Friday Reads: The Year of the DNF

[@arlissbunny]

I believe rabbits are the third most popular pet in the country now. They are easily as interactive as cats and considerably more intelligent than most folks realize. I have seen mine drag a chair with wheels over to a table it wanted to hop up on. Like cats, bunnies can be taught to do all kinds of things but also like cats it will be on their terms. Bunnies live 10 - 14 years and make wonderful companion pets.

[@emmavd]

Thanks, Greg and… Teddy!🌷🐶Two extra cinnamon-bun recommendations just in case … you run out of them 😉What you are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama and Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum. I first listened to them and then bought the paper versions. They’re heartwarming and full of book love, and make me smile every time I see them on my shelf🥰

[@melissafirman1962]

Swing state girl here. I'm right there with you regarding the election anxiety. (Worried about Tester for you!) I'm still catching up on your videos so will check out last week's for sure. But yeah, it's...a lot. I'm leaning more into cinnamon bun (Cinnabon?) reads and lighter-fare podcasts too. This is a year of DNFs for me, too.

[@onourpath]

Oh, god, the Challenger, what a day that was. I was barely into my teens, and for some reason, I thought the astronauts would surely have been ejected. Watching the debris falling to the ground, I was sure some of that contained them and they must be fine. Wake up, little girl: here's life (ironically) coming at you fast. What an incredibly heartbreaking thing to experience as a kid, and I couldn't stop thinking of their families. 💔 Thanks for talking about the restaurant book; it's now on my wishlist, and I so wish it existed in real life! I'm already planning my menu, just in case a magical restaurant that can unlock my food memories shows up in my neighborhood! 🤤

[@bonnie_stuff]

The Challenger was used in my MBA program as an example of organizational failure

[@shyathena34]

I loved The Kamagawa Food Detectives, it was very a short but great read. Also I don't know if you know but a new book called Riding Like Wind came out recently. It is a biography of Sanora Babb. I know how you like anything Pulitzer prize related so I thought I would mention it. Have a great weekend. Happy reading!

[@mradcaqbdb]

I won’t be reading the Challenger book although I know it’s very well done based on what I’ve heard. I was getting ready for work in RI that morning and happened to catch the news and was devastated. I never made it to work that day. I have so much anxiety about the election. It’s driving me crazy. I generally ignore polls and I’m doing that know, but poll results keep slapping me across the face. The thought that he could actually win is killing me, especially with the speculation that he’ll hand over to Vance who will promptly pardon Trump. It would be a code red disaster if it came true. I’ve been supporting Tester and Gallego in AZ every month. Tester is up against a 🤡 and Gallego is up against a 👹 in Lake. And we need every Senate seat. Oy. About to start Yr Dead by Sam Sax. It’s due back to the library on Tuesday. 😳 I’ll probably start listening to the Kamogawa Food Detectives this week too as I have the audiobook out from the library.

[@audreyh7892]

The Kamogawa Food Detectives sparked an interesting conversation in our family about different recipes/foods we wish we could have again.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s an interesting topic!

[@lemonpop6251]

I remember the Challenger. I was in elementary school and we were watching it on TV. That was something. I won't forget it😢

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can’t even imagine! One of my sisters was in high school when 9/11 happened and she saw the towers fall with her classroom.

[@lemonpop6251]

@@SupposedlyFun yea I remember that as well, in college for 9/11. It's funny how certain events stick with us. We remember where we're at, and what we were doing at the time. Then other memories are just so vague and not sure how it went. Our minds and bodies are quite the mystery.

[@JessicaWard-k7q]

I too thought the next section in Long Island Compromise was about another sibling. I gave up in the Beamer section. I’m glad I didn’t power through Beamer only to get to another Beamer section. Loved Catalina! Thanks for much for the recommendation.

[@AK-gl6wm]

The author of Challenger also wrote Chernobyl which was GREAT. I’m 100 percent picking this one up.

[@skylark1250]

His Chernobyl was chilling and expertly told.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn’t realize it’s the same author! I need to catch up to both.

[@seasheleyes]

I am also on anxiety overdrive. On my way to Pacific Grove tomorrow for four days of isolation and reading…and making cards. I’m finally reading “The Guncle” and it was a good choice for this month.

[@alldbooks9165]

LOL about gaming the system to win at your own game.

[@SupposedlyFun]

🤗🤗🤗

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with “The Kamogawa Food Detectives” which I haven’t read yet. Publishers are aware that some of us are suckers for a cat on the cover and will purchase a book based on the allure of a cat being part of the story. Unfortunately, they sometimes disappoint. 😾Dear publishers: If you’re going to put a cat on the cover, there had better BE a cat in the story!🤣

[@audreyh7892]

There is a cat in the story. He is routinely scolded and he just doesn't care. Not a main character but a persistent one.

[@SupposedlyFun]

There’s a cat who hangs out outside the restaurant in the first chapter (the description fits the cat on the jacket). Not sure how much he’ll factor into subsequent chapters but he’s there!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@audreyh7892 Whoever is doing the scolding is immediately an unlikeable character for me.😆

[@mradcaqbdb]

GASP! You mean some publishers pull the rug out from under us cat lovers? That potentially bodes poorly for my stack of books with cats on the cover. 🤔😱😤

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@mradcaqbdb Shocking but true!🤣

[@ara_orion]

I'm stuck in a fiction reading slump this month 😓 I'm slowly making my way through a long non-fiction book ( i have no aim to complete the book soon) but I really miss being immersed in a good novel.

