Happy Friday! What Are You Reading? 7/15

[dorothyinAus]

Reading anything exciting?  Anything you want to discuss/share with the group about what you're reading?

QOTW:  Because I'm freezing here (it's winter in Australia), let's talk about summery things -- what's your favorite ice cream flavor?  Do you prefer cones -- plain or waffle?  Any special toppings?  Are you brownie/cookie sundae kinda of person?  Or just plain scoops?

[monkeyfeet]

I'm still reading Voyager (but hoping to finish it in the next day or 2) and Intentional Living (I really like this personal development book.) It's written by a pastor and is unlike any other PD book I've ever read. I like taking my time to get thru it. Probably pick up something light once I finish Voyager.

QOTW: Ice cream is my favorite! After living in germany, I have too many favorites -- cherry, pistachio, hazelnut. One of my favorite american brands is ben and Jerry strawberry cheesecake, but it has to be eaten out of the carton. I prefer cones over sundaes, waffle preferably, but most places only give those out w/ more than 1 scoop and well, I probably don't even need one scoop, so I rarely get waffle cones!

[Vespasia]

Still reading a Breath of Snow and Ashes but I am almost halfway through which feels like quite an accomplishment.

Picking one favorite ice cream is too hard! I'm a big fan of Ben and Jerry's for the creative combinations. Their core flavors are great.

[revjen]

Reading: wanton to the sea, Audrey Faye

Listening: Katherine of Aragon, Alison Weir

[snshne322]

I'm listening to This Shattered World and just put aside Notorious RBG for a library hold that came in.  I'm enjoying both, but am finding it hard this week to carve out some reading time.

QOTW: I'm kind of boring in that I like plain ice cream in a cup.  Cones get too messy for me.  I like whipped cream on it, but I'm not a sundae person.  I dislike a lot of typical toppings.  Well, I like them separately, but things like crushed pineapple is well and good for a snack or smoothie, but keep it far away from my ice cream.

[Wallflower]

I'm almost done with Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts. I'm enjoying this series, but I enjoyed the O'Dwyer trilogy more ... just me and that I enjoy magic more than a mix of magic and werewolves and mermaids.

QOTW: I haven't done cones in years - when I do, I prefer plain cones to waffles. For ice cream flavors, I love mint chocolate chip and other chocolate flavors, but nothing beats a really good vanilla drizzled with pure maple syrup. Yummy!

[spedrunner]

I just finished:

Luckiest Girl Alive (**) I was very disappointed!
Our Souls at Night (***) Beautiful story, bit depressing, sad the author will no longer be writing Felt the ending was sort of abrupt 
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (****)  Lovely book about friendship and loss, I love all of Hannah's books

Currently reading:
God Help the Child.   I am really enjoyhing it but it is beginning to get a bit weird. I am hoping it begins to make sense bc I am a bit lost right now!

QOTD:  I am a plain jane. I love love LOVE soft serve vanilla/chocolate with rainbow sprinkles!!!

[charlatti]

I just started Red Queen by Christina Henry. I'm only a few pages in. I loved Alice, so I'm optimistic that this sequel will be as good.

QOTW: I love all the ice cream. I'm not loyal to any one flavor; I like to jump around and try different things. Waffle cones are the best but I'll settle for sugar cones. I don't generally remember to do toppings, though they are fun when I do have them.

[susiebw]

I'm reading The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution by Joseph Ellis, because I still can't escape from revolutionary American history.  The introduction was the most rambling collection of $5 words I think I've ever read, but the actual book is very good so far.  It focuses on Washington, Madison, Hamilton and John Jay and on the creation and ratification of the Constitution.

QOTW: Ice cream!  I like a sundae with black raspberry ice cream, marshmallow topping, chocolate jimmies, whipped cream and cherries.  No nuts.  From a store, I like B&J Cherry Garcia.  Lately, my 4 year old has decided that she likes mint chocolate chip ice cream, and this is devastating to me.  I believe there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like MCC and those who do not.  I'm sad that my daughter and I are different types of people, and I can't share her ice cream with her anymore.  Because gross.

[snshne322]

Jul 15, 2016 8:17:41 GMT -5 susiebw said:

I'm reading The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution by Joseph Ellis, because I still can't escape from revolutionary American history.  The introduction was the most rambling collection of $5 words I think I've ever read, but the actual book is very good so far.  It focuses on Washington, Madison, Hamilton and John Jay and on the creation and ratification of the Constitution.

QOTW: Ice cream!  I like a sundae with black raspberry ice cream, marshmallow topping, chocolate jimmies, whipped cream and cherries.  No nuts.  From a store, I like B&J Cherry Garcia.  Lately, my 4 year old has decided that she likes mint chocolate chip ice cream, and this is devastating to me.  I believe there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like MCC and those who do not.  I'm sad that my daughter and I are different types of people, and I can't share her ice cream with her anymore.  Because gross.

