RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion

July is here and so is the start of the second half of the year. Despite the problems and the circumstances relating to COVID and its effects, each and every member of the group has done great in terms of reading, proving that reading is a lot more than an escape and can literally lift up one's spirits.

Keeping this in mind, and the current situation of the Corona Virus, I'd like to say this to all the members - despite of the genres of the genre challenge months (especially this month), abandon any book that makes you feel down, sad, upset or even slightly depressed. Books affect us a lot more than many mediums of entertainment and it is necessary to keep in mind that right now we all are already stressed enoughso no need to burrden yourself further. Read somethign that makes you feel good!

Therefore, I, as the admin, have decided to cancel this month's genre challenge. Because after almost 5 months of self-distancing even I am starting to feel overwhelmed and upset and trying to stay from dark fictional reads. And even though this month's genres are amongst my favourite genres, I strongly feel that dystopian and apocalyptic reads would hot too close to home for each and every one of us. And even though we try to think that books don't affect us that much, they tend to inconspicuously trigger emotions that can be harmful to our mental as well as physical health. And we do not want that.

So, let us all read some breezy, some cheesy but refreshing summer-reads this month. They can be classics too. Let's get creative guys and try to dig deeper in our book-shelves and find some lighter reads. And no need to fret about the genre. Read ANYTHING light and post it here. They can even be cosies too. And if you want you can include books by authors of colour in support of Black Lives Matter global movement. But again, nothing serious, try to keep your reads light and enjoyable.

Hope you guys are doing okay. If you need someone to talk, remember you can always post on any of the threads here :)

Happy reading!

Thank you SO MUCH for cancelling the Dystopian/Apocalyptic genre challenge! I was looking at what I could read for it, and thought “I might as well read the newspapers for this challenge.” How depressing!

We all need to keep positive, so I love your reading ideas for July. You are a great group leader!

Yeah, I was gonna listen to Brave New World on audio and that was about it. I'll probably still do that, but I have been having a hard time reading what with the world and my headaches, and I have been waiting to keep it light. Nonfiction wasn't really happening for me either. Sigh. I just need to figure out a routine that works for me instead of looking at news all day.

Adelaide wrote: "Yeah, I was gonna listen to Brave New World on audio and that was about it. I'll probably still do that, but I have been having a hard time reading what with the world and my headaches, and I have ..."

I hope you feel better soon, Adelaide. I hadn't been watching the news until lately, when the positive cases started to rise. I have to limit myself on how much I watch, or I get depressed and/or frustated. A light, positive book will definitely help keep my mind off of things.

Dagny wrote: "Great thinking on your part, Heena!

Unlike you, I don't do particularly well with the Dystopian/Apocalyptic genre, although there have been a handful over the last few years which I really enjoyed..."

Yes, this year is kind of bad. I've been feeling mental fog from last two months and it is getting difficult to cope with all the negative things around. So the last thing that anyone needs right now is a depressing read. Sorry, I didn't get the time to consult with you or Cheryl about this, as I said, I've been keeping away from most of the social spaces and just kind of... And my spine problems are back despite the surgery I had and my surgeon is not giving consultation from last 3 months. I was supposed to start with physiotherapy after a month fo the surgery but because fo the lockdowns all the clinics (that didn't necessarily cure corona) shut down and as I didn't get the required psychotherapy and did some chores at home that involved walking, bending and standing or even sitting for long, my back got worse. Surgery was the last option before the doctor could have diagnosed it as Osteoarthritis - arthritis of the lower spine. I am so sick and tired of lying down most days and not be able to do much and watch Vishal take care of everything! My left leg pains so bad! Even if I just sit for more than an hour!!! I just hope it doesn't go incomplete paralysis and leaves me sitting on the wheelchair - a possibility my doctor laid out because of which we actually went for that spinal surgery in the first place. And now I feel so lost. The pain in the lower back is so unbearable that I am taking painkillers 4 times a day and then that leads to bloating... oh god... this has become such a nightmare!

Sorry for the rant...

Cheryl wrote: "Thank you SO MUCH for cancelling the Dystopian/Apocalyptic genre challenge! I was looking at what I could read for it, and thought “I might as well read the newspapers for this challenge.” How depr..."

I agree about reading the newspaper for this month for the genre challenge. Lol.
Thanks for the support, it was a spurt of the moment thinking so went ahead without discussing it with you and Dagny. Sorry about that. And thanks for your kind words. Means a lot to me :)

Adelaide wrote: "Yeah, I was gonna listen to Brave New World on audio and that was about it. I'll probably still do that, but I have been having a hard time reading what with the world and my headaches, and I have ..."

Sorry to hear about your headaches. I understand your struggle trying to work out a schedule. It's a problem for me too. Let's try and get out spirits back up with some lighter reads :)

Heena,

It must be so frustating to deal with that back pain. I hope you are able to get some medical help for it soon. So many people had to postpone needed medical procedures and therapy due to the quarantine. I hope things get at least partially back to normal soon. We all need to take some time to relax and hopefully some fun, lighter books will help.

