ŷ������

Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was the first time (in almost 69 years) I have been driving on icy roads and was involved in a multiple-vehicle collision. Before you panic, by “involved�� I mean I barely escaped colliding with another vehicle in an accident I can only assume involved at least 4-5 vehicles, at least one of which was a semi-truck. It was a surreal experience and I am so grateful that the universe aligned to allow me to safely exit the scene without being hit or hitting another vehicle. That sight and sound of vehicles colliding will stay in my mind forever, I am sure��

I was traveling in the rightmost/’slow�� lane when a semi decided to cross my lane from the middle lane at the very last minute to access an exit ramp. I was absolutely stunned that I was able to NOT panic and simply keep braking and trying to select a clear path forward, when I noticed another semi barreling down the inner ‘extra�� lane directly to my left, where I was headed. I started out in the rightmost/slowest of 3 lanes. The original semi was in the closest lane to my left just barely ahead of me, when its right turn signal suddenly flashed on as the truck was just as suddenly crossing my lane to get to the exit ramp to my right. Fortunately, I knew better than to slam on my brakes since the roads were icy and snow-covered, so while gently braking, I gradually guided my vehicle to the left since I had been studiously watching traffic and was aware the lane to my immediate left was unoccupied. (How fortuitous!) Then as I was approaching the ‘fast�� lane, I observe that I am headed directly into another semi’s path and that truck was going fast! So I gently corrected direction, noting that another vehicle was approaching on my right, exactly where I was headed, so I attempted to remain in the lane where I was, allowing the other two vehicles to pass me on both sides. And…it worked! I was so relieved. I felt badly about not stopping, but honestly, I feared that if I stopped I might not be willing to get back on the road. I was about 15 miles from home. I’m fairly certain that one of the vehicles I saw collide with that first semi which caused the whole problem, was the one that had been following me way too closely. I can only assume that driver had no time to react...especially if they were not paying attention.

Between that and a rather dramatic encounter at the gym earlier, I was absolutely fried when I arrived home. And so very grateful to BE HOME and not in the hospital or dead without an operable vehicle. Life can drastically change within an instant. I was so very lucky...

ADMIN STUFF:
THE APRIL MONTHLY GROUP READ FINAL SELECTION POLL IS LIVE!
This book could be used to fulfill Prompt #23 A book that is considered healing fiction
World Health Day is April 7, 2025: ...
Nadine thoughtfully provided a definition:
Healing fiction describes stories about ordinary people, set in ordinary places (such as cafes, bookshops, laundromats, and convenience stores), who are struggling with real, common problems like heartbreak or loneliness.
And while that may be the "official" description, I also would define some of the fantasy I read as "healing fiction." But that's just me... 😁
Vote HERE! This poll will run through February 25!
The three books under consideration:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #1)

THE MARCH 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ IS��Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book could be used to fulfill prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025! Surely there is a “musical muse�� who will volunteer to lead this discussion! Message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!

THE FEBRUARY 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ IS A Deadly Education (Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik! This book could be used to fulfill prompt #14 A book about a nontraditional education. World Thinking Day is February 22, 2025. Erin is the “crafty chronicler�� who has graciously volunteered to lead this discussion! Thank you so very much, Erin!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏😃��

THE LISTING OF 2025 MONTHLY GROUP READ TOPICS IS HERE!
***

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Has the adaptation of a book ever proven to be much more enjoyable for you than the book itself?
Yes! I was amazed by this happening to me for the first time. It was many years ago, in my 30s. I went to the movie theater with a friend to watch The Horse Whisperer. (Robert Redford was all the motivation I needed to watch a movie!) I had just gotten to the point that my children were old enough I was finally able to begin reading for my own enjoyment (not for knowledge, per se—think nutrition, child psychology, parenting, etc.) and meant to read the 1995 book of the same title authored by Nicholas Evans before watching the movie, but ran out of time. I enjoyed the movie immensely (Did I mention it starred Robert Redford?!?) and was anxious to read the book, which I managed to do within a few days after watching the movie. And boy, was I ever disappointed. The movie ending was so very different from the book ending. I felt as if Evans was up against a deadline writing the book and selected an ending that was quick to write, but for me, was beyond unsatisfying and in effect, unrealistic.

How about you?

2025 READING CHALLENGES:
Popsugar: 29/50
Around the Year (AtY): 46/52
AtY 2025 Anniversary List: 9/10
Read Harder: 13/24
52 Book Club: 38/52

2024 Popsugar: 47/50

FINISHED:
*Death on Eat Street (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery #1) by J.J. Cook ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� was a bit more intense than I expected. I particularly enjoyed the diversity of characters�� However, I did solve the ‘mystery�� early on, which is unusual for me. But I plan to continue with the next two installments.
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #14, #20, #24, #26, #28, NEW #29, #40, #43
ATY: #1, #2, #5, #13, #15, #16, #24, #26, #32, #36, #37, #41, #45, #48
RHC: #4
52 Book Club: #22, #36, #41, #43, #45, NEW #48, #51

*Gator Bowl (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery #0.5) by J.J. Cook ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� was a quite nice prequel to this series, IMO! No mystery, but a sweet depiction of the beginnings of the biscuit bowl rage!! 😊
POPSUGAR: #2, #6, #8, #23, #24, #26, #28, #29, #43
ATY: #1, #2, #15, #16, #20, #26, #37, #40, #41, #43, #45
RHC: #21
52 Book Club: #5, #13, #45

*The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� was a reread for an IRL book club meeting last Sunday. Unfortunately, I ended up not going. It was snowing and cold and I just didn’t feel like driving 40 miles round trip to participate that day. I think I enjoyed this even a bit more the second time around! And romance is not my typical genre of choice! I want to also read The Dead Romantics, which I believe was her debut novel.
POPSUGAR: #2-The love always stays, and so do we., #6, #20, #24, #26, NEW #35, #40
ATY: #2, #3, #5, #13, #15, #16, #23, #26, #38/#39, #40, #41, #48, NEW #49
RHC: #16, #19, #24
52 Book Club: #2, #7, #22, #33, #37, #51-336 pages

CONTINUING:
*Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power by Rebecca
Solnit
*Parable of the Talents (Earthseed #2) by Octavia E. Butler
*Shift (Silo #2) by Hugh Howey
*Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
*The Trees by Percival Everett (#40)
*Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (#42)
*Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
*The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
*Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking has me thinking so very much that I have delayed reviewing it until I can finalize my thoughts��
*The Birthing House by Kathy Taylor
*...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer

PLANNED:
*21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club #21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club #22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club #23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*23 1/2 Lies (Women’s Murder Club #23.5) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*The 24th Hour (Women’s Murder Club #24) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
*Fear No Evil (Alex Cross #29) by James Patterson
*Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
*The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was the first time ..."



Phew!! So glad you escaped unscathed!!! Amazing how emergencies like that can really CLARIFY our brains, slow down time, keep us from panicking, and allow us to remember alllll the details. I've been driving on snowy roads a lot lately too. This is a good reminder to slow down as much as you need to, and keep plenty of space in front of you!! and yea it is SO annoying when fellow drivers take advantage of that needed space and cut me off. That truck driver should have known better.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

I don’t know about you all, but I am ready for some warmer weather. I woke up this morning to snow for the second time this week, and I am so done with it. It’s very pretty, but I just dread the thought of having to shovel the driveway again. I’m not sure how long the snow is supposed to last today, but I’ll probably wait to shovel until tomorrow.

Apart from the snow, it’s been a pretty good week. I managed to make some progress on my household projects this week, and even had a chance to enjoy some hobby time. I also had a chance to finish watching House of the Dragon, and I just started a re-watch of Game of Thrones. I’m currently about halfway through season one.

