ŷ������

Our weather has changed for the better here! (At least IMO!)

Nadine announced last week that the 2023 POPSUGAR challenge prompts will drop on December 1st! Yay!! With a preview to be posted this next Monday! Here is the posting verbatim:
Hi, POPSUGAR Book Club! We have exciting news for you �� the 2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge will be released on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET. In the meantime, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at this year’s design. We’ll be back here next Monday to reveal a prompt. What do you think it might be?
I am so excited! Nadine and I will work to get all the prompts posted with Listopias on that day! (She’s actually taking a vacation day!) I’ll work to organize the monthly reads just as soon as the list posts. My plan is to have something posted on that Thursday for check-in and we can begin nominating for January and February Monthly Group Reads…of 2023! Yikes! Just doesn’t seem possible that the year is nearing an end already!

I had a very nice texting exchange with my next-door neighbor this morning. That was a very pleasant start to the day. I told him that I prefer to celebrate “Native American Heritage Day�� for those whose ancestors survived and thrived despite all the genocide, kidnappings, etc. He totally surprised me by replying “Well said and so thoughtful.�� Interesting�� Most people around here just give me a nasty look when I say that! LOL

My friend fell last Saturday and broke her ankle. She is currently in a boot and I will take her to her ortho appointment this coming Tuesday. Ugh. It just never ends for her�� Another friend of mine was talking about an Indiana program that will pay you to oversee someone else's care, especially the elderly. She stated that she felt I wouldn't necessarily want to be paid for my time spent caring for my friend, but just in case... I actually have another much younger friend who benefits from that exact same program. Her one son suffers from a disease which will likely end his life very prematurely, and she is able to make enough money through the program to stay-at-home with her children and oversee his care 24/7. I am amazed and very relieved that this state has such a program.

Insurance company is acting as if they’re going to total Myrtle, my car. Ugh. I’m just putting it out of my mind for now. Whatever they decide is what I will deal with at that time. :( In the meantime she is running! That’s a very good thing! :)

ADMIN STUFF:
Much gratitude to Jennifer W for volunteering to serve as the “official organizer�� for November's discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #9 A book about a “found family.�� You can find that discussion as well as the thread to post the book you read to fulfill prompt #9 in the Current Monthly Group Read folder HERE. I still have to dig out my copy to reread.

Just a reminder that we are reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry for December. This could be used to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! The December discussion threads will be moved to the Current Monthly Group Read folder early next week.

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

Also, another reminder that every single past 2022 Monthly Group Read discussion and “I Finished!�� thread is open and available to all in the 2022 Monthly Group Reads folder HERE.

Question of the Week:
In keeping with the US holiday of “Thanksgiving�� which is celebrated today, what are YOU most thankful for in your life?
I have so very much to be thankful for! And I’m thankful for that!! LOL ;)
My health and well-being!
My friend’s recent celebration of her 80th birthday!
My husband’s continued good physical health!
My children’s health and well-being and that of their wives and children! (Though one granddaughter did break her arm rather recently—it healed well!)
My home!
My ability to purchase food, gas, etc.—the daily essentials!
My fur-babies!
My geographic location—far from any of the many war zones around the world!
My financial wherewithal. It could always be better, but at least it is sufficient for my needs!
My books!
My fellow reader communities! (The IRL book clubs and the online book groups, especially those on ŷ������! Especially POPSUGAR!)
And last, but by no means least... An ever-growing appreciation and respect for others among the world’s population! I firmly believe that we are approaching a critical mass of people around this world who are sick and tired of oppression and war and are coming around to this way of thinking. (Fingers crossed!)

Popsugar: 46/50
ATY: 51/52
RHC: 19/24

FINISHED:
*Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (2 STARS) for my favorite used bookstore’s IRL book club meeting. Others enjoyed reading this much more than I did. I’m glad for that! It did prompt some good discussion, though not much. Several conjectured that perhaps this is just the first installment of a series. I realize Badger has another book published, but I doubt I’ll read it.
POPSUGAR: #12, #20-Read immediately after Going Rogue, #22, #25, #28-summer break from school, #36, #38, #40-2017: prompt #17 A book involving a mythical creature, #46-Allerton, #47
ATY: #1-Abe Allerton, #4-Author is younger than you, #7, #17, #19, #30, #36, #40-The Chariot, Strength, Death, Justice, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #46-Kirby, #47, #49, #50-Six-Great
RHC: #11, #24-2020: prompt #24 A book written by an indigenous author

*A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers (5 STARS) is a reread for a new IRL book club. So glad to have reread this! I love Chambers and her writing! I don’t believe she can write something I won’t be overjoyed to read. This provided fodder for great discussion as well for this newly formed IRL book club! There were 7 people in attendance and it was lively!
POPSUGAR: #9, #22, #24, #31, #32-Quote on cover from Martha Wells: An optimistic vision of a lush, beautiful world, #36, #40-2021: prompt #1 A book published in 2021
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #7, #19, #25-147 pages, #37, #40-Strength, Chariot, The Moon, Judgment, The World, #41-tea, #43, #46
RHC: #11, #24-2017: prompt #12 A fantasy novel

