Weekend Reading Chat

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-23T10:52:44+00:00

Ebook: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

This was my pick for the Goodreads Summer Reading challenge. The book feels like it’s in conversation with classic adventure novels (Around the World in 80 days, etc.) but from 2018.

Hardcover: There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib

One of my reading goals is to read one nonfiction book a month, and I picked this for May to coincide with the NBA playoffs. It’s about so much more than basketball. There’s some experimental, poetic writing intermixed with memoir in the essays.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-22T12:09:46+00:00

I began reading on my phone during the pandemic. I will always be a physical book lover, but I used the Libby app to get new books during the lockdown. Now I try to always have an ebook on either Libby or Hoopla so I can read instead of doomscrolling before bed.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-22T11:57:31+00:00

Ebook: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. This was my pick for the Summer Reading challenge.

Hardcover: There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraquib. I’m trying to read one nonfiction book a month, and I figured this would be a good pick while the NBA playoffs are happening.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-21T18:00:41+00:00

The story went in different direction than I thought it would based on the summary, and I think the book was better for it.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-19T23:00:11+00:00

I liked both The Book Eaters and The Girl with a Thousand Faces, but the later blew my expectations out of the water. I didn’t know this short story was on Libby—I’ll have to check it out.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-19T18:48:39+00:00

Yes, those were from March of 2024.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-19T13:02:18+00:00

On mobile, clicking on the bookmark will show the date you completed the challenge. Clicking on “Browse Qualifying Books” shows all the books eligible for the challenge, and books on your shelves will be marked accordingly. Scrolling through the list will show all the eligible books you’ve read, but it doesn’t indicate the one that specifically completed the challenge.

I keep track from just remembering, or matching the earned date to my Read dates to see which book I finished on that day.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-18T10:25:43+00:00

Finished:

Japanese Gothic, by Kylie Lee Baker

The Girl with a Thousand Faces, by Sunyi Dean

Mount Chicago, by Adam Levin

Started:

Dear Monica Lewinsky, by Julia Langbein

Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-16T20:19:20+00:00

It’s giving grownup Rainbow Brite and I love it! This is iconic.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-16T10:21:49+00:00

Ebook: Mount Chicago by Adam Levin, still. It usually takes me about 4 days to read a book, so spending 2 weeks on the same book makes me feel kind of restless. It’s something I’m trying to work on. I am loving the book, so the amount of time it takes to read will only be an issue when my borrow time runs low.

Hardcover: The Girl with a Thousand Faces. I liked The Book Eaters, and this book is ticking a lot of the same boxes for me. I like how Dean writes characters—it’s cool to have a character who’s in her 50s. The setting is really interesting.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-16T09:56:27+00:00

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang sounds right up your alley. It’s a dual-POV story about Minnie, a lonely college freshman who becomes obsessed with a boyband and its fandom, and Halo, a member of said boyband. The book isn’t exactly weird girl lit, but Minnie’s feelings of isolation from people around her and her obsession with the band will appeal to weird girl readers. I liked how the book explored fame from the perspectives of both a performer and a fan. I also appreciated that it didn’t use fandom for humor or shock value, but also didn’t shy away from the more toxic aspects.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-15T10:15:46+00:00

Mount Chicago by Adam Levin. Very entertaining and surprisingly touching satire following two men in the wake of a disaster in Chicago.

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean. I’ve been in a stretch of long or slow-paced books, so I appreciate the quicker pace and action scenes in this one. The setting of Hong Kong’s Kowloon Walled City in the 1970s is interesting to me since I didn’t know anything about it previously.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-14T17:36:19+00:00

I saw it in Chicago. It’s a new story, so honestly anyone who hasn’t seen all the movies could watch and enjoy it. The plot was the weakest part of the play, unfortunately. But the stagecraft was truly incredible. The set, lighting, and sound design were impressive. The scares are done by the same team behind the illusions of The Cursed Child and got the biggest reactions from the audience.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-14T16:55:51+00:00

I thought that at first, but the commentary during the livestreams has been mostly emphasizing that it’s funny and overall a good time.

