Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2024 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 2: 1/5 - 1/11
Hi, guys! I think this is my first time participating in a weekly check-in, even though I'm a member since 2021. Last year I didn't participate because I lowkey hated the challenges. It would make me add more books to my TBR than actually crossing it off, which is not something I wanna do. Anyways, when this year's list finally came out I liked it much more, so now here I am! My only expectation is that I'll be able to finish it completely (it would be the first time, since I only read 21 in 2021 and can't remember what and if I read in 2022).During this first complete week of 2024 I decided to actually make plans on how to successfully accomplish my goals. I always just write them and think I somehow will remember them all, so this year I'm determinated to change this. The point is: busy week and little time for reading, although I did finish 3 books.
FINISHED:
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune: such a lovely book! I didn't think I would like it so much as I do, but turns out it's just one of those books you can't stop thinking about. I loved the characters, the atmosphere, the writing... Definitely will be picking up more things from the author! Read it for the cozy fantasy challenge.
QOTW: this was my first read of the year! I'm happy I began with a happy note.
POPSUGAR: #15, #23, #38
Around the Year: #1, #15, #28
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood: in the middle of some rough readings I needed a romance and Ali always seems to write some good ones. I had some expectations for this one, since I've been hearing some good things about it, but it let me down a bit. Male character didn't have much of a personality and the last 30% didn't have much emotion.
POPSUGAR: need an opinion here! Does this fits on the enemies to lovers plot (#32)?
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca: so freaking good!!! Love Eric's writing, the reread of THGWSWLS were just as amazing (and disturbing) as the first time and out of the "new" ones I enjoyed "You'll Find It's Like that All Over" the best, what a page-turner!
POPSUGAR: #31, #39
Around the Year: #2, #7, #21, #33, #42
CURRENTLY READING:
Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
PLANNED:
Maeve Fly by C.J, Leede
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Hello all, It's been a long time since I have posted here. The last quarter of 2023 was really overwhelming for me and I had to disengage from a lot of things. Here is hoping that this year goes better.
Completed:
Bro and the Beast 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Passing Playbook ⭐⭐� (#45)
Binti ⭐⭐ (#19)
It Ends with Knight ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Currently Reading:
January TBR
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
Alpha Initiation by Mac Flynn
Crossover, Vol. 1: Kids Love Chains by Donny Cates
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Lessons from the Lion, the Ox and their little friends (illustrated) by Aesop
DNF:
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
**I believe this is a dark academia book. I just could not engage with this book. DNFd at 30%. It just was too slow going and I could not make myself care about the characters.Question of the Week:
What is the first book you have finished reading or are currently reading in 2024? Does it fulfill a 2024 Popsugar prompt? If so, which one(s)?
The first book I finished this year was
Bro and the Beast 5 by L.C. Davis. This book is not for a prompt but I guess it could fit for #45 An LGBTQ+ romance novel. I have just going through the series. These are novellas that can be found on Kindle Unlimited. I will say that these are in no way literary excellence, but they are a good time. It is just a ridiculous feel-good series that just simply makes me smile.
Mod
My library did away with fines a few years ago and it's been WONDERFUL!!! I return 98% of the items on time, but every now and then I forget a book or movie at home, or I didn't finish it quite yet and need another week (and it's out of renewals), or whatever, and it is SO NICE to have that one week grace period when I need it.
*. tina ｡⋆୨୧˚ wrote: "Does this fits on the enemies to lovers plot (#32)?..."Yes, I'm pretty sure all the STEMinist books are the same enemies to lovers plot. 🤣
Hi all! Junky week for me. My eyes are still bothering me with pink eye, just got new drops to try. They're better, but they're not *all* better. Not sure if it's the eyes or the infection, but I've felt more tired than usual this week-ish. I also heard from my lawyer on Friday. My long term disability appeal was denied. My next step is to file a lawsuit. My lawyer still thinks we have a strong case. I don't know how long this will take. Ironically enough, I've been so worn out that I don't even have the energy to be that mad about them still denying me. Actually, I'm kinda excited, I want a day in court! lol
Currently reading and QOTW: I was SO hoping to get off to a strong start reading in the new year and it has been less than meh. I'm a few chapters into The Brothers Karamazov and I'm only managing to pick away at that because it's a buddy read that I suggested! I'm not sure what prompt I might use it for, but the middle brother is 24.