Thank you so much. I definitely am feeling similarly Heena, to your introduction for this month's previous challenge. That is a huge sigh of relief.

Heena, I was searching for a way to offer encouragement in a less public purview. By alas...I couldn't figure it out so...I'll start with a big hug to you (and everyone else) and remind you that you are NOT alone in this situation or in your pain. Suffering from a chronic pain syndrome as well perhaps I can empathize. Please give yourself the grace, patience, and love you deserve when you can't think or breathe or move through the pain or the mental fatigue that comes with it. Pain is a weight and you need to remind yourself that you ARE strong enough to get through each moment, hour and day. Sending you a good old fashion hug (and a bottomless cup of tea:)

Cheryl wrote: "Heena,

It must be so frustating to deal with that back pain. I hope you are able to get some medical help for it soon. So many people had to postpone needed medical procedures and therapy due to t..."

Feeling a lot better. It was one of those days... you know. Thanks a lot for your kind words. Made me feel better :)

Dagny wrote: "Heena wrote: "And my spine problems are back despite the surgery I had and my surgeon is not giving consultation from last 3 months. I was supposed to start with physiotherapy after a month fo the ..."

Thanks

Fran wrote: "Thank you so much. I definitely am feeling similarly Heena, to your introduction for this month's previous challenge. That is a huge sigh of relief."

I'm glad you feel that way :)

Fran wrote: "Heena, I was searching for a way to offer encouragement in a less public purview. By alas...I couldn't figure it out so...I'll start with a big hug to you (and everyone else) and remind you that yo..."

Thanks for your kind words, Fran. I was feeling awfully low that day. Feeling a lot better now. And thanks for the hug and especially the bottomless cup of tea <3

Anyway... let's start with the monthly reads :)

I'm reading the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. It had been on my tbr-list for a long time and I am ready to tackle it now.

I just finished The World of Divergent: The Path to Allegiant, which is based on the Divergent series and was very interesting. I am now reading Outlander, which I am finding very interesting.

Heena wrote: "July is here and so is the start of the second half of the year. Despite the problems and the circumstances relating to COVID and its effects, each and every member of the group has done great in t..."

I have been away from the group much of this year and when I come back I find your wonderful message. Thank you for pointing out how reads can trigger us without even realizing.

Hope you have all been keeping safe and happy🌷

#1 tried a cozy mystery (because everyone I know seems to love them)
A Dead Red Cadillac unfortunately dead on arrival for me. Had potential but I felt the characters were poorly developed and the plot dragged.

Not giving up on this sub genre yet!

1.) The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
4 stars. A light, fun spy novel that has plenty of action, humor and twists - and even a bit of romance. Very entertaining.

1) The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. 5 stars. Tommy and Tuppence are my favorite Christie protagonists!

2) Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh. 3 stars. Okay fantasy novella dealing with British folk mythology about the Green Man.

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "#1 tried a cozy mystery (because everyone I know seems to love them)
A Dead Red Cadillac unfortunately dead on arrival for me. Had potential but I felt the characters were poorly de..."

I tend to prefer older cozies. Occasionally a newer series will hit me right, but I mostly dig the golden age stuff.

Adelaide,

If you are interested in British folk mythology, you might like the book Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. I read this way back in the 1980s and liked it then. (I haven’t reread it recently, though, so I can’t vouch for what I’d think of it today.)

Cheryl wrote: "Adelaide,

If you are interested in British folk mythology, you might like the book Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. I read this way back in the 1980s and liked it then. (I haven’t r..."

That’s been in my to-read list for awhile. Maybe I will bump it up.

#2 How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang. 💖💖💖1/2 rating. I have read this off and on for the last month. Historical fiction set in the western United States but deals with a Chinese American family. Interesting but ultimately I wanted more about the character Sam.

2.) The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery
2 star. Women's fiction about three female friends. OK, but nothing special.

#3 The Uncommon Rider by Sarah Noffke and Michael Anderle 💖💖💖💖 Good start to an Urban Fantasy series about dragon riders. Main character is a little girl who bonds with a dragon egg. She becomes the first female dragon rider. Fun easy but longer (500+page) read for summer.

3) The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff 4 stars. Fun space opera. 5th in the series.

Adelaide wrote: "3) The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff 4 stars. Fun space opera. 5th in the series."

Thanks Adelaide🌷Adding this to my list of series to read.

Adelaide wrote: "3) The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff 4 stars. Fun space opera. 5th in the series."

Adelaide,

Is this Military SF? Is it mostly action scenes, or does it also show the relationships between the characters?

Cheryl wrote: "Adelaide wrote: "Is this Military SF? Is it mostly action scenes, or does ..."

