ŷ������

UPDATED TO ADD: ŷ������ and I are battling it out today, It refuses to post all of my text even though it is not too long! So I'm still working on it! UGH!!
Fingers crossed that ŷ������ is finally working for me! :) Perseverance does pay off!

Our Tigger is still recovering. She had a setback yesterday morning and refused to eat and was totally listless again, but as of last night she was obviously feeling a bit better and finally ate after 20 minutes of coaxing and cajoling from me! And this morning she seems back on track to recovery! The mass has greatly decreased in size, but is still there! :(

I am finally really feeling the effects of the smoke in our air from the Canadian wildfires. That’s not a good thing, but it could always be worse�� At least I’m not living in the midst of them!

June is PRIDE month!! And although Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is definitely a favorite book for me, HERE is a ŷ������ listing of “New and Upcoming Books to Discover This Pride Month��! I can never have enough diverse books on my TBR listing!

And HERE is a ŷ������ listing of HOT summer romance books.
As much as I love to make listings of books, I also love perusing listings of books! ;)

Speaking of which I have my listing created for the next team readathon in which I am participating beginning tomorrow. I just love these events!!

ADMIN STUFF
****DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
Longbourn by Jo Baker by Lucy Foley is the September Monthly Group read selection! This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic. Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading “classics��!

Nadine will launch the October Monthly Group Read nomination poll next week, so be on the lookout for that!

****AND ANOTHER DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
Erica has graciously stepped up as the “bubbling bibliophile�� to lead the discussion of the July Monthly Group Read! The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley can be used to fulfill prompt #47 A book with a holiday that’s not Christmas. You may have heard of “Christmas in July��! But this is NOT Christmas in July! :) THANK YOU, ERICA!

The June Monthly Group Read of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston can be used to fulfill prompt #22 A book with a queer lead. In honor of “Pride Month�� as declared by US Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. (Also acknowledged in a 2019 tweet by Donald Trump.) Per Wikipedia this originated to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred at the end of June in 1969. June is increasingly recognized as “Pride Month�� (for all LGBTQ+/non-cisgender folks) outside the US. This discussion can be found HERE in the Current Monthly Group Read folder! :)

We are still on the lookout for two more monthly group read discussion leaders:
1) A “fearless facilitator�� to lead discussion of the August Monthly Group read, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #30 A book that’s on a celebrity book club list. (Celebrities are ‘august��!) This was selected by Reese Witherspoon.
2) A "vivacious volunteer" to guide the September Monthly Group read discussion of Longbourn by Jo Baker. This book can be used to fulfill prompt #14 A modern retelling of a classic Since September is typically a time for returning to school and reading "classics"!

Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer for either or both! :)

Just a reminder that the comprehensive listing of 2023 Monthly Group Reads can be found HERE

Question of the Week
We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far? (If you are not participating in this specific challenge, how is your overall reading progress for 2023?)
I am very pleased with my progress! Just 9 more prompts to fil and I have books selected for each of those. With my elimination of monthly/quarterly challenges and fewer Buddy Reads, I am reaping the rewards of more self-selection of books!

Overall, I have not read quite as many books by mid-year as I wished, but I’m not far off. I just read as much as I can and will continue to do so. No longer working full-time is a huge time bonus for reading!!

Popsugar: 42/50
Nadine’s Q1 Mini-Challenge: 7/10
AtY: 50/52
RHC: 13/24

FINISHED:
Only two for this week since I have been preparing my listing of books for the 2023 Reading Challenge Rainbow Readathon which begins tomorrow! Go Team Green! I will document these later today, in addition to reading and responding to last week's check-ins and finalizing some updates to the monthly group read process!

*Cross the Line (Alex Cross #24) by James Patterson ✶✶✶✶�� was an enjoyable read for me overall. I could especially appreciate a female being appointed as Alex’s superior! Pretty good character development and an open-ended scenario for the next installment��
POPSUGAR: #2, #16, #19: 2016 prompt #14 Can finish reading in one day, #28, #31
ATY: #2, #3-A book set in the workplace of at least one character, #5, #10-Scary, #13, #14, #18, #22, #24, #26, #28, #33, .#37, #43, #45
RHC: #23, #24-2015 A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65

*Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ will prove to be one of my favorite 2023 reads, I am virtually certain!
POPSUGAR: #1, #4, #19-2020: prompt #35 A book with a 3-word title, #31, #34, #36, #46-6:30!
ATY: #3-cultural book that depicts a place or time and its culture, #5, #6, #8, #10-Scary, #12, #13, #14, #18, #26, #28, #35, #52
RHC: #3, #24-2021: Read a book with a beloved pet where the pet doesn’t die

CONTINUING:
*Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses by Paula McLain
*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:
*The 5th Horseman (Women’s Murder Club #5) by James Patterson
Working on those above!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Finished:
Witch King by Martha Wells - 4.5 stars (rounded up) - for the mythical creatures prompt. Epic fantasy, and Wells does not hold your hand through the world-building. Personally, I loved it.

Comics & manga:
Lovesick Ellie, Vol. 6 through Lovesick Ellie, Vol. 12 (rather than list them all out)
Witch Watch, Vol. 4: Release the Romance
Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1
The King's Beast, Vol. 10
How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 8

Currently reading:
Translation State by Ann Leckie - not currently for a prompt. I'm just starting this now. I wonder if I should have re-read some of Leckie's previous books first, but so far, so good.

Upcoming/Planned:
The Grimoire of Grave Fates (anthology) - not currently for a prompt
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - for a book becoming a show or movie in 2023

QOTW:
I am at 133/200 for my overall ŷ������ challenge, so a little over 65%, and I am 60% done with the Popsugar challenge (24/40 and 6/10).

I have books picked for everything still on my list except for the 'bought from a secondhand store' prompt; I might see if something catches my eye at our local used bookstore, but otherwise I might massage that prompt into a free space for a (used) library book, since I don't buy as many physical books anymore due to space constraints.

