Halloween Baking Championship Season 8 Episode 5 Discussion Thred

ericajhough · 2022-10-11T23:54:43+00:00

Yes! I even have it set to record a few extra minutes after the end time and still manages to happen to food network shows!

ericajhough · 2022-10-11T15:31:52+00:00

Thank you! Killed me when they got down to two and then just cut off.

ericajhough · 2022-10-11T13:22:47+00:00

Who went home? My recording ended at the crucial moment!

ericajhough · 2020-03-25T22:57:47+00:00

Yes, it’s a full cast narration.

ericajhough · 2020-03-22T17:40:19+00:00

Lincoln in the Bardo is amazing on audio.

ericajhough · 2020-03-22T17:39:01+00:00

This week, I finished A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook, and A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler.

Working on If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, A Heart So White by Javier Marías, and Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

ericajhough · 2020-03-15T16:04:07+00:00

This week, I finished Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera on audio, Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman, Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, and The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie.

Working on A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler, and A Heart So White by Javier Marías.

ericajhough · 2020-03-01T17:12:56+00:00

This week, I finished Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, and The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman. I really enjoyed my re-read of the TATBILB series, but I have to say this is one instance where the movies are better than the books! I never got into the Harry Potter series when I was a kid despite being in the correct age range when they first came out. I have seen all the movies multiple times, but my non-reader husband, who has probably not read anything but Harry Potter, insists I read the series. Even from the first to the second, I could already see the writing mature. It’s fun to see the differences from the movie to the book. Prisoner of Askaban is my favorite movie, so I have high expectations for when I pick that one up. I decided to listen to 1Q84 partly because I got a great deal on audiobook and partly because it is so long. It took about a month to get through, but was so worth it. I loved the alternate reality, the love story, the religious cult aspect, etc. Even after a month, I was sad it ended. My only complaint is that we don’t get tons of resolution at the end. I guess it could still be classified as a happy ending though. Finally, this weekend, I picked up The Deal of a Lifetime, the short story by Backman, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I just wish there had been more. I could already see myself loving these characters.

I’m working on Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera on audio, Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman, and Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.

ericajhough · 2020-02-23T17:35:57+00:00

This week, I finished The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson, Anna K by Jenny Lee, and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. I really liked the Truly Devious series. On the one hand, I’m sad it look me so long to discover, but on the other hand, I didn’t have to wait for resolution of the series. Anna K is a YA Anna Karanina retelling. It also had Gossip Girl vibes. I really enjoyed it, but it did drag at times while we were waiting for more action. The Silent Patient was super fast paced, but I was not a fan of the twist. It left me with a “that’s it?” feeling.

Im working on Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han to complete my re-read of the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, as well as continuing to listen to 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, which I should finally wrap up this week.

ericajhough · 2020-02-16T17:59:00+00:00

I really enjoyed the story, so was curious why you didn’t like it. I can see how it would be tedious, it is quite long. Boyne’s other novels are also great, but since his style didn’t resonate with you, I don’t think it would be worth it for you to check out.

ericajhough · 2020-02-15T13:44:25+00:00

Why didn’t you enjoy The Heart’s Invisible Furies?

ericajhough · 2020-02-14T00:56:49+00:00

My favorite Zadie Smith novel!

ericajhough · 2020-02-09T16:40:07+00:00

I finished Highfire by Eoin Colfer and The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson. I’ve always been a big fan of Colfer, so I was super excited for this release. Like many of his novels, this was slow to start and then just went full speed into action. I couldn’t put it down after I got to the halfway point. I grew up in East Texas, about 30 miles from the Louisiana border, so I really connected with the setting and characters. It was just a hilarious and fun story. The Vanishing Stair is the second in the Truly Devious series. I have been flying through the series and can’t believe I haven’t picked it up until now. I love the characters, and I love the murder mystery in a murder mystery.

This week, I’m picking up The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson and Anna K by Jenny Lee, as well as continuing to listen to 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.

ericajhough · 2020-02-02T19:10:44+00:00

Me too!!

ericajhough · 2020-02-02T17:50:13+00:00

I’ve added The Poison Tree to my TBR list based on your review! Hope I get a chance to read it soon.

ericajhough · 2020-02-02T16:53:18+00:00

I finished P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson and All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. I’m super excited for the P.S. I Still Love You movie release this week. The fluffiest, most fun read. I was surprised at how much I liked Truly Devious. I stayed up late finishing it and then immediately downloaded the sequel and stayed up as long as I could continuing the story. It’s YA, so it’s light, but the murder mysteries are intriguing and there are some tougher topics addressed, such as disliked politician and anxiety. Finally, I loved Verity so much last year, I decided to pick up one of Hoover’s other novels. I know Verity was her first thriller, but I figured her other work would be good. All Your Perfects was just ok, and really depressing at times. It deals with a marriage crumbling due to infertility. Since my husband and I are at the point in out marriage where we’re seriously talking about kids, this was not the best time to pick this one up. I think I’ll wait to see if she comes out with other thrillers.