This is really funny, because I've had the same experience.  I LOVE mint chocolate chip abd Jeremy despises it.  Wes had it at a birthday party a few weeks ago and hated it.  It broke my heart!

However, I detest fruit in my ice cream.  I know people love purple cow, black raspberry, strawberry, etc.  No thank you. Take it away.

[aurora]

I'm still reading Gail Collins' America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines. I like it but I tend not to find non-fiction so captivating that I can't put it down, so I've been moving through it more slowly.

Just finished listening to Anita Diamont's The Boston Girl. I enjoyed it, and it was somewhat interesting to listen to in parallel with that section of American history from America's Women and compare the non-fiction with the historical fiction.

QOTW: I like ice cream but don't eat it all that often. I tend to gravitate toward chocolate-based flavors and definitely prefer cones.

[susiebw]

Jul 15, 2016 8:29:35 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

Jul 15, 2016 8:17:41 GMT -5 susiebw said:

I'm reading The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution by Joseph Ellis, because I still can't escape from revolutionary American history.  The introduction was the most rambling collection of $5 words I think I've ever read, but the actual book is very good so far.  It focuses on Washington, Madison, Hamilton and John Jay and on the creation and ratification of the Constitution.

QOTW: Ice cream!  I like a sundae with black raspberry ice cream, marshmallow topping, chocolate jimmies, whipped cream and cherries.  No nuts.  From a store, I like B&J Cherry Garcia.  Lately, my 4 year old has decided that she likes mint chocolate chip ice cream, and this is devastating to me.  I believe there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like MCC and those who do not.  I'm sad that my daughter and I are different types of people, and I can't share her ice cream with her anymore.  Because gross.

This is really funny, because I've had the same experience.  I LOVE mint chocolate chip abd Jeremy despises it.  Wes had it at a birthday party a few weeks ago and hated it.  It broke my heart!

However, I detest fruit in my ice cream.  I know people love purple cow, black raspberry, strawberry, etc.  No thank you. Take it away.

We have very different ice cream personalities, you and I.  We're like, ice cream opposites.

[GilliC]

I'm reading: The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden

I had no idea what to expect, and so far I'm loving it. It reminds me a lot of a post-WWII version of Catch-22 (which I also loved), but less depressing. Quite funny, but very cynical. I've glanced at the reviews, and it seems to get a lot of criticism for not having "likable" or "relatable" characters, but I don't really think you're supposed to be invested in these characters. It seems more of a political and social satire.

And in experiences of the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon....
I picked it off my Kindle shelf on a whim, because I happened to be in Sweden for the weekend, and
a) It didn't register to me how similar the title was to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, which was what I had just finished.
b) A large part of the book takes place in South Africa during apartheid, and I happen to already be listening to Cry, the Beloved Country on audiobook.

Jul 15, 2016 3:47:51 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

QOTW:  Because I'm freezing here (it's winter in Australia), let's talk about summery things -- what's your favorite ice cream flavor?  Do you prefer cones -- plain or waffle?  Any special toppings?  Are you brownie/cookie sundae kinda of person?  Or just plain scoops?

It's only slightly warmer here in Norway, but we're in full-on summer mode! We have an ice cream freezer in our office and are enjoying our scoops in our summer clothes (lightweight sweaters)!

I tend to like nut-based ice cream flavors. I had a toasted almond the other day at a newly-opened local shop that was just slightly salty and oh-so-delicious. I generally prefer plain scoops of great flavors over toppings or sundaes. But if I'm on the go, I love an ice cream sandwich (I really go for that salty-sweet combo).

[snshne322]

Jul 15, 2016 8:52:47 GMT -5 susiebw said:

Jul 15, 2016 8:29:35 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

This is really funny, because I've had the same experience.  I LOVE mint chocolate chip abd Jeremy despises it.  Wes had it at a birthday party a few weeks ago and hated it.  It broke my heart!

However, I detest fruit in my ice cream.  I know people love purple cow, black raspberry, strawberry, etc.  No thank you. Take it away.

We have very different ice cream personalities, you and I.  We're like, ice cream opposites.

It's a good thing we like each other IRL or we'd have to fight.

[susiebw]

Jul 15, 2016 9:05:23 GMT -5 c7 said:

I'm still in fantasy book coma after ACOMAF. I tried Throne of Glass/Assassin's Blade but they're not hooking me like Rhys/Feyre. So I started Ready Player One last night. So far so good! Especially with all the mini NES posts clogging up my FB feed! I kind of wish the audiobook came in first bc I've heard Wil Wheaton is a great narrator.

