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BOOKS TO DISCUSS > What are you currently reading?

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message 9401: by Becky (new)

Becky (bek11) | 451 comments Just finished The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss . I think it would be a good read for upper elementary and middle school kids to learn about life for a Jewish girl during WWII/Holocaust. I can't remember Anne Frank's Diary too well, but I'm thinking that this one is less intense.

I've been kinda reading Shadow by Jenny Moss . The writing doesn't flow very well to me. The story line is OK so far, but I'm just not attached to the main character. I'm thinking that I might move onto something else, just not sure what.


message 9402: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments I finished The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by Mary E. Pearson and I really liked this fantasy. Minus the cliffhanger! I can get the sequel from the library, but I'm swimming in books right now, so I'm frustrated I won't get to it for awhile!

Also finished my audio of The Taming of Annabelle (Six Sisters #2) by Marion Chesney and absolutely LOVED it! This series is so fun.

Finished my reread of The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1) by Michael Scott , still just as good as I remember.

Finished In the End (In the After, #2) by Demitria Lunetta and liked it. This is series is kind of lighter dystopian, but it does have some very dark moments, which add a bit of depth. Very quick, fun reads! And entertaining.

Started a reread of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by J.K. Rowling


message 9403: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments Finished Jinx by Sage Blackwood last night. Meh. I didn't dislike it or anything, but nothing special.

Up next, Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #10) by Jeff Kinney


message 9404: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
I have never read any of the Diary books Tommy. is the series good for all ages?


message 9405: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments I finished Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) by Leigh Bardugo and LOVED it!


message 9406: by Elora (new)

Elora Mitchell | 578 comments Oh I'm so glad, Jenny. It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. :)


message 9407: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "I have never read any of the Diary books Tommy. is the series good for all ages?"

I think so, yes. The plots themselves are geared for younger readers, but the humor is just solid. Plus, a lot of the stuff he talks about is pretty univeral, like, we all can probably relate enough to get a chuckle haha. Without spoiling anything, in one book he talks about liking Shel Silverstein but being frightened of his author picture on the backs of his books haha.


message 9408: by Marcia (new)

Marcia (marciavdz) I'm currently reading The Glimpse by Claire Merle. So far, so good :)


message 9409: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Tommy wrote: "Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "I have never read any of the Diary books Tommy. is the series good for all ages?"

I think so, yes. The plots themselves are geared for younger readers, but the hum..."


Ok thanks Tommy. I wonder if they are good on audio.

Good to know Jenny! I have that on hold at the library.


message 9410: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Just a reminder that this months hidden gem group read was picked by our Moderator Bluemoon and it is 172 Hours on the Moon 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad . I am looking for it at my library :)


message 9411: by Brigid ✩ (new)

Brigid ✩ | 2471 comments Mod
Tommy wrote: "Without spoiling anything, in one book he talks about liking Shel Silverstein but being frightened of his author picture on the backs of his books haha."

omg I saw a picture of that part on Tumblr and it made me laugh so hard. :D I need to get around to reading those; I've only read bits of them but they are very funny from what I've read. I also met Jeff Kinney at BookExpo a couple years ago, and he was really nice!


message 9412: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Just a reminder that this months hidden gem group read was picked by our Moderator Bluemoon and it is 172 Hours on the Moon172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad. I am looking f..."

Thanks for the reminder! I've fallen behind on the group reads, but I do want to read this one!


message 9413: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* wrote: "Tommy wrote: "Without spoiling anything, in one book he talks about liking Shel Silverstein but being frightened of his author picture on the backs of his books haha."

omg I saw a picture of that ..."


My boys LOVED those books!


message 9414: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Ok thanks Tommy. I wonder if they are good on audio.

Good to know Jenny! I have that on hold at the library."


I don't know if they'd be good on audio just because the story is pretty reliant on pictures. It's a semi-graphic novel(or more accurately, it's like 10 of them haha).


message 9415: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Ok thanks Tommy!


message 9416: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments So I've started Life and Death Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer and I'm about 50 pages in. So far its EXACTLY the same as Twilight, almost word for word, except all the names and genders have changed. Which just confuses me. I'm going to try to stick with it, mostly because of curiosity, but I'm feeling like DNF right now. Unless something dramatic changes, I'm kind of feeling like this was a big rip off by the author.