This has also been a really good week for reading. I’ve been splitting my time pretty equally between reading TBR books and new releases, and I’m really pleased with my progress on both lists.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals��

ŷ������ Challenge: 080/250
Mount TBR Challenge: 063/150

📚Physical TBR: 57/731
📱Ebook TBR: 3/218
��Audiobook TBR: 3/12 (I realized this week that my total for this category was higher than it should have been. I have adjusted my checklist totals to compensate.)
TBR Checklist Total: 63/961

TBR Books DNFed in 2025: 2

I did pick up a few new releases this week, including: A Dragon of Black Glass, by James Rollins; Death of a Smuggler, by M.C. Beaton; and Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Vol. 5, by Mizuki Tsujimura.

These are the final books that I planned to purchase in February. Let’s see if I manage to stick to that plan��

“New�� Books Bought in 2024: 20
“New�� Books Read in 2024: 17
“New�� Books DNFed in 2024: 0

Here are the books I finished this week��

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~The Two Towers �� I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book before bed each night. Andy Serkis is a fantastic narrator, and it was delightful to hear him reprise his role as Gollum for the audiobook. ��: ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
~Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales �� This is the third book in the Emily Wilde series, and was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I thought it was a really good continuation of the series. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~Illuminations �� While it did take me several chapters to become fully invested in this story, I ended up enjoying it very much and actually read most of it in a single afternoon. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~The Princess of Potential �� I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel to The House Witch trilogy. It was so much fun to find out what happened to the characters after the events of the previous book. 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Death of a Smuggler �� This is the 37th (and most recent) book in the Hamish Macbeth Mystery series. I thought this was a good continuation of the series, and enjoyed the Star Wars references. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to spousal abuse, as well as human trafficking. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
~Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Vol. 5 �� I thoroughly enjoyed the concluding volume of the Lonely Castle in the Mirror manga! If you haven’t had a chance to read the original novel, or the manga, I highly recommend both. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This series includes frequent references to (and depictions of) bullying. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
~Damsel �� I made it about 60 pages into this book before deciding to DNF. Between the gaslighting and multiple animal deaths, I just had no desire to continue reading. I also strongly disliked the male main character. 📚

Currently Reading:
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2 �� I am currently taking an extended break from this book. 📚
~The Return of the King �� I started this book last Thursday night, but have not gotten very far into it yet. I am enjoying it so far though. ��
~The Burning Witch �� This is the first book in the sequel trilogy to The Princess of Potential. I’m currently about 15 chapters into this book, and I am enjoying the story so far. 📚
~A Dragon of Black Glass �� I just started this book yesterday afternoon, and I’m currently 8 chapters into the story. I’m really enjoying it so far, and looking forward to reading more this afternoon. 📚
~Parable of the Sower �� A good friend of mine is going to be buddy reading this book with me over the next several weeks. I’ll be starting it this afternoon. 📚

QOTW:
There have been a few book adaptations that I actually liked better than the original novel, but the one that really stands out to me is The Princess Bride. I couldn't get into the book, but absolutely adore the movie adaptation!

L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was the first time ..."

So glad you're safe, Lynn!

You did very well, Lynn.

L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏"

I'm so glad to hear that you were able to avoid getting caught in the collision! That is such a scary situation to be in!

2025 Purchased TBR: 5/8
Library TBR: 11/16
PS Challenge: 32/50
Library Challenge: 6/20

Finished: The Promise

Started: Weathering intend to use for one of two books with same title. This is a beautiful book about a geologist-turned-therapist, but I'm having a hard time reading it. It feels like one of those books you dip in and out of, slowly savoring, rather than a page turner.

The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America I want to be informed on what's going on, but not sure exactly what to read. This one is a slow go too because it's so upsetting. I'm reading broadly, but not finishing much of anything right now.

QotW: I feel like I've already mentioned this, but the adaptation that really stands out for me is Wicked the musical. It is one of my favorite musicals. But I didn't even make it through the book, I disliked it so much.

Nadine in NY wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was...

Phew!! So glad you escaped unscathed!!! Amazing how emergencies like that can really CLARIFY our brains, slow down time, keep us from panicking, and allow us to remember alllll the details. I've been driving on snowy roads a lot lately too. This is a good reminder to slow down as much as you need to, and keep plenty of space in front of you!! and yea it is SO annoying when fellow drivers take advantage of that needed space and cut me off. That truck driver should have known better."
All the rest of the way home, I kept wondering what had possessed that driver! I can only imagine that person was hopefully uninjured, but to know you had caused others to be injured and their vehicles disabled. That would be a ton of guilt, IMO. It honestly felt as if I was driving in some video game. I just stayed focused on doing whatever I could to get through it and almost felt disassociated from the reality of it! LOL

L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was the first time ..."

@Lynn - I'm so relieved and overjoyed by your successful maneuvering through that nightmare! Bet you cling to backroads and secondary routes as much as possible for a while! I have had a few close calls like that myself - and even though one led to my hitting a lightpole, I managed to maneuver so it hit the passenger door where no one was sitting rather than head on - it was a black ice situation. You will be shaky for a bit.

I'm always astounded by the instinctive responses that pass through my brain when something like that happens when I'm driving - like the not slamming on breaks but pumping and steering, the quick analysis and judgment of the immediate vicinity and not being distracted by the accident or whatever is causing the situation, etc. I've been driving since I was 16 -- a very long time - in various conditions, country and city -- so there is lots of experience, but the original training was all driver's ed class in the early-1970s which was far from one on one and I still hear the instructor's voice in my ear.

For a few years I drove back and forth between NYC and Nashville for a Needlework Trade Show every February. At least one way always was icy snowy conditions. It always astounded me -- and also when times of heavy fog -- at how semis and even large personal vehicles like trucks, vans, SUVS and Soccer Mom Cars would barrel along at speed limit in conditions that required a much slower speed if you ever needed to stop quickly - or even just general safety. I always putter along in the slow lane in those conditions and keep distance behind me. I've even pulled onto the shoulder to let a tailgating truck to pass me.

Doni wrote: "2025 Purchased TBR: 5/8
Library TBR: 11/16
PS Challenge: 32/50
Library Challenge: 6/20

Finished: The Promise

Started: Weathering intend to use for one of two books w..."

@Doni - agree with you on Wicked - the musical is so far better than the book. I hated the book so much - as mean-spirited at the very least. Turned me off to this author completely although I still have Lost stacked here somewhere as I adore any fiction relating to Christmas.

But the musical - is such an improvement over the book, make you realize just what the book could have been. At least we have the musical's script!

K.L. wrote: "Happy Thursday, everyone!

I don’t know about you all, but I am ready for some warmer weather. I woke up this morning to snow for the second time this week, and I am so done with it. It’s very pretty, but I just dread the thought of having to shovel the driveway again. I’m not sure how long the snow is supposed to last today, but I’ll probably wait to shovel until tomorrow."
Agreed! Winter weather sucks and I sure wish I lived in a more temperate climate...

"This has also been a really good week for reading. I’ve been splitting my time pretty equally between reading TBR books and new releases, and I’m really pleased with my progress on both lists."
You are so organized! 👍😃

"~Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales �� This is the third book in the Emily Wilde series, and was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I thought it was a really good continuation of the series. 📚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐"
this is a series I intend to get to...

"~Parable of the Sower �� A good friend of mine is going to be buddy reading this book with me over the next several weeks. I’ll be starting it this afternoon. 📚"
I hope you and your friend enjoy this as much as I did. Well, "enjoy" may not be an accurate term. I "appreciated" it! 😁 I have been reading Parable of the Talents a bit at a time since it seems so very likely in our world right now...scary!