My favorite is strawberry. But not any old strawberry. A rich, creamy base with chunks of frozen fruit in it. On a sugar cone.

Wil Wheaton IS a great narrator.  The audio is worth it if you're willing to wait for it.

[leeba25]

I am not embarrassed at all to say that I am re-reading the good parts of Court of Mist and Fury. Lol. I didn't have anything downloaded shut up.

I finished a great series this week: Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust. Both early(ish) post-apocalypse from a global shortage of water. I liked both a lot. 

Ice cream - all of it, with all the toppings, flavors, etc. Warm brownie with ice cream? Yeah. I will take a minute here to plug Turkey Hill All Natural ice cream - if you haven't tried it, go do it; you'll thank me later. The chocolate chip mint is the best of them so far, but they're all fantastic. They taste like the locally made stuff. 

[Wallflower]

Jul 15, 2016 9:11:57 GMT -5 c7 said:

Jul 15, 2016 9:09:59 GMT -5 susiebw said:

Wil Wheaton IS a great narrator.  The audio is worth it if you're willing to wait for it.

Very nice use of Hamilton (my current addiction)!!

[willyh19]

I just started Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by David Shafer. I'm feeling bogged down in the details he provides but hoping the build to something.

QOTW: I would traditionally go for a waffle cone with Mackinac Island Fudge but I can't get that where I live now (or anywhere out of Michigan) so here I would probably pick mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone.. I don't like ice cream with nuts or fruit. I also like minimal chunks. I have way more ice cream feels than I thought I did.

[ufcasey]

I am STILL reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson and the third book in Kim Harrison's Hollows series (same as last week - for shame!). But, I did also start a new audiobook: Memory Man by David Baldacci which is really good so far (mystery novel).

It's been probably my slowest reading week all year.

I did finish Where'd You Go, Bernadette (hated it) and Rick Yancy's The Last Star (the series went a bit Allegiant-esque but it was written well enough for me to still like it, despite that)

QOTW: Anything that includes chocolate in it is fine by me. Or chocolate poured on it. But don't even get near me with a cone - that crap is weird I don't want to bite into my icecream, cup only please.

[charlatti]

I had no idea it was possible to hate mint chocolate chip. I mean, I never thought it was everyone's favorite, but it always seemed like a safe bet. Fascinating stuff, y'all.

[booknerd]

I'm in the middle of several books because my focus is gone lately lol.

Ice cream! I'm boring. I like chocolate or vanilla with hot fudge. I like all cones and whipped cream. I hate sprinkles and nuts and fruit and mint in ice cream. I don't like chunks.

[sassypants]

I'm still reading The Jewel Thieves by Deborah Harkness. It's pretty slow going because it's very detailed and a little repetitious. I'm next for the e-book of Gloria Steinem's autobiography, so TJT will probably get put down again.

QOTW: I'm a snob with ice cream. It has to be good quality, and if I read the ingredients and it has chemicals and additives, it goes back on the shelves. That being said, Ben & Jerry's is pretty good quality. I really like the Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz flavor but the Karamel Sutra Core is freakin delicious. I'm a chocolate peanut butter fan, too. We also have a local creamery that sells quarts of their ice cream at the grocery store as well as at their location, so I've been eating a lot of their yummies. If you're in VA or NC, it's Homestead Creamery and it's all good.

[rainbowchip]

I'm reading The Girl With All The Gifts. I like it and am interested but I've been really busy so I haven't had a chace to read more than a few chapters at a time.
I have an overload of library holds that came in this week. H is working this weekend so I am planning to devote my weekend to getting through as much as possible.

QOTW: I pretty much like all ice cream unless there is fruit involved. I am also not a huge fan of nuts but will tolerate them.
My favorite part is the very bottom of a cone when all the ice cream has migrated down there and melted.

[litskispeciality]

I just started "Everything I Never Told You". I'm only about 30 pages in, but so far it's good! I have a hard time getting into books so I hope this one stays strong.

Ice cream is one of my favorite foods. I like just about any kind of chocolate, on a big chocolate peanutbutter kick, but that can be tough to find a good one. I like MCC, but one with big chunks of mint chocolate. Ben and Jerry's Phish Food is really good too.

[dmlk413]

I am reading "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah Maas and "See Me For Who I Am" by David Chrisinger. 'See Me For Who I Am' is amazing. It's a set of essays written by student veterans in a 1st year college seminar. I love it!

QOTW: Ice cream is my favorite food. I like all kinds except ones with fruit. Blech. I do love sundaes!

[sweetrhythms]

I'm reading Void Moon by Michael Connelly. I had my husband pick a book off my shelf at random and this is what he picked. I'm not loving it but trying to plow through.

