Cupcakes, Writing, & Books Oh My! discussion

What are we all currently reading, and what have we just finished? What do you think of the book so far? Good? Bad? Don't yet know?

I'm currently reading: , , and

"Belladonna" is getting better, now that I'm 200 pages in. It was pretty slow at first, but now it's picking up a bit. Of course, I'm still irritated that the Author uses so much French in her dialogue and doesn't offer any translation. And I'm a little tired of the hero, Thomas, always going on about how pretty the heroine, Ling, is. But I love the Author's horse descriptions; she's clearly been around ponies.

"Death Comes to Pemberley" is amazingly good. The Author has done a tremendous job in copying Jane Austen's writing style. I'm looking forward to how this mystery turns out.

"As You Like It" is funny, naturally. It's Shakespeare, after all. I'm kind of doing this sort of "personal challenge," where I read a play a week. Five Acts in each play, an act a day, finish a play in a week. It's a lot of fun!

I am currently reading a "The Outsiders" and "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" for school. they are both really good and i find that i can't wait to read more.

I am also reading a book called "The Dragon Heir" this book is the last in a trilogy. I haven't gotten very far yet but so far it is like the others. i got attracted by the second. it said wizard and that is enough to make me want to try it. they are slow in the beginning but when they pick up they are really quite fun to read.

I have seen the movie "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." Super, super good story; I haven't read the book yet, but I want to. I tried to read "The Outsiders" once; I want to try reading it again; I suspect I wasn't in the right mood for it when I first started it.

Who wrote "The Dragon Heir?" It sounds so bloody familiar.

the movie for "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is a lot like the book with a few differences i havent seen the whole movie or read the whole book yet but that is what i think so far.

The Author of "The Dragon Heir" is Cinda Williams Chima, the first book in the series is "The Warrior Heir"

im also reading the outsiders but i read the boy in the striped pajamas last semester its really good but made me almost cry and i really love the outsiders but the ending is soo said i only have one chapter left and im ahead of the rest of my class because i read ahead but my teacher doesnt care because she knows i wont tell anyone i just finished an awesome book called crossed i love it!!!!! the first book is called matched and its about a girl in a society where everything is done basically for them like they still have jobs and go to school but sometime after they turn 17 they are matched its basically like being engaged but the society picks for you so when the main character cassia is matched she gets a microcard with her matchees information and where her matches picture is supposed to come someones elese picture is there instead its and amazing book and soon cassia slowly finds herself falling in love with this other boy but i dont want to tell you to much so i highly advise you to read it!!!!

"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" makes me cry every time, and it takes quite a bit to make me cry, but no matter what, I always start tearing up at the end of that one. So Emily, be warned - have tissues at hand for the end of the book!! :)

"Matched" sounds interesting. I'll have to put it on my list.

i will too. i really want to finish "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" but you guys are making me scared of the ending.

Gabby don't say anything about "The Outsiders" on this website until i finish the book.

Ok outsiders outsiders outsiders outsiders outsiders 1 chapter left outsiders is sooooooooooooooooooooooo said but i loce it!!!!!!!

what. but you know what i mean. it would be mean to tell me

I am also reading the Outsiders for school. I don't want to read the Boy in the Striped Pajamas because i know how it ends! And I am reading: Matched (AMAZING) and This Isn't what It Looks Like by: Pseudnomyous Bosch (or however you spell it...)

Emily, don't be scared of the ending!

Matched is definately good. I love Xander! Gabby, are you team Xander or Ky? I don't really know yet. I just know I really like Xander as a person! And Mara, definately read Matched! It's a great read!

I love the Secret Series! But I'm not very into this book. It's the fourth which Emily you said is the worst. I believe you now. I'm only 34% done and I got it like four days ago! I finished the other books in the series in 1-2! I think my favorite one was the second with the Homunculus! I picture him as the Lorax... Emily which book was the best for you? The first one was also GREAT! But, the third one just made me want to go eat some chocolate...

I REALLY LIKE the Outsiders! I hate that we have to go one chapter at a time! I love Ponyboy and Sodapop, Darry just seems... I don't know...

Sorry for taking up so much space!

