Pop Sugar Reading Challenge

Neuromancer by William Gibson fulfilled the “Book that Has Inspired a Common Phrase or Idiom” in the PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge. I ’m so proud that I finally finished this novel. It’s taken me about twenty years to get it under my belt. Listening to an audio version helped me see what everyone was talking about. Neuromancer was written in 1984—apropos, huh? The novel details an adventure in the life of Henry Case as he navigates the criminal world and cyberspace. The story takes on an epic journey throwing technology at us left and right. It ’s kinda amazing. Case hooks up with Molly, a woman with many bio-enhancements who is his lover and partner in the schemes. But does she feel anything for him? We’re never sure.   The book is super technical and complicated. I won’t lie. I could use another read to understand the entire story. The fact that it’s older helped me understand since I already understand cyberspace. There ’s the word—Cyberspace, one among various ...

The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke fulfilled the “Book Written by Two Female Authors” category of the PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge. I hadn ’t read an MHC novel in years. The title jumped out at me as I researched the category. I love a retold fairy tale. It wasn’t one, but that was fine. Nostalgia ruled when I selected the novel. And then I found out it was a sequel (well, part of a series) so I read the first story too. Though that one was only written by MHC. Being the second novel in the series, I don ’t want to spoil too much. Laurie Morgan is a TV producer on a show that solves old crimes. The book launches into the show’s second season, second crime to solve. The Cinderella in the title comes from how the dead woman is found—one shoe off, one shoe on. The TV show runs down everyone involved in the case and people who can give character witness information. Each person included is a suspect for the original murder and the inevitable one that ...

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan fulfills the “Book that Includes a Wedding” category of the PopSugar 2019 Reading challenge. The story was a great choice for the entry as the whole book centered on a wedding, but it was not one of any of the main characters. Therefore, the mains could roam around and do things without being tied down. And they certainly did. I enjoyed this tale. Even though there were tons of characters, some with names that might be challenging for someone like me. (I ’m terrible with names in books. Fantasy stories always give me troubles because I read the complex name and invent my own. Then later I get confused because I don’t know who the person is.) I listened to the book on audio, but the author, more than the narrator, helped me understand each person and their story. Which made it easier for me to remember names, whether they were Americanized or Chinese. I have to applaud Mr. Kwan on his characterization. Each separate plotline, character story wa...

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett fulfills the “Read a Book During the Season It Is Set In” category of the PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge. I finished the novel in March just as the spring kinda arrived here in upstate NY. I wish I had blogged it earlier. Another kid ’s classic that I missed as a child. I saw the musical when I was in college and loved it to death. I bought the soundtrack and was thrilled Mandy Patinkin sang Uncle Archie. I never knew Inigo Montoya could sing like that. Sigh… I was already familiar with the lovely story of a lost girl who finds a real home with her uncle and saves her cousin from a bed-ridden life. A sweet and wonderful tale to enjoy while I waited and waited for spring to arrive. Mary ’s anxiety and anticipation for spring were palpable as I waited too. Gardening is not my thing. In fact, I have a black thumb. Even my cactus is dead. But listening to the joy and love Mary and Dickon poured into that garden filled my heart with h...

Where ’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple fulfilled the “Book Being Made into a Movie” category of the PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge. I double-checked to make sure it was coming out this year. Prep to view the film this August. (So I gotta post this before it comes out.) I ’m a very literal person, not great with imagery, sarcasm, or satire. On the written page that is. I’m great speaking or hearing it. But sometimes I don’t get the big picture. I listened to the book on audio and I still couldn’t see the forest for the trees. When I read the story, I wondered what everyone was raving about. I felt so sorry for this young girl who se parents were kinda dicks. I hated most of the side characters (more on that later) and didn’t understand what was happening. Then I referred to some reviews and commentary. Oh, it ’s satire. Good, because this novel raised my suburban housewife hackles. I live in a bedroom community and not by choice. Hubby and I are more blue collar than...

Girl with a Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer fulfilled the Book Recommended by a Celebrity I admire. I did some research for the category and discovered that J. K. Rowling recommended the book. Talk about a celebrity I admire…to write stories like that woman…sigh. So I grabbed the audio read by Ms. Schumer and dug in. The book was autobiographical, telling Ms. Schumer’s rise to stardom. The book left me with mixed emotions regarding the tales she told. Ms. Schumer didn’t seem to hold back in telling the good and the bad. And the bad was terrible, the poor woman. But it’s Amy Schumer and she’s her own woman. And from hearing her story, I can see why she is the way she is. Amy Schumer is not apologetic for being a mess—loud, unladylike, and herself through and through and I love it. Her comedy is edgy and smart, but it felt like the book was written on the heels of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. I loved Bossypants and Yes, Please . Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo seemed a mor...