranger by Mark Twain?
It has been blazing hot! We broken daily records at 106F, but it has now cooled off to the high 90s. I'm not dealing well with the heat and hardly leave the house. I've discovered Door Dash, could become an expensive nasty habit.My dearly loved Utah Jazz are facing a playoff elimination tomorrow night. Cross your fingers that they win!
Join us for the monthly read of Dear Martin by Nic Stone. It's a perfect read for Juneteenth and brings up so many important issues in a very quick and intriguing fashion. It's a 5-star read for me.
Finished
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare - 4 stars; not for challenge
My monthly Shakespeare - for May. Part 2 will be this week. I have to admit I will be glad when I've finished the histories.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone - 5 stars; PS #37 (best friend would like)
If you loved The Hate U Give, I think you will really love this one as well. The main character is a black teenage boy trying to figure out how to navigate his worlds of lower middle class neighborhood and prep school. It really helped me sort through some of my feelings and thoughts about so many important things.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles - 4 stars; PS #5 (dark academia)
I went old school and read this classic from 1959 about a teenage prep school student during WWII. It was my week for smart teenage boys. Definitely had some disturbing elements, but not too much for my tender sensibilities.
Next Up
The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis - Bronte sisters mystery
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes
Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone - sequel to Dear Martin
Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia
Thankfully my library list is shorter than Nadine's.
QOTW:
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim - I loved this gentle and beautiful book about friendship, set on the Italian Riviera
Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott - favorites of mine since I was a teenager
Five Little Pigs and Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - a couple of my lesser known favorites
Ugh. Hot flashes in a heat wave. What joy. Finished:
Fortune Favors the Dead 🌈 - 40's Mystery with lady P.I.s, one is Bi and the other has MS. I'll read more of these.
Once & Future 🌈 - Arthurian retelling. It was fine.
Fortunately - Picture book
Doodleville - Graphic novel. Meh. it was OK.
The Album of Dr. Moreau - This was fun! I actually laughed. Recommended if you are looking for a cheeky murder mystery, especially if you love boy bands.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend - Cute picture book
The Liar's Dictionary 🌈 - I finally finished it! Another addition to my lexicography shelf.
Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit 🌈 - I did not enjoy this. Goldie literally just does whatever she wants, at all times. Ewww.
Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill - This was pretty good. Calvin and Hobbes meets T2. Narrator is a nannybot tiger, and I enjoyed the voice they gave him in the audiobook. Extra fun that the chapters are numbered in binary.
Currently Reading
Ace of Spades 🌈 - Bandwagon!
Happy Thursday. I've been busy watching Euro Cup, and yet I still managed to read a pile of things this past week.Books I finished:
A Man Called Ove ⭐⭐⭐⭐� - I have yet to read a book by Fredrik Backman that I haven't absolutely loved and this was no exception. I was a little caught off guard by the (view spoiler) because I just wasn't expecting that, but I really did love it. But now I've read all his books and don't have a new one to look forward to until the next Beartown book is published in English....😢 I used it for A book everyone else has read.
Love for Beginners ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This is the newest Jill Shalvis book. Its a silly romance witha side order of friendship drama. It hits the sweet spot. I used it for A book about do-overs or fresh starts.
That Ain’t Witchcraft ⭐⭐⭐⭐� & Imaginary Numbers ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Continuing my reread of this series before I read the newest one.
Fugitive Telemetry & Network Effect ⭐⭐⭐⭐� (both) - I have now reread the series. I still love it every bit as much as I did the first read through.
Maus: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History & Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began ⭐⭐� (both) - I've seen these books on so many 'best of' lists, so I finally read them. They're fine. I do like the symbolism and I'm glad I read them, but they were just a solid 3 star rating, nothing more. I used it for A bestseller from the 90's because the 2nd one was published in 1991 and they're considered classics.
We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans and Comedy ⭐⭐� - This was really interesting and the author did a very good job of being respectful of his subjects. It wove the history of the truly vile things that have happened in the past (and lets be honest, keep happening) and yet also highlighted the humour and joy of the various comedians that he profiled. I used it for A book about a social justice issue.
Books I've made progress on:
Katherine of Aragón: The True Queen
QOTW
When it comes to classic books, I mostly only read the well known ones, but I do want to add my votes for Persuasion & The Blue Castle
poshpenny wrote: "Theresa wrote: "And even extremely well known authors are overlooked by the 'younger' generations now. It's like classic movies - how many times have you suggested to a teen or 20-something they wa..."I am dying with you, posh.