*Dead Water (Shetland Island #5) by Ann Cleeves for a Buddy Read (5 STARS) was yet another excellent mystery! I was scared she was going to kill off another recurring character, but she didn’t��
(I’ll finish the prompt listing and edit this post later.)
POPSUGAR: #9, #25, #40-2017: prompt #46 A book from a subgenre I’ve never heard of—solarpunk, #47
ATY: #4-A book written by an author you might like to meet, #5, #7, #15, #29, #33, #40-The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, Justice, Death, Judgment, The World, #43, #44, #49
RHC: #24-2020: prompt #3 A mystery where the victim is not a woman

CONTINUING:
*A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers for the second part of my duology for POPSUGAR. Tor commissioned Chambers write two books (a duology) that were “Solarpunk�� which is a subgenre of Hopeful Science Fiction.
I’ve just read the first few pages, but this is my book to finish today!
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico for the sister cities prompt.
*Beloved by Toni Morrison
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed. Nonfiction November is here!

PLANNED:
*Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross #18) by James Patterson for a Buddy Read
*Strange Sight (Essex Museum Witch Mystery #2) by Syd Moore
*The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Backman
*Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
*The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz
*Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
*Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

So HYPED for the 2023 challenge! This year my sister is going to try to participate too, so we're both going to be paying attention to the challenge prompts, hehe.

Currently at said sister's house for Thanksgiving. At the moment just waiting for food to cook and family mob to show up...

Books read this week:

To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire -- don’t ask me why I’m so obsessed with books about devastating fires. This one was heartbreaking, even more so because the person responsible for the fire was never held accountable and the Catholic church tried to sweep it under the rug.

A Snake Falls to Earth -- read this for Native American Heritage Month. Sadly not as good as I hoped it would be -- it never really felt like it found its focus, and the fact that the lead characters don’t meet until the halfway point means it takes awhile to get invested.

A Green and Ancient Light -- a gorgeous and dreamy fairy tale with the feel of a WWII historical novel (though the book never specifies the time period nor the country it takes place in, which helps add to the mythic feel in my opinion).

The Chrysalids -- post-apocalyptic coming-of-age novel that was written in the ��50s but still has valuable things to say about prejudice and embracing change.

Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom -- graphic novel about a murder mystery at a weight-loss summer camp. Pretty standard fare, but still fun and with some good thoughts about body image.

DNF:

Sundial -- maybe I’m not in the right mental place for this book right now, but I couldn’t get past the opening chapter with its dysfunctional family dynamics and domestic abuse.

Currently Reading:

Into the Riverlands
Bullet Train
Carrie
Simon Ships Out A heroic cat at sea. Based on a true story

QOTW:

This year I'm especially thankful for my family, who has seen me through some turbulent times and a year of recovering from an abusive situation and trying to figure out the rest of my life. Also my friends who were extremely supportive during this time as well. :)

Finished: The Multicultural Imagination: "Race", Color, and the Unconscious

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Started: Strangers Drowning: Grappling with Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Overpowering Urge to Help

Qotw: I'm grateful for Lynn's and Nadine's dedication to this group, that they send out the QotW even on a holiday! :)

Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) are open in Germany! We’ve already visited one last week. So much better than last year when I had to wear a face mask and I didn’t see anything because my glasses fogged up. This weekend we are going to visit the small town of Monschau in the Eifel region. It’s a cute old little town in a steep gorge, so points for atmosphere. Looking forward!

Looking forward as well to PS 2023! I loved not participating in any challenge this year. Now I’m ready for some challenges again. I’m starting a brand new bullet journal in 2023, so I’m going to dedicate a spread to PS 2023. Can’t wait!!

PS: 19/40
Total 2022: 56

Finished
De advocaat van Holland by Nicolaas Matsier ⭐⭐
PS #8, A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid

Currently reading
De vlucht van de familie Simon by Rafael Cardoso

Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton

QOTW
I'm thankful for... me and my family and loved ones in relatively good health. And being born in the Netherlands. I’m not saying it’s perfect (e.g. it’s supercrowded and we’ve got so many rules everything is coming to a stand-still at the moment), but it’s certainly one of the best places in this world to live in.

Happy Turkey day! I'm giving myself this last week to finish my one 2022 prompt and the BOTM so I can have December to read freely. Anyone else find that Nov-Dec is when your tbr increases the most?

Finished Reading:

The Summer I Turned Pretty ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Needed a mindless read and it was better than I expected.

Interstellar Cinderella ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
Great artwork and a good adaption of Cinderella which is never getting old for me.

Apocalypse Taco ��
WTF! When picking a book by its title lets you down.

Firefly: River Run ⭐⭐��
Two short stories, the first was awesome but the second was a Christmas Carol story which I can't stand.

Bloodmarked ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cliffhanger after so many pages urg! This was too long that I ended up getting annoyed with the main characters. Still this is my ya fantasy goodreads choice vote.

Zodiac Academy: Origins of an Academy Bully ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Short novella.

Spy x Family, Vol. 8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
This one is completely set on a cruise ship fyi.

PS 2022 49/50
PS 2015 50/50 ��
ŷ������ 253/250 ��

Currently Reading:

The House in the Cerulean Sea
Slightly Tempted

QOTW:
First and foremost a healthier family than last year. We actually were able to get together.

