Friday 12/7 - what are you reading?

[ufcasey]

What have you read this week? What are you currently reading?

QOTW:
If you had to choose, would you rather go a year without music, a year without tv/movies, or a year without books?

[krystee]

I am reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and will simultaneously read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. For some reason, I read memoirs more slowly and need to mix them up with fiction.

I need to celebrate my happy book news. I have always wanted to be a part of a great IRL book club, and first I had trouble finding one, then I found one but didn't think the people gelled very well, and then the third kept picking these fluffy books that only a third of the people read and then everyone felt bad talking about it because of that. I reached out to four other people at my company who I have had good conversations with, we set up a monthly book club where we meet at a different restaurant every month, and I LOVE it. The books they are suggesting are exactly what I want to read, it's the perfect of mix of wine and food and books, and it's making work more fun because we are building great friendships. I'm so excited!

QOTW: I love all three things, but I'd have to pick music. I could relatively easily substitute podcasts for music. The other two things don't have a good substitute.

[meowmaps]

I'm currently reading The Widows of Malabar Hill. I really like it so far!

QOTW:
I could live without music before I could live without TV/movies and books.

[ally]

I have made little progress with reading this week.  I need more time!  Still reading/listening to:
The Bookshop of Yesterdays
We Were Eight Years in Power
Dare to Lead

QOTW: I would give up TV and movies.  When DH isn't home (for a day or a week) I don't turn on the TV.  I would miss the time together with him.  I would keep music simply for in the car, a silent drive makes me cranky.

[CrazyLucky]

I'm reading the Whistler by John Grisham. After Fear by Bob Woodward, I needed fluff.

I could give up TV and movies most easily. I hardly watch TV anymore and at least 90% of the movies I see are animated, so no big loss there.

[rainbowchip]

I finished This Girl (Slammed #3). It was basically Slammed from Will's POV but it had a sort of cheesy 90s sitcom "recap the season" vibe (if that makes sense).

I started Becoming yesterday and I can't wait to read this. I have loved Michelle since her and Barack did a 60 Minutes interview on the 2008 campaign. The interviewer asked Barack something along the lines of what do you do to relax? He came back with something about how relaxing washing dishes is and Michelle goes, "when is the last time you washed dishes?" And I fell in love!

QOTW: Music. I am to the point in my life where I'm the crotchety old lady who hates all of that "new" music. I seriously can't listen to the radio anymore. I mostly listen to podcasts.

[spedrunner]

This week I read/am reading:

The Kissing Quotient. This is really cute, although I feel like it is all about sex? lol Enjoying it so far

Everythings Trash But Its Ok - just began this, no opinon yet

My Year of Rest and Relaxation- ONly a few chapters in and it is giving me anxiety. Not sure I will enjoy it?

QOTD: I do not even own a TV (by choice) and could care less about it. As far as music, I wish it were more important and meaningful to me >its not that I dont like or enjoy it, I just really enjoy quiet I am loving all the holiday songs and music right now, makes me smile and happy. So books are the one things I would not be able to live without

[labbie]

What have you read this week? What are you currently reading?

Still reading. loving, and almost finished with North by Scott Jurek. 



QOTW:

If you had to choose, would you rather go a year without music, a year without tv/movies, or a year without books?
Tough choice, but it would have to be music. Movies are something I love to share with DH and there's no way I'm going without books. I would miss music a lot, but not as much as the other two.

[labbie]

Dec 7, 2018 10:41:05 GMT -5 krystee said:

I am reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and will simultaneously read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. For some reason, I read memoirs more slowly and need to mix them up with fiction.

I need to celebrate my happy book news. I have always wanted to be a part of a great IRL book club, and first I had trouble finding one, then I found one but didn't think the people gelled very well, and then the third kept picking these fluffy books that only a third of the people read and then everyone felt bad talking about it because of that. I reached out to four other people at my company who I have had good conversations with, we set up a monthly book club where we meet at a different restaurant every month, and I LOVE it. The books they are suggesting are exactly what I want to read, it's the perfect of mix of wine and food and books, and it's making work more fun because we are building great friendships. I'm so excited!

QOTW: I love all three things, but I'd have to pick music. I could relatively easily substitute podcasts for music. The other two things don't have a good substitute.