Happy Friday! I didn’t read much last week. The book I’m currently reading is not what I expected. I’m still curious how the writer is getting it all together at the end, so I’m struggling forward. And also it was freezing cold last week so it was not that comfortable reading in bed (we don’t use heating in our bedroom, just close the windows when it's freezing). My Pilates class started again (to my back’s unspeakable joy), and the employee club at work had it’s yearly bowling tournament last night. Lots of fun, did score 1 spare (at the end, bummer) and won nothing. PS: 1/50
FNL: 0/40
Total: 1/52
Finished
Nothing
Currently reading
The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin by Steven Lee Myers
Stadt aus Rauch by Svealena Kutschke
QOTW
I’ve finished Strangers with the Same Dream by Alison Pick as my first book of 2024. It fulfilled prompt 34, a book with at least 3 points of view. Quite literally: the book has 3 parts. In each part you read about the same events through the eyes of 3 characters.
Mod
I also heard from my lawyer on Friday. My long term disability appeal was denied...."
Ugh that's doubly bad news!
We had our first big snow of the year in Massachusetts on Sunday. It was my first big snow ever, having only traveled to the aftermath in places like Flagstaff. The kids got to make a few snowballs and build a snowman in the yard, and the whole area looked beautiful the morning after. It's also amazing to me how much of the snow that Tuesday's rain melted and washed away.Finished:
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide (3/5, would fit for 3 POVs)
The title intrigued me, and the book's premise and setting are a little bit like a deadlier version of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. I was more of a fan during the first half, which was set mostly on the McMasters campus. The missions in the second half felt like written versions of Columbo villains trying to commit their crimes and cover their tracks, which tends to work better in small doses. If you like wordplay that is one step above puns, then your star rating might be higher than mine, as the author uses a lot of it.
The Princess and the Scoundrel (4/5, not for a prompt)
Obviously, if you love Han and Leia, then you should read this. The book does a great job of exploring the immediate aftermath of the Endor battle in the galaxy and the Han/Leia relationship. It does tie in to other works, but it stands on its own well enough. The one book I would recommend reading first is Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray, mostly because that is also an outstanding Star Wars book.
Yellowface (4/5, a book about a writer, a book where someone dies in the first chapter)
I have a suspicion that members of this group will like this book more than the general population, even more if they are also familiar with social media. It demonstrates very well that whether a story has a happy ending or not depends on where you choose to end the story. If you want a more conventionally satisfying ending, then stop after Chapter 2 or Chapter 14. The actual ending is a little more open to interpretation on how Juniper Song's life will play out.
I was a little on the fence to start this because of its ratings online, but I'm so glad I did. Certain parts are polarizing for reasons that I found obvious when I reached them. There is a little more profanity than I prefer in my books, yet it was not out of line for how people talk and think in real life. The writing is outstanding, and it's a ride I'm glad I took.
I reread various Star Trek: Deep Space Nine stories and Marvel Comics collections this week. I typically will only bring those up if they are new to me or if I feel like recommending them to the group.
DNF:
One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon (2/5 based on the first chapter)
The writing here was not engaging to me, events were related vastly out of chronological order, and other reviews tell me that the issue of repetition does not get better in other chapters.
Murder and Mendelssohn
All the Light We Cannot See
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder
I tried a chapter or less in all of these, and they just were not floating my boat.
Question of the Week:
The first new-to-me book that I chose to start and finish this year was Yellowface. It fits for a book about a writer and a book where someone dies in the first chapter.
