It's Friday! (6/29)

[ufcasey]

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

Reminder: Book club discussion for "Little Fires Everywhere" is currently going on here!

QOTW:
If you had a million dollars that you had to donate to charity, which charity would you give it to? (you can only pick one)

[charlatti]

I just finished The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, which was heartbreaking and gorgeous and you should all go read it. www.goodreads.com/book/show/36739329-the-great-believers Now starting something lighter, probably The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner, possibly also rereading Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.

Qotw: something to do with children’s health research, possibly my local children’s hospital.

[litskispeciality]

I'm still plugging away at Little Fires Everywhere. Husband's working tomorrow so I hope to really dive in.

QOTW: I guess I'd say an animal shelter or smaller group that helps treat cancer patients where the money goes to those who need it.

[snshne322]

I'm still working on the same two books as last week. Yes We (Still) Can and A Conjuring of Light. I paused the latter to listen to another hold that came up, 4th in the Prospero's War series that I like. I've been been so slow on my paper books lately, I've been sucked into TV.

QOTW: I don't know enough to pick one, but definitely something with women's health. I really hate that I was relieved that I no longer have a uterus after hearing about Kennedy's retirement. I fucking hate that we're in a position to feel that way.

[travella]

I Was Anastasia 4.5*
I started Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

QOTW: I don't know, something with the elderly maybe... I think they are often a forgotten group. Or maybe something with women's rights. I've not been too vocal over women's rights, but the nature of things lately is making me nervous.

[msmerymac]

I finished Crazy Rich Asians and am currently reading The Hate U Give.

QOTW: I was just thinking about what I would give to if I was independently wealthy (Planned Parenthood, the Women's Medical Fund which helps women obtain abortions locally, my high school, NARAL and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the rescue we got Tabitha from, and plenty of others). I might cop out and say my church for multiple reasons, but one is that we spend a lot of money and effort in local support through our community outreach programs, which is a priority in our congregation and denomination. So the money would not only go towards upkeeping and renovating a 200 year old building (with a 278 year old congregation), but towards domestic violence women's shelters, job training, the local food panty, etc.

[rainbowchip]

I'm currently reading The Last One and I love it! It's about an apocalyptic disease happening while a group of people are on a wilderness survival type reality show. So they think the apocalypse is part of the show.

QOTW: it would be really hard to choose. My first instinct would be to give it to a local food shelter.
If the country wasn't such as shit show I would give it to an environmental charity but sadly my number one issue (the environment) has been pushed down to like #25 on my list now.

[spedrunner]

This week I read: 

I Will Always Write Back 
5/5 stars
I loved this book so much. It is for my schools One School One Book reading assignment, a memoir about the back and forth letters, and perspectives of Caitlyn (from the US) and Martin (from Zimbabwe) so touching, it has actually inspired me to get a pen pal!

Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain
4/5 stars

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapina
4/5 stars


Currently Reading:
Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain 
this is the first book by Chamberlain that I am not loving so far, I just can't seem to get into the story line and feel invested like I have with her others

The Secret Life of CeeCee WIlkes by Diane Chamberlain
I just started this but already am enjoying it!

wow, i am a bit shocked by all the Chamberlain I am reading. I am on a kick!    

QOTD:
I think it would be to provide schools, education, food, etc to underdeveloped countries. I think we take so much for granted and I myself have begun practicing minimalism bc I just do not see a need for all the excess we have and do and get caught up in!

[Nonny]

This week I finished The Beauty, Vol. 1 (graphic novel), Counting Backwards: A Doctor's Notes on Anesthesia, and Binti (Binti #1) (novella).  If you are into sci-fi at all, I'd highly recommend Binti - it's a super fast read and it a great piece of short science fiction (reminded me a lot of Star Trek TNG because of the use of diplomacy to stave off war).  

Currently I'm working on Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II and The Beauty, Vol. 2.

QOTW:  Right now I'm torn between Planned Parenthood and NARAL, but definitely something reproductive health related.  I'm terrified about what the GOP and the anti-choice zealots are going to attempt now that Kennedy is retiring. 

[minzy]

I missed last week, but I recently finished:
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi (5 stars - about Afghan refugees fleeing to England);
Secrets in Summer by Nancy Thayer (4 stars - not too much thought required summer beach read set in Nantucket); and
I’m Proud of You - My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan (3.5 stars, author confirms Mr. Rogers was amazing, but the author’s need for validation from Mr. Rogers was somehow off putting to me).

I’ve just started Fierce by Aly Raisman.

QOTW: what a great question; I’d have a tough time picking just one. Probably a library system, other options would be health/science related.

[ufcasey]

Read:
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
4 stars/steampunk
this was my very first steampunk book and while I liked that aspect of the book, some of the plot just didn't make sense to me due to too many secondary characters in the background

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
4.5 stars/classic
You HAVE to do the audiobook for this one, it's so good! Short book, but surprisingly impactful (I didn't read this in school so I had no idea what the ending was, so that might color my view of it compared to other people)

Total so far for the year: 71

Currently Reading:
Immortal in Death (#3 in series) by J.D. Robb - romantic suspense/mystery; the back story of Eve with her father = WOAH

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza - fiction; I am listening to the audiobook for this which turns out to be a terrible idea because the POV changes within the chapters and the narrator doesn't change her voice enough for me to be able to figure it out easily. I'll have to stop and go to the regular book format.