"QOTW:
There have been a few book adaptations that I actually liked better than the original novel, but the one that really stands out to me is The Princess Bride. I couldn't get into the book, but absolutely adore the movie adaptation!"
Huh. I don't know why, but I'm not really drawn to either the book or the movie! LOL

Doni wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

So glad you're safe, Lynn!."
Thank you! No moreso than I! 🙂

LeahS wrote: "You did very well, Lynn."
I was honestly shocked at how calm I remained while evaluating whether I'd rather be hit by a semi going fast to the left or a passenger vehicle going much slower to the right. I opted for the vehicle on the right and fortunately, that driver was able to stay in their lane as well!

K.L. wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏"

I'm so glad to hear that you were able to avoid getting caught in the collision! Th..."
No kidding! The closest I've ever come to such danger on the road!

Happy Thursday!

Yikes, Lynn! So glad to hear you're all right!

This week at work was much calmer. Next Tuesday is my birthday, so I'm taking off this coming Monday and Tuesday from work and gifting myself a long weekend.

Finished:
Just some comics & manga this week:
Chihayafuru, Vol. 30
Chihayafuru, Vol. 31
Chihayafuru, Vol. 32
Rainbow Days 14

I am currently at 9/50 for Popsugar (7/40 and 2/10).

Currently reading:
This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole - for a book set in or around a body of water, since it mostly takes place on islands.

Upcoming/Planned:
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall for a book with two or more books on the cover.

The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 12 by Natsu Hyuuga - not for a prompt.

QOTW:
I know there have been some adaptations that I've enjoyed more than the source. A lot of times, I think it depends on which version of the story I experience first. For example, I saw the movie of The Neverending Story before I read the book, and even though the book came first, I didn't like it as much as I did the movie.

I also agree with Doni about Wicked; enjoyed the musical (not my favorite but still good) but hated the book.

It's been a busy couple of weeks and the last few days have me behind on my reading - too brain dead from work to do more than watch food competition shows and old movies. I did start a jigsaw puzzle....

PS 11/60 - ATY 17/57 - clearly random reading is more easily fitting in to ATY prompts this year than PS. Last year started the same way.

Finished: -
The Thirteen Problems - PS Prompt Interconnected short stories (featuring Miss Marple and a Tuesday NIght Murder Club) and also ATY short story collection prompt
A Lady's Formula for Love - wanted a smutty romance for Valentine's Day reading - this fit - not too smutty, great characters, light and humerous though the mystery plot was more a device to push the MC together -- No PS prompt but Fit ATY prompt for a brain - and also fit all but one of the listed category options in this prompt.

Currently reading:
The Odyssey
India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy
Lessons in Chemistry

QOTW: The primary one that comes to mind was mentioned by Doni and I already opined - Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. However a couple others -- much older --

The move with Elaine May and Walter Matthau - A New Leaf - is far superior to the short story it was based on - The Green Heart by Jack Ritchie. Of course, the screen play was written by the brilliant Elaine May so of course it was.

I've seen 2 different opera productions that adapted The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and both were far superior to the original story - that's 2 different productions of the Benjamin Britten opera adaptation.

And The Roundabout Theater Company in NYC produced a marvelous adaptation of The 39 Steps that was superior to both the book and the Hitchcock film.

Doni wrote: "Finished: The Promise"
It has been so very long since I read The Chosen (I was 13.) that I really need to reread it, and then maybe this one as well.

"Started: Weathering intend to use for one of two books with same title. This is a beautiful book about a geologist-turned-therapist, but I'm having a hard time reading it. It feels like one of those books you dip in and out of, slowly savoring, rather than a page turner."
I encounter quite a few books like that any more, typically nonfiction. I love the subtitle on the cover: How the earth's deep wisdom can help us endure life's storms. I wonder if perhaps our current political climate is much worse than just a "storm," however...

"The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America I want to be informed on what's going on, but not sure exactly what to read. This one is a slow go too because it's so upsetting. I'm reading broadly, but not finishing much of anything right now."
I'm having trouble sleeping. I lie down and immediately begin thinking of all the people who are/will be hurt or dead as a result of political decisions. I may be one of them if Social Security and/or Medicare is gutted. *sigh* Time will tell.

"QotW: I feel like I've already mentioned this, but the adaptation that really stands out for me is Wicked the musical. It is one of my favorite musicals. But I didn't even make it through the book, I disliked it so much."
I never read that. My former Borders coworkers who read it said I wouldn't like it. I can almost always trust them to know my preferences.

Theresa wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days. Last night was..."
You and I are much alike behind the wheel. I was debating whether to literally take my foot off the accelerator to try to force the car behind me to pass me. I had done that miles earlier to another vehicle. I don't understand drivers sometimes! 🙄

L Y N N wrote: "Theresa wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Happy Thursday! I'm just so grateful and appreciative to be able to live my life today! 😃👏👏👏👏👏👏

Wow. It seems as if so much has happened in just these past few days..."

Having driven some full size and Soccer Mom SUVS - rentals - and how outside sound insulated those cars tend to be these days along with how the weight and design of the car insulates you from feeling the speed - I realize how easy it is for the speed to creep up, especially if like me you are used to driving at the same speed as most everyone else is (which is usually well over the speed limit have you noticed). It's especially so when if like me you have a lead foot as well as being very comfortable driving. BUT, unlike all these people, I realize it's not really safe and I watch my speed - use cruise control to keep it down and counteract my lead foot and not feeling the speed.

Hi all,

Lynn, I'm glad you're ok! that sounds really scary!

It's been really cold this week, i've been trying to avoid leaving the house as much as I can. I'm so ready for spring.

This week I finished:

A Sorceress Comes to Call - Another tbr pick. I really loved this one. T Kingfisher writes a great dark fairytale retelling. Also it came from a gift card splurge so I own it, and the cover is lovely with gold foil and varnish.

The Z Word - More tbr, this is a queer zombie apocalypse and corporate appropriation of pride. It's hard to say it was FUN, but I enjoyed it and it felt like a good bloody read for the times.

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity - Finally finished this. It was really good, informative, made me think a lot. Have a lot to process. The last chapter about building an accessible world for everyone just feels so far away right now, after seeing all the bills being threatened against disabled people right now.

Homicide at the Haunted House - more tbr pick. This was short and fun. Cozy mysteries aren't my favorite but it was cute, has a supernatural twist which is fun.

Currently reading:

A Letter to the Luminous Deep - just barely got started on this, another tbr pick.

QOTW:

I'd agree with Princess Bride. Love the movie, wasn't that enamored of the book. I actually enjoyed the True Blood show more than the books, I thought the characters were way more interesting and well rounded. Also I kind of hated the book of Forest Gump. There were a lot of really gross parts. Also the book Mrs Doubtfire got based off of was not nearly as charming.

Happy Thursday!!  Snow every day here.  Snow snow snow.  I finally had to get out back and shovel a path off the deck for my dogs on Monday, and today I had to go shovel it again because it had gotten too deep for them again.  Sure it's pretty, it's REALLY pretty, and it's fun to brag about weather related hardship (Syracuse, the city just south of me, now has received more snowfall than any other city in the US, yay*), but I am OVER it, I'd like a few days without snow, please.  I need a few dry sunny days to get rid of the thick sheet of ice covering my driveway.