I might actually finish Popsugar before the new list comes out! I think my current read fits one of my remaining prompts so then I only have one left.

Christmas markets are set up here too already. We went into Bournemouth at the weekend and was surprised to see all the decorations up.

I don't think I'm going to officially "win" nanowrimo but I have already won by writing 35k words! I also set up my own Mastodon server this week, just for me and my partner, so no billionaires can't kick us off social media now.

Finished:
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas for ATY (language in title). This was so long, and the characters were a bit irritating which wouldn't have mattered in a normal length romance but this just seemed like it hadn't been edited.

The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard for review. This wasn't as action packed as I'd expect a book advertised as "lesbian space pirates" to be but I enjoyed it. Set in the same universe as her Xuya novellas.

QOTW:
Thankful for my family, my doggo and my health.

Happy Thursday!

I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin.

The weather is warming again. Blech! It was 11 degrees last night though.

I have today ‘til Monday off. So I might be able to read. I’m watching Wednesday on Netflix. I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but it’s fun.

Again I haven’t.been reading a lot except some trashy romances on kindle.

Happy Thanksgiving for those in US! I am visiting friends in PA, turkey has been devoured and tomorrow I have plans to visit the Baldwin Book Barn, a long long established treasure trove of used and rare books. My first visit to it and I am so excited!

I am 48/50!

Finished:

How Much of These Hills Is Gold - tiger on cover prompt
Tuck Everlasting - childrens classic on Times 100 list - last prompt for ATY! Yay!

Currently reading:

Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Murder in the Marais
Persuasion

QOTW:

Grateful for friends and family, working in a profession I love, and being surrounded by others w6ith a passion for books and reading.

Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans in our group! I'm at the beach! My mom lives at the beach now in her retirement. I haven’t actually been to the ocean yet, maybe tomorrow. This morning the dogs & I walked to the bay, and it was BRISK. (But I was only wearing a sweatshirt. My mom has reached that age where she’s cold all the time and she can’t believe what I wear. I, on the other hand, have apparently reached an age where I am hot all the time.). But it’s warm and sunny right now. 60F!

I’m having some car problems, too. The ignition button needs to be replaced. I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to start it to get it to the service center to get it fixed.




This week I finished 3 books. I'm done with Popsugar, and I'm almost done with AtY (I'm 50/52).

Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead - I did not like this much. I think it suffered from me reading it at the same time as Night of the Living Rez, which is similar in structure and setting, but so much better (imo, obviously). Jonny talks about his penis a lot, and I just didn't care.


Night of the Living Rez: Stories by Morgan Talty - this was fantastic!! It was one of those rare books that is so well-written, you just sink right into the book and forget you're reading words. I can't wait to see what else this author writes.


Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac - I read this for the AtY prompt "Here Be Dragons" - I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I realized from the beginning that it was going to be a standard European-flavored castles & knights type of dragon story. It turns out Bruchac is half Slovakian, and he leaned in to his Slovakian side for this story.

So I now have two more books left to complete AtY for this year (related to a game, and woman in STEM), and I'm reading both of them right now.


And I DNF'ed one book:
Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon - I only read a few pages, so maybe it gets better, but the writing just grated on me, trying wayyy to hard to tell us how hard boiled the main is.



QotW
If I had to pick something to be thankful for, I'm thankful that it did not snow yesterday on my drive south. I'll be thankful all over again on Saturday if it doesn't snow on our drive back home.


I’m also thankful for my wonderful children, who are the two people I want to be with more than anyone else. And I’m thankful that I enjoy spending time with my extended family.

And I’m thankful that I’m able to afford a rental car while my car is “on the fritz,��

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US. Here in Australia it's finally warming up, but we're expecting floods in the east of my state very shortly as water runs down the Murray River.

I only have one book left for PopSugar! Very exciting. Just my second twin city one, and I picked a hold up from the library yesterday that should fill that prompt.

Finished
Obit A book of poetry by Victoria Chang. This was for my Anisfield-Wolf award winner. It was amazing, looking at grief and saying good bye and all the things that die - not just people, but language, personality... I'm glad I ended up buying it, because I think I'll go back to it again.

Crochet and Cauldrons Not for any prompt. It was a quick, funny read. Despite figuring out who the bad guy was within a page of them showing up, it was still entertaining.

Currently Reading
The Murder of Helen Jewett: The Life and Death of a Prostitute in Nineteenth-Century New York

A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human

Coming Up
Of Women and Salt From what I've read, this is partially set in Miami, which is a sister city of Lima and will finish my challenge.

QOTW
I'm grateful for my health, the support of my parents, the internet that allows me to work from home and my new home that I'll be able to move into before the end of the year.

My month of series is continuing. i finished a 6 book series. I'm not even sure of how to rate the last book. The series was about a girl from foster families who finds out she's an identical twin, gets invited to meet her twin, and then gets a note from the killer saying he/she killed her sister. So, she has to impersonate her sister while trying to solve the murder.

The whole time I was reading the series, I kept saying that I was going to scream if X was the killer. And X was the killer. It's a tired and over used trope and I want to give the book 1 star for it.