I'm happy with my progress so far. I think I'm on track to finish around September/October, which is nice. I need to stop going off-list and reading non-prompt books, though. :)

Happy Thursday! Hope everyone that's dealing with the smoke conditions is coping OK. It seems to be better here today, but I am sure is worse other places.

Finished:
For You and Only You Did I really only finish one book this week?

Currently reading:
Yellowface
The Crystal Cave
The Tale of Genji
The Love Match on audio

QOTW:
I am really happy with my progress. I only have 9 books left to go, 3 of which I am reading right now. Best news, I am at 70% completed on The Tale of Genji. If I read 1% a day, I can be done in a month. I hope to never see a longest book on your TBR prompt again.

Happy Thursday!  It's been a weird week.  I got laid off, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next.  I plan to use my extra time tie-dyeing, reading, and cleaning the house (believe me, it needs it, I could be featured on Hoarders at this point), but this week I guess I used my extra time sleeping - blissful naps! no morning alarm!  I am finally well rested.  And then the smoke from Canada forest fires reached us - I don't watch the news, so I had no idea it was coming until it was on top of us on Tuesday.  The light through the haze was so eerie, it's apocalyptic.  Even the songbirds were confused. It's getting better today, anyway.

I finished two books this week.

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee - this was just wonderful!!!   I wasn't a big fan of Jade City so I wasn't quite sure if I'd like this, but I had to read it because that cover is just so gorgeous!  I loved it!!   I checked off "unusually large animal" in AtY with this one.  (Obviously it would also work for AtY categories "novella," "Asian diaspora," and "published in 2023.")

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker - I thought this was going to tackle why mammals evolved to require sleep, but it doesn't cover that at all, it's all about the medical benefits of sleep and the medical risks of not getting enough sleep.  I went full mom for the week after I finished this, lecturing my kids about why they need to get enough sleep.  Kid #1 is pre-med at college and she was impressed that I read something remotely medical, but she was not so impressed that she picked the book up for herself after I finished.  I checked off "titles starting with W" in the winter mini-challenge (so I am now halfway done with the challenge that I meant to finish in March!), and "one of the five W questions" in AtY.




QotW
My progress is good, but I do wish it were just a tiny bit better, because I'm hoping to finish by end of September, not end of December like last year!

Today the year is 43% elapsed.   (The year is 63% elapsed if we count only up to the first week of September, and by that metric I am behind.)
And my challenges are
Popsugar: 30/50   = 60%
Winter mini-challenge:  5/10   = 50%
AtY: 28/52   =  54%
2023 must-reads: 5/12 = 42%

So I feel comfortable with my progress, but I'm hoping to get in a big reading spurt now that I've got all this unexpected free time!

Happy Thursday!
Husband and I are having Date Day later, partly because of finally having more of a break/return to normalcy now that the show is closing this weekend (hooray!) and partly because we haven't actually had a date night/day out since probably April. We're gearing up for a quick vacation in a few weeks too, so looking forward to that.

Read this week: a bunch of comics!
300 - 2 stars, a reread after rewatching the film for the first time in maybe a decade. The film holds up. The book, not so much.

All Boys Aren't Blue - 4 stars. Listened to the audiobook read by the author. A deeply honest piece. Banned or challenged in 2022

Hex the Moon - 4 stars. A Daniel Faust short story available on Craig Schaefer's website.

Rivers of London - 3 stars. Fun but something about the pacing felt off.

Aquaman: The Becoming - 3.5 stars. GORGEOUS covers. Hoopla comics kick? Let's go.

Marvel's Voices: Pride - 3.5 stars. The vignettes in the first half were excellent, particularly Prodigy, Bobby/Magneto and Mystique/Destiny. I understand the inclusion of the older material in the latter portion but it felt too disconnected.

The Wicked + The Divine: Book Three - 4 stars. Dialogue is still very cryptic but the artwork is beautiful so I let it slide. Book you meant to read in 2022

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 7: Mothering Invention - 4 stars. If the earlier volumes were cryptic, this one made a lot more sense. Two more to finish!

I love when I fall down the comics rabbit hole but I'm always perplexed about how it comes and goes. I wish I could filter them in throughout the year but I seem to prefer the fits-and-starts method.

PS 26/50
ATY 29/52
Mount TBR 22/60

Currently:
Detonation Boulevard
The Name of the Rose

Upcoming:
Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008
Never Let Me Go
Gender Queer: A Memoir

QOTW: We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far?
I'm feeling good about all of it - I'm slightly ahead on the PS challenge (and ATY) and I usually devote my summer months to my owned-unread backlog (my HF summer reading challenge is a bit late but back on!) so I'm confident about Mount TBR as well. And I'm ahead in the general GR challenge. Overall pleased with everything I've read (I've only DNF'd 3 books so far) and excited for what's coming!

Nadine, so sorry to hear that! I hope you got a severance package to tide you over for a bit.

Jen wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

Finished:
Witch King by Martha Wells - for the mythical creatures prompt. Epic fantasy, and Wells does not hold your hand through the worl..."



Wow you got Witch King RIGHT AWAY!!! I can't decide if I want to read the hardcopy, or wait for the audiobook.

It's been like living in a bad Sci Fi movie here. Ottawa has worse smog conditions than Montreal or Quebec city and they are in Quebec where the fires are. Stupid wind patterns. It's supposed to get better next week.

I finished a book that was owned by the great aunt who raised my mom, then owned by Mom, and then I got it when Dad died and I had to clean out his place. So, I'm the third generation to own and read the book.

I am trying to keep up with the long books I picked for June. Fortunately, I have a three day weekend. So, more time to read.

book:The Silver Chalice|122771]
ATY prompt: Three books, each of which is set in a different century (1st)
Popsugar prompt: A book with a color in the title

Series - 7/15
Series Completed: - Lying Games, Bronwyn the Witch, Divergent

Nobel laureates - 2/7
Random books - 3/7

ATY - 21/40
PS - 20/30
Nadine's 23 challenge - 10/10 -Completed!
Summer challenge: 0/12
Around the year in 52 movies - 23/52

14. A movie with a con, deception, or fake- Alls Well that Ends Well

Currently reading:

Beloved - 40% done
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest- 20% done

Buddy Reads:
God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God - 7/15 chapters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 11/37 chapters
A Light in the Window - 1/21 chapters

QOTW: I am happy. Due to the repeats and my own unhappiness with the prompts, I only signed up to read 30 books. (Honestly, if I was a ghost in a library with all eternity to read, there are some prompts I still wouldn't do.) I've read 20 books, which means I'm 2/3 done and it still isn't half way through the year.

