ŷ������

I made a plan to read various books in my house to accomplish prompts, so naturally I just end up reading library books that I find that we’re not on my tbr to begin with. I’m accomplishing prompts but I read a lot of fiction so that makes it easier to fill prompts. If you’re reading five star books and enjoying reading it doesn’t really matter if you accomplish prompts.

Doni wrote: "I have to admit that I'm losing motivation for challenges in general. I had already decided not to do the popsugar challenge and focus instead on my own challenge and Nadine's mini-challenges. But ..."

I felt the same last year. So in 2022 I only read what I wanted. Or felt like. Or whatever, just no challenge. Now I'm enjoying the challenges again. So maybe one needs a break from challenges every once in a while. And just read for fun. 'Cause that what's it all about.

I haven't been reading for almost a year, so reading again is great! Ticking off prompts for challenges is greatly rewarding for me, but not the strict planning. I'm burnt out of that, and got that way very very quickly. So what I do now, is read what I want to read and see what fits! If I get real close to finishing the challenge i might pick something up for prompts I wouldn't get randomly, but otherwise? nah. Not worth the stress and forced books for me!

K.L. wrote: "the Mount TBR Challenge. There are no prompts, because it's all about reading the books on your TBR."

This looks intriguing. I'm mostly reading library books these days because it stops me from buying everything that looks remotely interesting, but I like the idea of a prompt-less challenge to just read books you already own. I certainly have plenty of non-fiction books I've bought or been given that need to be read.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Katelyn wrote: "Plus You Season 4 Part 1 starts tonight...."


GASP!!! I did not know!!! I think I'm going to have to wait for my college kid to come home - she might get upset if I watch it withou..."

I finished it in 2 days...it is a good season so far. Second half drops in March.

Ron wrote: "Doni wrote: "I have to admit that I'm losing motivation for challenges in general. I had already decided not to do the popsugar challenge and focus instead on my own challenge and Nadine's mini-cha..."

that sounds like fun. hope it works for you

I usually plan what I will read for prompts...usually. I also am in several challenges and so try to cross plan books...but I usually only plan one book per prompt. However, I do allow myself to substitute books for planned books if one I have read already fits within the reading time frame.

The only difference is ATY. It is my first year doing that challenge, and I chose not to plan 1 book per prompt but to plan at least 3. Since I am doing that challenge in reading order, I decided to make my choice among several planned possibilities when the month comes up to read those prompts.

Wow, I've been busy. Haven't really had time to post. Sister came for a visit this weekend which didn't allow for much computer time. Then I've been focusing on school work.

I'm done for the morning but still have 3 assignments for today.

I also want to get in some personal reading. I've started Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World . I'm counting this for one of my February reads, but I'm annotating it like crazy so I probably won't finish it by the end of the month.

Carmen wrote: what I do now, is read what I want to read and see what fits!

Cool. Aside from the book wrapping game going on, I find myself doing this a lot more recently as well. It kind of takes the pressure off. If it works out cool, if not then no big deal.

Late checkin, but I did finish a few books last week:

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan - finished off The Heroes of Olympus series, which was fine but less exciting to me than the original Percy Jackson series. My nephew is already starting me on The Trials of Apollo series next. Used for the mythical creatures prompt - dragons, pegasus, etc. abound.

Valley of Wild Horses by Zane Grey - I can't say that I loved this one, but it was an interesting story. I think I started reading it last year for a challenge prompt, but didn't get very far and it's been hanging out on my in-progress list ever since. I used it for a few other challenges this year, but didn't find a PopSugar prompt for it.

The Black-Eyed Susan by J.A. Clement - apparently part of a series, this book doesn't stand on its own. Used for the shortest book on my TBR prompt.

QOTW: I know I'm not alone in finding classics hit or miss. I don't know that any have surprised me, although I really did enjoy the Willa Cather Great Plains Trilogy.

Oprah chose her first book club pick for 2023 and while I normally don't go for the ones she chooses, I really liked this one.

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole

It's perfect because it fits the celebrity book club list prompt.