However, there was a great twist in the book that I didn't see coming and that was worth 4 stars and made me stay up too late reading through those chapters. If it had been a different killer, I could have gone 4 star on this book instead of the usual 3 I've been giving the other books.

Has anyone else ever had a series whose ending was so bad that almost made you regret reading it? I gave the hunger Games 4 stars, Catching Fire 4 stars, and Mockingjay 1 star. I'm always reticent to recommend the series to anyone.

Finished:

Seven Minutes in Heaven
ATY prompt: A book related to a game
Popsugar prompt: A different book by an author you read in 2021

ATY - 49/52
PS- 40/35
Series -14/13
Clearing my TBR list: 38/40

Currently reading:
Size 12 and Ready to Rock -85% done

QOTW: My family.

I finished The Wicked Day. It was good, but I felt it dragged toward the end and that the ending didn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense.

I just started In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: The Story of Leonard Peltier and the FBI's War on the American Indian Movement. Meant to have this a bit further long than the intro by Thanksgiving, but The Wicked Day took me a bit longer than I thought.

QOTW: I'm thankful that for at least the time being we still have free speech.

Happy Thursday and Happy Native American Heritage Day in the US. Hubby and I were talking things over this morning and we can't remember the last time we had two full days off together, so we're both immensely grateful for that. I've loved being home all day with no obligations whatsoever. We're getting a Christmas tree tomorrow and otherwise staying in again. It's really all about the little things; I love getting to wake up and have coffee and breakfast together. (Hey look, a QOTW response early!)

I actually got through a good number of books this week!
Hardware: Season One - 3 stars. I liked the writing but I think keeping the original artist knocked this down a peg; all the other Season One Milestone reboots have been wonderfully bright and polished as far as artwork and Denys Cowan's style is decidedly not that.
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators - 4 stars, an excellent book to pair with SHE SAID.
The Wicked + The Divine: Book One - 4.5 stars. Excited for more of this series! Probably would've been 5 stars if it hadn't taken me eons to read, but that's on me. I love the pantheon Gillen has created.
The Summer Queen - DNF. This was a disappointment as it was my nomination for the monthly Historical Fictionistas group read and it's been on my TBR for ages (and the trilogy covers are gorgeous!), but the pacing and tone just didn't balance out and the writing felt clunky. Lots of description without much actual action.
Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies - 4 stars. This was an audiobook listen that I've bookmarked to come back to with a physical copy. Some beautiful passages in here.

Currently:
Bloodmarked
Braiding Sweetgrass
The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain - Board game in the title
Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India

Hello! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate, and Happy Thursday to everyone else! My parents are in town for the holiday, plus it is late in November, so I have not gotten much reading done. It is the World Cup, so I have spent a lot of reading/writing time watching soccer instead. Tomorrow will be ALL THE SPORTS.

My novel is still suffering from lack of a plot, but I have cobbled together things that are happening into possibly something sinister. I didn't help matters by re-reading my 2013 and 2015 novels again, making me wish I was writing those instead of something new for this year. I'm at 33k words, which is just fine.

Finished This Week:
It's All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan by Tristan Donovan. My choice for board game in the title prompt. It was quite good, and I learned a lot about the people who invented these games. (Hint: most of them were bored.) The histories of Twister, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Settlers of Cataan were my favorite sections, although honorable mention to the museum worker who realized a random bit of stone tablet contained the explanation for how to play an ancient board game.

PS: 49/50 RH: 17/24 ATY: 51/52

Currently Reading:
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn reread to prep for the new one

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Borrowed the book from my mom and need to give it back to her before she leaves on Saturday.

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik. still listening to the audiobook. in chapter 3 or 4 now.

QotW: In keeping with the US holiday of “Thanksgiving�� which is celebrated today, what are YOU most thankful for in your life?
I'm going to go with my same answer as last year, which is my husband, for being understanding and patient and saying things like "shouldn't you be writing?"

Happy Thursday, everyone! And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who is celebrating today!

I actually just got back from my dad’s house a little while ago, and we had a great time celebrating the holiday with some of our family friends this year. My dad and I teamed up to make most of the food for our feast, and I have to brag and say that it turned out even better than last year.

Apart from all of the holiday preparations, which kept me pretty busy, this has been an absolutely insane week.

I am continuing to settle into my new house, which is still very much a work in progress (especially the kitchen). I am slowly managing to get everything organized, but there is a lot left to do.

In other news, my condo went on the market over the weekend. I had three showings on the first day, one of which resulted in an offer that was over my initial asking price! We’re already in contract, and we’ll be closing at the beginning of December, which is awesome!

I also managed to get my second Covid booster on Sunday morning, and just like the last one, it took me down. I spent most of Monday lying on the couch, alternating between napping and binge-watching holiday episodes of Nailed It.

Despite all the craziness, I did manage to do some reading this week��

ŷ������: 540/200
TBR Checklist: 412/990

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince �� This is probably my second favorite book in the series (after Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman �� I did manage to get back into this book this week, and I am continuing to enjoy it. This isn’t a quick read, but it is a very interesting one.
~Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows �� I am currently on the final book in the Harry Potter series, and really enjoying it. At the rate I’m going, I should be finished by the weekend.
~Domino: An Alpha Male MC Biker Romance �� This is the second book in the Dark Pharaohs Motorcycle Club romance series. It has been a pretty good story so far, but I should issue a trigger warning for domestic abuse.