Mod
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare - 4 stars; not for challenge
My monthly Shakespeare - for May. Part 2 will be this week. I have to admit I will be glad when I've finished the histories. ..."
I just watched The King on Netflix and I'm wondering if it was based on the Shakespeare plays (in particular, Henry V). Have you seen that movie?
poshpenny wrote: "Theresa wrote: "And even extremely well known authors are overlooked by the 'younger' generations now. It's like classic movies - how many times have you suggested to a teen or 20-something they wa..."Danny Kaye was a gem!
Happy almost-Juneteenth weekend everyone!I have to work this weekend, but I am going to our city’s Friday celebration of Juneteenth right after I post this. Seriously, there is some commemoration or keeping of the holiday happening today, tomorrow, and Sunday here. And in Boston, federal and state workers have the Monday off. Long overdue, but glad the federal holiday has arrived and is finally part of national consciousness!
International Aboriginal Day is Monday, June 21st! Hope springs eternal for this holiday.
Finished:
Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. And I thought, decades ago, that BDSM and kink redefined sex in the best possible way(s)! Well, OK, it did, but this book is a new contender. Angela Chen does a fabulous job of not only introducing the ace spectrum and experience, but she also deconstructs society and sexuality, and redefines sex in the best possible way(s). Her interviewees are people I’d love to meet, and she braids her own stories and experiences into the book. I have read some reviewers that found her writing “clunky�, but I didn’t find it that way myself. Chen does not shy away from tackling intersectionality of race, gender identity, “abil”ity and compulsory sexuality. Plus, she fights for social justice for the most marginalized, invisible people. Totally joining her in the fight, because none of us are free till we are all free!
A book about social justice
Perfect for Pride Month
& More Black. I wanted to love this book of poetry. I did like the internal rhyming and the hip-hop rhythms. Ford has a voice to be reckoned with, and her poems are impassioned experiences of queer Black womanhood. I liked it ok. But it felt one-dimensional, and I wanted more... depth, breadth. It just didn’t rise to the level of mind-blowing Fatimah Asghar. Maybe that’s why I just felt meh � Aghar is a very tough act to follow.
QOTW:
Ohh I looove this question! In no particular order:
Passing. Nella Larsen is still relevant today.
The Táin: From the Irish Epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. (The Cattle-Raid of Cooley). Great feminist queen and badass goddesses. Why are people not reading this?
Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica. Everything by Zora Neale Hurston is amazing.
Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti. Maya Deren absolutely rocks.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel SketchesMatsuo Bashō Basho is my favorite haiku poet.
Mod
Now I am going to give that a try for my "anonymous" book. Thanks!
Katelyn wrote: "poshpenny wrote: "Theresa wrote: "And even extremely well known authors are overlooked by the 'younger' generations now. It's like classic movies - how many times have you suggested to a teen or 20..."Ah, Danny Kaye! *heart eyes*
My parents managed to raise my siblings and I in an place where we didn't have access to more than 3 TV channels (I'm in my 30s, so most of my friends had cable--we lived in the middle of a cotton field where you couldn't get reception), so they had a lot more control over what we watched. I grew up on classic movies and musicals, and while it means I have trouble relating to my peers who grew up with Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network (no hate--they had some fun shows--I just don't have the attachment of somehow who watched them during my formative years), it also means I was exposed to some amazing film and talent as a child!
Maybe that's why adults loved telling me I was an "old soul" as a child...
Nadine wrote: "I just watched The King on Netflix and I'm wondering if it was based on the Shakespeare plays (in particular, Henry V). Have you seen that movie?"It wouldn't surprise me if they take material from Shakespeare's plays. Or maybe just English history. I'm glad to know about this movie - I'll be reading Henry V next month, and of course he had a big role in the Henry IV plays. I try to find a movie on the plays after I read them.
Lilith wrote: "Happy almost-Juneteenth weekend everyone!I have to work this weekend, but I am going to our city’s Friday celebration of Juneteenth right after I post this. Seriously, there is some commemoration or keeping of the holiday happening today, tomorrow, and Sunday here. And in Boston, federal and state workers have the Monday off. Long overdue, but glad the federal holiday has arrived and is finally part of national consciousness!"
As far as I know, no one in my state will be getting time off for Juneteenth this year as it was just too late to plan for the federal employees. I work for the state, and they have made it clear that it is not an approved state holiday yet. Since they were the last to adopt Martin Luther King Day (they had approved Human Rights Day in 1986, 3 years after the federal law, but didn't call it Martin Luther King Day until 2000), I don't expect they will do it until it becomes a financial disadvantage to them.
Happy Juneteenth to you!