I've read this book twice before, but I don't mind reading it a third time. And also I finally get to discuss it with people!

Last week, I finished the Ex Hex, for the prompt A Story that Occurs on a Holiday other than Christmas.

It was light-hearted, and a great style and great characters.

HAPPY HAPPY THURSDAY WEDNESDAY!! YIKES!! I have been overwhelmed with hours of phone work dealing with our phones, our internet provider, and insurance companies. Ugh.

However, I also blame Nadine’s Question of the Week for leading me to do such in-depth research!! LOL (I ALWAYS use deflection whenever possible!) ;)

ADMIN STUFF:
The February Monthly Group read is The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon!! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #43 A book that takes place entirely in one day. In honor of Groundhog Day, a North American tradition observed in the US and Canada on February 2! Katrina is the "knowledgeable navigator" who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you, Katrina! I'm excited to read this one! This one started yesterday and can be found in the Currently Monthly Group Read folder HERE
along with the thread to list the book(s) you’ve read to fulfill this prompt for February!

Ooohhh…another POLL! We are currently accepting nominations for the May Monthly Group Read! Vote HERE! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #24 A book with a rabbit on the cover. In honor of springtime in the Northern Hemisphere when rabbits are aplenty! (Have I mentioned I LOVE bunnies? LOL)

We are on the searching for two monthly group read discussion leaders:
Are YOU one of these wonderful folks?!? *waggling eyebrows*
1) A “fascinating facilitator�� to lead the March Monthly Group Read discussion of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #7 A book with “Girl�� in the title In honor of Women’s History Month in Australia, the UK, and the US!
2) A “reading wrangler�� to facilitate April’s Monthly Group Read discussion of Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #27 A #BookTok recommendation. In honor of April Fools! You might have thought this was still the 2022 Popsugar Challenge, but it is actually a prompt repeated from 2022 for the 2023 Challenge!!
Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer for either one…or both! :)

Question of the Week
Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by a classic book or author? Perhaps you were dreading reading this specific book/author but then found you enjoyed it/them?
Well, I certainly have been shocked by how much I had completely forgotten about Uncle Tom's Cabin after 53 years! I did remember it being traumatizing for me at the age of 13, but that’s about it. So glad I revisited it!

And as I researched through my “to-read�� classical listing, I am impressed that over the past 5 years or so I have managed to work in so many classics. Not a ton, but certainly more than I had been reading! Yay me! LOL

After reading The Catcher in the Rye for the first time a couple of years ago, I felt truly compassionate toward Holden Caulfield which was rather unexpected after the reviews I’d skimmed complaining about him as a whiny, etc, character�� This seemed to be a rather realistic depiction of mental/emotional illness, IMO.

Aldous Huxley’s classic Brave New World did hold up for me 50+ years later and I found it rather fascinating to follow up with Brave New World Revisited! So very interesting to see what Huxley had predicted in the sequel. Perhaps these were so pertinent after reading The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race and learning of all the gene editing that has already been done, is currently being done, and is planned (or considered) for the future. It is great to think that some diseases could truly be eliminated, and yet…what might be any unintended consequences of such treatments and/or what else will be altered by scientists? Definitely exciting and also very scary��

Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy were quite enjoyable. Definitely period-specific, IMO, but even more enjoyable to me as a result! I would recommend as a good example of historical fiction set in 1912 and yet depicting common and timeless emotional reactions and relationship issues. I would like to read more of her writing.

I found Little Women to be even more delightful 50+ years later! I plan to read the others in that series this year.

I started Charles Dickens�� The Pickwick Papers years ago for a read-along and never finished it. Yet�� ;) I was surprised at the humor. I may even try more of his writing as a result! Even if he was my mother’s favorite author. (Which automatically makes me leery at best! LOL) I’m thinking that perhaps Barbara Kingsolver’s newest release Demon Copperhead may get me to read David Copperfield��

And one of my favorites is Gone with the Wind. Ahhhhh…I still love that book and guess I always will! I realize it presents much to be critiqued in our current world, but it just resonates for me…and has over multiple readings through the years. It just captured my imagination as a pre-teen!