FinishedTotal Enhancement - not for a challenge, 3 stars
My Sister's Keeper - for the PS Challenge, 4 stars
America's Next Reality Star - not for a challenge, 2 stars
Pirate Stew - for the PS challenge, cute kids book that might work for a classroom read-aloud
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music - for the PS challenge, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would going into it
Currently Reading
Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales
Cloud Atlas
The Collected Stories of Alexander Pushkin (largely a "read one story in between other books" concept)
QOTW
The first book I finished this year was Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, which was for a PS Challenge prompt. Prompt #24: a book published 24 years ago
Happy check-in! It is extra cold here, I'm so happy to be inside where it is warm. -27C with wind chill -39C and tomorrow will be colder. An excellent time to read!Finished Reading:
Born to Be Badger ⭐⭐� (ATY cats and dogs)
Urban fantasy series that does fit the prompt even though the title doesn't.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 16 ⭐⭐�
Wynd, Book One: The Flight of the Prince ⭐⭐�
Dinosaur Sanctuary, Vol. 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
So good. If you love Jurassic Park read this manga series.
Divine Rivals ⭐⭐⭐⭐� (ATY nominated for ŷ Choice Award)
This won the ya fantasy award and for good reason. Set in not WWI England/Europe with gods waging war.
Rat Queens, Vol. 8: The God Dilemma ⭐⭐� (ATY What a wonderful world)
My library had the first 7 volumes in print only when I started this series a couple of years ago. The final volume was recently bought as an ebook so I was happy to finish this series off. Also happy to knock off an annoying prompt.
Snow White Learns Witchcraft ⭐⭐⭐⭐� (ATY Snow White)
I randomly found a collection of short stories and 23 poems based on fairy tales. The synopsis says 23 poems but the one short story has a witch who's spells are poems so this works for the 24+ poems prompt.
Three Holidays and a Wedding ⭐⭐⭐⭐� (PS set in snow)
I actually read a Christmas gift. This was so good. In 2000 Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan all lined up within a few days of each other. The author duo created a holiday story where people are snow stayed in a small town Ontario where not Hallmark movies are filmed. Both authors are from Toronto and they understand how much the rest of the country was not impressed with Toronto for needing the army to deal with a snow storm.
PS 5/50
ATY 5/52
ŷ 14/150
QOTW:
Stag's Leap: Poems was the plan for my first read and I accomplished that. Everything else has been a detour from my 'plan'. 🤣
I'm checking in! Woohoo! I'm 2/50! I've been fighting the depression lately, and here I am. It's become pretty cold today, and tonight we are expecting our first snow of the year. I might not be allowed to work tomorrow if it's enough that they close the store. If not, I plan to look at more bookish things and spend a little extra time on my Korean.
I changed my display name as a reminder, if you still need to fit in something that I liked, it can count as a bookseller recommendation.
Finished: Since I've not been checking in much I'll go from the start of the year.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - About a pirate - I happened to start this near the end of the year, so I just didn't rush and now it counts for this year, yay! I quite like this one.
Legends & Lattes - The book that everyone has gone crazy for is about... someone opening a coffee shop. It's nice and all... I just thought the coffee shop would be the base and more stuff would happen around it. I guess you can't get cozier with fantasy than this.
I finished one more today but I'll save that for next week and maybe I'll remember to actually check in on Thursday.
Currently Reading:
I just finished something so I haven't officially started yet, but I just got System Collapse from the library! I look forward to being with Murderbot again.
QOTW:
What is the first book you have finished reading or are currently reading in 2024? Does it fulfill a 2024 Popsugar prompt? If so, which one(s)?
See above for The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
Mod
I've been fighting the depression lately, and here I am. It's become pretty cold today, and tonight we are expecting our first snow of the year. I might not be allowed to work tomorrow if it's enough that they close the store. If not, I plan to look at more bookish things and spend a little extra time on my Korean. ..."
Hello!!! Are you learning Korean?
Hi all, Started getting ready to post yesterday and then got suddenly busy end of day.
We're having gross snowy weather. I know we're due, but still don't like it. Super gross out, and my office is the coldest room in the house. Need to put the plastic up on the windows. It's been mild this winter so hadn't gotten it up yet, and now suddenly regretting it. Hopefully this spring we can get new windows up here and stop having to do this nonsense.