QOTW:
I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, but this year I am most thankful for��
~My dad
~My cat, Darcy
~Being able to buy my new home, and getting an offer for my condo so quickly after putting it on the market
~Books
~Internet (especially after going more than a week without it)
~My dad and I have managed to stay healthy through all of this year’s chaos.

Hi all! Happy Day of Being Thankful! I'm absolutely exhausted after having cooked and entertained all day, but it was fun. Looking forward to leftovers and soccer tomorrow and hope the kiddo obliges.

Finished When She Woke. What a timely book. I really liked it. The first half was much stronger than the second, but I still really enjoyed it. I'm using it for a book with a foreign language, as there's a French speaking character. It was minor, but I'm counting it. It could also work for a (view spoiler)[ saphic book (hide spoiler)] but I was not impressed with that development.

I'm struggling to get into anything else. Even The House in the Cerulean Sea, sorry other readers. :/ I will get there.

I have a pile of books I just checked out from the library before the holiday, so of course I picked up a book I own and have read before, Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. I've been wanting to reread it for a while.

QOTW: SO much. My wonderful family, extended family, and in-law family who are so helpful and supportive. That my family is in relative financial security. That I have enough health and freedoms to do what I want and enjoy with my life. But I think the thing I'm going to be most thankful for next is going to be a warm, cozy bed!!

Dubhease wrote: "Has anyone else ever had a series whose ending was so bad that almost made you regret reading it? I gave the hunger Games 4 stars, Catching Fire 4 stars, and Mockingjay 1 star. I'm always reticent to recommend the series to anyone.
...."

The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.
I read and liked with some criticisms A Discovery of Witches giving it 4 stars, I intensely disliked the second Shadow of Night giving it 2 stars. I refuse to read The Book of Life. I will recommend the first but say to treat as standalone and read for the locations and secondary characters. Author is a fine historian, but abysmal in plotting and character.

Hey look! I'm posting on time, for a change!

Finished 40/50

Gender: Men, Women, Sex, Feminism for "book about gender identity". This was only ok. It was more a collection of articles than an actual book, and I didn't care for that format as much.

Currently Reading

The Shadow Rising for "book set in a matriarchal society". Enjoying my second read-through a ton!

QotW

This year, among so many things, I'm most thankful for the life of my friends. Having lost one in a freak accident in February and now with another on an intense suicide watch, I'm learning to not take the relationships I have for granted because you never know when they'll be gone...good friendships are a true gift.

Theresa wrote: "Dubhease wrote: "Has anyone else ever had a series whose ending was so bad that almost made you regret reading it?....

“The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.
I read and liked with some criticisms A Discovery of Witches giving it 4 stars, I intensely disliked the second Shadow of Night giving it 2 stars. I refuse to read The Book of Life. I will recommend the first but say to treat as standalone and read for the locations and secondary characters. Author is a fine historian, but abysmal in plotting and character.��

I actually liked all three books, and have the fourth in Mount TBR.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. Mine was fairly good, a quiet day spent with friends and cuddling with cats. I didn’t get much reading done the last couple days, but finished six books in the last week, which is four more than expected.

Progress:
GR: 145/140
PS: 49/50
ATY: 51/52


Read:

* The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller �� Loved this. I devoured it in two days. I originally planned it for the #BookTok prompt but used something else instead, so glad I was able to get to it this year anyway.

* Mistletoe by four YA authors, including Hailey Abbott and Melissa de la Cruz. Four novellas set over Hanukkah, Christmas and NYE. I liked some more than others.

* A Christmas Guest and A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry. Two historical cozy Christmas mysteries. They were both pretty good.

* Santa Mouse by Michael Brown �� Children’s book.

* Mouse's Christmas Gift by Mindy Baker �� Children’s book.


Currently reading:

* Family Blessings by Fern Michaels �� Contemporary romance/women’s fiction set around Thanksgiving. Not very far into it.

* The Death Factory by Greg Iles �� Novella set between two of his Natchez novels.


Planned:
The two books of highest priority for December are Daisy Jones & The Six and Cat Among the Pigeons. Hopefully I can get to a few more than that—time will tell.


QOTW:
Friends. Books. Chocolate.

I'm still finishing up tons of graphic novels/manga but I did work a novel in there. Handbook for Homicide by Lorna Barrett had me mystified as to how this obnoxious of a character managed to get enough readers to last over a dozen books. (sorry if you like the series, I'll just leave it as it is not for me)

The graphic novel crop was large this week.

Apache Delivery Service by Matt Kindt, a horror novella set during the Vietnam war, good enough story, the art left a lot to be desired.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen A graphic novel about a young Vietnamese boy trying to find a way to come out to his mom and fairytales is the language they use to say their inner thoughts.

Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo. Fans of the Grisha verse will like this

Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1: Dog And Chainsaw by Tatsuki Fujimoto, shockingly I liked this silly thing because the main character's back story is so tragic and I'm a sucker for that.