Jules Verne is one of my oldest son’s favorite authors (along with Homer, as in theThe Iliad! WTH! LOL) and I started reading In Search of the Castaways; or the Children of Captain Grant and own several more of his books that I plan to read this year. I am enjoying the subtle humor in this one so far��

Wilkie Collins�� The Moonstone was a bit creepier than I expected. It was a good solid mystery though and I felt it did a great job of depicting a rather creepy dark environment/setting. Definitely up for more of his writing!

What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge was quite enjoyable! Another author whose writing impressed me and I would like to read more of it!

My reread of The Secret Garden held up and my initial reading of Little Lord Fauntleroy was just as “Pollyanna-ish�� as I expected but still rather sweet. I definitely like Frances Hodgson Burnett’s writing style.

The Souls of Black Folk was enlightening and informative and I plan to read more of W.E.B. Du Bois�� writing.

I adored every single book in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series and plan to read more of her writing!

The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington: Hardcover by Booth Tarkington was a rather intriguing depiction of society at the time and prompted much discussion at the book club meeting years ago. I plan to read more of his writing, especially since he was a “local boy��! ��

The Age of Innocence was eye-rolling at times, but IMO a great representation of “elite�� society at the turn of the 20th Century in NY, the "Golden Age of Old New York"! Oh, the hypocrisy and subtle/not-so-subtle prejudice! Definitely up for more of Wharton’s writing!

The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher was excellent, IMO! A rather bold theme for the time! Definitely want to read more of her writing!

And let it be known, that although I did not make it all the way through my classics listing, I have stopped in order to get this thing posted! LOL Just in the nick of time! LOL

Popsugar: 29/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 6/10
AtY: 41/52
RHC: 10/24

I will include those books I finished in a separate listing since I've exceeded the maximum character quota with that included! Sheesh!

CONTINUING:
In preparation for the Paula McLain event:
Love and Ruin I had not realized this is about Martha Gellhorn! Quite a compelling read at just 15 pages in!
*The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
*The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
*Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard
*Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (Mrs. ‘Arris #2) by Paul Gallico
*Beloved by Toni Morrison

PLANNED:
In preparation for the Paula McLain event:
When the Stars Go Dark
IRL Book Club reads:
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This will be a reread and I'm anxious to do so!
*Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
*Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
*Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz by Coyne S. Sanders
February Buddy Reads:
*The Darkest Evening (Vera Stanhope #9) by Ann Cleeves
*Wild Fire (Shetland Island #8) by Ann Cleeves
*Cross My Heart (#21) by James Patterson

And now for the documentation of those books I finished reading...

FINISHED:
*My Girl by Patricia Hermes ✶✶✶✶�� was such a pleasant surprise for me! I originally selected it to fulfill “song lyric as its title,�� and “book based upon a popular movie.�� Uncertain how “popular�� the movie was, but so be it! A rather sweet simply written book about family, relationships, love and grief�� And there is a sequel, My Girl 2—both movie and book! I’ll be reading the book as soon as it arrives this week!
POPSUGAR: #4, NEW #7, NEW #15, #19-2020: prompt #33 A book with at least a 4-star rating on ŷ������ (4.21), #28, #31, #39, NEW #42
ATY: #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #5, #11-Thomas J-severe allergies/asthma, #12-bees, #34, #45
RHC: #24-2016: Read a middle grade novel

These next four books are in a fantasy series that I adore! It turns societal norms on their head!
It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex;
that was why we were expected to run the government,
while men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.
Ha! Ha! And in these books, the women are dismissed from the supper table to meet and discuss politics until which time they allow the men to join them! Exactly the reverse of such post-dinner routines from the past!
There are diverse characters of all sorts, interracial relationships/marriages, etc. Exactly what I LOVE! (Definitely to be read in order!) And beautifully illustrated covers, IMO!
*Spellswept (Harwood Spellbook #0.5) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was an amazing introduction to the series with an in-depth depiction of the initiation of Amy and Jonathan’s relationship.
POPSUGAR: NEW #6 (not for the reasons you may think��), #19-2020: prompt #12 A book that passes the Bechdel test, #26, #28, #29, #31, #34, #36, #47-Spring Solstice Underwater Ball
ATY: #1-Angland, #2, #3-A book about a “fish out of water�� (Jonathan), NEW #4, #5, #6, #13-candles, #29, #34, #37, #45, #52
RHC: #24-2016: A book with less than 100 pages