Happy check-in.Finished Reading:
African Voices - Poetry & Tales ⭐⭐�
I enjoyed the tales more than the poetry.
Nimona ⭐⭐
I wanted to like this more but the only joke that was funny to me was at the beginning and the rest just was boring. :(
Bleach (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 1: Includes vols. 1, 2 & 3 ⭐⭐�
Teenage boy who can see ghosts unexpectedly becomes a grim reaper. I still don't understand why it is called Bleach. Best guess it refers to his hair which is naturally red???
Foundryside ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2017 espionage thriller) I may have stretched here :)
This was a great SFF. Interesting concept of mixing magic and computer coding in a feudal society. Strong characters, snarky humour, not completely predictable so I'm good to read the next one.
It's in His Kiss ⭐⭐�
The best relationship in this book wasn't between the two main characters. Oh well still an entertaining historical romance just not the best in the series. However there is a romance book read by the characters in the book, which they love and make fun of, that is going to be published later this year as a graphic novel. Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron I can't wait for this.
Enough! 20+ Protesters Who Changed America⭐⭐⭐⭐�
This is a good picture book. Every protestor gets a page and a short synopsis at the end. This is the updated version.
Grave Destiny ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
The final reread before the final book. This one fights for favourite of the series with book one. Things are set up for, finger crossed, a good ending.
PS 2021 33/50
PS 2017 32/52
ŷ 129/200
Currently Reading:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time BOTM
A Man Called Ove This is going much better than Anxious People for me
Star Daughter
QOTW:
Well I have read very few books published before 1950 so I have no hidden gems to contribute to the list but I've enjoyed seeing other people's picks.
I spent most of this week focusing on my library ebooks (including some non-fiction titles), as well as The Tale of Genji. I’ve been continuing to make daily progress on The Tale of Genji, and I’m getting closer to finishing it.This week I also spent a considerable amount of time in front of the television. I’ve been re-watching Rizzoli and Isles, and loving it. I definitely want to read the novels, which were written by Tess Gerritsen.
POPSUGAR: 25/50
Beat the Backlist: 37/52
ŷ: 169/200
Finished Reading:
~A Curious History of Sex
~The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf
~The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait � “a book where the main character works at your current or dream job�
If you’d like to read my thoughts about this book, you can find them at .
~Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Currently Reading:
~The Tale of Genji � Less than 25% left! This book has been a tough read for me, and I don’t know if I’ll manage to get through it before the end of the month, but I’m certainly going to try.
~The Death of Mrs. Westaway
QOTW:
Just like Nadine, I would highly recommend taking the time to read The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, by R.A. Dick. It’s a wonderful story! The film adaptation, which stars Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison, is also a favorite of mine.
I would also recommend...
~The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle � While he’s best known for his Sherlock Holmes stories, Doyle also wrote a number of titles that had nothing to do with his famous detective.
~The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux � If you’re a fan of the musical adaptation, but haven’t read the book, I highly recommend checking it out.
~“The Signalman,� by Charles Dickens � I first heard about this short story in an episode of Doctor Who (Series 1, Episode 3, “The Unquiet Dead�), and went looking for it. Let’s just say there’s a reason why the Doctor calls it the ”best short story ever written.�
Mod
I was raised without a lot of TV, too. (Of course, when I was little, cable TV didn't even exist, at least not in my area.) And, just like you, I found I couldn't relate to my peers later on when they referred to beloved childhood shows. It was a constant refrain of "oh, you've never seen ... ?!?!?!" I have no attachment to Loony Toons or Schoolhouse Rock or any of the other shows. And I kind of wish I did, I wish I felt more a part of my generation.
So with my kids I was more lenient about TV. We still aren't a big TV family, I don't even like hearing the TV on in the background like some people say they do, but my kids have seen more kids' shows than I had as a child. And, in this age of "all the shows all the time" they've even seen shows that I "banned" because they were too annoying, like (ugh!) Sponge Bob, and that stupid Disney show, "Dog with a Blog" (that they now agree WAS really bad).
Mod
It wouldn't surprise me if they ta..."
Oh, it's definitely based on history! It's about Henry V. But one of the characters in it is a guy who appears in Shakespeare's plays but was not real. So that got me wondering if the movie was more based on Shakespeare than based on real life.
Mod
This was a great SFF. Interesting concept of mixing magic and computer coding in a feudal society. Strong characters, snarky humour, not completely predictable so I'm good to read the next one. ..."
Because I kind of stopped reading for a few years when my kids were born, there are several "new" SFF authors that I still haven't read, and Bennett is one of them. I definitely need to read some of his stuff!!! I have American Elsewhere on my "must read this year" list, and Foundryside looks really good too!