This week I finished:
Nettle & Bone - audio re-read, read it again for my books & brew irl book club. It was just as good the second time around, audio book had a great narrator. For once, everyone seemed to like the book! That rarely happens, especially on a book I love, haha.
The Library at Mount Char - first book marked off my group's TBR challenge! This was so weird and fascinating. It's been on my list for ages, and I just never kept getting around to it. I liked it, but it is extremely weird, violent, upsetting in parts, and just generally strange. Definitely not for everyone. Using it for my at least 3 POV book. There's at least 3 main POV, plus several sections from minor character's POVs.
Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales - This was a harder prompt than I thought it would be, leap in the title. Nothing was really appealing to me every time I looked. But this cute book of animal based fairy tales just came out by Gregory Maguire, on the first. So I snagged the audio book for it, and it was quite cute and silly. It's juvenile fiction read, not a picture book, so about 244 pages/3 hour. Had a number of different tales in it, Leaping Beauty, Hamster and Gerbil, Cinder-Elephant, Goldiefox and the three chickens, Rumplesnakesin etc.
Currently reading:
When Sorrows Come - more october daye, catching up on the series. not sure if I can make it fit anywhere.
The Chronology of Water - audio book, just started. will end up either as my women athlete, or my memoir about queerness. I'll see where it fits better once i'm done.
QOTW: The first FULL book I finished in 2024 was Starling House. I'm on the fence whether to count it or not. Technically a character involved did write a book, and another was an aspiring author, so I had been planning to use it for about a writer or author...but the book isn't really ABOUT that per-se. So i'm sitting on it a bit to see if anything else fills it better or if i'm just going to use it.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Hello!!! Are you learning Korean?"Yes, but incredibly slowly. I'm not taking a class or anything helpful like that.
One day I realized I could accidentally read a couple of letters, which really freaked me out! I didn't know it was phonetic! I tried seeing how many of the letters I could get on my own. I figured out most of them! Then I caved and started to look them up. Then I figured, what the hell, let's see if I can learn some of it.
The alphabet is EASY. Everything else is HARD.
I am a lazy but consistent student. At least one lesson a day on Duolingo is the goal. Even if it's a bad day and I cheat all the way through, I do it a few minutes every day. I also have a few other things now, like My First Korean Dictionary and Korean Picture Dictionary Coloring Book n stuff. I look at them sometimes. Even when I don't feel like I'm learning anything (I can say exactly two sentences) I know that things are floating around in my head like tiny Legos, and on a day when something clicks together, it's very exciting.
My two sentences:
이거 물이에요
호랑이가 책을 읽고 있어�
but I can't break down most of the grammar in either of those. Somehow I do OK in Duo though? So, even though I don't know what I'm doing, some part of my brain is picking up the patterns, and sometimes one of them floats to the surface and I can figure out what it is.
What a rollercoaster of a week. I'm in WI and we got *dumped* with snow. And we lost power for like 5 hours today ( a tree hit a line). So I'm feeling very ready for a long weekend.Finished
Thirteen Guests: Loved! My favorite Farjeon book yet.
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf: weak.
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake: oh my god, sooo good
Olio: amazing poetry collection
Lore Olympus: Volume Two: still loving this series
QOTW
The first book I finished was The Rhetoric of Death which I weirdly wasn't able to put into a spot. Oh well.
Mod
Yes, but incredibly slowly. I'm not taking a class or anything helpful like that.
One day I realized I could accidentally read a couple of..."
that's so cool!! Have you been watching captioned K-dramas, too, as a way of immersing yourself?
My younger daughter and I pretend we are "learning" German when we watch Dark, captioned, on Netflix - we've watched the entire series twice now, and soon I think we'll watch it a third time. A lot of words start to sound familiar after watching, but tbh, it's been maybe a year and a half since I last watched it and I cant' remember any German words that I didn't know before I started watching.
I was so excited when I learned the young actor from Dark (Louis Hofmann) was starring in the series All the Light We Cannot See. I didn't like the book but I hoped the show would be better. Alas. It was all in English. We were so disappointed! In a show where speaking French or English or German was important to the plot, could they not have filmed it in French & English & German?? We didn't get past the first episode.