* This is not official yet, Erie PA was in the lead, but I believe Syracuse just passed them, Syr has 104" so far this season. Because of the weather pattern crossing the Great Lakes, the city of Syracuse is JUST on the cusp of the lake effect snow band.  I am a bit farther north so I am inside the lake effect snow band, and towns north of me - none of them large enough to qualify as "cities" of 100k or more people - get even more snow than I do.  As you go yet farther north, right about where Watertown NY and Kingston Ontario are, it starts to taper off again, and you are once again outside the lake effect snow band.  If you fly into Syracuse and look down, you can actually SEE this snow band, it's quite interesting.



This week I finished 1 book.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley- what a boring slog this book was.  It involved time travel, dashing heroes from the actual past, a secret government agency in the new future, alternate planes of existence, double crosses upon double crosses, and it SHOULD have been banging, but instead it was soooo slow.  No Popsugar category that I could find, but I did check off  "time travel" in AtY.  Everyone who disagrees with my taste in books should run-not-walk to pick this one up, I hated it so you will love it LOL.


Popsugar 28% 14 /50
Must Reads 0% 0 /10
AtY 27% 14 /52
AtY bonus 0% 0 /10
2025 pub 10% 5 /50
NetGalley ratio  78%




QotW
Yes most definitely!  

The Shining is notable for being just as good as the book, neither better nor worse.  same for Harry Potter - the books were great, AND the movies were great (and perfectly cast - super big kudos to the casting in those!!)

Movies that were significantly better than the books:
Drive - Ryan Gosling is THE MAN.  The book was ... meh.
I Am Legend - good lord that book was BAD - the movie was not amazing or anything, but that book was BAD.
Lust, Caution - the book assumed I was familiar with a lot of cultural things that I was NOT familiar with.  Not really the book's fault, but the movie did a good job of making things more clear for me.
American Psycho - I could not read the book,  it was disgusting.  Bale & Harron gave the movie a much needed feminist twist that made the satire obvious and clever and never gratuitous.
Let the Right One In - book was so boring, I could not finish.  Movie was eerie and riveting.  The American version of the movie was pretty good too.
Fantastic Mr. Fox - nothing wrong with this book but ... c'mon ... when George Clooney is doing the voice, no book can compete.
Out of Africa - I really did not like this book, it felt so colonial and racist.  Meryl Streep and - yes! - Robert Redford brought much needed romance to the story.
Like Water for Chocolate - hated the book, magical realism is not my style, but I loved the movie.
Dracula - oof that book was a snoozefest.  Gary Oldman, on the other hand? FIRE.   (Let's just ignore Keanu Reeves in that movie LOL.  I love the guy, but that was NOT the role for him.)
Fight Club - the book was okay, the movie is fantastic, one of my all time favorites.  Edward Norton and Brad Pitt were BRILLIANT. Fincher made the genius of the story really GLOW.
The Minority Report - decent book, but Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell bring that story to LIFE.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - GREAT book, even better movie.  Rutger Hauer, tears in the rain, cannot be beaten.
The Umbrella Academy (if Netflix series count?) - I loved this series. I was less impressed by the comics.
Darkly Dreaming Dexter- this book did NOTHING for me. (I never read any others in the series.)  Michael C Hall brought much needed LIFE to the character.


And then I went and picked my daughter up and we thought of some more:

Curious George (not sure if this one counts since the movie was not actually based on any particular book)
Tarzan of the Apes - that book was SO BAD,LAUGHABLY BAD.  In fact, I recommend everyone read it to appreciate how truly bad it is.  The movie I'm thinking of had Alexander Skarsgard strutting around half-naked, and I don't know if it was based on any particular ERB book.  But ... Skarsgard, half-naked? Cannot be beat.
Life of Pi - I really disliked that book.  Movie had gorgeous cinematography, which made up for a story I disliked.
Stardust - great book, better movie.  Robert DeNiro in a tutu.  Charlie Cox before he got famous.  Eeevil Michelle Pfeiffer and a pack of goats. Genius!
The Notebook - I hated that book.  I love Ryan Gosling.  Thus, the movie was better.

There are more, but that list is plenty long enough.

Happy Thursday! My husband’s been out of town for a week on business, and it’s been great! Ashley (daughter-in-law) and I got the craft room cleared out and reorganized. It’s going to be so much easier to do projects of all kinds. We even found space for a desk so Ashley can have a designated place to study. Next time he’s out of town we’ll tackle the library. I know, I know. It sounds fancy. I think it’s supposed to be a dining room, but I put my piano in there and a huge bookcase. Unfortunately, it’s also been collecting a lot of other junk, so it’s not the relaxing space I want it to be.

2025 Reading Challenges::

52 Book Club: 18/52 (Lunar New Year Mini-Challenge: 3/3)
ATY: 10/52 (ATY Anniversary Challenge: 1/10, ATY Winter Challenge: 15/15)
The Book Girls�� Guide: 12/74
Booklist Queen: 14/52
Cover Lovers: 14/50
Popsugar: 16/50

My Ever-Growing TBR: 18/224 �� 8.0% (My goal is 33.3%.)

Recently Completed:

The Serpent King: YA novel about a trio of misfit teens in a small Tennessee town told from the viewpoint of Dillard Early, son of a disgraced snake-handling preacher. It was surprising how much I really liked this book. I'm looking forward to reading more by Jeff Zentner. (BGG Lifetime of Reading #2 �� teenagers) ★★★★

Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV: 2024 NPR Books We Love. ATY #3 �� connected to the Do Re Mi song) ★★★★

The Poppy War (52 Books Lunar New Year Mini-Challenge �� set in a country that celebrates the lunar new year: China/Booklist Queen #40 �� a popular book you’ve never read) ★★★★

Good Dirt: Charmaine Wilkerson's sophomore book. It doesn't have to the magic of "Black Cake," but it's still worth reading. (ATY Winter Challenge #15 �� a BIPOC author/Booklist Queen #43 �� a multigenerational story/Cover Lovers #32 �� something broken on the cover) ★★★★

Sandwich: 2024 NPR Books We Love... and I loved it too. I think it helps to be older, so you can really appreciate the emotions associated with aging and menopause. (Popsugar #9 �� menopause) ★★★★��

We Lived on the Horizon (52 Books #43 �� explores social class/ATY Winter Challenge #11 �� speculative fiction) ★★��

Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Yeah, I’m a fan. (ATY #16 �� from the 2016 list: a biography, autobiography, or memoir/Booklist Queen #29 �� about a politician/Cover Lovers #25 �� a famous person on the cover) ★★★★��

The Murder of Mr. Wickham: Jane Austen Book Club. (ATY #21 �� related to a collective noun for animals: Murder) ★★★★

This Is a Love Story (52 Books #24 �� title is a “spoiler��/ATY Winter Challenge #15 �� a love story) ★★��

The Wise Women (52 Books Lunar New Year Mini-Challenge #2 �� a wise character) ★★��




Currently Reading:

Between Two Trailers (Cover Lovers #26 �� a number in the title or design/Popsugar #8 �� under 250 pages)
Fang Fiction (ATY #33 �� author you’ve enjoyed before/Booklist Queen #35 �� a green cover/Cover Lovers #1 �� your favorite color: green)
The Bookbinder (ATY #17 �� historical fiction before 1925/BGG Decades �� 1900s to 1910s/Booklist Queen #47 �� thought-provoking historical fiction)
Jackpot Summer (52 Books #7 �� set in summer/ATY #2 �� involving money/Booklist Queen #23 �� set in summer)
The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future: Adventures Underground Book Club.
The Force of Such Beauty (ATY #24 �� main character is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal/Popsugar #50 �� a character with chronic pain)
Alas, Babylon (Booklist Queen #41 �� dystopian novel/Popsugar #49 �� dystopian novel with a happy ending)
Just for the Summer (ATY #42 �� sunset vibes/Booklist Queen #24 �� a 2024 bestseller)
Tangled Up in You (Popsugar #34 �� direction in title: Up)
The Secret Garden (Popsugar #30 �� reminds you of your childhood)



QOTW: Totally agree with "Wicked" and "The Princess Bride." Such great adaptations! But whenever this question comes up my first response is always "The Shawshank Redemption." I love that movie!