QOTW Last year I nearly lost my leg. This year I have hiked in the woods a little with that leg so I am thankful for that.

THankful for the friends and family that helped me through that experience.

Thankful that I have a good job, a decent roof over my head and enough to eat. That is plenty enough

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone celebrating, happy Thursday to everyone else! It was a pretty mellow day, just a small group of family over for Thanksgiving lunch. Which is how I like the holidays, the huge get togethers we used to have were always too much. Wound up watching a lot of soccer too.

Excited for the new Popsugar 2023 list to come out! Even though I'm still struggling to finish this years list...

Finished:
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America- John Waters is so weird, some times I forget how weird. This was funny and gross, and definitely kept me entertained.
-Nonfiction November

Spy x Family, Vol. 4- still such a fun series. Can't go wrong adding a dog to the mix.
-no prompt

Iron Widow- I really liked this. I think the sequel has the chance to be even better, so I'll be checking that out when it's released
-8. A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid

Currently Reading:
Ten Steps to Nanette- I'm listening to this, and it is really good. She's very funny, but it's also going over a lot of difficult topics. Really good so far.

Between the World and Me


Qotw:
Honestly what I'm most thankful for is that I'm not still at my old job. It was a pretty terrible situation working for not great people, and no matter how many people quit, they never bothered to address the problems with management. Even when I get frustrated at my new job, I'm so happy not to be at the old place. Especially during the holidays, which were always a nightmare.

Happy Friday Everyone. I didn't finish a book this week. Too much World Cup watching. The book is open on my lap but I find myself staring at the T.V. Continuing with my nonfiction November reading I started Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. I have 90 pages left. USA vs England is on at 2:00 pm today so there goes my afternoon. I'm listening to Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe & should finish by the end of the month.
QOTW: The thing I'm most thankful for is my family. Human & fur babies.
My favorite time of year is coming up. I love new challenge prompts, & the best books of the year lists, In December I read all Christmas books just to reset & get ready for a new year of reading.

Trying to think of things to be thankful for but unfortunately, my generation has suffered some significant losses. The death of Kevin Conroy, Aaron Carter, and the most shocking of all, Jason David Frank.

It's Jason David Frank's death that I've taken the hardest. Having met him 3 times and grown up during the very start of Power Rangers (I was 4), it's hard to imagine a world without him in it.

Ron wrote: "Trying to think of things to be thankful for but unfortunately, my generation has suffered some significant losses. The death of Kevin Conroy, Aaron Carter, and the most shocking of all, Jason Davi..."

I'm really sorry. I never had the honor of meeting Jason David Frank but I was sorry to hear of his death

Hello everyone. Hope you all are having a nice long weekend. (For those not in America happy Friday!).

Apparently I have been to busy/tired to keep up on our check-ins. Catching up today since I have the day off and the house to myself (my sister is working, nephew at his dads).

My step mom has been having problems with the pharmacy getting her cancer meds in on time so she spent two weeks, instead of one, off her meds and it really messed her up, which means I had to spend more time keeping an eye on her. She has spent the last week readjusting to them and is doing "better" again. A lot of doctor appts lately and more next week.

Spent a LOT of the past week driving. I think I went in to town everyday...dr appts, shopping, p/u bday dinner, shopping again cause I forgot pie!!! Then cooked everything but the turkey for Thanksgiving. But, thanks to my uncle not being able to drive at night we had a late lunch so I got to snuggle up in my bed all afternoon and evening reading my book. And now because I got to finish it last night I am done with Popsugar! Yea! I actually did a happy dance, LOL, It feels like such an accomplishment...and I finished early!

LYNN wrote: Just a reminder that we are reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry for December. This could be used to fulfill prompt #1 A book published in 2022. JessicaMHR will be the "rambunctious reader" facilitating that discussion! The December discussion threads will be moved to the Current Monthly Group Read folder early next week.
Is it wrong that I have anxiety about this. I did however borrow the book from the library again so I could reread it.

As for books....
I haven't been getting a lot of books read but, I did manage a bunch of magazines lately.

2022 Challenges:
Popsugar: 50/50
ATY: 51/52
A to Z: 25/26 (Only letter left is Q)
Read Harder: 16/24
50 States:
2021��44/54
2022��22/54
2023��3/54

ŷ������: 136/150

Finished:
1 finished, 1 for Popsugar

While Paris Slept
PS# 49
I have finally finished this book!! And now I am done with my Popsugar prompts!
This book was a heavy one coming in at 450 pages. It is about WWII and is told from the perspectives of a couple who are not Jewish and end up working in places the Germans are “running�� as well as, a Jewish couple who ends up in Auschwitz. There is a newborn baby involved, and the later life effects that occur after the Jewish mother makes a life changing choice. Plenty of heartache and love in this book. It is a good debut novel from this author, even with such a heavy topic.