Mod
It's been three hours so far and my arms don't hurt yet - maybe I will get away with no pain at all?
Good luck with the shots, Nadine. I had a sore arm, but it totally kicked my boyfriend's butt for 2 or 3 days. Did you get out to walk today with the doggies? It's gonna get really cold next week, so that'll definitely test you! Good for you, though!
Nadine in NY wrote: "that's so cool!! Have you been watching captioned K-dramas, too, as a way of immersing yourself?"No. The only K-drama I've watched is the one half my guys were in from a couple of years ago, Imitation. It's OK though, KPOP groups produce an INSANE amount of content. At least mine does. So far, just since the first of the year, I see at least 20 videos, including two music videos, two behinds for those, interviews, a stage performance, a behind for a vocal performance, a promo for a skin care brand, silly shorts, a radio show behind, plus at least 17 (mostly) individual live video/voice streams ranging between 4 and 98 minutes, and just as I was writing this, they posted a TMI wrap up for the end of December. That's not counting fan videos from fansigns/calls or behinds from the NYE performance. They also usually do a lot of variety shows/interviews where they are quite funny, plus they still have two more music videos this month (with behinds) and are rehearsing for the new tour and are dropping a new single in Japanese next month. My playlist from 2023 has over 1000 videos, and almost none of those are fan vids.
I'm good for language to listen to LOL
There are two movies I really like and have watched multiple times that I am now avoiding, because I think it'll be really trippy and fun to watch them again one of these days and understand some of it! lol
After a COVID shot my arm always hurt the next day instead of the day-of.
Happy Friday.After a December that felt more like October winter has finally hit. I'm just doing my best to keep warm. But it is a perfect excuse to curl up with a book and a blanket.👍
Stats:
PS: 5/50
ATY: 5/52
ATY Rejects: 0/25
ATY Rewind: 0/25
GR Choice: 1/30
TBR: 0/10
Books I finished:
The Sandman: Book of Dreams ⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS: 46. A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours.
This was a collection of short stories inspired by Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. And like any collection, some stories were fabulous and some were well, not bad, but seriously disturbing. But it is a dark fantasy/horror series to start with, so it goes with the territory.
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book One ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed the stories so much, I decided to reread the original.
A Man and His Cat, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐�
PS: 12. A book from an animal's POV.
There were too many puns, but at it's heart this was a sweet little story.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
ATY: 38. Two books with similar covers: Book 1. (I'm going to pair it with The Prisoner's Throne)
I am so glad my sister forced me to read this. It was lovely and complicated and it actually managed to surprise me with the ending.
The World's Even Dumber Criminals: Unbelievable True Tales of Crime Gone Wrong ⭐⭐�
ATY: 9. A book with fewer than 2024 ratings on ŷ. (There were only 7)
This was good for a laugh.
The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey through the Art and Craft of Humor ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATY: 19. A book connected in some way to your favourite flavour of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. (Vermonty Python)
I've been holding off on reading this since it came out last October because it was too perfect for the prompt. It was worth it, although it just left me wanting more.
Black Friend: Essays ⭐⭐�
ATY: 15. A book whose author’s name includes one of the 4 least used letters in the alphabet. (JQZX)
This was fine. I read a lot of things like this so I ended up being a little disappointed.
In Progress:
Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls: Women, Music, and Fame
The Dating Plan
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book Two
QotW
I read Ru and I used it for PS #30. A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary.
Took my assessment for autism yesterday! Okay, yeah, I know I shouldn't be excited over it. I was kind of being sarcastic there. I know it was necessary and that my therapist recommended it, but still.It was challenging. Completely honest and transparent throughout it so no secrets and nothing to hide. I had to do an 8-page questionnaire, took some patterns, numbers, and description recognition which were actually the hardest for me.
I get my results next week. I could ponder the what-if it goes this way or what-if it goes that way scenario, but I think for now I'm just going to focus on my life at the moment before worrying about the rest.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Lily wanted to get a Covid booster before going back to college, and she convinced me to go along - it's been over a year since I was boosted, and I never did get a flu shot this year either, so I ..."Are there boosters for everyone?? Over here, you can only get a booster when you're 70+ or 'pre-conditioned'.