Yay for IRL book clubs that pan out! I'm also celebrating my first IRL one that's a group of neighbors that reached out to me when they needed someone new. It helped that I already knew some of them, and I was so happy that it seems like a great fit. My other attempts were years ago via a Meetup group (horrible, ugh) and then one with an acquaintance where they literally never read, or discussed, the actual book. I mean, I'm all about wine and food but could we at least chat for a couple minutes on the book while we're drinking and eating? 

[ssmjlm]

I’m still reading Tailspin by Sandra Brown. I’ve basically figured out the second half of the book, so I can’t decide if it’s worth sticking with it. How to Stop Time is on deck.

QOTW: music, definitely

[secretlyevil]

Reading Crazy Rich Asians for my book club discussion Sunday. I am not enjoying it. It's such a mess.

[mx27]

I am reading "Kindred" by Octavia Butler. So far, so good!

QOTW: tv/movies

[ufcasey]

Read:
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor
5 stars/ young adult fantasy    
This restored my hope for YA books. It turns out they can still be well done sometimes!

Soft Limits by Brianna Hale
2 stars/contemporary romance
This was a bit boring and also really weird (labeled as daddy kink, but really this was more like 'baby kink'? also some intentional face slapping is in here too because why not?)

Cursed (Kingdoms of Earth & Air #2) by Keri Arthur
1.5 stars/fantasy romance
I was soooooo bored by this! How was this the same author of my beloved smutty Riley Jenson series?!

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole
3 stars/contemporary romance
This good, but not great. I'll basically forget about this book a month from now.

Total so far for the year: 148

QOTW:
I'd go without tv/movies, I hardly watch either. But I need music in the car and while working, and I read a lot obviously LOL

[charlatti]

I just finished Kingdom of the Blind, Louise Penny’s latest. It’s not my favorite in the series but I still adore these characters and her writing. Now starting The Light Between Worlds, which from the blurb is about young adults living after a Narnia-sequence experience.

Qotw: I could easily go without tv or movies. I enjoy them but rarely watch either as it is.

[tacokick]

I’m reading My Jewish Year by Abigail Pogrebin . I finished Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift which was interesting but a little over long. And they are all Trump supporters so I found it hard to sympathize with them.

QOTW:

I guess music? I read and watch movies/TV a lot but find music distracting when I’m trying to work so I guess it would have the smallest impact day to day?

[meowmaps]

Dec 7, 2018 16:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m reading My Jewish Year by Abigail Pogrebin . I finished Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift which was interesting but a little over long. And they are all Trump supporters so I found it hard to sympathize with them.

QOTW:

I guess music? I read and watch movies/TV a lot but find music distracting when I’m trying to work so I guess it would have the smallest impact day to day?

How is it so far?  I have it on my desk but I decided to start something else instead.  

[travella]

I am reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I saw the TV series and liked it so I wanted to read the first two books before season two was released in January. I'm liking the first book ok, but I think I would have liked it more had I not seen the TV show first. Where the book and tv show differ, I've preferred the tv version more.

Qotw: Easy answer, music. I will have music playing in the background in the car when I drive, but I hardly ever actually listen to it.

[tacokick]

Dec 7, 2018 16:59:14 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

Dec 7, 2018 16:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m reading My Jewish Year by Abigail Pogrebin . I finished Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift which was interesting but a little over long. And they are all Trump supporters so I found it hard to sympathize with them.

QOTW:

I guess music? I read and watch movies/TV a lot but find music distracting when I’m trying to work so I guess it would have the smallest impact day to day?

How is it so far?  I have it on my desk but I decided to start something else instead.  

I’m enjoying it. It is pretty quick going and conversational. She does a good job of explaining everything if you aren’t familiar with some of the terms/customs but not so much it seems teach-y or condescending.

It is divided up by holiday so it is easy to pick up and put down IMO, it’s not like there are cliffhangers!

[AJL]

I've finisshed my goal for the year (100 books) and I've been kind of slow in finding things to read.  I started Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series (Regency era romance.)

The Duke and I (Bridgertons,#1) by Julia Quinn - 3.75/5*

Currently reading:
The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons, #2) by Julia Quinn - honestly I find the protagonist in thsi book to be a real dick. He's not charm. He's just an ass. Hopefully he'll get better, but I'm not hopefully. I do like the female protagonist a bit but not as much as I liked the one from Book 1. 