Happy Thursday everyone! The days are winding down. Have 3 books to finish by the end of the month which won't be a problem. I'll get them done.

Dead tired today. I had a regular therapy session this week, and the next day I had a session with my psychiatrist so it was a lot of mental stuff to deal with. My psychiatrist even upped my dosage on my medication. I've felt some of the side effects such as the rapidity and anxiety from it, along with being extra drained from the meds and the mental stuff, but my psychiatrist said that was normal until the medication starts to level out.

Book News:

Read to my nephew this week and my mom recorded it. It was so sweet. I was reading him one of those little golden books, the one to the movie Jaws (kid friendly since they don't kill the shark at the end.) I even made the sound effects with the Jaws theme which my nephew got a laugh at every time I made the sounds. He sat through the whole reading which was awesome. He even clapped on is own after it was over so to get approval from an almost-one-year-old was perfect.

I did go to Barnes & Noble today. Given the week I had with both therapy sessions, I certainly needed it. Got 4 books. Then one of my other books arrived in the mail.

New Pick-Ups:

Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America - Very political, but I saw this book all last year and I want to understand why people in this particular community voted the way they did. I'm hoping this book will help me with that.

Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life - The title of this book caught my attention.

Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base - Figured why not.

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us - Haven't read this in a couple of years. I found a paperback of this. It was one of my favorite books when I read it so I've been wanting to read it again anyway.

Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World - Have this in hardback, but I found the paperback and I've been wanting to read this. Also have this author's other book about Rome (SPQR).

*

Currently Reading:

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World - A reread. First read it in hardback in 2022. Loved it! Now reading it again in paperback. Still just as awesome.

LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority - Paperback was just released this week. This was one of my top 3 favorites of 2024. Excited to read it again.

Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism - Incredible book so far and my favorite of the month!



Has the adaptation of a book ever proven to be much more enjoyable for you than the book itself?

OMG I love this question!

The one I think of off the bat is the Hulu adaptation of Under the Bridge . No disrespect to Godfrey (RIP), but I thought the show did a so much better job with it. While I rated the book a 4 star because it was good, there was something lacking, specifically when it came to the victim, Reena Virk. I didn't feel anything toward her. Sad she died the way she did, but Godfrey didn't go into her the way I had hoped.

I got more about Reena Virk from the series than I did from the book. I actually felt sympathy and empathy toward her. In the book I felt nothing which was a damn shame because I was hoping to get more out of the book.

Then add in the fact that they created a fictional cop with Lily Gladstone's character and I loved her backstory to the point that I even looked up The Sixties Scoop and read a book about it which was an event that I was not familiar with.

Hi all. I don't know if it's winter dragging me down, or the state of the country, or Girl Scout cookie madness, or my recently diagnosed plantar fasciitis, or that I'm slightly under the weather with a cold-ish thing (probably all of the above), but UGH! We still don't have much snow, but enough to cover everything. MUCH worse is that we had heavy rain before this bitter cold and everything under the snow is ice. If you step in the wrong place...
On the wonderful, wonderful plus side, spring training baseball starts today! There's a bright thing in the sky, and the ground is a green color that I haven't seen in months, and people are wearing shorts and short sleeves without a bulky coat in sight! Ahhhh. (I might make hotdogs for dinner, that sounds appropriate)

Lynn, SO glad you're OK. That situation sounds nuts! I've always lived in NY, Maine, or Minnesota (2 summers, never dealt with their winters!!), but I have driven like a grandma since I started! And I will continue to be that person that everyone else gets annoyed with on the road, and I don't care.

Reading... meh. Same as last week, a little bit of The Poet X, An Anarchist's Story: The Life of Ethel MacDonald and A Season with Mom: Love, Loss, and the Ultimate Baseball Adventure. I did pick up Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling, which seems the most promising, but also the one that I have the longest to read. An Anarchist's Story I would DNF, but I requested it through ILL and I feel an extra push to finish those, since someone found it and schlepped it for me. Plus, it's a subject I would like to learn more about.

QOTW: Definitely agree with The Princess Bride. The Last Unicorn and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH were other childhood favorites where the movie is better.
V for Vendetta is one of my favorite movies (though I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it in years- I can't decide if it would make me hopeful or a pit of despair...), the GN is almost nonsensical.
An honorable mention, Empire Falls, was turned into a miniseries. The author worked on the script, and it's almost a perfect adaptation of the book, but the casting- chef's kiss!

I probably have a bunch of others, too, but nothing else is jumping to mind.

Oh, and another thing bringing me down- I just read an article about how my library, my happy place, is in turmoil because the director is apparently a big bully (ithacavoice.org). Among other things, a couple of years ago, they did a major weeding of the books. It's very noticeable, but I didn't realize how severe it was until reading this article. They filled dumpsters multiple times (!!) getting rid of all the books because they got rid of too many to donate. It makes my tummy hurt... :(

Happy Thursday all!

Tomorrow I have an appointment to get my first tattoo. Yes, it'll be book-related. Wish me luck y'all.

Books read this week:

The Book Censor's Library -- for “a book that fits your favorite prompt from the 2015 challenge�� (a book originally published in a different language). Part 1984, part Fahrenheit 451, part Alice in Wonderland, this is a surreal and vitally important dystopian read about the power of imagination.

The Teller of Small Fortunes -- for “a book with a happily single female protagonist.�� Cute cozy fantasy that also touches on themes of being an immigrant, if you need to fulfill the “book about an immigrant or refugee�� prompt.

I, Robot -- for “a book of interconnected short stories.�� Man, the Will Smith movie was WAY off from the original source material! A bit dated but still entertaining and philosophical.

Waiting for Godot -- for “a classic you have never read.�� I had to read this for school, and it’s going to be fascinating to dig into�� but boy was it confusing. Maybe it works better on stage, since it’s a play��

DNF:

A Fire Upon the Deep -- for “a book you have avoided reading.�� Maybe hard sci-fi of the old-school variety just isn’t for me.

Currently reading:

August Kitko and the Mechas from Space -- for “a book where music is an integral part of the storyline��
Rosemary’s Baby -- for “a book you want to read based on the last sentence��
How to Age Disgracefully -- for “a book about a character going through menopause��
The Devil's Playground -- for “a book with a snake on the cover or in the title��

QOTW: There are actually a few movies that I've enjoyed more than the books they're adapted from. A short list:

Holes
Howl’s Moving Castle
How to Train Your Dragon
The Flight of Dragons
The Secret of NIMH

I'm glad that you are okay Lynn, I've been on highways a lot lately and seen many semis in ditches.

Happy check-in! I'm so ready for the deep freeze to end here which it is supposed to do this weekend. It's been -30 to -40 with windchills this February, Sunday might be +4. Even had the power go out for a hour or two because a fuse in the back alley froze.

Two weeks of reading:

Deep End ⭐⭐�� (PS body of water)
This did make me laugh out loud but not one I'll reread.

Magic Slays Dramatized Adaption Magic Gifts Dramatized Adaption Magic Rises Dramatized Adaption ⭐⭐⭐⭐��
Four more to go in the series.