QOTW:
Right now I would donate to ACLU, they have been involved in fighting a lot of the nonsense we have seen since 45 took office. But before that I would have said Sandy Hook Promise because that is my usual number one political/charitable issue.

[ssmjlm]

Finished:
The Wife between Us-3 stars
It was way too similar to The Last Mrs. Parrish. And kind of rambly.

All the Light We Lost-2 Stars
Pretty bad. It reminded me of a teen girls journal. It wasn’t well written and the story went nowhere.

Also adding in freebie romances since I’m at the beach in vacation.

About to start The Elite, Book 2 of The Selection.

QOTW: probably planned parenthood. I’m so afraid of what this country may decide to try and control on a woman’s body.

[mrspez07]

I’m listening to Killers of the Flower Moon and reading Jack 1939 by Francine Mathews and Quilting with a Modern Slant(which I am really into.

I initially thought the library, but maybe instead of my local library I would find one with greater need, either in the US or abroad and donate there instead. Knowledge is power, and all that.

[dorothyinAus]

I haven't had much reading time this week. The cold weather, rainy nights, and cozy warm covers have made sleeping too tempting when I get into bed. I'm still reading The Sirens Sang of Murder. I'm enjoying it but I hope to finish it this weekend. I got two new Her Royal Spyness books in the mail this week and I am itching to get into them.

QOTW: This is a hard question for me. I would really want to split the money among several charities/causes. But if I could not do that, I would either: (1) donate it to the SPCA or other animal charity, particularly one that supports neuter & release for feral cats; (2) donate it to an organization to being fine & performing arts back to schools, similar to the Music Rising charity that replaced all the lost music instruments in high schools after Hurricane Katrina; or (3) endow an academic (not need-based) scholarship at my college.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 29, 2018 19:42:11 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

I’m listening to Killers of the Flower Moon and reading Jack 1939 by Francine Mathews and Quilting with a Modern Slant(which I am really into.

I initially thought the library, but maybe instead of my local library I would find one with greater need, either in the US or abroad and donate there instead. Knowledge is power, and all that.

My family does a Bowl Pick 'Em every year and the winner gets to pick what charity the pot gets donated to. This year, I won and chose to donate the pot ($50) to the library in my parents' small town in rural Arkansas. My mother went over and made the donation for me in person and she reported that the librarians were so excited about the donation. And that was only $50. I can't imagine what a million would do for small-town libraries.

[sassypants]

I have about 25 pages left in The World of All Souls. I've not been very reading-motivated this week, plus I have more lines to learn at the last minute because I picked up a small part in a local production of A Midsummer Night's Dream when someone dropped out. No problem (eek!).

QOTW: Probably an animal shelter like The Cat House on the Kings or one local to me. Cats are more likely to be put down than dogs and my heart breaks for them all.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 29, 2018 23:41:11 GMT -5 sassypants said:

I have about 25 pages left in The World of All Souls. I've not been very reading-motivated this week, plus I have more lines to learn at the last minute because I picked up a small part in a local production of A Midsummer Night's Dream when someone dropped out. No problem (eek!).

QOTW: Probably an animal shelter like The Cat House on the Kings or one local to me. Cats are more likely to be put down than dogs and my heart breaks for them all.

Are there small parts in A Midsummer Night's Dream? Admittedly, I don't know the play very well,. but my memory is that most speaking parts aren't really small.

[ally]

My reading seems slow lately with so much going on.  I finished The Bear and the Nightingale, 4*, really liked it and have the second book on hold.  DH and I listed to part of David Sedaris's Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, we are unlikely to finish it at home, but it was fun.   

I started Warcross and it has my attention at 50 pages in. 


QOTW: I love that so many people want to give to libraries.  My current largest donation is to the Imagination Library through my work's annual United Way campaign.  But, if I had a million dollars, it would go to planned parenthood or a similar organization supporting women's rights and reproductive health care. 

[sassypants]

Jun 30, 2018 0:40:33 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Jun 29, 2018 23:41:11 GMT -5 sassypants said:

I have about 25 pages left in The World of All Souls. I've not been very reading-motivated this week, plus I have more lines to learn at the last minute because I picked up a small part in a local production of A Midsummer Night's Dream when someone dropped out. No problem (eek!).

QOTW: Probably an animal shelter like The Cat House on the Kings or one local to me. Cats are more likely to be put down than dogs and my heart breaks for them all.

Are there small parts in A Midsummer Night's Dream? Admittedly, I don't know the play very well,. but my memory is that most speaking parts aren't really small.

I have 11 lines including a song. I'm doubling as a mechanical (Starveling) and a faerie (Moth). I'm onstage a lot, but I don't always say anything.