Get Your Shorts in a Bunch discussion

So, I don't think that any book discussion group is complete without a general "What are you reading" type thread.

I recently finished Susan Hill's new novella duology, The Small Hand and Dolly (which I got from NetGalley), and it was really good. Atmospheric, creepy and beautifully written... I thought that I would mention it here in case there are any horror/ghostly story fans who might be interested when it's out next month. :)

A poetry retrospective collection from Bruce Boston. Very good so far.

I am currently reading the third book by goodreads author, Philip Whiteland--a series of comic memoirs. Highly humorous and entertaining. Anyone needing a good laugh should check him out.
Philip Whiteland

I'm reading The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordon. It just started getting better around 250 pages (my edition is 915 pages, so...).

I am reading Mark Hodder's Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack. It satisfies my steampunk, Victorian, supernatural and history needs all at once. Funny too.

Reading a memoirMen We Reaped: A Memoir

I'm reading Everneath by Brodi Ashton. So far, so good!

I am reading joy land by Stephen King

I'm finishing up Dexter by Design and am about to start the 2nd volume of Herodotus' Histories

Almopst finished with Claire of the Sea Light

Reading Warriors: Rising Storm by Erin Hunter.

I'm reading Breaking Twig by Deborah
Epperson, so far so good.

I am currently reading an anthology called Women of Mystery - Book 1. After that I have some non mystery ones to read.

I've been reading short stories which is usually not my thing but I discovered thriller writer Barry Eisler and have read 3 of his recent shorts and they're great!

I started Carniepunk. I'm liking it so far. Also contrasting the short stories with the very long A Storm of Swords.

Taking a short break from Rising Storm (Warriors #4) to read Secrets of the Crown (Familiars #2)

I am starting Archangel: Fictionwhich is the new book from the author who wrote Ship Fever: Stories

I'm reading whiskey beach by Nora Roberts. And a batman graphic novel Hush.

Started an ARC of The Last Stratiote by LeAnn Neal Reilly last night.

Re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Just finished Holes for Faces. It was excellent.

I just finished Barbie Girl yesterday so I'm going to start Forever Fae

Michelle E. wrote: "Re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Oooo...that's never a disappointment. :)

Just finished Black Swan Green. Dazzled by David Mitchell's writing, but mostly LOVE THAT KID. Jason Taylor stammers, writes poetry (and hides it) and mostly tries to get through the day without getting beat up. 8th grade (3rd form) stinks.

I've started reading "The Gate Keeper" by Heather Graham, a fantasy story of Old World traditions mixing w/ modern day life.

Read this and enjoyed it too. Love almost everything she writes.

I finished The Gatekeeper and now starting OtherWorld by Jared C. Wilson.

Reading The Butterfly Sister: A Novel and Enon

Diane S. wrote: "Read this and enjoyed it too. Love almost everything she writes."

The Gate Keeper is the 1st I've ever read from her, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series.

I'm reading the second book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Zafón, Carlos Ruiz. I loved The Shadow of the Wind, and now I'm finding The Angel's Game just as intriguing. Looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, The Prisoner of Heaven.

Hence I'm glad to find a group devoted to "shorts", since these books definitely don't fit that category :-)

So, it's been about forever since this thread has been updated. I think this group may be hibernating for the winter! ;)

I'm currently listening to Swan Song on audio for my Fantasy group, which is... slow going. This is a LOOOOOONG book, and even though I'm listening to it at 2x speed (which really just equates to a normal speaking speed for me), it feels like it's taking forever. Interesting, but I feel like it's one of those books that will need to be finished before I can decide how I feel about it.

Also, I'm still working on Fragile Things, our January group read. I'm kind of alternating between audio, ebook and paperback for this one - whatever I have handy... but I haven't really made much progress on it in a while.

Finally, I'm reading another of my January group read books, The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. I'm enjoying this one as well, but it is kinda dragging at this point. Lots of details, not so much action, but it's a fascinating look at 18th century Russian royalty.

I'll join ya, Becky! I'm currently reading our book Last Evenings on Earth, although I've only read the first story so far and need to post my thoughts on it. Next, I'm finishing The Scorch Trials. Then I have a 'buddy read' starting tomorrow on Boston Posh. And last, but not least, Day by Day Armageddon. And actually, I'm reading some shorts from Zombie Fairy Tales: The Complete Collection for a mini challenge. ;-) Too many at one time, THAT'S for sure, but I plan on finishing them all before the end of my 'mini-vacation' at work on the 19th.

And I always listen at 2x the speed too lol. 'Regular' speed is just WAY too slow, ESPECIALLY when you go from 2x down to regular...it's like slow-mo lol. Sometimes I listen at 3x, but only if I have the book in front of me to read at the same time...

~Teresa~

I really, really disliked Day By Day Armageddon. Extremely disappointing considering that a friend recommended it to me as one of the best books he'd read. :(
I just thought that it was incredibly poorly written, and that the author didn't know the difference between first person and how someone would write for their journal. The argument has been made that he was writing for posterity, so explaining along the way, but that's not the case, because the explanations started on page one, when he had no idea what was going on at all. And I can't imagine that it would be important to know which tools were needed to install security bars... ever. If you're writing for posterity, write about important stuff that humanity may want to know in 50 or 100 years, not what kind of toilet paper you prefer.

/rant

On another topic, I bought this book called Zombie Notes: A Study Guide to the Best in Undead Literary Classics, but... I don't like how the cover feels, so I don't want it. Would you be interested in it? I'll send it to you if you are. :)

That's too funny! I HAVE a copy of that. And you're right...its that weird glossy yet uncleanable weird cover. Its like smooth, but not easy to wipe...I don't know HOW to explain it, but you obviously know what I mean lol

And the journal style entries are mostly what we've been discussing on the thread lol

~Teresa~

LOL That is funny. Oh well, I'll get rid of it somehow! ;)

I HATE those kinds of covers, and I really don't know who decided that they should be put on every new book. Whoever it is should be subjected to some sort of sensory based torture for it. Like maybe fingernails on a chalkboard or be forced to chew on tinfoil or something. >_>

I'm very tempted to join in the discussion of that DBDA, but... I couldn't bring myself to finish it because I disliked it so much, and my ranting may... be a bit much. ;)

In THAT group, drama is the norm, so it wouldn't be outta place if you posted "I HATE THIS BOOK; I HATE THIS BOOK; I HATE THIS BOOK" over and over and over again until you couldn't type anymore lol...actually, if it keeps being so dramatic, I just may quit the group...
~Teresa~

LOL Yikes. Sounds like a lot of fun!