The Forever Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reread.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� (ATY author three names)

The Rose Bargain ⭐⭐�� (ATY plant in title)
Ya historical fantasy. I liked the bargains and twists but the characters were meh. I do want to read the end to the duology.

Fahrenheit 451 ⭐⭐ (PS banned book)
The answer to the question of the week.

Spy x Family, Vol. 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� (ATY common household item)
Love this manga series.

The Devil You Know ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (ATY country song)
I liked revisiting the characters.

The Innkeeper Chronicles: Clean Sweep The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� (PS space tourism)
The inns in this series host aliens from across space.

PS 11/50
ATY 16/52 Anniversary 1/10
ŷ������ 34/200

QOTW:
Well Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind because I finally read it this week. I enjoyed the movie with Michael B. Jordan but I had no idea what was going on in this book. The idea of firefighters burning books, and people remembering books in protest was great, and some of the commentary on attention spans holds true. The rest made no sense and I probably would have dnfed if I hadn't seen the movie first.

Jennifer W wrote: "Oh, and another thing bringing me down- I just read an article about how my library, my happy place, is in turmoil because the director is apparently a big bully (ithacavoice.org). ... They filled dumpsters multiple times (!!) getting rid of all the books because they got rid of too many to donate...."



oh noooooo

Wow! Lynn, I'm so glad you are okay.

Driving has been terrible here. January was cold, but February has been brutal. We set a snowfall record last week.

I finished no books last week, but I successfully switched a book and made good work on my books in progress,

Series - 1/10
Reading Across Canada - 1/10
Nobel laureates - 0/5

PS - 7/40
Regular ATY - 6/40
Anniversary ATY - 1/10

Currently reading:
The Mermaid That Came Between Them - 25% - but stopping as I can't find the book to read
Mirèio, a Provençal Poem - 33%
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands -78%
Hometown Ties - 60%

Buddy Reads:
none at present

QOTW: Books are almost always better. The two exceptions are Shrek - the picture book is terrible, but the movie was delightful. And Wicked - the book was tedious, but the musical benefited from all the cutting.

OMG I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OK! It's wild out there! Stay safe!!

Finished 06/50

Perelandra for "book about space tourism". This was good but a lot headier than I expected! Half sci-fi, half philosophy.

Currently Reading

Geisha, a Life for "book about a POC experiencing joy, not trauma" I SINCERELY HOPE SO. I just started this and I reeeeally hope it fits.

QotW

Rarely, however the movies for Wicked, War of the Worlds, and A Princess Bride were waaaaay better than the books.

I finished Mary as a book with a character going through menopause. It was weird. Not necessarily in a bad way, but not necessarily in a good way either. Didn't love the ending.

I started Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as my book about non traditional education.

QOTW: There are a couple of movies I like better than the books: Bridget Jones' Diary, The Wizard of Oz and Angels and Demons.

We had a three day weekend and a (fairly mild) winter storm over that weekend. I spent my time inside curled up under a blanket with a fantastic book. Once it cleared up a little, I did brave the cold to get out a little bit.

Finished
Psykhe (a book with magical creatures that aren’t dragons). I love everything that Kate Forsyth writes. This book is no exception. The writing is gorgeous, and even though it takes a long time to get to the Psykhe and Eros myth, the pre-Roman Republic/Eutruscan and Gallic settings are a joy to explore with Psykhe.

Reading
Boy From the Valleys: My unexpected journey

The Door in the Hedge and Other Stories

The Frozen River

QOTW
The one that comes to mind is Austenland. Austenland the book is so forgettable that I’ll try to add it to my TBR every once in a while and then see I’ve already read it. The movie is a riot, and just thinking about it makes me want to watch it again.

So glad you are safe after that harrowing drive, Lynn, and that you were able to keep your wits about you throughout the ordeal! Phew!

Just a short update from me...I finished one book and started two more. How did I let that happen?! 🤣 I'm at 5/40 and 0/10 for this challenge, and 11/85 for my overall ŷ������ Reading Challenge (though it shows me at 12 for the DNFed book I marked as "read").

Finished:
* Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass - this was a "traveling book" copy that was specially published by the Douglass family to celebrate the bicentennial of his birth in 2018 and distributed by the Talbot County Public Library. It included an intro by Bryan Stevenson and foreword from one of the family members, as well as family photos and a timeline that wove together milestones from Douglass's life with U.S. history. I am looking forward to help continue the journey of this book and keeping this history alive!

Currently Reading:
* The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries edited by Michael Sims;
* Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour;
* Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most by Tyler Moore; and,
* Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? written by Martin Luther King Jr. and narrated by J.D. Jackson (one of my all-time favorite audiobook narrators -- and the perfect choice to read this one!).

QotW:
Has the adaptation of a book ever proven to be much more enjoyable for you than the book itself? I found the movie based on The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler much more enjoyable than the book (I read it before watching the movie). The book was ok, though I apparently liked the book club questions at the end most of all based on the brief review I wrote. I really enjoyed the movie version as a fun chick flick escape.

Glad you were not hurt in any of that Lynn (I was run off the road by an 18 wheeler today, also not hurt)

Wow, I forgot to log in last week but if I'm honest I haven't been reading much lately, mostly graphic novels

I did read A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara for PS 48. A book that features a married couple who don't live together

By rights, I should have loved this. It's exactly my sort of book. Instead I spent the book wanting to slap the protagonist into next week. If not for the challenging nature of this particular prompt I probably would have DNFed this. It did get better at the end but not enough for me to want book 2

And as I said I read a ton of graphic novels/manga

Angels of Death, Vol. 1 by Kudan Naduka It's a video game adaptation and that's not my thing

H.P. Lovecraft's The Shadow Over Innsmouthby H.P Lovecraft and manga adaptation by Gou Tanabe - The art in this was amazing and this is an excellent adaptation of Lovecraft's work

Carmilla Volume 2: The Last Vampire Hunter by Amy Chu I like what she tried to do with this but the story telling had issues

Rare Flavours by Ram V. I was surprised by this one (cw it's about cannibalism)

QOTW Yes but as always when I'm put on the spot, I can't think. How To Train Your Dragon definitely was better (but honestly it only kept the names and were completely different stories). I think I might have like Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle more than the book.

Often if I see the movie before the book I tend to like them equally. In some ways I might have enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movies more than the books because, as much as I love them they can be long and dry. That said the movies missed a few important story beats that upset me.

@Lynn: glad you made it out without a collision.

A few people have said they wish for warmer weather...we are certainly going to get that n LA. It was hovering around 80 today and set to get hotter next week

I finished two book, neither for PS prompts but I did use one of them for the 52 and ATY:

Table for Two I thought it was just ok, and did not care foe the novella at all

In Five Years This book is rated kind of low on GR (3.5) but I loved it. It is NOT the love story the blurb makes it out to be but rather a novel of friendship.

Currently reading:
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Horse
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
War and Peace

QOTW:
Definitely agree with Wicked. That book was a hot mess

I also liked American Fiction more than its book, Erasure
Drive My Car was IMO better than the short stories it was based on (Men Without Women is the story collection)

Not much to report this week either.

I am still reading but not finding push for reading right now. I watched a whole series of something and a new Netflix movie in the past few days. I've mostly been trying to read thru my stack of newspapers. I even managed a magazine this week! And every day I chip away a little more at How to Be Old So I am getting reading done, just not finishing books.

I had a stack of books due the other day and even though I had not gotten to read them, I decided to just return them. I had renewed them once already and I still hadn't managed to read them so I told myself I can always get them again later. So, I dropped 6 books back at the library without even reading them.