Ron wrote: "Took my assessment for autism yesterday! Okay, yeah, I know I shouldn't be excited over it. I was kind of being sarcastic there. I know it was necessary and that my therapist recommended it, but st..."Focusing on life sounds like a good call. It sounds like it went relatively well, at least. Even if that questionnaire part is the most tedious part.
Ahhhhhhh... to sleep in is delightful.They delayed the start time for work due to the forecast, which means I didn't have to go in. I could go later and work later than normal, but with a -5 wind chill, the half mile walk to the bus stop does not sound appealing. Looks like I'll be spending more time getting bookish and learning Korean. (I woke up to SIX new videos of my group this morning! Only three have talking though, I think, lol)
I fell asleep pretty quickly last night so I didn't get far into the new Murderbot, but it sure was nice hearing it's voice again!
Mod
Did you get out to walk today with the doggies? It's gonna get really cold next week,..."
It's been about twenty hours now and I still feel fine. I woke up with a small sore spot at the area of injection, no major pain, I have full range of motion. It's a bit itchy, actually, so I guess that's a sign that the pain is almost gone.
I walked the dogs yesterday, but probably not today, it's been raining, and today is my grocery day so I walk around the Farmers Market and the supermarket. Next week looks cold!! If it gets below 15F, or there's heavy precipitation, I won't walk them, but I can probably take a short walk by myself. This will be a test of my conviction!!
Mod
No. The only K-drama I've watched is the one half my guys were in from a coup..."
If you're ever looking for a K-drama, and you are okay with some zombies, I ADORED "Happiness" - I wish I could find another show just like that one - like, I want them to make a sequel, with all the same actors.
Mod
Yes I think anyone can get one here! There were a lot of restrictions here when the vaccine first came out, and we all had to wait our turns. The only question was how long has it been since the last booster, and apparently the minimum length of time is two months, which seems awfully soon! For Lily it was a year, for me more like two years.
Mod
I think these assessments are stressful because we all want to "do well" like it's a test, but in this case there is no wrong answer.
I finally got another booster last week, and it was the first time I didn't have side effects. One time my arm hurt horribly, but I was told later that it was maybe because I'd babied my arm and didn't move it enough. So this time i was doing a lot of stretches, and maybe that actually helped
Mod
we swing our arms around like Hawkeye preparing for an archery competition, and there's still some soreness the next day. Of course, no way to know if it would have been worse if I didn't do all the swinging and drink about a gallon of water ...
Harmke wrote: "Are there boosters for everyone?? Over here, you can only get a booster when you're 70+ or 'pre-conditioned' I'm pretty sure by the end anyone could get the last booster, but most people didn't know they could because they were too young etc. A friend of mine rushed out on the last day to go get one, haha!
I am in that upper elderly category, so I have had every booster available. Now it is mostly yearly, though. No side effects this year.
Nadine in NY wrote: "poshpenny is a BOOKSELLER wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "that's so cool!! Have you been watching captioned K-dramas, too, as a way of immersing yourself?"No. The only K-drama I've watched is the on..."
Guardian the great and lonely god is amazing too. Coffee prince, secret garden are fun
They made the next booster available when the flu shot came out here (October) for whoever wanted it. I’ve gotten all of them so I think that was number six. I cant remember when they stopped with age requirements.
Hi everyone This is
my first time in this challenge and second check in
It's been really cold.....for Southern California
I finished:
Little Women
pop sugar: Bildungsroman
ATY: seven dwarves (at some point in the book, various characters are happy, grumpy, bashful, etc)
the 52: author self-insert
Apeirogon
PS: one word title i would have had to look up if the author didn't define it early on
ATY: suggestion that didn't make the list (literary fiction and 400-600 pages)
52: more than 40 chapters
I'm currently reading Bloomsbury Girls and one of the main characters has just revealed he's 42 so that's the prompt it goes to
What a busy work week- Why is January so tough to get back into the swing of things? Heading to Charlotte next week for work, so just trying to rest and relax this weekend, especially considering the freezing temps the weather is bringing. BRRRRRRRChallenges:
4/75 GoodReads Challenge
4/50 PopSugar Challenge
Finished:
1.) The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins (#21 - Pub in 2024) ⭐⭐�: Meh, this was just ok- had promise, just was too slow for what I wanted.