I also started a biography Virginia Woolf by Nigel Nicolson which is really good so far. I know almost nothing about this writer, and I haven't read any of her books, but I want to, and I do like to know more about the writer when reading :)


message 9417: by Brigid ✩ (new)

Brigid ✩ | 2471 comments Mod
Yeahhh I heard Life and Death was literally just the exact same text as Twilight but just switching out the names/pronouns, lol. :D


message 9418: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Wow Brigid. That is horrible if it is true. Good luck Jenny :)


message 9419: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments I heard that Beau(haha) described one of the girls as "so hot The Rock wouldn't smile at her" haha.


message 9420: by Jenny (last edited Dec 03, 2015 02:19AM) (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments Yes he did!

His "voice" doesn't sound very masculine to me...again why this is confusing to read.


message 9421: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Tommy wrote: "I heard that Beau(haha) described one of the girls as "so hot The Rock wouldn't smile at her" haha."

I threw up a little in my mouth just reading that line. *sigh* I am glad you got it from the library Jenny because the fact that people spent money on that book makes me sad/angry. I know. I know. I should focus on the fact that people are reading in the first place!


message 9422: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Dixie I love the Three Pines series! it is especially wonderful on audio book. I also like Longmire the TV show :)"

Thank you, Heidi! I loved the one Louise Penny book I read and think I would love all the Three Pines books! Don't know how many I'll get to read, because of time. We are on the next-to-the-last episode of season 4 of Longmire on Netflix. . . Kind of hate to watch the last one and then have to wait. It is our favorite show!


message 9423: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "I am still listening to Carry OnCarry On by Rainbow Rowell and am enjoying it a lot more than I expected."

That is good to know; I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, because I didn't love those part of the book, but I love her writing so much, I should probably trust that it's gonna be great. Okay, so now I know I'm gonna read it? ;)


message 9424: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Becky wrote: "I did finish Howl's Moving Castle. Good but still a little confusing at times. (I watched the movie a few years ago and found it confusing, too. The book did clear up some of it).

I'm reading a W..."


I saw Howl's Moving Castle, the movie, and loved it, even though I didn't understand it either! ;) I think I just remember being so entranced with the visuals.


message 9425: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Bluemoon wrote: "I'm glad you guys like it. Something new for 2016 ^_^

Plus I think this banner looks better with the name"


It looks great, Bluemoon! Thank you!


message 9426: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Tommy wrote: "Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "I have never read any of the Diary books Tommy. is the series good for all ages?"

I think so, yes. The plots themselves are geared for younger readers, but the hum..."


I am a retired teacher, and I remember how much my students LOVED those books! I love it when that happens! It was like that with HP; kids who hadn't loved to read suddenly did! :)


message 9427: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments I think I'm going to start The Dovekeepers The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman , which will be a commitment, because it is so long! But I love Alice Hoffman and have heard this book is wonderful.


message 9428: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Dixie wrote: "Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Dixie I love the Three Pines series! it is especially wonderful on audio book. I also like Longmire the TV show :)"

Thank you, Heidi! I loved the one Louise Penny ..."


Good to know Longmire is still good in season 4 - I am on season 3 :)

Just finishing Carry On today (I have less than 15 minutes of the audiobook left) and have loved nearly every minute of it. I am not 100% into this ending so far but Rainbow has a history with me of not nailing her endings and I forgive her each time. Maybe the last few minutes will be the game changer. Either way, I did not love those parts of Fangirl either and would not have gotten the book if my library had not had it but I am glad I did :) p.s. I highly recommend it on audio - I can't remember if you listen to audiobooks Dixie?


message 9429: by [deleted user] (new)


message 9430: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Oda wrote: "Mosquitoland by David Arnold"

That one sounds cute


message 9431: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments It is cute, Heidi, I loved it!


message 9432: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Thanks Jenny!