@Nadine I'll be curious to see what you think of American Elsewhere, the synopsis didn't pique my interest. Definitely recommend Foundryside to SFF fans.
Little bit late with checkin this week, Thursday was a struggle-bus day and yesterday, Friday... well. I released myself from a year and a half of lockdown in spectacular fashion.which, because I am me, translated to "bookshop crawl" 😅
I hit Edinburgh with basically no holds barred, 7 hours, 6 bookshops, and a literal suitcase for the haul. Still had to buy a tote bag. Ended up with 15 pretty new paperbabies and 4 origami animals from the last bookshop. (Typewronger Books. Free origami with purchase and they stamp each book with their logo - currently a rainbow stamp, for Pride.)
'Twas a glorious day, and I'm planning to do it again soon enough. Maybe in a few weeks. Before that, cinema trip to see "In the Heights".
Didn't do a ton of reading this week. Only 2 books finished and I've been in the first third to half of two more for a few days. It's not that I'm slumpy or anything, and I'm enjoying them, just been a bit... uh. How does one transcribe that audible-shrug noise? Er-nnnn-mmmm-hmm? 🤷♀�
Righty-o, anyway.
Love After Love - I liked this one, thought it was very powerful, enjoyed the different perspectives and the dialect. And I got involved enough that I was talking to the pages, always a good sign!
Though, it kinda backfired as a Pride Month read - (view spoiler). I still would recommend it though, just not if you're looking for an uplifting sort of a read!
Slippery Creatures - Remember a couple weeks back when I read "Get A Life, Chloe Brown" and mostly really liked it but just couldn't get past the graphic scenes?
Yeah, that again. Plus one of the reviewers mentioned that they got a bit uncomfortable with the fact of K.J. Charles writing really steamy m/m stories as a woman and, once I'd thought of that, it coloured my reading a little too. Not that people shouldn't write characters of different genders and/or sexualities than themselves, but in this case, with scenes that explicit... well. I can see how the whole thing could be objectifying.
I already had the sequel on my Kindle before I read this one, and I did enjoy most of the plot, so I guess I'll read that at some point, but some judicious fast-forwarding may be in order. :\
Temp-DNFed Fanny and Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England and The Naked Civil Servant
Currently reading Thornfruit and The Story of Silence, though concentrating more on Silence currently, inasmuch as I'm concentrating on anything.
They both use some fantasy tropes and plotlines that have been around for a while but recombine them or come at them from new angles, I'm enjoying that.
Would strongly recommend Story of Silence, though I'm only halfway through it. Arthuriana but make it enby!
QOTW: I don't really know if I've read much that I'd call "hidden gems". I'm not a massive classics nerd, I like Jane Eyre and all that but I have to be in a particular mood to really want to power through something that old.
Anne Brontë is extremely underrated though, love her.
There's Middlemarch, would that count as underrated or just underread because it's about a thousand pages long and intimidating as hell? I loved it, really must reread.
On the theme of Pride Month, The Well of Loneliness. There's a lot of somewhat yikes-inducing elements but it's an important part of LGBTQ+ history, at least in my opinion.
And a fantasy classic that needs appreciation is Lud-in-the-Mist. Think The Hobbit meets Gaiman's Stardust.
Mod
I seem to be in a sort of trend, last year I read Rita Mae Brown (Rubyfruit Jungle) for my Pride Month "classic" - this year I read Nightwood, and next year I think I'll read The Well of Loneliness.
The good thing about these "reading months" for me is it helps me push a few books up to the top of the pile. There are SO MANY books I've been "meaning to" read for so long! And even if I don't really like the book, it's still satisfying to have finally read it.
Nadine wrote: "Erica wrote: "Foundryside ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2017 espionage thriller) I may have stretched here :)This was a great SFF. Interesting concept of mixing magic and computer coding in a feudal society. Strong chara..."
LOVE RJB! Make sure you check out his Divine Cities trilogy as well!
Cendaquenta wrote: "Little bit late with checkin this week, Thursday was a struggle-bus day and yesterday, Friday... well. I released myself from a year and a half of lockdown in spectacular fashion.which, because I..."
Sounds like a great time!!!
Nadine wrote: "Lilith wrote: "The Táin: From the Irish Epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. (The Cattle-Raid of Cooley). Great feminist queen and badass goddesses. Why are people not reading this?..."Now I am going to give ..."
@Nadine It really is a great read! I love that the women make their own rules and own choices, and that culturally, this was respected, not only in the epic, but the Irish society at the time.