I'm happy with the rest of my personal challenges too.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

We’re one week into the SciFi Summer Readathon, and I am extremely pleased with the amount of reading I’ve been able to do so far. As of this morning, I’ve completed a total of 15 SciFi titles!

Since all of the books I finished this week were from my TBR list, I’ve also managed to make a significant amount of progress toward my TBR goal for this year (which is to complete 40% of the books on my list).

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals��

ŷ������ Challenge: 503/400 (Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 150/150 (Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 214/634
📱Ebook TBR: 7/236
��Audiobook TBR: 11/13
TBR Checklist Total: 232/883 (26.2% complete)

I wasn’t planning to buy any new books this week, but after finishing The Three Musketeers, I really wanted to continue reading d’Artagnan’s story. I got copies of Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de La Vallière, and The Man in the Iron Mask.

My dad also surprised me with a copy of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter, by Jaleigh Johnson.

I am going to wait until the end of the SciFi Summer Readathon to dive into these books, but I’m looking forward to reading all of them.

“New�� Books Bought in 2023: 299
“New�� Books Read in 2023: 264/299 (88.2% complete)

Here are the books I finished this week��

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~The Three Musketeers �� This was a fabulous book! I’m so glad that I finally took the time to read it, because it really does include a little bit of everything…adventure, romance, and political intrigue. I’m really looking forward to reading more books by Dumas later this year! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I spent most of this week reading Doctor Who novels, and I really enjoyed all of the books I read! The stories were fun, and the authors did a great job with their characterization of the Doctor and his companions. The books I read this week include��
~Doctor Who: The Stone Rose �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Rose. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Rose. Although I did listen to the audiobook version of this novel earlier in the year, I wanted to take the opportunity to read my hardback edition as well. I enjoyed reading my physical copy more than listening to the audiobook, and actually noticed some things that I apparently missed while I was listening. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Nightmare of Black Island �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Rose. This was another Doctor Who novel that I listened to as an audiobook earlier this year. While I did enjoy the audiobook, I prefer reading the physical book. There were quite a few things I missed while listening to the audio that I caught this time around, so I’m glad that I took the opportunity to read my hardback copy. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[This book does include some violent animal deaths, which are caused by monsters. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Art of Destruction �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Rose. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Price of Paradise �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Rose. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Sting of the Zygons �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include the injury and death of a horse, caused by a carriage accident. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Last Dodo �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Wooden Heart �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Forever Autumn �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Sick Building �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Wetworld �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Wishing Well �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: Peacemaker �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[This book does include an animal death. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Doctor Who: The Pirate Loop �� This book features the 10th Doctor and Martha. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I also read the following Star Wars book��
~Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Alien Species �� This was an interesting read with great information and illustrations. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

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

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters �� This has been a good read so far. 📚
~Doctor Who: Martha in the Mirror �� I’ll be starting this book later this afternoon. 📚

QOTW:
I’m not participating in this year’s POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, but I’ve been really pleased with my progress on my challenges and goals.

I was able to complete my Mount TBR climb much earlier than I anticipated, and I’m almost two-thirds of the way to completing my goal of reading 40% of the books on my TBR list.

I’ve also been able to read nearly 90% of the books I’ve bought since January 1st, and I’m on track to finish them all before the end of the year, which is really exciting.

Milena wrote: "...

Finished:
For You and Only You ..."



how was it? I actually had this book borrowed from the library, BUT I was in the middle of watching the show, and it was too confusing keeping them straight, so I returned it and put the audiobook on hold instead. Which I am STILL WAITING FOR - long waitlist!!

I finished 'Salem's Lot as my book becoming a movie or TV show in 2023. I liked it, but didn't love the ending. But, it's not like you usually get super happy endings with Stephen King.

I read P is for Peril as a book for a previous fave, a book that takes place in the '80s. Kind of boring and the ending was terrible, horribly no good whatsoever at all.

QOTW: I've read 30/52 for PS, which is about 58% done. Should be fine unless I decide to read 4 doorstoppers or something. I think I know what I'm doing for at least 15 of the last 22. No idea on the second 2023 book, or the book that takes place in a day.

I have got to stop going to BN now for real. They're starting to know me and the kind of books I like. Just today for example before the cashier rang up my books and even looked at them she looked at me and went "History, right?" and I replied, "That's right." She then told me, "You always choose the interesting history, not the boring stuff."

As a nonfiction/history reader, you have no idea how happy that made me, for someone to comment on my reading style :^D

Hi all,

My cat is doing pretty well with his radiation, should be done next Thursday! Hopefully that'll be it and the oncologist will say he's good to go.

Went and saw SIX last night, that was fantastic! Good to get out and have some fun amongst the stress.

This week I finished:

The Bone Season - this was just ok. I don't think i'll bother continuing the series, which is a bummer. It sounded so interesting on paper. Counted it for my author with the same initials as me.

The Maid - finished the audio, i really liked the narrator. Used for a different challenge, for a keyhole on the cover. I didn't see the ending coming, which was nice.

Currently reading:

A Day of Fallen Night - I loved priory of the orange tree, so was super excited to find she wrote another book int he same world that wasn't just a sequel. Its set before the events of the first book, so is another stand alone, essentially. I'll be counting it for my longest book on my tbr. I decided I just don't have the headspace for Roots this year and they're within a few pages of each other.

What Moves the Dead - audio book, haven't really started more than a few sentences. Realized I wasn't really in audio book mood so i'll start properly once i go for a walk.