*Snowspelled (Harwood Spellbook #1) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was a reread from December 2022 for an IRL book club. I found it to be JUST as enjoyable the second time around! Perhaps even moreso since I had just read the prequel!
POPSUGAR: #5, #6 (not for the reasons you may think��), #19-2017: prompt #14 A book involving travel, #29, #31, #34, #36
ATY: #1-Angland, #2, #3-A romance novel, #4, #5, #6, #10-Scary, #14-Lord Ihlmere, #20-cover, #28, #34, #37, #43-Squashed by a troll!, #45, #52
RHC: #23, #24-2020: prompt #5 A book about a natural disaster (or not-so-natural!)

*Thornbound (Harwood Spellbook #2) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was another truly enjoyable, yet suspenseful read! Cassandra is nothing, if not persistent and determined! Love the ending!
POPSUGAR: #5, #6 (interspecies), #19-2019: prompt #6 A book with a plant on the cover or in the title, #28, #31, #34, #36
ATY: #1-Angland, #2, #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #5, #6, #10-Scary, #13-leaves, #28, #34, #37, #45, #52
RHC: #23, #24-2017: prompt #12 A fantasy novel

*Moontangled (Harwood Spellbook #2.5) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was absolutely superb! I love these two characters and their story was so poignant and passionate!
POPSUGAR: #5, #6, #19-2022: prompt #5 A sapphic book, #26-71 pages, #28, #34, #36
ATY: #1-Angland, #2, #3-A romance novel, #4, #5, #14, #34, #37, #38, #45, #52
RHC: #14-439 ratings, #24-2016: A book with less than 100 pages

*Spellcloaked: A Harwood Spellbook Story (Harwood Spellbook #2.75) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was a short story within this series. Glad to see Honoria finally living life for herself and on her own terms! (Not counting for any challenges.)

*Frostgilded (Harwood Spellbook #3) by Stephanie Burgis ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ was, I guess, for all intents and purposes, the last in this series? Though I hope not! I admit I did catch on to what was happening, but it made this installment no less enjoyable for me! It is also a short story. (Not counting for any challenges.)

*Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe ✶✶✶✶�� was a much more revelatory read some 53+ years later than the age of 13 when I initially read it. This was published in serial from June 1851 to April 1852. Stowe does not shy away from citing northerners as ‘part of the problem�� that perpetuated the system of slavery in the US. I had to read this in spurts and starts. I just cannot conceive of such abuse. And to know this country perpetuated it for so very long and we are still dealing with the ramifications of a prejudicial discriminatory society NOW! I get a bit depressed and wonder if humanity overall will ever learn from the evil some have perpetrated on others and reform…once and for all. Fingers crossed that it happens��
POPSUGAR: #16, #19-2021: prompt #18 A book about whose subject you are passionate, #28, #31, #34
ATY: #3-A cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #6, #10-Scary, #14-Cassy playing a ghost, #22, #26, #28, #37, #42, #43
RHC: #24-2017: prompt #9 A book you’ve read before

And that's all for this posting! On to next week's posting...tomorrow! LOL

L Y N N wrote: "We are currently accepting nominations for the May Monthly Group Read!..."



Hey! You made it!!!


LOL I can tell you wrote this and planned to post this LAST week, because we are no longer accepting nominations for May. The nomination poll is now closed, in preparation for tomorrow's FINAL poll for May, which will go live tonight at midnight EST, eleven and a half hours from now.

Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "We are currently accepting nominations for the May Monthly Group Read!..."



Hey! You made it!!!


LOL I can tell you wrote this and planned to post this LAST week, because we are..."
Thanks for the correction!!! :)