message 9433: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
We still need a few more volunteers to pick a hidden gem read in 2016. I hope people join us :)


message 9434: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
I just started Career of Evil Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike, #3) by Robert Galbraith on audio


message 9435: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments I had to DNF Life and Death Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer UGH I tried, but this was just AWFUL. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 9436: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
You have renewed my faith in humanity Jenny. hahaha :)


message 9437: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments LOL Heidi! I didn't have high hopes for it or anything, but I was hoping for a bit more! It could have been a lot better, but the decisions the author made pretty much killed it. I read it mainly because of curiosity. I wish I hadn't been so curious!


message 9438: by Marcia (new)

Marcia (marciavdz) I'm currently reading The Fall (The Glimpse, #2) by Claire Merle . I'm really enjoying this duology :D


message 9439: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments You'd think even just changing the genders, even while keeping the plot identical, would have changed things in a fairly significant way. Maybe woman-Carlisle had some struggles on her way to being such a respected Dr.? Or woman Charlie(Charlie still works haha) had to deal with certain things as a lady cop? Maybe Beau's(snicker) "dad" could face some personal challenge for having a less "masculine" job that "his" ex"wife" haha.

I don't know, I couldn't imagine changing something in a character without thinking "how would this change the story?". Keep the personality the same, but make Harry a girl, and try to imagine the desire to live up to his father, the way he interacted with Ron(or Ronda? haha), etc. etc. etc. One characteristic change should honestly change a lot, even if the plot takes you to the same place.


message 9440: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments You would think so Tommy. It just confused me, because I just kept comparing it to the orginal...and kept thinking okay, so Erica is Eric? And Jeremy is Jessica? Bonnie is Jacob? And on and on...

I think she should have just changed Bella and Edward, and left everyone else pretty much the same (this was only the first book, so Jacob could have still been a boy) but have some kind of fun plot twist. To do a really good retelling, there has to be a bit of a "twist" to make it work.

I honestly did like Edythe better than Edward. I think the girl vampire thing actually worked. I had trouble swallowing Beau as Bella, though. So it just all fell apart.


message 9441: by Heidi (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Bella was a Mary Sue character for me (especially in Twilight) so I don't know how that could translated into a male character successfully.


message 9442: by Tommy (new)

Tommy Hancock (tommyhancock) | 440 comments I read the spoilers so that I wouldn't be curious and tempted to read the book haha. The ending is different than the first Twilight book. I'll leave the few specifics I know in a spoiler tag

(view spoiler)


message 9443: by Heidi (last edited Dec 06, 2015 05:57AM) (new)

Heidi | 6961 comments Mod
Tommy (view spoiler)


message 9444: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments Interesting....

LOL I just couldn't make it to the end!


message 9445: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (juliababyjen) | 1572 comments I finished a reread of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #2) by C.S. Lewis last night. I still love those books!


message 9446: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Dixie I love the Three Pines series! it is especially wonderful on audio book. I also like Longmire the TV show :)"

Thank you, Heidi! I loved the one..."


Heidi, I don't listen to audio books so far although I know I would enjoy them. :) I am glad to hear the recommendation of Carry On; I will have to read it; I'm such a fan. Hope you continue to enjoy Longmire! :)


message 9447: by Dixie (new)

Dixie Minor | 276 comments Oda wrote: "Mosquitoland by David Arnold"

I think this looks great! Quirky! ;)


message 9448: by Brigid ✩ (new)

Brigid ✩ | 2471 comments Mod
Tommy wrote: "You'd think even just changing the genders, even while keeping the plot identical, would have changed things in a fairly significant way. Maybe woman-Carlisle had some struggles on her way to being..."

Yes, this! I feel like I would've been slightly more interested if she'd actually made some kind of effort in thinking about how the gender of the characters affects the story. Apparently she's claimed it's some kind of "statement" about sexism––and like, I kind of get that ... I get that people tend to be more quick to judge female characters (although in Bella's case, I think people's views of her are pretty justified, haha). But just swapping the names/pronouns and nothing else just seems like a lazy gimmick. And we all know she just did it to make some extra money. XD


message 9449: by [deleted user] (new)


message 9450: by [deleted user] (new)

Dixie wrote: "Oda wrote: "Mosquitoland by David Arnold"

I think this looks great! Quirky! ;)"


It was, fun and good read.


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