QOTW:

I'm pretty pleased. I'm at 47/50. Currently reading my longest book, then I need to figure out what book I wish i could read for the first time. Then I need to technically wait for a book to come out in the second half of 2023, since I don't really mess with netgalley ARCs and I haven't won any goodreads giveaways this year. Unless I get impatient and find a book that came out in june and call it close enough.

My goodreads I'm at 79/150, which is 8 books ahead.

My library is doing a genre genius challenge, where you read 3 books in a whole bunch of different genres for badges. It's open dated, so I don't think i have to finish this year. I've completed the fantasy one (surprise surprise). but actually have progress in quite a few other badges. I even have two classics down.

Read harder I'm a bit behind, 10/25. but I have several picked out, and several are comics which will be quick reads.

Morning all,

Not much to report on my end. Same stuff. Though I went to the bookstore 3 times this week. Bad me! No seriously, I have to stop. A big part of it is my bipolar disorder. One of the severe symptoms is overspending. I'm starting to ask myself the question though: at what point does it stop being my bipolar and reach an addiction aspect? Or in my case do they cancel out? I don't know.



While I haven't finished any books this week, I have started a few. Given that my books are mainly history, it makes finishing them a lot longer, but I still include them as part of my monthly book count because I've started them and started annotating (another aspect that takes up a lot of time).

These are the books I'm working on:

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

- I've always wanted to read Roman history, but have never had the time because I've spent so much of it on American history given that there's so much to look into with regard to the U.S. Now though I ended up finding myself in the World History section at the bookstore and saw this one. Figured why not go for it?

Turns out it's a book club read for another group I'm in so points for that.

Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands

- About to start this one. Again, I found myself in the World History section and this one seemed fascinating.

Oddly enough, this too turned out to be a book club pick so I'll be starting it shortly.



Question of the Week
We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far? (If you are not participating in this specific challenge, how is your overall reading progress for 2023?)

Well, I've given up on the nonfiction-only challenge that I set for myself. There are just so many prompts that don't work for nonfiction. So now I've gone ahead with my general one which includes nonfiction where I can fit them, and the rest fiction if need be.

By doing it that way (the regular way I guess?), I only have 14 more books to go. As a mood reader though, it makes it even more difficult to fill in the prompts.

I'm so sorry, Nadine!

Glad Tigger is doing a little better, Lynn!

Happy Thursday!

Holy Crap! Summer Reading Program starts Monday! I have to finish setting up the classroom and get everything ready to go for the first day before then. As Bartok says, "Stress. It's a killer!"

I kinda wish it was already August so it was over. I have a week break during my 6 weeks. I never do a program on 4th of July week.

One of these days I will have to go through my read books to see if any of them fill in some of my prompts. I have a feeling that at least one or two would be filled in. I mean, as much I've read so far, how can there not be, right?

Plus, I need to read the books I checked out from the library so I can return them. A couple are prompt books I've had since The beginning of the year. I get three months with them, but I've been naughty and have renewed them a couple of times.

I've had to go back and reread the books before reading a prompt book. I have started doing that. In Another World with My Smartphone is an example. I haven't read those books in so long that I couldn't remember all that happened in it. The anime does cover those three books, but there is so much more in the novels. They have a slightly more serious tone than the anime. The anime is just fun, harem-y (girls chasing the guy and not the other way around) cuteness.

Popsugar:9/50
Finished: None

Reading:None

Aty:10/52
Finished:None

Reading: None

ŷ������ Challenge 342/400
Finished:
The Drab Princess, the Black Cat, and the Satisfying Break-up Vol. 1
In Another World With My Smartphone: Volume 1
The Tyrant's Etiquette Tutor: Volume II
Disney Twisted-Wonderland, Vol. 1: The Manga: Book of Heartslabyul
I’m Capped at Level 1?! Thus Begins My Journey to Become the World’s Strongest Badass! (Manga) Volume 1
His Last Nerve
Whole Lotta Grump
The Good Bad Man
My Teacher
The Bodyguard


Reading:
In Another World With My Smartphone: Volume 2
The Drab Princess, the Black Cat, and the Satisfying Break-up Vol. 2

Nadine's Mini Challenge 7/10
Finished:None

Reading: None

Mount TBR:
31/150 Ebook
22/150 Physical

QOTW:

I have a feeling I could get it done. I've been having too much fun reading in general. I know at least one book on the above list fits either Aty or Ps. I can't remember the forbidden prompt. Is there a forbidden prompt. Heck, I don't know anymore.

So these are 5 books I picked up this week, and I have a 6th coming in that I ordered:

Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond

American Comics: A History

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion, AD 300-1300

Finally, it’s Thursday! It has been a hard week.

Last Thursday night I went to a local bar in Augusta for an art showing by my friend and her daughter and her son-in-law…and I ended up purchasing one of her daughter’s paintings as well as commissioning one from my friend. Two days later (very early Sunday, just after midnight), I suddenly got very sick with deep cough and fever. And, by Monday, my MD confirmed COVID.

Now, I live alone and don’t really come into contact with people on a daily basis, so quarantining myself wasn’t much of an issue on Sunday, especially since I really did not feel very well at all. My biggest concern was that my blueberry bushes needed to be picked to keep them producing and to prevent the birds from thinking they had another free feeder. (I don’t mind sharing…but no hoarding my berries, birds!) And, I just did not need more berries for myself and couldn’t pick them to give away due to the COVID and my lack (seriously) of energy.

AND, my concentration was the pits, so reading was on hold for 2+ days! Gee, that was weird!

My symptoms, after that Sunday avalanche, have been mild and are resolving, which is good since I have now gone off Paxlovid due to palpitations and a run of irregular heart rhythm last night. But the fatigue!