Teri wrote: "Lilith wrote: "Happy almost-Juneteenth weekend everyone!I have to work this weekend, but I am going to our city’s Friday celebration of Juneteenth right after I post this. Seriously, there is som..."
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that, Teri!
I'm in Boston, and it's been a city holiday for a few years. The libraries have tomorrow (Monday) off (!).
Baker signed it into law as a state holiday last July, so state workers have Monday off - or had Friday off here. It was confusing, but I don't think too many people cared very much.
And some federal workers had Friday off here! LOL, at this point, we're being advised to just call our local Post Office branches to ask if they'll be open.
I work in private business, unfortunately, so I get 6 holidays - and you usually have to work on them anyway. But the atmosphere is very celebratory here, which makes it nice.
K.L. wrote: "I spent most of this week focusing on my library ebooks (including some non-fiction titles), as well as The Tale of Genji. I’ve been continuing to make daily progress on The Tale of Genji, and I’m ..."Really great to hear your progress on The Tale of Genji! I just finished Ascending Peculiarity: Edward Gorey on Edward Gorey , and Edward Gorey claimed that The Tale of Genji was his favorite book of all time. He talked me into reading it, so I'll give it a try over the next year.
Cornerofmadness wrote: "Today is my birthday and I'm still shocked to make it this far and that it's already almost summerOnly read one book for a prompt. A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other on..."
Happy belated birthday to you!
Why am I so fatigued? I cannot get enough sleep and feel constantly exhausted. I'm barely reading and I'm so disappointed in myself that I just cannot seem to stick with anything or get back into my normal routines of reading! Still searching and applying for jobs, just trying to take one day at a time.21/40 PopSugar
6/10 Advanced PopSugar
30/80 GoodReads
Finished Reading:
1.) Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (#16 - Indigenous Author) ⭐⭐1/2: Really struggled between a 2-3 rating on this one. I really wanted to love this one and there were many amazing parts. I especially enjoyed learning about life on a reservation from an own voices author. I just struggled to connect with these characters and felt that the book jumped the shark at one point and it just felt a little far fetched to believe.
Currently Reading:
1.) Les Miserables
2.) We Begin at the End
QOTW: What "hidden gem" classics would you recommend to a well-read person?
Immediately Northanger Abbey comes to mind. This book was a delight and I appreciated the noir aspects to it.
Shannon wrote: "Not much to report on this week! I've been working with a GI to figure out why I get sick very randomly--we did an endoscopy and a CT scan (to check for inner ear problems) and apparently I'm perfe..."Hi Shannon- two suggestions if you haven't already-- make an appointment with an ENT to make sure its not viral. My mom had something similar and she was sent to do the inner ear crystal test and instead found out it was a virus. She's on her way to feeling much better. She was dizzy and vomiting too.
I also had this thing where my esophagus needed to be stretched. Apparently white blood cells would rush to the area after eating dairy and cause it to stiffen. The endoscopy would've caught that though.
Good Luck and hope you get relief soon!
Elaine wrote: "Hi all! It's been weeks since my last checkin, but I've been busy! New job (yayy!), visiting parents, visiting the beach, taking art classes. I've gone a little post-Covid nuts and decided to do ev..."Congrats Elaine!! Lots of exciting updates for you this week. :)
Cornerofmadness wrote: "Today is my birthday and I'm still shocked to make it this far and that it's already almost summerHappy Birthday!!! 🧁
Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! My doctor has cleared me to go back to work next week. I'm freaking out more than a little. I've gotten used to being at home and not having to go out into the "real world". The last time I..."Good Luck Jennifer. I'm thinking positive thoughts for you next week- it'll be tough but just put one foot in front of the other and don't push yourself too hard.
Mod
I have been the same. It's taking me a lot longer to get through my bedtime books because I can only manage to read a few pages before I fall asleep. On weekends when I settle in to read for an hour ... I fall asleep instead.
Job hunting is very stressful, too.
Mod
Nadine setup POLLS for NOMINATIONS for Q4 reads!!
This is the nomination round, where you can nominate one book that you would like to see in the final round. You can vote for a book that is already on the poll, or you can write-in a book. .
THESE POLLS CLOSE TUESDAY NIGHT!
THERE ARE SOME TIES, SO PLEASE VOTE IF YOU ARE AT ALL INTERESTED!!
Thank you!
Mod
Yep! But also exciting times for you-all! 😁
Admin stuff:
The June group read of Dear Martin is going on now! This book gets rave reviews and I haven't read it yet, but I will (someday! maybe this month!). Join the group read discussion here!