2.) Leadership Two Words at a Time: Simple Truths for Leading Complicated People by Bill Treasurer (#11 Genre you avoid- business self help) �: Did not like at all- just felt like a huge copy/paste from a magazine, like how did this even get published?
Currently Reading:
1.) None of This Is True
2.) Mother May I
QoTW: What is the first book you have finished reading or are currently reading in 2024? Does it fulfill a 2024 Popsugar prompt? If so, which one(s)?
I've finished four prompts so far, the first one was The Quiet Tenant and it filled the prompt for 3 POVs.
Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!! We finally got a proper snowfall here! January is unusually late for us, I was starting to wonder if it would snow at all this year. AND the impending storm spurred me to fin..."
WOW Nadine- I'm so glad that your walking has made such an impact in your pain. I also started Pilates at the end of December because I wanted more flexibility and core strength, and I'm also feeling so much better. Small things make such a huge difference and I'm so proud of you for taking the hardest step - starting.
Also, appreciate the video game book you came across- added it to my excel for ideas for that prompt!
Bea wrote: "Happy Thursday!Well, ya'll, did I tell you that my trip to Scotland has expanded from a planned two week trip to a 6+ week trip? I am taking a 17 day tour of many of the Scottish islands, a 9 day..."
WOW - I'm so excited to here more about your trip Bea. It sounds incredible and what an amazing opportunity.
Mod
Love the Powells lists, LYNN. Are you a Portlandian? I'm a regular visitor to the city, despite living in London, and Powells is one of my favourite bookshops. The Top Five one loo..."
I am not a Portlandian, but not by choice. I would definitely be living in that general area if I had the money to relocate, etc.! :)
I have been lucky enough to have visited Powells and needless to say, I spent HOURS in there! Fortunately I was with a very understanding friend who patiently waited . :)
Well, I'm on track for my reading goal this year, at least for now, win!I'm 3/50 for the challenge. This week I read:
Regarding Anna by Florence Osmund - 3 stars, interesting plot, less so on execution, used for self-published author prompt.
Litani by Jess Lourey - love Jess Lourey, could not put this book down. Probably some triggers here though, so proceed with caution. Thinking of using for bildungsroman book, it matches much of the description but takes place over a short period of time in the teen's life. If I don't read another then I'll use it.
Letters to a Young Gymnast by Nadia Comaneci - having watched Olympic gymnastics since I was a child, Comaneci was a familiar figure to me but found lots of new information and insight in her memoir. Used as a book about women's sports and/or by a woman athlete.
QOTW:
My first book of the year was Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry - I was a huge Friends fan and a big Matthew Perry fan, and I bought the book as soon as it came out but per usual it was sitting on my TBR when he passed. A local book club I've joined chose it as their January read (plus my sister wanted to read it but wanted me to read it first) and that finally pushed me to get into it. Heartbreaking, really, but still glad that I read it. I used it for the prompt "A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours" since Perry was in a 2 week coma at one point.
Happy Sunday! We finally got some snow last weekend even if the rain on Tuesday washed it all away. Maybe there will be some more snow this week. Although, I really only like snow to look at and not actually be in.It seems like many of us had resolutions related to being more healthy. I also decided to be more consistent in doing my PT stretches. I broke my back 2 years ago and even though the doctor says is healed, it has certainly never been the same. I'm hoping if I'm more consistent with the stretches than the achiness will be improved.
Finished:
MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios (ATY book that is not a novel) 4 stars. A very interesting read if you like all the behind the scenes stuff. I did take off one star because the conclusion seemed unfinished. Even if I do understand that marvel studios is still ongoing and its hard to write a conclusion to something still happening.