It is military sc fi that is heavy on the action, but takes time to develop the main character and her relationships to those around her. The first book can be read as a stand-alone.

Have fun Beth!!

4) Self-Portrait by Celia Paul 3 stars. Autobiography of British artist Celia Paul is interesting, but she does no self-reflection at all, so it is hard to know if she is aware that her relationship with Lucien Freud was a bad one. (She was 18, he was in his 50s; he got around during the 10 years they were together.)

#4Fallen Crest High pure teen soap opera! Well written ya romance with lots of teen angst.

5) Thomas Nozkowski by John Yau 4 stars. Monograph on artist Thomas Nozkowski with lots of photos of his work.

#5 A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. My first Gaines book. Four Stars. Moving but I kept comparing it to Mating Birds.

I am reading a cute RomCom which I'm loving.

6) Slime by John Halkin 3 stars. Ridiculous (and fun) book about killer jellyfish, complete with horrible sex scenes and a very dumb marriage.

Adelaide wrote: "6) Slime by John Halkin 3 stars. Ridiculous (and fun) book about killer jellyfish, complete with horrible sex scenes and a very dumb marriage."

Sounds like one of those "so bad that it's good" direct-to-video horror movies from the 1980s. They are fun, if you're in the right mood. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

BTW I just finished an incredible book a memoir about a black doctor in Pennsylvania. It's so good if you want to try it It's called I gave this 5/5 stars. The writing is good the stories are interesting and the message is something we should all follow.

Cheryl wrote: "Sounds like one of those "so bad that it's good" direct-to-video horror movies from the 1980s. They are fun, if you're in the right mood. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

That was exactly how I felt about it!

7) Vigilance by Robert Jackson Bennett 2 stars. I accidentally read a dystopian novella about gun violence and it sucked. (Which is too bad because I love this author.) It was just too on the nose. Since it follows this month's original theme, I'm counting it. I need some reward for reading it.

Adelaide wrote: "7) Vigilance by Robert Jackson Bennett 2 stars. I accidentally read a dystopian novella about gun violence and it sucked. (Which is too bad because I love this auth..."

I read a post-apocalyptic book, too, because I had it on hold at my library for awhile and it finally came in. It was The Last by Hanna Jameson and it wasn’t very good.

I am having a hard time finding light reads that are any good. I started a few cozy mysteries and some contemporary chick lit, but abandoned them due to boredom. I’ll keep looking, though.

Cheryl wrote: "I am having a hard time finding light reads that are any good. I started a few cozy mysteries and some contemporary chick lit, but abandoned them due to boredom. I’ll keep looking, though."

ME TOO.

8) Nut Jobs Cracking the Case by Marc Fennell 2 stars. Meandering audible original about California's food system. Or something. It was all over the place.

9) The Rancher's Rules by Lucy Monroe 2 stars. I am trying to get into contemporary romance (I usually only like historical) but am coming across some stinkers. This one starts out pretty well, but feels like something out of the 80s.

Cheryl wrote: "I am having a hard time finding light reads."

What have you tried so far and how do you define light?

I read The People in the Photo by Hélène Gestern last month. I would not call it light but the epistle style made for a fast engrossing mystery read. The phrase chick lit is difficult for me because it could be so many sub genres.

Beth,

I’m going by Heena’s post: “ So, let us all read some breezy, some cheesy but refreshing summer-reads this month. “ Maybe I just need to expand my definition to something entertaining but not depressing.

Cheryl wrote: "Beth,

I’m going by Heena’s post: “ So, let us all read some breezy, some cheesy but refreshing summer-reads this month. “ Maybe I just need to expand my definition to something entertaining but no..."

I am counting anything I am able to get through right now. I just want to enjoy what I am reading, and not have to struggle too hard. Romances, mysteries, sci fi, light nonfiction. Anything that I would take to the beach. (Which might not be what you would take. )

Cheryl wrote: "Beth,

I’m going by Heena’s post: “ So, let us all read some breezy, some cheesy but refreshing summer-reads this month. “ Maybe I just need to expand my definition to something entertaining but no..."

Maybe it’s time to bring out some Jackie Collins.

Adelaide wrote: " Maybe it’s time to bring out some Jackie Collins..."

Ooh, that’s a great idea, Adelaide! Any suggestions?

Even though this graphic novel was post-apocalyptic, it still was very entertaining and had an upbeat ending. So I am counting it towards this challenge:
3.) Frostbite by Joshua Williamson
4 stars

Adelaide wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Beth,

I’m going by Heena’s post: “ So, let us all read some breezy, some cheesy but refreshing summer-reads this month. “ Maybe I just need to expand my definition to something ente..."

There’s the sequel to the one with Dick Cockwrangler. I haven’t read it yet though. Or maybe Hollywood Husbands? Another one I haven’t read that I wanna get to. But really, even her lesser efforts are pretty fun.