I like the third, first, and fifth and now that i think about it number 2 to. i think the fourth is like really important to the series but it is a drag to read. just push through it it gets better in the final

I am currently reading Much Ado About Nothing and loving it!!!!!! I have never really liked Shakespeare because he often has crude humor in there and not many people realize that and that's why I am going to read the modern translation...even though it sometimes does ruin amazing speeches and so on with modern ways.

I never really thought of that. it gives me something to think about. i have never really thought to read Shakespeare i heard a lot of people don't like it.

I am not what I am not a total nut about it either.

I absolutely love Shakespeare, and as for crude humor - I think professors read far more into some of it than is really there. Yeah, there are some jokes that are wrong, but there are also a lot that professors are like, "Oh, he meant this to be a sexual joke, and here's how!" and I had to REALLY look hard to get that interpretation.

Finished: Characters were good, writing style was good, but the story was pretty dull, and it ended about three times.

Now reading: Like Mackenzie, Breanne is an absolute jerk and I hope something seriously bad happens to her. The Author wastes no time in getting into the action.

I like books that get into action quickly it makes it more interesting to read.

^Agreed!

I will almost always try to write a book that starts with action i like to get right into something that will make me want to read more.

"The Solstice Cup" is definitely a book that needed to get right into the action, too, because nothing turns me off a book faster than if it's set in modern days and the siblings have a problematic relationship. And Breanne is seriously a big-time jerk. I'm actually getting super mad at her; if I met Breanne in real life, I would give her a good wallop on the nose.

I would love to see that. I will have to put that on my to-read list :) i think it already is actually. i like to make fun of characters i dont like and it is always fun to wish something bad happened to them

I've read one of this Author's other books - "When the Curtain Rises" that was really good, too. It was a mystery. You might like it better than "The Solstice Cup." Not that the latter is bad; so far, it's a very interesting story. I just really hate Breanne, but I wouldn't change that, because since Mackenzie is likable, having Breanne being such a monumental jerk adds a new element to what goes on.

i like that Kind of evens it out. I will look at those books and check them out though i doubt i wont like them if i read them, i hardly ever do.

Finished: and The former is not my favorite out of Shakespeare's plays, but it was still entertaining and a very quick read. The latter was good. It borrowed from the legend of Tamlin, which is fine - that's a good legend to borrow from. However, Breanne doesn't seem to have learned anything by the end of the story. She's still a jerk.

Now Reading:

Right now I'm reading (Fear) and (Beautiful Darkness)

Sounds cool i hear the second one is good. Though i have never heard of the first is it good?

Just added to my "currently reading" pile. I'm not too far in - Chapter Three - but I can safely say that whether or not I like the story, I absolutely love Mary Shelley's writing style.

, so far, is good. It isn't a constant barrage about how terrible slaves were treated (yes, I agree they were treated terrible, but I do get tired of historical fiction always going on about it, like it's the Author's duty to inform people), and there has been no "oh, well, the Founding Fathers were just terrible people" - which seems to be the new fad among American Revolution fiction. Rather, it's merely an adventure that takes place during the American Revolution, and I'm so glad to have found a book like this once more. The American Revolution is one of my favorite times in history, and it's so hard to find good fiction set during that era anymore without getting a ear-load of preachifying from the Author.

I would hate it is someone goes on about something on and on. I like that period to and it is very interesting to me.

Well, and not to sound callous or anything, but when so many Authors do that, it kind of makes me dread getting a book set in that time period with black characters, because you just know that it's going to be a preachy book. And I love stories about runaway slaves and slaves that fought in the American Revolution - it's absolutely fascinating! But not when the Author begins harping on things. And so many American Revolution stories nowadays turn into political commentaries . . . Grrr.

If you like books set in the American Revolution, look up Ann Rinaldi. The majority of her stories are set during that time and the Civil War. And she doesn't get preachy, and she offers very balanced opinions on certain things. I also really like her stories, because she has several stories that are told from a Southern girl's point of view during the Civil War, or a girl whose family is supportive of King George III - a Torie. And she does a magnificent job of portraying their thoughts and opinions without demonizing the other side. Anyway, she's a really good author.

Thanks i will look it up it sounds fascinating.

I am currently reading "City of Bones"
it is interesting and full of romance.

i want to read it soo badly.