QOTW: I would choose to go without TV/movies. 

[minzy]

I finished We Were Eight Years in Power. I’ve just started Florida by Lauren Groff and for some real fluff, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han.

QOTW: I could go without TV/movies, as I hardly watch either as it is.

[krystee]

I don't want to start a new thread for this, so can I ask a semi-related question? In My Books on Goodreads, I counted that I have read 49 books this year. But under My Reading Challenge, it shows only 24 out of 35. The challenge was just for quantity, so everything should count. Anyone know why 25 books wouldn't be showing up there?

[mrspez07]

I just finished The Short Drop. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit muddy at times telling who was aligned with whom. Interesting thriller.

Going to start on Transcription tonight. I got it off the lucky day shelf last week, so it’s not renewable.
I’ve also been enjoying a lot of quilting books.

QOTW: TV/Movies - we barely watch it as it is. I would miss the few shows I cue up here and there. I listen to music when I’m writing/reading at work and a lot in the car. I feel things when I listen to certain songs. I can’t give that up, and books of course!

[mrspez07]

Dec 7, 2018 20:25:05 GMT -5 krystee said:

I don't want to start a new thread for this, so can I ask a semi-related question? In My Books on Goodreads, I counted that I have read 49 books this year. But under My Reading Challenge, it shows only 24 out of 35. The challenge was just for quantity, so everything should count. Anyone know why 25 books wouldn't be showing up there?

Go into the desktop version and sort by date read. You will see some that aren’t showing up in 2018, reverse the date read to see the oldest/no date on top. sometimes it doesn’t mark the date you finished so it doesn’t count for the year.

[sassypants]

I'm about halfway through Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. I really like it, but I've been blase about reading this week for some reason.

QOTW: I guess tv/movies. Like other posters, I need music for the car and for work (plus as a musician I would feel like a traitor without it).

[monkeyfeet]

I’m reading Bridge if Clay, not loving it.

QOTW: another person who doesn’t own a tv...

[wesleycrusher]

Dec 7, 2018 20:25:05 GMT -5 krystee said:

I don't want to start a new thread for this, so can I ask a semi-related question? In My Books on Goodreads, I counted that I have read 49 books this year. But under My Reading Challenge, it shows only 24 out of 35. The challenge was just for quantity, so everything should count. Anyone know why 25 books wouldn't be showing up there?

I have noticed on the app that if I add a book as "read" but did not already have it as "currently reading" it won't record the date and I have to manually enter it.

[MrsAxilla]

I’m reading The Great Alone, which feels like it’s about to turn into a Shining situation. I’m very apprehensive about this book....

QOTD: I would never, ever want to live without music. It’s essential. “You were the song that my soul understood”, “if you get confused, just listen to the music play”, “we’re gonna rage with Page at the dying of the light!”

[Gato]

I read Assymetry by Lisa Halliday this week. What a strange little book. Some smart writing, but I feel like I’ll need to read it again to really “get” it.

I’m starting Feel Free, a book of essays by Zadie Smith.

QOTW: I really couldn’t do without books, but it’s also sad to think of a year without music. My kids and I make music daily, so I guess I choose music because that’s more essential to our family life. TV/movies I wouldn’t miss.

[ally]

Dec 7, 2018 22:07:20 GMT -5 monkeyfeet said:

I’m reading Bridge if Clay, not loving it.

QOTW: another person who doesn’t own a tv...

I started Bridge of Clay about two weeks ago, read three chapters and stopped.  I may pick it back up at a different time, but it was not the story I wanted to read and just moved on.  The Book Thief is in my top 10 favorite books ever, so I have high hopes of the author. 

[aurora]

I'm listening to The Bear and the Nightingale, hoping to finish it before it comes due at the library in 5 days.

(Re-)reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes, thinking that if I re-read one in this series every couple of months I'll be all set for her to release the 9th book sometime in 2019 (I hope).

QOTW: of the 3, books are hands-down the most important. I could probably make an argument either way for TV/music, but most of the time now I listen to podcasts or books on tape instead of music, and I do like to watch the occasional TV series with H, so I'd probably pick music.