Currently Reading
At First Light
The Quarter Storm
The House in the Cerulean Sea (lost this to the library, need to wait to get it back)

On the Backburner
Overdrive
Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir
The Eighth Life

Physical Library Rentals
Book Lovers
In Her Boots
The Hacienda
The Retreat

Magazines: (71/185)
Read since last check-in: 10

Question of The Week
Last week: How do you feel when series switch format (ex: from MMP to HC) mid-series? How much does it matter to you?
I actually don't collect series and the ones I do read are usually only put out in MMP anyway. But some of my favorite authors whom I do like to buy their books I prefer HB because I live in a very damp climate and they tend to last longer and hold up better. Also, when I still could, I used to donate them to the library and I think it's better to get a HB from the library because they get such high usage.

This week: In keeping with the US holiday of “Thanksgiving�� which is celebrated today, what are YOU most thankful for in your life?
I'm thankful for the literal monetary support my family gives me. I actually work for my sister (watching her kid) and my step-mom (cleaning her house). The cleaning is actually paid by my three step-sibs since their mom can no longer do it. Also, I live in my family home (which I grew up in, and my father owns) rent free. I don't make a lot but, it keeps me in gas, food, sheltered and the basics. This seems to be a lot more common in my generation of friends. Someone's gotta live at home and watch their sick or elderly parent.
Also, for the fact that I got to celebrate another birthday...made it another year!
Glad my body is still relatively capable to do things like spend two hours helping my dad toss things in his trailer to haul away. First it was a load of cardboard that was collecting up and then the next load was scrap metal. Wasn't even that sore that night!
I'm thankful for this group as well, sometimes I feel like I live a pretty sheltered life and I love reading our weekly check-ins.

Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin.."

Welcome to the cusp Mandy's niece!

This is also my birthday and depending on which horoscope you look at we are either Scorpio or Sagittarius.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm excited for the 2023 popsugar prompts, but I still have so many 2022 prompts to finish!

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain: really enjoying this series

A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance: really powerful and interesting essay collection

Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate and Happy Friday for everyone else! I went to see Genticorum preform at a bar last weekend. They are a French Canadian folk band. It's not really the type of music I listen to but they were excellent performers.

I made a pecan pie to bring to thanksgiving dinner. It tasted pretty good but did end up with a crack on it which is something that bothers my perfectionist tendencies. However, I just put whipped cream on top. Problem solved haha.

PS 46/50

Finshed:

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America (nonfiction nov) 5 stars. I listened to the audiobook read by the author and it was very powerful. He writes about history in a way that makes it seem more immediate and engaging. I will confess that I did not always find history very interesting in school but this book was super interesting. I highly recommend it.

Currently reading:

The Anthropocene Reviewed (nonfiction nov)

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome (PS sister city 2)

Coming up:

If I Was Your Girl (PS gender identity)

QOTW:
I am most thankful for my family and friends. It been a rough year and they always make it worthwhile. They are always there when I need them and I would not be the same without them. I'm also thankful that even though I started the year with a broken back, the months of PT have helped immensely. I am thankful I'm only left with slight achiness and not anything more debilitating. And I'm thankful for my kitty Puff because she always makes me smile (aside from when she purposely knocks things over)

I'm in the middle of Fire and Flood: A People's History of Climate Change, from 1979 to the Present and Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament .

I may not finish them by the end of the month but I'm still going to count them anyway since they're books that I'm close to finishing.

This will put my book count at 8 for all of nonfiction November.



As for Thanksgiving, I spent it with family and a 101.2 degree fever so that was nice. LOL! Got sick on Monday and my fever finally broke yesterday. Total drag.

I’m thankful for my health, family, my boyfriend, and my happiness.

I’m currently invested into the World Cup which is a fun bonding moment with my dad. He wants Argentina to win and I’m not a Messi fan LMFAOOOO.

I’m currently listening to Ellen Outside the Lines by AJ Sass, it is filling the prompt of the second book for sister cities (Barcelona, Spain) because the first part of that prompt was Set On You by Amy Lea (Boston).

My boyfriend and i got to celebrate with each other’s family for the first time, it was really nice. We had beef quesadillas from a diner and they were actually so good?!!? Our luck that day because Portugal vs Ghana were playing on the tv right next to our table and it was a good game omg. It was my bf’s first time watching a soccer game and he said he liked it!

Chicago weather is almost perfect these last few days (which makes up for the freezing snow last check in)- it's been sunny and cool, but not cold! Highs in the 50s, which I will take every single day that I can.

67/80 GoodReads Challenge
49/50 PopSugar Challenge

Finished:
1.) Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison (#28-Holiday) ⭐⭐��: Cute, but forgettable contemporary romance about a Christmas tree farm.

2.) Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (#4-Tiger) ⭐⭐⭐⭐��: Wow. I'm not sure why this book isn't getting the praise it deserves. A debut novel capturing many threads over the course of a lifetime in Seoul during the early 1900s through 1960s. Pachinko meets Memoirs of a Geisha with a dash of Islands of sea Women.

3.) In the Blood by Lisa Unger (No PS Prompt) ⭐⭐��: Twisted psychological thriller about an unreliable narrator who watches a sociopathic child, what could possibly go wrong?



Currently Reading:
1.) The Trees
2.) Little Secrets



QoTW: In keeping with the US holiday of “Thanksgiving�� which is celebrated today, what are YOU most thankful for in your life?
My dog, Finn
Family
Friends
Space
No Drama
Food
Ability to provide for myself
Travel
Reading
GoodReads Groups
Bookish Podcasts

Mandy wrote: "I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin."

