The Great British Bake Off Book Tag

I’m in the mood for a tag and since I’ve been eating and thinking about cakes a lot lately, I decided to do the Great British Bake Off Book Tag, which was created by Zaheerah Khalik.

The Great British Bake Off is a TV show where 12 amateur bakers compete to be considered the best baker in the U.K. I’ve never watched the show, but it certainly sounds delicious. I love cakes. Anyway, to the tag!

Rules:

Link back to Zaheerah’s post.

Tag people or don’t. Just have fun.

Ready, get set, Bake! (or tag)

Amateur Baker: A book that is self-published

Sick by Christa Wojciechowski

A psychological thriller about a woman caring for her sick husband. It’s listed as a novella on most websites, but I consider it a short story. It’s really good and very disturbing.

Soggy Bottom: A book that had a great start but a disappointing ending

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

A paranormal romance novel set on Long Island about witches who try to avoid using their powers. This started out pretty good but as the story progressed, it got weaker. I did not like the end at all. I read the book hoping it would be better than the TV show and it was not. However, I liked the writing in some spots.

#Bingate: A book you great frustrated with and had to DNF

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Omg! I don’t think I can complete this series. I don’t mind that it’s 13 or 14 books long, what grates my nerves are the characters. They are all so damn annoying, especially how they speak of the opposite sex. I just can’t continue with the books, it seems, and I really, really want to know what happens and how the story ends. I’m currently rereading the books by audiobook to coax myself into the mood to continue where I stopped, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I might try again in a few weeks.

Junior Bake Off: A children’s book

The Journey by Francesca Sanna (illus.)

I recently read this illustrated children’s book and absolutely loved it. It’s about a family that has to emigrate to a safe place to live. It’s a great story and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I need to get myself a copy since I borrowed the book from the library.

A Hollywood Handshake: A book that impressed you

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Noah’s memoir about growing up in the shadow of apartheid in South Africa. This is such a great, gripping, and sometimes humorous read. I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did and I’d love to reread it by audio book just to hear Noah narrate it. By the way, whether or not you’ve read the book, I strongly encourage you to check out this interview with Noah on the Lit Up Show podcast.

Signature Challenge: A book that you would recommend to your friends and family

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Thinking of my family here. They all love mysteries and TV shows like Law & Order and Criminal Minds so they’d surely enjoy Flynn’s Gone Girl, which is about a guy whose wife disappears on their fifth anniversary.

Technical Challenge: Books that you read without knowing much beforehand; rank them from worst to best

Himself by Jess Kidd

DNF

I still don’t know much about it. It has a slow start that I wasn’t in the mood for when I picked it up.

Air Awakens by Elise Kova

DNF

I still don’t know much about it. The writing threw me off, but I suspect I will like this series if I can look past the writing.

The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

★★★★☆

I picked it up because I liked the cover and ended up enjoying it. I need to read the next book.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

★★★★☆

I loved it and I thought I wouldn’t when I started reading it. Ha! Can’t wait to read the next book.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, and J.K. Rowling

★★★★☆

I stayed away from all spoilers and I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed this.

Normal by Warren Ellis

★★★★☆ 1/2

The cover got my attention and it turned out to be an enjoyable read despite the subject.

Velvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living End by Ed Brubaker, illus. by Steve Epting

★★★★★

I got a sample of this comic book on last year’s Free Comic Book Day and loved it so much that I bought the first volume as soon as I finished the sample and the second volume as soon as I finished the first.

I have many more for this category, but I’ll stop here.

Showstopper Challenge: A book/series that is your all-time favorite

Saga, Vol. 4 by Brian K. Vaughan, illus. by Fiona Staples

A sci-fi/fantasy comic book series about a couple on the run from their respective governments, which are at war against each other. This is a difficult question, so I chose my favorite comic book series so far for this year. Saga is awesome. Usually the first in a series is always my favorite and though I love the first volume, I love the fourth even more because the protagonists develop more complexity here. We see them struggle with each other.

The Finalists: A favorite trilogy

Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb

I hardly complete series and such so there wasn’t much to choose from for this. But I certainly love Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, which is a fantasy story about the bastard son of a prince who becomes an apprentice assassin. It’s a great read.

An Extra Slice: A favorite companion book

The Pottermore Presents E-books, content by J.K. Rowling

These e-books are compilations of Rowling’s further writings on the Harry Potter world and characters. Though they weren’t exactly what I expected, they were fun to read and helped to satiate my craving for more Harry Potter stories.

That’s it!

Now, as I eat this coconut cake made to look like a loaf of bread, I’ll tag:

Dragons and Zombies

Whimsy Pages

A Rambling Reviewer

Milliebot Reads

Book Bastion

Orangutan Librarian

and everyone who loves cakes or the Great British Bake Off! 😛