Finished: and If you're looking for a simple, but intriguing, comtemporary-set mystery, "Vanished" is a good choice. And if you're wanting to read Shakespeare, but don't want to do one of his long and tragic plays, "The Comedy of Errors" is ideal. It's his shortest play and hilarious.

Currently reading: , , , and

Now I'm reading (Shiver)
It's really good, I love it :)

i heard "Shiver" was good too. i want to read it.

I'm currently reading Joni: An unforgettable story (for school) and Anne of Avonlea (since earlier in the school year we had to read Anne of Green Gables)

Finished: I liked it, though out of the three that have so far been published in the series, it wasn't my absolute favorite.

Now reading: Love it, so far.

how do you keep all those series straight? i am reading "The Immortals" series and "Fallen" right now and they are so much alike it is hard for me to remember which is which and it drives me crazy.

JJaeBloggs wrote: "I'm currently reading Joni: An unforgettable story (for school) and Anne of Avonlea (since earlier in the school year we had to read Anne of Green Gables)"

Finished Joni shortly after posting that comment, just started reading Anne of Avonlea late last night and haven't read any of it since

Waiting for my other "to-read" books to arrive at the library, because I'm kind of cheap and don't usually pay for books with my money, but yet I have a expanding library at home. Some of my books are ready, but I was waiting for the others since I plow through books like crazy, but the library is closed.

Correction, I do pay for books with my own money, but I prefer using other people's money. So maybe half and half?

i like that. dont reread books unless they are like super good. i dont see the point in it since you already know the end. anyway i usually buy books with gift cards or other money i get. :)

A Friend Like Henry! Makes me tear-eyed. Five Stars.

Emily :) wrote: "i like that. dont reread books unless they are like super good. i dont see the point in it since you already know the end. anyway i usually buy books with gift cards or other money i get. :)"

I determine whether books are worth reading or not by the little description they have, and sometimes I'm scared to buy books I haven't read at full price in case I don't like them. I like discount books, like libraries that have bookstores where they sell books for 25 cents to a dollar fifty.

If I find a book engaging enough, I will buy it, and if I buy it, that means I will most certainly re-read it. Books are friends, and I like to revisit friends.

@ Emily: I keep all of those series straight by keeping extremely lengthy lists, and I'm also just able to remember. Comes with a photographic memory, I suppose. But mostly, it's because of lists. :)

i have a list too and i have everything written down but i still get them mixed up. i guess it is just because i am reading books that are so close to the same thing. oh and btw do you really have a photographic memory?

JJae: i will look at the summary too but mostly i just look at the cover and the title. if it has anything to do with what i like to read i will look into it and most likely read it. i find books with crazy covers and i read them to find out more.:)

I keep more than one list. I have a To-Read List, Already-Read List, Books to Buy, and then finally a list that contains every single author I have ever read, and underneath each author's name is the book titles I've read. And then I have a huge file that contains all of the book reviews I've written. I'm something of a list fanatic. Sometimes I do still get a series mixed up, but one way I prevent that is if I am reading a book in a series, I'll read another book totally different from it afterward. It creates a sort of barrier, so the two storylines don't bleed together. Yes, I have a photographic memory. It definitely contributes to my remembering literary details easier.

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but I also will pick up a book depending on the cover design and title font.

Usually if the title is cool and the designing is interesting the book will too.

I will have to try to read different books. this is going to be really off topic but i found it funny. I was reading a book from the point of view of a cat "Warriors" and then i switched to a series from the point of view of a bear "Seekers" and then finally to an owl "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" and by the time i got to the last series i was completely mixed up and was reading the owl book with bears still on my mind. it was crazy.

I think it is sooo cool that you have a photographic memory. :)

*laughs* Yeah, I can see how that would have gotten confusing.

Just finished: and The former was just as good as the first book; I absolutely loved it. The latter was a little better than OK. The hero was good and the story itself good, but some of the choices the Author made in telling the story didn't work.

Now Reading: and I have high hopes for the former, and not so high hopes for the latter.

I just finished Divergent it was sooooooo good!

Mara how do you read so many books at the same time? and the Brotherband Chronicles aren't they the sequel to "Ranger's Apprentice"