Currently reading:
Fevered Star (PS 3 POVs)
The Immortalists (ATY botanical cover)
Upcoming:
This Poison Heart (ATY main character black, indigenous, person of color)
QOTW: The first book I read this year was Sea Change. It's more a character study than plot filled, so it is not for everyone but I enjoyed it. It was for ATY not popsugar.
Guys! Have you seen Wonka? If not, you should. It's marvelous!
Felicia wrote: MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios (ATY book that is not a novel) 4 stars. A very interesting read if you like all the behind the scenes stuff. I did take off one star because the conclusion seemed unfinished. Even if I do understand that marvel studios is still ongoing and its hard to write a conclusion to something still happening.
That's cool that you liked this book. I got this book last year and I do want to read it, I just need to see when I can fit in the time.
Doni wrote: "Guys! Have you seen Wonka? If not, you should. It's marvelous!"I have and it was delightful!
I adored Wonka!I am currently banging my head against a wall over all the people hating on it because either
a) they think it's a remake
b) it's a musical
c) both
Especially people hating on it for being a musical kill me because the original was also a musical but everyone seems to have forgotten that??
In my opinion, it being a musical made it better!
Happy first week of January. The snow here in Illinois started in earnest on Friday, and dropped at least a foot. Now the temperatures are in the negatives. Between the snow, the holiday and the temperature, my kids have been off school for 5 days. I'm looking at my TBR, and wishing for a snow day myself. Sigh. QOTW:
What is the first book you have finished reading or are currently reading in 2024? Does it fulfill a 2024 Popsugar prompt? If so, which one(s)?
- I think I completed my first book of the year by January 1st. I picked a short YA series. It didn't count for a Popsugar, but it did count for a Bookish Bistro. The Case of the Vanishing Emerald
I'm still trying to complete all the prompts for all the previous years' challenges.
2024 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 3/50
Around the Year (AtY): 0/52
Read Harder: 1/24
52 Book Club: 0/52
Bookish Bistro: 8/48
Currently Reading:
None of This Is True
Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: As the Deer Flies
The Betrayed
California Dreaming: Cass Eliot Before the Mamas and Papas
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat
Finished:
Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout
The Ferryman
Happiness Falls
Denise wrote: "Hi everyone This is
my first time in this challenge and second check in
It's been really cold.....for Southern California
I finished:
Little Women
pop sugar: Bildungsroman
ATY: seven dwarves (..."
Welcome, Denise! You are doing great! I have madenote of that 42 year old in Bloomsbury Girls just in case I don't stumble across one!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Counting Miracles (other topics)The Time Machine (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
El huésped (other topics)
Bloomsbury Girls (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rachel Hawkins (other topics)Bill Treasurer (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Steven Lee Myers (other topics)
Alison Pick (other topics)
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This week, I finished:
Catch Her Death: set in snow: I really enjoy this series and this was a good addition to it.
Midnight Creed: author's 24th book: I love this series and this one wasn't my favorite, but I'll keep coming back for these characters.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon: about a 24 year old: This one caught my attention quick, but I was ready for it to be over. Listening to so many sex scenes in an audiobook was kind of a lot.
Jack Rose: 3 or more POVs: Another series that I enjoy and will keep coming back to. It was not the best of the series at all, but it kept me engaged.
Witch Brew: pen name: Love these characters, but this is super over the top. I still won't give up on this series. Quick and easy entertainment.
The Dragon Flyers: features dragons: I initially started reading book 4 in the crave series for this prompt, because I thought I enjoyed the first 3 books, but I got about 5% into book 4 and just could not go on, so I decided a children's book was the way to go, because fantasy is just not my favorite and I want to keep the challenge fun.
The Housemaid: Not for the challenge: I only discovered Freida McFadden a few months ago and I have been flying through all of her books. I know this one is hugely popular. I thought it wasn't even close to being her best book, but it was still really good.
Currently reading:
The Housemaid's Secret: continuing the series: So far this is not as good as the first one.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI: Indigenous people: This boy has made me madder than I can express. I found it difficult to follow for a little while, because there are so many characters, but then I got hooked and I just can't believe I never knew about any of this.