Finished:
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening - Part of my goal to read Manga and Graphic Novels for a while. I enjoyed this and will probably seek more volumes once I catch up a bit with other challenges. 4*

Grave Sight Part 2 �� Same goal as above. This series I am familiar with as I initially read the book and the author is a favorite of mine. 4*

Grave Sight Part 3 �� Same goal as above. I was surprised that this volume was not available to me except through interlibrary loan! 4*

The Best We Could Do �� PS #31. I remember not liking The Arrival by Shaun Tan back in 2011 when I first tried graphic novels. In fact, I hated it. Yet this graphic novel was really interesting to me, and I learned a lot about the Viet Nam experience from someone who lived through the time when it was only a foreign war to me. I deeply appreciated this book. 4*

The Three Musketeers �� Finished! The story got better the more I advanced in the reading of this book. So glad I prevailed. So happy for those who read with me! This book got really intriguing for me once the political intrigue and evil manipulation story got going in earnest. That was after D’Artagnon became a Musketeer. 4*

On the Road �� ATY #20. Decided to skip the intro. I just could not face it and kept putting off reading the book because of it. Not sure that I can recommend this book. It was dreary, all the characters were bohemian in attitude and irresponsible in life. Nothing recommended any of them to me. The best of the book was the occasional phrase or sentence describing a location. It reminded me a lot of The Great Gatsby which I gave 3* and that was rounded up. 2*


Currently Reading:
Dreams and Shadows –Kindle. 13%. Weird book. On hold.
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera �� PS #2. 8%. On hold.
The Filigree Ball �� RwS. Liking this but the book is going slowly due to the number of library books I am working on. 36%.
Confessions of a Bookseller �� RwS. 40%

On deck:
Trail of Lightning - PAS, old challenges, PS #41.
I'm Not Scared - PAS, old challenge.
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit - PAS, old challenge.
The Lake House Secret �� Kindle. ATY #23.
The Sandcastle Girls - ATY #22, old challenge.

PS 17/50 and 6/10 for Nadine’s Challenge
ATY 21/52 and 11/12 for Q1 Challenge, 4/12 for Q2 Challenge
GR 117/200
RwS starting a new season: 2/30

QotW: We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far? (If you are not participating in this specific challenge, how is your overall reading progress for 2023?)
Hmm. So soon? Well, it seems that I am running behind, but that is not new this year. It is my first year doing both PS and ATY as well as all my other challenges, and given that fact, I am feeling OK.
I have five books on hand to read and am awaiting on one to catch my eye for #32. Also I have a buddy read planned for one (over 700 pages).

Another Thursday, and I have no idea where the time has gone. I have not picked up a single book in the past week because ... Ted Lasso ended and my brain decided this was the perfect time to dive headfirst into a new trashcan. So I've been reading a lot of fics (saved up ��6 already by reading 300k words) and even wrote two! (to be fair, the second one is currently *being* written but it is almost done so I'm counting it!)

Mickey is stable. He tends to eat his veggies and forcefeed really well, but not so much the pellets, so we're hoping that'll improve soon.

Sadly I got some bad news, and I'm still trying to come to terms with it. Podotherapist told me to stop going on walks. I was so proud of doing better with food and exercising and now the exercise has been taken away from me, and the stress/exhaustion surrounding Mickey means making better food choices is very difficult as well, sooo. Rip me.

Disney Dreamlight Valley updated yesterday, but I was at Across the Spider-Verse so I could make sure to catch it in IMAX so I was a bit late to it, and for some reason I'm not super excited to play? I blame the exhaustion and bad news, haha! Would rather hide in fics right now.

Ohwell :D

QOTW
I'm quite happy! My reading is erratic so I'm glad that the good periods make up for the bad ones, haha! I'm at 35/50 for Popsugar, with one of my reads working for the challenge and a fairytale that works lined up next! So not bad, not bad at all!

Sheri wrote: "Hi all,

My cat is doing pretty well with his radiation, should be done next Thursday! Hopefully that'll be it and the oncologist will say he's good to go.

Went and saw SIX last night, that was ..."

I'm glad it's going well with your cat!!

@Nadine. Sorry about the job. Hopefully you got a severance or some kind of bonus. Enjoy the time you have free now. What do you hope to do next?

@Lynn. May Tigger continue to improve.

@Mandy. Wow! Three months before a renewal?! I was fortunate earlier this week to have a librarian extend a book due the Covid quarantine that I am on until next week. It was due tomorrow...and I hadn't even started it (renewals were all exhausted). I have until Tuesday to return it and am about 40% into it. I should be off quarantine at that time.

@bea

It's one of the perks of being staff at my public library. Usually I don't take that long to read a book, but I've been having fun reading other things.

Mandy wrote: "@bea

It's one of the perks of being staff at my public library. Usually I don't take that long to read a book, but I've been having fun reading other things."

Ah...that explains it.

Milena wrote: "Nadine, so sorry to hear that! I hope you got a severance package to tide you over for a bit."


Yeah they provided something, but it was not a lot. And of course I signed my voice away to get it, so I can't talk about it. I'm fine, just irritated!

Dubhease wrote: " (Honestly, if I was a ghost in a library with all eternity to read, there are some prompts I still wouldn't do.) ..."



LOL!!!

Nadine in NY wrote: "Wow you got Witch King RIGHT AWAY!!! I can't decide if I want to read the hardcopy, or wait for the audiobook.."

I bought the hardcover because I knew it would be one I wanted to keep, but then I also got the eBook version on release day from the library, so I was able to start reading right away.

I'm being made redundant again. They asked me to stay on a bit but I just want to move on and find something else. They can pay contractor rates if they need someone for the job they apparently have no need for!

Anyway, we're going camping this weekend for my partner's birthday, so it will be a good chance to switch off for a few days.

Finished:
Beach Read by Emily Henry for ATY (a book that is light). I loved this, I can see why some who read this first were a bit disappointed with subsequent books, she started with a corker!

Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang for colour in the title and ATY (Asian diaspora). Basically publishing twitter drama in book form, but I liked it.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati which I'm going to shoehorn into the love triange prompt even if there wasn't much love involved. This was a bit bland considering the glimpses of Clytemnestra I've had from other books. The audiobook was one where all the characters sounded the same, so that did not help. It also works for Nadine's mini challenge - ancient civilisation.

Currently reading The Shadow Cabinet and listening to More Perfect.