We still need a discussion leader for AUGUST - If anyone would like to lead the group read, let me or Lynn know:
August: Catherine House
I need to get back over there to answer more questions. I ended up finishing the book when I sat down to start reading it! I found it compelling. I believe it is a must-read for those identifying as white/caucasian.
"And, finally, we have POLLS for NOMINATIONS for Q4 reads!! Everyone loves a poll, right? :-) This is the nomination round, where you can nominate one book that you would like to see in the final round. You can vote for a book that is already on the poll, or you can write-in a book. Past group reads are not eligible. Next week will be the final vote."
And thank you so much for setting those up, Nadine!
"The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi - I had resisted reading this book, and in a way I was right, because it's not my kind of book. It's one of those books that breaks you, and that's not my thing. BUT Emezi is such a talented writer that I ended up loving this book, sort of despite myself. I thought it had a touch of magical realism to it, with Vivek's "fugue states" in the beginning, and Vivek's ghost speaking directly to the reader in later chapters. (It's obviously not a spoiler that he dies!)"
That's so cool that you ended up enjoying this one! Though I admit I did gasp when I read the ghost part and then had to laugh at myself when I read the final sentence (in parentheses)! 🤣
"Nightwood by Djuna Barnes- this postmodern "lesbian classic" was just nutty (and there wasn't nearly enough lesbian relationship in it). I've wanted to read this classic for years, and now I can finally say I read it, but ... I can't say I enjoyed it, or even understood it. I just don't get postmodernism.
(Thanks to the audiobook, I learned that the author's name is not pronounced "dyoona" as I'd been saying all these years, but "joona")"
Huh. I must live under a rock. Had never heard of this one. I am definitely intrigued!
"Say Uncle poems by Kay Ryan- woohoo! After being disappointed in book after book of poems this year (by new-to-me poets), I finally went back to an old favorite poet and borrowed a book of Ryan's poems. YES! She never disappoints."
I am so glad! I was worried you might not find any you could connect with this year! LOL
" Clearly, I overestimated how quickly I'd be able to read."
Huh. That NEVER happens to me! Okay. I'm gagging at my own lie!! Happens. To. Me. ALL. The. Time. 😊
"I usually don't mention allll my currently reading and planned reading, but the pile is getting extreme, it's become it's own creature staring at me in my bedroom, and I feel like it deserves a mention."
Ha! Yes, it does! Let that creature out! LOL
"Currently reading:
Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater (I do not recommend)
We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen (this is fantastic!)
Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François (it's not really that extraordinary)
I Must Be Living Twice: New and Selected Poems by Eileen Myles (not loving this yet)
Will read next:
Razorblade Tears
Borrowed:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
The Survivors
Just Last Night
The Bone Shard Daughter (can somebody tell me why I borrowed this one? I don't remember wanting to read it, but clearly I REALLY wanted to read it, because I put both the ebook and audiobook on hold!)
Avengers Assemble: The Forgeries of Jealousy
The Dating Plan
Everything Leads to You
Jessica Jones: Alias, Vol. 3
They Never Learn
Dial A for Aunties
A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
The Plotters
What Big Teeth
Bloom
The Deep
My Brother's Husband, Volume 2
Naming Our Destiny: New and Selected Poems
A Pho Love Story
Shipped
Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel
They Called Us Enemy
Meditations in an Emergency"
I love this L-L-L-O-O-O-N-N-N-G-G-G list! Thank you! That makes me feel just a bit better!
"I am legit excited to read EVERY ONE of these! I have no idea how to decide which to pick up next. I'll prioritize by due date, but still ..."
Ah, but that is when it is the most fun! 😂🤗
"Question of the Week
What "hidden gem" classics would you recommend to a well-read person? (For the purpose of this discussion, let's say a "classic" is a book published before 1950.)
After struggling through Nightwood, I started wondering: what hidden gems of the past SHOULD I be reading?"
I added Nightwood. Not sure I would enjoy it any more than you did, but it seems like a must-read to me...
"Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith(just makes my cut-off, published in 1950!) - if you like dark psychological thrillers, this is it, this book perfectly describes a downward spiral."
Though I did not particularly enjoy The Talented Mr. Ripley, I still intend to try this one.
"The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick- what a DELIGHT this book was!! It felt so contemporary!!"
I've always wondered if this was enjoyable or not!
"The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne- 20,000 Leagues seems to get all the press, but THIS is my favorite Verne! I read it way back when I was 12. I have never re-read it, but I will someday."
Verne is one of my oldest son's favorite authors. I'll have to ask him if he's read this one or not...
"Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola- for fans of Crime & Punishment, who like books about people struggling with guilt and murrrrderrrr. I don't even remember why I chose to read this book, I was looking for an audiobook and I guess it was available. I've never read anything else by Zola, so I don't know how it compares. At first I found it a bit tedious, but it's been a few years since I read it, and it has stayed with me."
I bought this last year for a challenge prompt and then ended up reading something else for it. I'll have to dig it out.
You know, I read through this posting last Thursday before I posted my own update and thought, "Nadine always makes me laugh at least 2-3 times in her postings!" I value that, and you, so much!! Thank you for that!
Britany wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Not much to report on this week! I've been working with a GI to figure out why I get sick very randomly--we did an endoscopy and a CT scan (to check for inner ear problems) and appa..."Thanks for the suggestions, Britany! The GI mentioned something about opening the esophagus during the endoscopy, so I think she may have done that, but I've already thrown up again since then. BUT, the ENT thing is a real possibility--my doc mentioned that as a next step depending on how this medication does, so I'll ask about a potential virus!
The medication was definitely what caused the dizziness, so I'm going to try just taking it at night and see if that works better.
Mod
LOL well that's good!!!
And I think if you didn't like Talented Mr Ripley, you should skip Strangers on a Train. And you should DEFINITELY read Ghost & Mrs Muir!!! Good luck with Nightwood haha.
Britany wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! My doctor has cleared me to go back to work next week. I'm freaking out more than a little. I've gotten used to being at home and not having to go out into the "real worl..."Thanks Brittany, I'll take all the good vibes I can get!
Hope your fatigue eases, it's no fun being tired all the time.
Mod
Here's the generic link with all my identifying crap stripped out, so this should work for everyone:
Nadine wrote: "Hey SFF fans, Tor is giving away a free e-copy of Gardens of the Moon as a promotion for a new series coming out by Erickson. Malazan gets recommended All the Time over on reddit, so I..."ooooh thanks, Nadine! I've tried Gardens of the Moon before and wasn't in the mood for it, so it'll be good to have an ebook copy handy.
Mod
Mockingbird: I thought this book was very well written and well executed. The subject matter was a little challenging for me, but it was genuinely special, so I'll deal with it."
Glad you thought it worthwhile.
"And Then There Were None: I want to love everything by Agatha Christie, because of her amazing contributions to the genre. I thought for the time period, this book was obviously unique and special, but the writing style was a bit of a struggle for me. There were too many characters to keep up with and the whole thing felt a little rushed. I wanted to lean into this a lot more."
I always feel as if Christie is pretty cut and dried. She concentrates on the mystery without a ton of characterization, IMO.
"The Bookworm's Guide to Dating: This one was pretty bad. I have no problem with swearing in a book, but this book used profanity excessively and unnecessarily. It read like when a 10 year old first learns how to swear and so they throw the "f word" into every sentence in weird places. Beyond that, the main character was so ridiculously unlikable that I did not want to root for the romance to happen."
I get it. There was a book years ago that I actually DNF'd due to language. And trust me, I am not fearful of "bad language," but as with this book, that one used F*** in every single sentence and I just grew tired of it. I was rather amazed that I couldn't overlook that to continue reading the book, but I couldn't... I also didn't appreciate the author's sense of humor.
"Currently reading:
The Night Swim: I am only about 100 pages into this one and my expectations are pretty high at this point. I feel like I'm really going to appreciate this book."
Looks intriguing!
"Murder on the Orient Express: I just started this one as an audiobook and I'm having trouble with the accent again."
Audiobooks just are not my thing.
Mod
That's one I've never read!
"QOTW: Good question. I read a lot of old books. I didn't care for Tenant at Wilfell Hall all that much, but I loved Agnes Grey"
Huh. I added Agnes Grey to my TBR listing...
"I've read all of Dickens's novels. He's my fave classic author. And my fave book my him is one of his lesser known ones, Dombey and Son"
Wow. That's a brick! 880 pages!
"It's hard to think of lesser known books off the top of your head. Maybe I'll add more later if I think of any."
Please do!
Lynn wrote: "Katy wrote: "iI've read all of Dickens's novels. He's my fave classic author. And my fave book my him is one of his lesser known ones, Dombey and Son"Wow. That's a brick! 880 pages!
Dickens isn't exactly know for being concise, LOL.
Mod
I'm so thrilled to know I am not alone in misjudging my ability to read 20 books in one week! LOL 🤣
"Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution - 5 stars. Extensively researched and well put together, covering 1937-1950s and then some. Not for the challenge."
Well, that was no short book!
"PS 39/50 after realizing Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic. fit for Book by a blogger."