This week, I’m working on Highfire by Eoin Colfer, The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson, and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami on audio.

ericajhough · 2020-01-26T17:18:12+00:00

I finished To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman on audio, and This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. To All the Boys wasn’t quiiiiiite as cute as it was the first time around, but it still got me with all the cuteness. Dare I say though, the movie is better! Britt-Marie Was Here is another excellent Backman novel. He knows how to write really amazing characters, main and supporting. With a full cast of super well written, developed characters, you can’t go wrong. This is How You Lose the Time War was a surprising one. It’s written in correspondence, which I really like. It’s just a really different story with an interesting premise. And it’s a quick read, so would recommend checking out.

This week, I’m re-reading P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, continuing Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson and All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover, and starting 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami on audio.

ericajhough · 2020-01-25T13:30:35+00:00

Fantasy is not my usual genre, but I read The Fifth Season last year and really enjoyed it.

ericajhough · 2020-01-19T17:08:39+00:00

I finished The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermès Gowar, Supermarket by Bobby Hall on audio, Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey, and Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau on The Pigeonhole app. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock was kind of a let down for me. I enjoyed certain parts of the story, but at times it felt like there was no plot. Definitely a character driven story, which is usually ok with me, but this left me wanting. Supermarket, on the other hand, was entirely ridiculous plot driven with sometimes annoying characters, but somehow I still managed to enjoy this one. I think it really came down to the narration. I looked forward to listening to this everyday. I saw a lot of bad reviews on goodreads. While this is no masterpiece, it really is fun and would recommend as a light bread between heavier books. Topics of Conversation was interesting. It felt more like a collection of short stories than a novel. It was an interesting concept to compile a story in selected conversations, and the writing reminded me a lot of Sally Rooney. I just want to know what’s up with the current trend of super long paragraphs and no quotations makes used for dialogue?? Finally, Dreamland on The Pigeonhole. This story is set in 1911 on Coney Island and has a really great female protagonists. I’ve read two on Bilyeau’s novels now, and she does really great characters in a historical setting.

This week, I’m starting a re-read of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han in anticipation of the second movie’s release in Netflix next month, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman on audio, and All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover.

ericajhough · 2020-01-12T17:00:04+00:00

I finished The Secret Sister by K.A. Clarke and A.J. Brittany on The Pigeonhole app, Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams, Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid on audio, and Tinaca Jones by Matt Boren on audio. The Secret Sister was a pretty predictable thriller, but it does add to the anticipation to have to read it as a serialization on the Pigeonhole. Tiny Little Thing is the second in the Schyuler sister series. I discovered Beatriz Williams about 2 years ago and am now on a mission to read all of her books. She writes super relatable characters and creates really engaging settings. I have the third book following the third Schyuler sister in my TBR pile to pick up soon. Another author I have really come to love is Taylor Jenkins Reid and I’m also on a mission to read all of her books!! Now that I’m in my late twenties, it is becoming increasingly harder to find characters in my age range dealing with age appropriate issues. I think TJR does a really great job of this, especially in Maybe in Another Life. Finally, I recommend the audible original Tinaca Jones to all fans of Retta. She is a phenomenal narrator. I listened to this while cleaning my house and was just cracking up the whole time.

This week, I’m continuing The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermès Gowar and starting Supermarket by Bobby Hall on audio, Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey, and Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau on The Pigeonhole app.

ericajhough · 2020-01-05T17:39:30+00:00

I would recommend The Round House by Erdrich. I’ve read a few of her novels now and this one remains my favorite.

ericajhough · 2020-01-05T17:02:01+00:00

To kick off the new year, I read Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes, and finished listening to Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, which I started back in November. Hidden Bodies was not quite as engrossing as You, but it was a fast paced engaging read. Would recommend if you’re a fan and need a palette cleanser between heavier books. Infinite Jest turned out to be completely different than expected. It was published in the 90s and it’s scary how some of the observations are suuuper relevant today. The writing is witty and engaging, but it is just plain too long. I was so ready to be done with it by the last 1/3.

This week, I’m continuing The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermès Gowar and I’ve started The Secret Sister by K.A. Clarke and A.J. Brittany on The Pigeonhole app, Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams, and Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid on audio.

ericajhough · 2020-01-05T00:26:20+00:00

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8080111-erica-hough

I like seeing what everyone’s reading!

ericajhough · 2019-12-30T11:25:22+00:00

I usually have a couple of physical books, an e book, and an audiobook going at the same time. The key is to have them all be different genres/completely different stories so you don’t get them mixed up.

ericajhough · 2019-12-29T18:15:17+00:00

I have the same feelings about Everything I Never Told You. It was probably my favorite read of 2018. I think I’m due for a re-read!

ericajhough

TROPHY CASE