PS: 26/40 | ATY: 34/52 | GR: 52/100
Nadine's mini challenge: 9/10

QOTW:
I'm only doing 40 of the prompts this year, a mix of advanced and regular and I have 14 more to do, which aren't planned at all. I just feel very underwhelmed by the challenge this year, but I seem to be getting it done.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!  It's been a weird week.  I got laid off, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next.  I plan to use my extra time tie-dyeing, reading, and cleaning the house (believe me, it ..."

O no!! I don't know what kind of social support you get in the USA (if you get anything at all), but I hope you won't be broke immediately.

Life is back to normal. My allergies were extreme this week. It hasn’t rained for a couple of weeks over here and the air is filled with pollen. Today it was a bit better. My allergies are extreme for typically 1 or 2 weeks every year, so I hope this was it for this year. And maybe some rain, that will do as well, but it seems that’s not going to happen any time soon.

I read about the smoke and wild fires in last week’s check-in. I just checked the pictures and it indeed is apocalyptic. I hope everyone dealing with the smoke or the fire is ok.

PS: 25/50
Total 2023: 28

Finished
The Winners by Fredrik Backman⭐⭐⭐⭐��
PS #33, a book about an athlete/sport
This whole series has blown me away. I loved this book. Tears in my eyes when I finished it. Because of the story and because there's no more Beartown to read. I love the way Backman writes about the dark sides of humans. It's plain, but also with a lot of compassion.

Currently reading
De regen kwam van binnen by Dennis Biesma

QOTW
Five stars! I’ve never been this far in the challenge in June. I’m at 25, still can’t believe it.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!  It's been a weird week.  I got laid off, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next..."

Ah sorry, it seems to be going around! I really enjoyed my post-redundancy time off last year, but I was hoping to be in a job a bit longer than 4 months before having my next mid-life-retirement.

Sorry to hear Nadine! Hope you can figure out your next steps!

Lynn, hope Tigger continues to improve. i feel you on the kitty struggles!

Also Ellie, sorry about you being made redundant, and good for you. I'd agree, no need to stay on for their own benefit instead of yours. Use that time to devote your efforts into finding something better!

Sorry you're going through this too, Ellie.

Ugh! I'm so sorry several of you are having a bum week!

Nadine, that sucks! You've worked there for a long time!

Bea, Covid sucks! I'm glad you're feeling a bit better (it took me weeks to shake it enough to get back to reading!).

Carmen, no walking also sucks! I hope you're able to find something you can do, because I think you're right, better eating and exercise go hand in hand.

Anyone else going through yucky stuff, that also sucks! I'm here for you all in internet moral support land!! <3

Good Thursday Afternoon, Nadine I'm sorry you were laid off. Lynn, I hope Tigger continues to improve. I read 4 books for the week.
1. The Talented Mr. Ripley. 2 stars. PS # 21 A book set in the decade you were born. I didn't like it. I never saw the movie but knew a little about it. I found it tedious & boring.
2. Out of Darkness. 4 stars. PS # 18 A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022. Wow, it was sad. For some reason I had a hard time finding a banned book I hadn't read or really wanted to. I saw this on someone's list & went for it.
3. Night of the Living Rez. 5 stars. Not for this challenge. I really liked this book. Another sad book.
4. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather. 5 stars. PS # 42. A book based on a popular movie. I didn't know how to interpret this prompt. It looks straight forward enough but I wasn't sure if they meant the movie came first so the book had something to do with the movie.I also thought it could mean the book came & the movie was based on it. I made it hard. Anyway I liked the book.
QOTW: I have 7 regular prompts & 3 advanced prompts left in PS.
BRRHC I have 2 prompts left. I have had the books for it on hold since early May.
ATY I have 8 prompts left.

I've officially started Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands

I am not familiar with the Crusades so I have no idea what to expect from this book. I've just heard good things about the author and since it's a book club read for another group, I figured I would try something new.



And of course I'm reading SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

I know nothing about the Romans, but I'm excited to learn.

Hi all! As I was posting in last week's thread, the smoke was crazy here. Our air quality has improved to 135. I could still smell a little smoke out there this afternoon. It's not good enough for the kiddo's field trip tomorrow, I feel bad for her (and her teachers who will now have a classroom full of pre-k kids who expected not to be in school tomorrow!). I had a migraine yesterday, I'm blaming the smoke, though I'm not sure that's the whole problem. It's better today, but I can still feel it lurking.

I finished Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. I'm not usually one for reading memoirs (though I think this is my 3rd one this year...), but this was quite good. For one, Bono is a pretty good writer. He also covers a ton of topics, so the book never felt like a 1 trick pony. I would recommend it. I might even buy my own copy. Celebrity memoir.

I'm under 130 pages in When Christ and His Saints Slept!! There's local festivals and parades this weekend, but if we don't go due to continued poor air quality, I'm hoping to finish it this weekend.

Because I finished a book last week and now this week, I'm book hopping trying to figure what I want to read next. I had a buddy read start of Night over Water, but my buddy had a family emergency and dropped out already, and now I'm losing motivation to continue, even though I love the author and haven't read anything of his in a long time. I started Riders of the Purple Sage which I'm liking, but it's already due next week. Last night I started I, Claudius which also seems like it could be pretty good. I've got several books out from the library for Pride month, so I wanna start one of them, too, just not sure which one.

QOTW: I'm on target to read 30 books for the year, so I'm happy that I'm still on the pace I set for myself. I wish I was reading faster, but such is life. Also, kiddo is soon to be on summer break, and I am the activities director for the summer, so.... even less reading time coming up.

Happy Thursday once again!!

I actually finished 2 books for challenge this week. I also started a few that didn't hold my interest...blehhh!

All Boys Aren't Bluefor Prompt 22# A book with a Queer lead. I listened to the audiobook and really liked it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Prompt #42 A book based on a popular movie. I liked this movie as a kid with Gene Wilder and then the one with Johnny Depp was kinda weird and quirky lol.

DNF:
Soul of the Deep This is the second time I put the book down. It's not working for me like the first one did.