Cool! Isn't it fun when you make a discovery like that?
"Currently:
First Among Sequels - Running behind on this one, I honestly thought I'd have finished it by now"
I swear. Every single week. I think about how I didn't finish 1, 2, or 3 books that I thought I would have! Glad to know I am not the only one! 😊 And I have yet to read the first in this series to give it a try!
"Ace of Spades - Holding most of my focus tbh
The Unbroken - Distracted by Ace of Spades, but I'm already invested in the story here
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective - Started this last night and didn't want to put it down"
All look good!
"QOTW: Invisible Man was published in 1952 so it barely skates under the mark, but I would consider it a classic. I imagine it might also get ignored in favor of HG Wells's The Invisible Man; totally different stories."
I'm sure those are totally different! I own a copy of Ellison's book but haven't gotten to it yet...
"The Age of Innocence was another one I don't hear many people talk about, and I want to reread eventually."
I want to finish this one this week or the coming weekend. While I appreciate her writing skills, I am quite tired of this man whining and moaning about the fact that it is inevitable that he have an affair with this woman! Ugh. 😮🙂
Mod
I get it. It is wonderful that at least you have a library, but I can imagine it gets chaotic at times!
"Books read this week:
The Minor Third -- still reading the Magic Misfits series. This one was darker than the previous two, but still an enjoyable read!
The Apothecary Rose -- murder mystery set in medieval Great Britian. I enjoyed the unique setting and following the twists and turns of the story, though I found the romantic subplot was kind of forced in.
Mars Evacuees -- an entertaining and often funny middle-grade sci-fi adventure about kids stranded on Mars during an alien invasion. I wanted to explore more of the alien culture, though, and have less emphasis on the junior-high-school antics.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune -- a short but powerful epic fantasy about two very different women, and the roles they play in overthrowing an empire."
*sigh* Did you hear that? I think it was my TBR listing exploding...yet again!! LOL 😁
"Dragon Bones -- just wasn’t holding my interest, and the main character felt dull as ditchwater."
I don't know exactly why, but I've never been drawn to Briggs' books...
"Currently Reading:
The Line Between
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Fourth Suit
Project Hail Mary"
Wow. A nice collection!
"QOTW:
Hmmm... probably The Martian Chronicles. It was published in 1950, just barely counts, haha!"
I just read this last year. I really enjoyed it. But I fondly remember Bradbury as one of my favorites from my teen years!
Mod
Ari & Dante was excellent on audiobook. Enjoy!"
I finally obtained a copy of this last year and have yet to read it!
Lynn wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Similarly, I too have a massive stack from the library and (apparently) misjudged my own ability to read; I only finished one book this week, and it was an audiobook to boot."..."
Oh my word, the Age of Innocence main character was unbearable by the time I'd finished. I want to give it another try eventually and see how I like it, because after all that I was *not* expecting the ending. Good luck, Lynn!
Mod
You can nominate five books (a series can count as one entry):
Of course this leads to the age-old problem: how do I pick just five??? To start off my thought processes, I created a new shelf, "maybe," and then I went through my SFF shelf and added every book published after 2011 that I rated five stars. If it was a series, I added only one in the series. I've got 25 books on my "maybe" shelf now.
Nadine wrote: "Oh, it's definitely based on history! It's about Henry V. But one of the characters in it is a guy who appears in Shakespeare's plays but was not real. So that got me wondering if the movie was more based on Shakespeare than based on real life."I watched "The King" last night. Thanks for letting me know it exists as I quite enjoyed it. It's an interesting mix of both Shakespeare and history, and rather loosely based on either. Falstaff in Shakespeare's plays was based on a real guy, but rather loosely as well. He ended up as an amalgamation of a few people, apparently.
I really love Timothee Chalamet. He's brilliant.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Bone Shard Daughter (other topics)Gardens of the Moon (other topics)
Gardens of the Moon (other topics)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (other topics)
Northanger Abbey (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Angeline Boulley (other topics)Rita Mae Brown (other topics)
Fatimah Asghar (other topics)
Nella Larsen (other topics)
Angela Chen (other topics)
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Finished:
Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter- I love memoirs about the food industry, so I liked this one. I never worked at a place quite as fancy as Per Se, but it definitely brought back a lot of memories from past jobs. For book on my tbr the longest.
Up next:
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things- reading this for the oxymoron in the title. This should be a quick read, but nonfiction, even if I like it, always takes me a while
The Chosen and the Beautiful- this is due back in the library in a few days, so I have to focus on it
QotW
I feel like the only classics I read are ones that are pretty well known, so I'm not sure about this one