2025 Challenges:
Popsugar: 10/50
ATY: 14/52 & 2/10
A to Z (Kindle edition): 1/26

ŷ������: 14/150

Physical TBR: 0/100
Kindle TBR: 0/123
TBR Goal: 0/221


Finished:
2 finished, 1 Completed Popsugar

The Water Dancer
50 States, ATY#3

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
PS#8
-------
Currently Reading
While We Were Dating
At First Light
Pucking Around
How to Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon

On the Backburner
Libby

Physical Library Rentals
Buzzing
The House of Eve
Tangled Up in You

Magazines: (2/142)
Read since last check-in: 1

Question of the Week:
I didn’t think I had anything for this, but then I remembered that I read Mary Poppins last year and didn’t really enjoy it that much. Liked the movie way better, both versions.

First of all, so glad you're okay, Lynn! It sounds like you handled the situation really well.

Life update: I've been feeling down this week. I haven't had any full-blown migraines, but a lot of low-level nausea and tiredness, and just that disturbing sense of oddness that feels like a migraine might be starting, has left me out of sorts. Hubby continues to make good progress on the house, but my own efforts have been running into dead ends - people not replying to emails, that kind of thing. On the plus side, I've booked a few days off work for mid-March, so that gives me something to look forward to.

Reading update: I finished two books:

Srimad Bhagavadgita: with English Translation and Transliteration # 1411 for "unlikely friendship"
Floating Hotel for "space tourism"

I also investigated the bookmark challenges on ŷ������ and Kindle and did some planning to make sure I can collect as many of those as possible alongside my two challenges. The Audible ones, on the other hand, I decided to leave alone. I don't like how they make them cryptic so that you have to do additional research online to find out how to get them - and once I found out, a lot of them just didn't seem to suit my style of reading or just required unrealistic numbers.

Stats:
Finished for the PopSugar challenge: 2 this week, 9/50 total
Finished for the Star Trek Series challenge: 0 this week, 2/18 total
Finished outside the challenges: 0 this week, 2 total
DNF: 0 this week, 2 total

Currently Reading:

Babel for the "silver" prompt and for several of the ŷ������ bookmarks
The Last Best Hope for the Star Trek Series - this one is nearly finished
Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done for my GTD re-read/revamp
Sadhana Panchakam in my daily Chinmaya Mission app - this one should also be finished this week
Fabio Quartararo, l'ascension d'un prodige - Nouvelle édition for "favourite prompt from 2015" (originally written in a foreign language). I'm finding it very interesting, and it's good to know that my French is still up to it. At one chapter per day, it should also be finished this week.
The Valmiki Ramayana Vol. 2 for my bedtime scripture. I haven't managed to read it every night, though, because by bedtime I've been feeling pretty rough and just wanting to turn the light out and try to sleep.

QOTW: Yes, I tend to find this with long, verbose books like the Lord of the Rings trilogy (which I DNF'd halfway through The Two Towers) or Game of Thrones (struggled through the first book and then didn't bother with the rest). I really enjoyed the Peter Jackson films of the former (helped by the fact that my kids were just the right ages for them when they came out), and I liked the HBO series of the latter up to the penultimate season. The last season was a disappointment, but ironically that was at least in part because they'd run out of book material to adapt.

It may be an ADHD thing - if a book has a lot of exposition and description, I lose focus, and if it has a lot of characters or a lot of POV changes, I sometimes struggle to follow it. I was more able to cope as a kid, when I could indulge in longer reading sessions without losing the thread; but with adult responsibilities and a disability making long sessions more difficult than before, my preference for shorter, more concise works has become much stronger. Anything over 300 pages feels daunting.

One more adaptation - The Name of the Rose - it was only after seeing tbe movie tgat I was able toread the book - before the movie with Sean Connery, the book was a rare DNF for me every time I tried.

Sheri wrote: "I'd agree with Princess Bride. Love the movie, wasn't that enamored of the book. I actually enjoyed the True Blood show more than the books, I thought the characters were way more interesting and well rounded. Also I kind of hated the book of Forest Gump. There were a lot of really gross parts. Also the book Mrs Doubtfire got based off of was not nearly as charming."

I would say that I had about the same level of enjoyment for both the Sookie Stackhouse books and the True Blood series, but I did really like most of the changes that were made when the books were adapted. I think Godric is a much better character in the show than Godfrey in the books.

Jennifer W wrote: "V for Vendetta is one of my favorite movies (though I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it in years- I can't decide if it would make me hopeful or a pit of despair...), the GN is almost nonsensical."

Yes!!! The movie is so much better than the graphic novel, which I find really funny considering that I heard the author has not been happy with the movie adaptations of any of his books.

L Y N N wrote: "Doni wrote: ""The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America I want to be informed on what's going on, but not sure exactly what to read. This one is a slow go too because it's so upsetting. I'm reading broadly, but not finishing much of anything right now."
I'm having trouble sleeping. I lie down and immediately begin thinking of all the people who are/will be hurt or dead as a result of political decisions. I may be one of them if Social Security and/or Medicare is gutted. *sigh* Time will tell."

I have a similar feeling about my ability to live as I have if either SS or Medicare is reduced or gutted. And, I was just beginning to feel comfortable with my life.

@ Lynn, I am thankful that you managed to get through that wreck so safely. I am very sure that it left you shaken and very grateful. And a very deep gratitude for early driving training.

Happy Friday! I meant to update yesterday but the time got away from me.
We got a decent amount of snow on Saturday, followed immediately by freezing rain, so everything is still partially covered in ice even now. Things are supposed to warm up next week, and I am all for it. I am so over the cold.

Finished:
Squire & Knight - (CL Skeleton, bones, or skull and crossbones, HPL - Historical fiction that isn't WWII) A reread for the book award committee I'm on, and one I enjoyed as much as the first time. It really is nice how everything comes together.
The History of Sound - (PS Interconnected short stories) I liked the concept of this book better than I liked most of the stories, but they were still interesting. And the audiobook has an all-star cast, so that's where the stories really shine.
Self-Esteem and the End of the World - (RH A queernorm book, PS A book where an adult character changes careers) Kind of a weird one. I'm mostly just left wondering how much was autobiographical and how much wasn't.
The Probability of Everything - This book has an M. Night Shyamalan style twist that I 100% did not appreciate. I understand why there was the twist, but it came so late in the book that it makes me feel like I wasted my time getting involved in the original plot.
Lei and the Fire Goddess - (RH First book of a completed MG duology, PS Unlikely friendship, CL A backpack or piece of luggage) I DNF'd this last year, but it's another committee book, so I grit my teeth and gave it another try. In the end it was all right, but so many of the characters were so annoying. And it has the gall to call Moana an old movie! But at least I was able to use it to fill a bunch of prompts for various reading challenges, so there's that.
We Are Big Time - (CL Sports equipment) Apparently this was based on a true story. I'm not a big sports person, but I enjoyed this anyway.
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody - This one was weird in a lot of the right ways. It wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, but I definitely smirked here and there.

Currently reading:
The Selkie's Daughter
The Book of George
A Spoonful of Time
Margo's Got Money Troubles

QOTW: Since Wicked already came up, I will admit that I enjoy most musical versions of books better than the books themselves. Les Mis, Ragtime, The Phantom of the Opera, etc.

K.L. wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "V for Vendetta is one of my favorite movies (though I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it in years- I can't decide if it would make me hopeful or a pit of despair...), ..."

That is funny, cause I prefer the Watchmen movie to the GN, too, though I'm not really a fan of either.