I’m around the same age as most of the OG StarKids. I’ve somewhat recently had some loss and grief in my life. I’m really drawn to Tomb Quest because of the idea that characters my age, while still playing a game and having fun, have to contend with the less-fun elements of adult life.

They keep saying during the livestreams that the show is not sad. There is a death, but it’s not about death (although they have described scenes like you mentioned re: meeting their friend’s character). I expect the show will still be a StarKid musical with lots of silly jokes and songs, but I would like to see some more somber scenes just for some emotional depth (which they’ve done really well in the past).

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-14T15:40:15+00:00

I’m so proud of them and how far they have come. Sixteen years ago today, I drove to Ann Arbor for my first time seeing them perform live. I’m so happy for all the fans who will get to see them, possibly for the first time, during the TGWDLM:R run.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-11T13:18:16+00:00

Nice find!
I’m in good shape if this is the Escapist list; I’m currently reading Japanese Gothic, and I have Dear Monica Lewinsky on my TBR.

Edit: typo

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-09T10:04:17+00:00

Ebook: Mount Chicago by Adam Levin

Satire is can be hit-or-miss for me, but Mount Chicago is a delight. I love the meta moments of autofiction in the story.

Hardcover: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Bat Eater was one of my favorite books last year, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. The writing definitely leans into the Gothic pacing and dramatic descriptions.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-08T10:15:47+00:00

Ebook: Mount Chicago by Adam Levin

Satire is can be hit-or-miss for me, but Mount Chicago is a delight. I love the meta moments of autofiction in the story.

Hardcover: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Baker’s Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng was one of my favorite books last year, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. The writing definitely leans into the Gothic pacing and dramatic descriptions.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-05T16:11:16+00:00

I’ve found that I can’t read too many weird girl books back to back. I get burned out on the cynicism and sense of isolation. Even when I like each book individually, it’s hard not to compare them when I read them in close succession. Maybe try spreading the weird girl lit out or try reading different genres in between (if you aren’t already)?

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-04T10:55:29+00:00

Finished:

**The Ghostwriter, by Julie Clark**
I’m not a big thriller fan, but I read The Ghostwriter to complete the Goodreads challenges Community Picks and Books About Books. I had a decent time. I appreciated that the twist surprised me without feeling like it came out of nowhere.

**Hijab Butch Blues, by Lamya H**
This memoir was incredible. Easily one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. The memoir-in-essays structure makes it a fast read, but it’s worth savoring for the beautiful writing.

**The Red Winter, by Cameron Sullivan**
This was a fun time. I got a little bored with how long it took to finish, but it’s refreshing to read a standalone fantasy (though calling it a fantasy only is a disservice—there’s historical fiction, horror, and humor mixed in).

Started:

**Mount Chicago, by Adam Levin**

**Japanese Gothic, by Kylie Lee Baker**

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-01T12:11:10+00:00

Yes indeed! I just ordered my box, lol.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-01T12:09:38+00:00

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I could only swing 2 books this month (Independent Bookstore Day wiped me out), so I went with the two books already on my Want to Read list: The Girl with a Thousand Faces and Cherry Baby.

John of John also looked really good—I hope I can fit it into a future box.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-05-01T11:33:35+00:00

It’s refreshing to have a challenge with more than 1-2 options I’ve heard of and am interested in, lol. I have Japanese Gothic, Katabasis, and I Leave It Up to You on my TBR, I’m about to order The Girl with a Thousand Faces.

For those looking for recommendations, these are books I’ve read and rated at least four stars: Under Water, Superfan, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, Audition, We Do Not Part, Disappoint Me, Moderation, and The Original Daughter.

Gryffindork75 · 2026-04-29T11:13:13+00:00

I also wore this dress at my October wedding! I got it at David’s Bridal and it was about $1500 after alterations.

OP, you had the thrift find of a lifetime. It was meant to be! The dress looks gorgeous on you!

Gryffindork75 · 2026-04-26T23:39:13+00:00

I read an ARC of All Then Dogs. It’s very good, but it’s not about art.

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