Congrats Mandy!!

Just jumping in to say I've finished the challenge today! Currently writing this from my sick bed as have caught COVID for the second time, so will do a proper check in when I'm feeling a little bit better!

K.L. wrote: "In other news, my condo went on the market over the weekend. I had three showings on the first day, one of which resulted in an offer that was over my initial asking price! We’re already in contract, and we’ll be closing at the beginning of December, which is awesome"

WOW- congrats KL! That's awesome news. :)

JessicaMHR wrote: "now because I got to finish it last night I am done with Popsugar! Yea! "

Congrats Jessica!!

Emma Lou wrote: "Just jumping in to say I've finished the challenge today! Currently writing this from my sick bed as have caught COVID for the second time, so will do a proper check in when I'm feeling a little bi..."

Congrats Emma Lou!! Hope you feel better soon.

L Y N N wrote: "*Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (2 STARS) for my favorite used bookstore’s IRL book club meeting. Others enjoyed reading this much more than I did. ..."



Yeah this book didn't work for me, either. I really liked the short story I'd read by the author, but this full length novel was not my thing, and I probably won't read anything else by her.

Kenya wrote: "So HYPED for the 2023 challenge! This year my sister is going to try to participate too, so we're both going to be paying attention to the challenge prompts, hehe.

Currently at said sister's house..."



So much fun!!! Someday I hope someone in my family joins me in the reading challenge.

Harmke wrote: "Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) are open in Germany! We’ve already visited one last week. So much better than last year when I had to wear a face mask and I didn’t see anything because my glas..."




You and Ellie both mention Christmas markets. Help this clueless American out. What are Christmas markets?

Sorry I'm a bit late checking in. We didn't travel for Thanksgiving, but we were busy cooking Thursday, and Friday we have our "Xmas bomb" - we set up our trees and all our decorations. Between that and NaNoWriMo, I didn't get a chance to check-in before now. :)

Finished:
Ocean's Echo - 4 stars - I really enjoyed this M/M sci-fi romance.

Even Though I Knew the End - 4.5 stars - a sapphic hard-boiled detective story with magic, set in 1940s Chicago.

Comics & manga:
The Ancient Magus' Bride: Wizard's Blue, Vol. 5
Cat + Gamer, Volume 2
The King's Beast, Vol. 8
Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 21

Currently reading:
Cursed - so far, I have the same problem with book 2 that I had with book 1: I'm enjoying the story, but it feels like it's meandering. I suspect it could've been more tightly plotted, and about 100 pages less.

Planned:
A Snake Falls to Earth
Tread of Angels
Illuminations
Well Traveled

QOTW:
I am most thankful that our little household has enough, and that we are all safe and healthy now. And for so many good books this year.

JessicaMHR wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin.."

Welcom..."

Thanks. She’s so cute. I can’t wait to see her.

Britany wrote: "Mandy wrote: "I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin."

Congrats Mandy!!"

Thanks!

Britany wrote: "JessicaMHR wrote: "now because I got to finish it last night I am done with Popsugar! Yea! "

Congrats Jessica!!"

Thanks!

Mandy wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I’m an Auntie again!!!!! My niece was born the 22! She is a Water Tiger. And is 19.5 inches long and has a full head or hair! And a little butt crack chin"


congratulations!!!

K.L. wrote: "In other news, my condo went on the market over the weekend. I had three showings on the first day, one of which resulted in an offer that was over my initial asking price! We’re already in contract, and we’ll be closing at the beginning of December, which is awesome!..."



wow so fast!! you must have taken really good care of it, for it to be so appealing! well done!

Dubhease wrote: "Has anyone else ever had a series whose ending was so bad that almost made you regret reading it? I gave the hunger Games 4 stars, Catching Fire 4 stars, and Mockingjay 1 star. I'm always reticent to recommend the series to anyone.,..."


oh yes, definitely. It's happened a bunch of times, but the one that stands out as most upsetting was the conclusion to the Divergent trilogy. I told my daughter to just treat that as a duology and never read the third book, the third book does not exist.

The Hunger Games conclusion disappointed me, but it didn't ruin the series for me.

Cornerofmadness wrote: "Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1: Dog And Chainsaw by Tatsuki Fujimoto, shockingly I liked this silly thing because the main character's back story is so tragic and I'm a sucker for that. ..."



Good to know! I was just talking about this show last night and I agreed to watch it with my daughter.


How did you nearly lose your leg?

Emma Lou wrote: "Just jumping in to say I've finished the challenge today! Currently writing this from my sick bed as have caught COVID for the second time, so will do a proper check in when I'm feeling a little bi..."

congratulations! rest well

Nadine in NY wrote: "Cornerofmadness wrote: "Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1: Dog And Chainsaw by Tatsuki Fujimoto, shockingly I liked this silly thing because the main character's back story is so tragic and I'm a sucker for tha..."

The only thing about Chainsaw Man is toward the ends (and from what I'm hearing) going forward he gets obsessed with touching boobs which is going to get old fast...

I had a serious fall and severed the nerves/blood flow to my leg below the knee. They luckily got the blood flow reestablished at the trauma center