Hello from Columbus and happy Friday! I accidentally fell asleep at 8 last night and missed checking in. The weather has been improving, which made the minor and short-lived cold I had at the beginning of the week more tolerable. It’s still cold but the sun has been out and the wind minimal. I’ve got a busy weekend coming up, all fun and exciting things so I’m really looking forward to it.

Finished:
Dead Silence for a book about space tourism. I like horror but sci-fi stuff less so. Overall this was a fine book. Nothing that really scared/unsettled/disturbed me but I did like the get-to-the-bottom-of-it aspect.

Just for the Summerfor the 12 friends recommendations challenge. This was also my book club’s February read. I’ve been following Abby Jimenez for years on TikTok and this was my first time reading one her books. Who knew silly dog videos would lead to good reads. This book had me smiling pretty much nonstop, it was really cute. That is, I was smiling when I wasn’t seething in rage over things happening to the protagonists. This was a little too spicy at times but I didn’t have to skip any parts so that’s saying something, and this book actually made me laugh out loud so overall I’m very happy with this book.

Currently Reading:
The Book of Doors
The Penultimate Peril
House of Leaves
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible

Recently Watched:
Finished watching the Dream Drop Distance play through so I watched the Kingdom Hearts Back Cover movie.

Challenges:
Popsugar - 6/40; 0/4; 0/3; 1/3
Read Harder - 2/24
Classics - 1/12
European Tour - 2/10
12 Friends - 1/12
Yearly Goal - 15/180

QOTW:
I think I liked Stardust the movie more than the book, same with The Princess Bride. Can’t really think of much else but I’m sure it’ll pop in my head over the week lol

Happy Friday!

Lynn and Cornerofmadness, glad you're both okay. Everyone stay safe out there on the roads!

I want to try to read more books I already own as that's one aspect of my personal challenge I haven't been doing well with. Only 2 of my 18 prompts so far. And then I went to the library the other day and took out 10 books. On top of the 9 I already had out. Ooops!

Finished
Dandelion I found some of the the details to be a little too contrived (the MC moves from a city, but then everyone who is important to her later story also ends up in the city she moves to), but by reaction overall was pretty positive. For some reason the final reveal (she's looking for her mother who left the family years ago) kind of caught me by surprise. I don't think I used it for a PS prompt.

Etta and Otto and Russell and James Took me a little while to get into this book about an old woman who decides to walk from the Canadian Prairies to the East Coast, the husband she leaves behind, their long-time friend, and the talking coyote who joins her on her walk, but once I got into it I was hooked. I think I'd describe the book as achingly lovely, and and excited to see it get discussed on Canada Reads. I used it for book about a road trip.

The Messy Lives of Book People I love a book about books but the main character in this was very annoying. Like she deliberately enters several hard-to-manage situations, without any sort of plan for getting through them. I get that some people are thoughtless, but several occasions in the book called for at least a "how am I going to deal with this?" line rather than just seemingly proceeding on a whim at all times. Used for book in title / more than one book on cover, it meets both criteria.

Currently Reading
Poor Deer
The Other Valley
The Bedlam Stacks

QotW
I don't think there are many for me. Stardust and The Princess Bride are both different enough from the source material that I love both movies and books in their own way.

I'd say maybe About a Boy, which was just an extra level of charming, Jurassic Park, because no matter how good your imagination nothing matches those visuals and To Kill a Mockingbird, for a similar reason as some of Nadine in NY's choices - both great, but with the latter, I get to look at Gregory Peck!

Jennifer W wrote: "That is funny, cause I prefer the Watchmen movie to the GN, too, though I'm not really a fan of either."

I felt the same way about From Hell. I wanted to watch the movie because Johnny Depp was in it, and thought it was just okay. Then I read the graphic novel a few years ago, and was so unimpressed.

Happy Friday!

On this past Sunday. a major line of storms came through. High wind and rain. The storms moved quickly through at 60 mph. No major damage at my house…just some minor limbs down.

Then it turned cold��40s for us with lows below freezing. Everything that sprouted during our Feb false spring has now died. The end of the cold will be Sunday night with lows in the 30s rather than 20s. After that we should approximate our norm of mid-60s, I hope.

BTW, in addition to the low temps, we have had lots of wind which means wind chills reached the teens.

So far I have managed to keep up with improved meals and walking goals. This week I am lagging just a bit on the walking but hope to make up for it tomorrow as daytime temps are supposed to rise.

And, have made some headway in the To Do List.

Finished:
*Jordan's Stormy Banks �� PAS, ATY winter. 3*. A 0.5 book in the series. It started with the beginning of Dr. Brocton’s arrival at UT in Tennessee.

The Judas Pair �� PS #41 (oldest author on TBR �� John Grant age 91). 3* I used to watch an old TV show about the protagonist (Lovejoy), so the star kept intruding in my mind and some of the dialogue just didn’t seem to fit.

*Shaman �� PS #38 (same title). 4* This is book 1 of the 2 book same title choices. I did like this a lot, but it kept being put aside for library books. Still, one of the long books is now done. I think that I will wait until I return from my April trip to start the next related book.

Currently Reading:
The Beginner's Photography Guide: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Manual for Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera �� 27%. I have not progressed any in this but have reviewed most of the pages that I previously read. My goal is to make progress as of the next report.

God Is in the Small Stuff and It All Matters: Stop Worrying and Invite God into the Details of Your Life �� ATY seasonal (nonfiction). 13%

Broken Angels �� No prompt. Kindle. Prime read from 2019. 30%

*Trail of the Spellmans �� PAS. 75%. A sillier book than I expected.

Just Starting:
The Devil's Feather - PAS. Non-fiction. 4%

*The Whites �� PAS. 2%

On Deck: (owned)
*Kate: The Journal of A Confederate Nurse �� PAS.
The Pony Wife �� PAS
* The Brass Verdict �� PAS

Note: An asterisk means it is a book either put on my TBR in February or published in February.

PS 13/50
ATY 8/52, Anniversary 3/10, Winter 8/15
GR 37/200

QotW:

I don't watch a lot of movies and so seldom have any to compare with books.

I did want to read Les Miserables before I saw the Broadway play. However, it took me too long to get through that 1000+ page book and the play ended before I got to see it.

I have seen Wicked and am interested in reading the book. I did not like the characters of Glenda and others in the movie. I felt they were too shallow. The settings and costuming and music were wonderful, however.

Hi all! Well, it was another not great week- on Tuesday my company laid off about 40 people. Luckily this time around it wasn't me, but two people on my team are gone and a whole lot of people I worked with often. Pretty disappointing and upsetting. Definitely looking forward to it being the weekend

Finished:
Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative- I liked this. Leans more into selfhelp than I usually like, but I love Keke Palmer, so I still liked it
-no prompt

A Deadly Education- loved this even more the second time around. Already have a hold out for books 2&3 so I can actually complete the series. Posted more questions in the BOM chat!
-14 A book about a nontraditional education

Guillotine- a quick, gruesome story about horrible rich people getting what they deserve. Wasn't planning to read this, but it just felt right for this week
-16 A book set in or around a body of water (set on an island)


Currently reading
I've started a few books, but haven't made much progress on any of them yet- concentration is shot at the moment
Whiteout
Counterattacks at Thirty
Deep End

QotW:
I agree with the comments that mentioned Jurassic Park and Princess Bride. I'd also say Juliet, Naked- I loved the movie and then read the book and thought it was fine. But that might be because I find Ethan Hawke and Rose Bryne incredible charming

So excited someone I know got his summer job. With so many National Park Rangers being laid off thankfully he was not one of them. So many people he knows got fired from their National Park Service jobs which is a shame.