[@LauraNeemann]

i am such a Michael Hobbes fangirl! I'd listen to him read a cereal box I think! He and Aubrey are awesome on Maintenance Phase. If Books Could Kill is Great too, I think you'll like it.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

Is your puppy a Welsh? I have Airedales! Two of ‘em. I know, pray for me. Sill need to read James…

[@PaulaBlazer-n7l]

❤When I'm tempted to DNF I read the last 2 chapters before I decide to DNF. Usually supports my DNF feelings.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I sometimes do that with a physical book-and probably would have with Long Island Compromise just to try to confirm if there is some kind of twist. I’ve never tried it with an audio just because flipping around is that little bit more difficult.

[@ChristinaStern-x9d]

Hi Greg -- I agree totally about Fleischman is In Trouble and have decided to not even attempt LI Compromise. I remember forcing myself through Fleischman and, plot subversion or not, the ending was just not worth the painful slog. Re: Challenger -- remember that vividly. That launch had gotten a lot of publicity because a teacher had been selected to train and go along with the regular crew as part of a general education project.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so relieved so many people have had similar experiences with Fleishman and Long Island Compromise. I’m not alone! 😀 The Challenger is such a fascinating and sad story.

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

Hi Greg! Within arm’s reach by Ann Napolitano was a DNF for me this week. I couldn’t stand the grandma… 😕 But I’m not giving up on the author, I still want to read her other books! Have a great weekend!

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

Same. Though I have completed 0ver 60, I've DNFd over a 100. Storygraph app and a reading journal help me look at how I really need to be more selective going into next year, based on my stats to date. Gotta quit falling for hype.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It would be interesting to see how many books I’ve quit when only 10-25 pages in. It would definitely be a lot. But I only count it as a DNF if I got 50 pages (or more) in.

[@StephaniePatterson-jb5it]

I rarely DNF books, but I did DNF Kamogawa. I am thinking of celebrity bios for my cinnamon buns I have bios of Elaine Stritch and Elaine May I might try. Definitely having election anxiety and it’s hard to unplug from it because I live in Pennsylvania (albeit the Kamala Harris portion of PA.)

[@bookofdust]

DNFs are interesting, if you do it regularly that seem to flow, but once there’s the space of months and months it’s like doing it for the first time and it’s agonizing! But I did do one last week and it felt so good once it was done and gone. So a year of DNF makes complete sense. I’ve dropped Long Island Compromise off my Libby hold queue. I only watched Flieschman In Trouble and stayed with it because I really like many of the actors who were in it. But upper class straight white man troubles were troublesome for me, so I don’t need a rehashing of it too. Now you have me preemptively DNFing!!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I had never thought of preemptive DNFs before and I have absolutely done it!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Cuddly Teddy ❤

[@catherinejager3264]

After reading Olive Kitteridge I was very interested in reading Tell Me Everything- but felt like I needed to catch up with Elizabeth Strout’s characters. So read My name Is Lucy Barton and The Burgess brothers. I’m almost finished with Tell Me Everything and getting very anxious about leaving these characters - or them leaving me. I enjoyed The Burgess Brothers way more than Lucy … but bringing them together - 🤌🏽

[@AvidMari23]

I remember watching the Challenger tragedy on tv. Also long ago there was a “saying” the rabbit died which meant someone was pregnant. Not sure why a rabbit though

[@SupposedlyFun]

I had never heard that saying before! How interesting.

[@martham9980]

It’s because an early pregnancy test (Friedman test) involved the use of a live rabbit who, let’s just say it, doesn’t survive the experience.

[@LouiseReader]

I'm disappointed that you didn't like The Burrow more- it's one of my most anticipated books of the year... On the other hand, I DNF'd Whatever Happpened to Interracial Marriage a few years ago. Long enough ago that I can't particularly remember why.

[@SupposedlyFun]

The conceptual nature of Whatever Happened feels somewhat experimental, so if you don’t respond to the style I think it’s safe to say you won’t enjoy it at all. And I wouldn’t say I disliked The Burrow-I thought it was perfectly fine. This is probably one of those cases where I ended up complaining about something I mostly liked. 😂

[@katrianamacmillan]

I thought Long Island Compromise was just ok and it’s not a book that has stayed with me. I finished it in July and already forget a lot of what I read. I liked it enough to finish it, but I don’t think you’re missing much leaving it as a DNF. I’m reading In Memory of Us by Jacqueline Roy and I think it’s one you would really enjoy once the election stress is over. I’m only about 25% of the way through, but it definitely doesn’t seem like it will be a cinnamon bun book. Still very much a book I think would be worth reading when the timing is right though!

[@josephcali8288]

I finished reading “The Ministry of Time”. Have mixed feelings but most positive.

[@janethansen9612]

Me too. Not sure about the ending but I did enjoy the different characters.

[@readandre-read]

I was standing in a college add/drop line (pre Internet world) and the next person walked up and told us that the Challenger had exploded. We were shocked. I didn't really like Fleischman is in Trouble for similar reasons and the whole end part thing didn't work for me, either. It sounds like Long Island Compromise is in the same vein so ....pass! 😊

[@SupposedlyFun]

What a way to hear the news! I’ve been getting similar comments for Fleishman today, so that makes me feel better about things.

[@bookofdust]

I had just walked into the campus dining hall and someone said that about the Challenger and my first reaction was that they were pulling a sick joke, it didn’t seem possible. We were too young to remember the early space rocket disasters and had only known continuous triumphs on the space program. I saw the vapor trail on the day of the second disaster.

[@readandre-read]

@@bookofdust So we were simultaneously at college that day hearing this awful news...and here we are today.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Some comfort books for you Swordcrossed by Fraya Manse Lots of m/m romance Marrying Mr Majestic How To Get Away With Marriage Unlikely Pair Paper Boys Plus the Ice Hockey component Thrown off the Ice Heated Rivalry Home Ice Advantage ??

[@spexi513]

📖 🪱 💚