I love soft serve vanilla in a cone with rainbow sprinkles because apparently I'm still 5. Otherwise chocolate chip cookie dough or black raspberry chocolate chip are my go-to flavors. I don't need a ton of toppings but I do love me some whipped cream!

[Nonny]

I'm currently reading Where'd You Go Bernadette, and I co-opted ufcasey's thread over here if you'd like to see my comments about it - I'm mostly annoyed about the Microsoft stuff; I'm starting to find the characters more annoying (although I wouldn't necessarily classify them as whiny), but the stuff about Cliff Mass is cracking me up. It's a mixed bag. LOL!  Also my H told me last night, "OMG, stop telling me about this book, it's giving me PTSD." 

Regarding ice cream, I'm indifferent to mint chocolate chip.  I'll eat it, but it isn't my first choice.

I like a non-fruit flavored ice cream with chunks of things in it.  My favorite Ben & Jerry's flavors are both in the flavor graveyard - RIP Dublin Mudslide and Late Night Snack.  Locally my favorite sundae is from a place called Molly Moon's -- Molly's Favorite Sundae is the perfect mix of salty and sweet - melted chocolate and salted caramel ice creams with hot fudge, candied hazelnuts, local, organic whipped cream and a Chukar Cherry. I get it in child's size because it's super rich, and I don't to a Molly Moon's very often, so it's a pretty rare treat.

I'd rather not have a cone, but if you are going to make me, I'll take a waffle cone.

[Vespasia]

Jul 15, 2016 7:43:15 GMT -5 charlatti said:

I just started Red Queen by Christina Henry. I'm only a few pages in. I loved Alice, so I'm optimistic that this sequel will be as good.

The main reason I am trying to power through my current book is so I can start Red Queen!

[revjen]

Jul 15, 2016 8:29:35 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

Jul 15, 2016 8:17:41 GMT -5 susiebw said:

I'm reading The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution by Joseph Ellis, because I still can't escape from revolutionary American history.  The introduction was the most rambling collection of $5 words I think I've ever read, but the actual book is very good so far.  It focuses on Washington, Madison, Hamilton and John Jay and on the creation and ratification of the Constitution.

QOTW: Ice cream!  I like a sundae with black raspberry ice cream, marshmallow topping, chocolate jimmies, whipped cream and cherries.  No nuts.  From a store, I like B&J Cherry Garcia.  Lately, my 4 year old has decided that she likes mint chocolate chip ice cream, and this is devastating to me.  I believe there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like MCC and those who do not.  I'm sad that my daughter and I are different types of people, and I can't share her ice cream with her anymore.  Because gross.

This is really funny, because I've had the same experience.  I LOVE mint chocolate chip abd Jeremy despises it.  Wes had it at a birthday party a few weeks ago and hated it.  It broke my heart!

However, I detest fruit in my ice cream.  I know people love purple cow, black raspberry, strawberry, etc.  No thank you. Take it away.

I'm with you. No fruit. My niece and nephew picked up my love of mcc by osmosis because my friend hates anything mint.

[jojoandleo]

Like c7 -I am still a bit in a coma from ACOMAF. AND I LOVED THRONE OF GLASS SERIES! No, it is not as good as Rhys/Feyre, but it is a DIFFERENT kind of good.

To Fill the void, I have been reading a lot of mystical YA books. I read Snow like Ashes and Ice Like Fire. I enjoyed them both, but I am anxious to know what is going to happen and hate that the third isn't out yet. I also read The Winner's Curse and am waiting on The Winner's Crime and The Winner's Kiss from the library. I liked the first book because it's not just about a bad ass fighter chick. In fact, she sucks at fighting. She is all brains and cleverness, which I kind of like. I mean, I love bad ass chicks, but I couldn't throw a punch to save my life.

I also recently finished All the Missing Girls. I was kind of disappointed in this one. The end was too easy and it didn't have the same mystery too it. The way it was written was the most interesting and suspenseful part of it.

I just got Red Queen in and will start that next.

Audible: I am listening to What She Knew and am almost finished. I like it. I like it's commentary on how we treat parents when something happens to a child. Next I am going to listen to The Cuckoo's Calling purely based on my JK Rowling love (Although I know it is nothing like HP and have NO expectations for it to be. I am just hoping for something well written).

I need to be reading my book club book: In Cold Blood, but I am still too busy reading YA novels to care.

ETA: My favorite Ice Cream ever is Mexican Vanilla from Amy's with Butterfinger crushings in a cup, no cone.  But, I no longer live in Austin, so my favorite ice cream I can buy is either Ben and Jerry's half baked or Talenti's salted caramel gelato.  I enjoy MCC.  It's my favorite childhood flavor.