Wrong Place Wrong TimeSecond time trying this and it's starting to annoy me.

CURRENTLY READING:
Marriage of a Thousand Lies

Question of the Week
We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far? (If you are not participating in this specific challenge, how is your overall reading progress for 2023?)
It says I'm ahead by 9 books on the GR challenge and I'm 20/50 got PS so I'm really proud of myself. My initial goal was to read books by only black authors. It's not impossible but I didn't want to do re-reads so all of them aren't.

Aside from the PS Challenge, I've already met my personal goal. I usually try to keep my book goal to at least 25 books because I don't know what will happen in my life so I don't know if I'll have time.

Because I seem to have an endless amount of free time, it's barely June and already I've hit 45 books so that's cool. At this point, I have no goal set. I'm just going to keep going until the end of the year and see where my final number lands.

Bea wrote: "Finally, it’s Thursday! It has been a hard week.

Last Thursday night I went to a local bar in Augusta for an art showing by my friend and her daughter and her son-in-law…and I ended up purchasing ..."




Sorry about covid, but glad to hear you're improving!

Carmen wrote: "Another Thursday, and I have no idea where the time has gone. I have not picked up a single book in the past week because ... Ted Lasso ended and my brain decided this was the perfect time to dive ..."



your health advice is the exact opposite of mine! I need to START going on walks!

I'm sorry something you felt good about has been taken away from you.

And I'm glad Mickey is hanging in!!

Sheri wrote: "Hi all,

My cat is doing pretty well with his radiation, should be done next Thursday! Hopefully that'll be it and the oncologist will say he's good to go.

Went and saw SIX last night, that was ..."


I'm sure your cat is hoping he's done on Thursday too haha! it's good news.

It's been awhile because I've been at a work con (it was great) and since it was in New Mexico and I've never been there so I took a week's vacation too.

For the prompt A book by a first-time author I read White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton It was great (and also a good Pride read)

I read Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally for the prompt A book that comes out in the second half of 2023. It's due out in the fall. I really enjoyed this arc. It's a historical mystery, nothing new really. I've read this plot at least three times elsewhere but I liked the characters

For the prompt A book that started out as fan fiction I read Raincheck by Sarah Madison. It was a fun LGBT romance novelette. That said I didn't much like this prompt as it wasn't easy to find things that started as fanfic (or at least things I wanted to read)

I also read (not for the challenge)
Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens An urban fantasy/romance that would be a good Pride read. It was fun

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz It's a YA mystery with a 1920s themed party and a nod to Agatha Christie's locked rooms and her sleuths. It's an arc not due out until later this year.

QOTW I'm doing pretty well. I slowed down April/May but I'm a little over halfway done. Too many of my books are over 500 pages (I'm being more cautious now when I ask for arcs, the older I get the less I like long books. I'm trying to keep them under 350 pages)

The above mentioned White Trash Warlock is one of the best books of the year so far.

Ellie wrote: "I'm being made redundant again. They asked me to stay on a bit but I just want to move on and find something else. They can pay contractor rates if they need someone for the job they apparently hav..."



I'm so sorry to see there are TWO of us this week!! You only just found that job!! They stink for not planning better longterm.

Taking a moment before closing down my computer for the day to post a reading update. But first the weather and air update. I'm on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in NYC. I have not been outside since Monday... so my overall sense is what I smell and can see outside my windows - a few buildings and a bit of Central Park but not a vista. Let's just say the haze arrived Tuesday but the smokey smell and danger levels arrived Tuesday night. Yesterday was downright apocalyptic looking and smelling even with my narrow view. All those yellow/orange pictures you are seeing? That was real yesterday. Today the warnings are its' only extremely bad -- in the 200s for those that understand - and color is lighter and more grey. But it's still quite chilly and I can smell the smoke when I crack a window open. I have to go out tomorrow and will be wearing a mask - in fact changing it frequently.

If I were a budding filmmaker of apocalyptic and distopian films, I'd be out masked up filming everywhere and everything in NYC to have a stock footage. I was in Paris when the volcano blew on Iceland and the ash cloud blew over Europe, downing all flights for a week. It wasn't even close to what yesterday was.

Alas, I've been glued inside due to work more than anything so I have not had a good reading week. Only finished one book but it did tick off prompts.

Where the Crawdads Sing - 5 stars - loved loved it. PS prompt - #Booktok (though fit others I need but this is my toughest left) and ATY - W question in title.

Currently reading - just this as I need it for IRL book club on Sunday - I'm way way behind and may not finish:

Nona the Ninth

QOTW: I'm in really good shape with PS - 35/50 with Les Miz my longest book on TBR being started next week. Also in great shape with ATY - 45/52. I've found ATY incredibly easy to fill with whatever I happen to be reading for whatever reason - almost no 'targeted' reading needed - meaning I don't have to dig around in my TBR, find a book that fits, and plan when to read it. PS has needed me to target my reading for it nearly from the beginning. I think that's in part the result of it being the nostalgia challenge it is -- too many are prompts requiring books that I don't necessarily just read at any given time -- i.e. book published the year I was born which is in the 50s, or on #booktok or linked to film or tv series or celebrity. But I pretty much always have something in my tbr for them and just have to dig them out.

Aside from that, I'm behind in a Trim my TBR challenge in another group though only 2 books at moment -- they aren't long but I need to get out from under some work projects before I can catch up. I have other year long challenges in GR groups which I'm working through steadily and am happy with my progress. I'm also keeping on top of an Agatha Christie challenge where I'm rereading many Agatha's I last read as a teen/early 20-something. It's only 1 a month, they are wonderful, short and fast reads.

I might be jinxing myself, but I fully expect to finish easily every year long and other challenge I'm doing this year and keep up on my IRL Feminerdy book club.

Harmke wrote: "O no!! I don't know what kind of social support you get in the USA (if you get anything at all), but I hope you won't be broke immediately...."


Probably not nearly the amount of support you get! but we get something. The employer pays into the Unemployment fund that is administered by the state government, so I can collect a set amount (it's based on your previous salary, and it maxes out at around $400-$500/week) for 26 weeks if I can show that I am actively looking for another job.

I finished two books -- one worked for an open prompt for this challenge and another for another challenge I'm working on -- since my last check-in. I still have a bunch in progress though 🙃 I'm now at 25/40 and 4/10 for this challenge, and 59/75 for my overall ŷ������ Reading Challenge.

Finished:
* Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships by Nina Totenberg, which was one of my book clubs' picks for June and worked for a BookRiot Read Harder Challenge prompt. The ebook version was available when I ready to pick it up, so I got to enjoy the pictures that were included. I think it would've been interesting to listen to the audiobook version since Totenberg is the narrator...but I did like getting to see the pictures; and,
* The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by Katherine Morgan Schafler, which I used for "a book you think your best friend would like."

Currently Reading:
* The Buenos Aires Quintet by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán;
* Travels in Alaska by John Muir;
* Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi; and,
* Carrie Soto Is Back written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, Mary Carillo, Patrick Mcenroe, Rob Simmelkjaer, Brendan Wayne, Max Meyers, Reynaldo Piniella, Vidish Athavale, Tom Bromhead, Heath Miller, Julia Whelan, and Sara Arrington. This is my other book clubs' pick for June - I'm really enjoying the audiobook experience!

QotW:
We have just passed the halfway point for the 2023 Popsugar Challenge. How would you rate your progress thus far? (If you are not participating in this specific challenge, how is your overall reading progress for 2023?) I'm pleased with where I am with this challenge since I'm slightly over the halfway point, which makes completing all 50 prompts before the end of the year seem doable. I've got titles in mind for some of the open prompts, but not all. I'm not super excited about some of them, so I may try to pick one of those and knock it out in the next few weeks so I'm not saving all of those prompts until the end.

I'm way ahead of schedule for my overall ŷ������ Reading Challenge and feel like I'm on track to hit triple digits this year. I've barely made any progress on the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge, but that's ok -- I decided I'd just see how far I got with that one and focus more on completing this one by the end of the year. My challenge to myself to try using a spreadsheet to track my reading trends is going really well! I'm using the BookRiot tracker and love seeing all the stats about my reading habits so far this year. I added a POPSUGAR page to the template, so I have all of my reading challenges in one place 😁

Summer Reading Program has started at the library... and boy, are we busy! Summer is the busiest time of month for our library, and while it's exciting to see so many kids happy to read, it's also exhausting.

Been coming home at night and vegging out in front of Legend of Zelda, because why not, haha...

Books read this week:

Peter and the Starcatchers -- a surprisingly fun prequel/retelling of the Peter Pan story. I was a little dubious given who wrote it (I wasn’t fond of Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers and Dave Barry is better known for his humor writing than his children’s fiction), but I enjoyed this one much more than I thought I would.

Zombie Day Care -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “book beginning with Q, X, or Z.�� Not even bad in a “so bad it’s fun�� way. The central concept -- that caffeinated drinks makes zombies docile -- wasn’t nearly enough to spin a novel out of.

Death on the Nile -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “book set in Africa.�� My second Agatha Christie book (I read Murder on the Orient Express for another challenge a few years back), and I really enjoyed it. Time to read a Christie book I haven’t seen the film for now, haha��

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife -- for the Extreme Book Nerd prompt “book in the 100s section of the Dewey Decimal System.�� I’ve enjoyed other books by Mary Roach, and this one where she investigates ghosts and the afterlife still has her unique brand of curiosity and humor. The section on ectoplasm shouldn’t be read while eating, however��

DNF:

In the Lives of Puppets -- I can’t believe I DNFed this one�� but I DNFed this one. I LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door so I should have loved this one -- it was Klune with ROBOTS, for crying out loud! But I couldn’t connect with it, and the wacky sidekick robots just killed my interest in reading further. K2SO from Rogue One and C3PO from the main Star Wars movies did the “grim sadistic robot�� and “neurotic robot�� roles MUCH better.

Currently Reading:

The Puma Years
Ember and the Ice Dragons
Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis
The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute

QOTW:

I've actually finished the PopSugar challenge (thanks, ARCs), and am four books away from finishing my library's Extreme Book Nerd challenge. Then I'll spend the rest of the year finishing series I started (including Illuminae, Lady Astronauts, World of the White Rat, and Victories Greater Than Death), and chipping away some at my massive TBR list.

Happy check-in! Although its seems that it has been a tough week for this group.

We've been in a heat wave here but fortunately have good air. There are similarities to covid lockdown when it's smoky out. I hope the winds distribute the smoke quicker for all you down East.

It's been awhile since I read a mystery/thriller so I'm looking forward to the BOTM in July, The Hunting Party, and am happy to lead.

Finished Reading:

The Blue Castle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (PS colour in title)
One of my sister's favourite books, so I had to give it a shot. This is by the same author who wrote Anne of Green Gables, so it's a good Canadian Classic. The way language has changed made for some laughs in this one.

The Black Flamingo ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� (PS banned)
Loved this. Young adult poetry in verse.

The Wicked and the Dead ⭐⭐
A very creative inspiration from being bitten by a rattlesnake to create this series. I read a short story with the character and gave the series a shot. It was just okay.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus, Vol. 2 ⭐⭐��
I didn't like most of the artwork and the really long story was so-so. Willow should always have red hair when not evil.

PS 38/50
ATY 40/52
Nadine's 10/10
ŷ������ 130/200

Currently Reading:

The Cruelest Mercy

QOTW:

I'm ahead on both my challenges but I'm going to have to start reading books specifically for prompts instead of just fitting what I read into them. I also need to up my overall ŷ������ challenge.

@Nadine and @Ellie so sorry that you have to be on the job hunt.

@Bea it really is upsetting that covid makes it difficult to read. I'm glad you're on the up swing but those side effects of paxlovid sound scary.

I'm AFK and therefore unable to do any fancy html coding. Just wondering though, if it's halfway through the year, does that mean we get another mini-challenge? :):):)