I just did a quick - re-read of The Road to be prepared for tomorrow. Also decided to pick up Game of Thrones - never read before. So I'm keeping current with several books at one time ;-)...I'm still liking Good Omens.

If you ever find the audio version of Good Omens, grab it. It's read by Stephen Briggs and he does a wonderful job, especially with Crowley. It seems to be hard to find for some reason and I had to get mine on eBay.

PS: Even though most people don't have cassette players anymore I always think of Crowley whenever I drive past a car that's playing a "Queen" song.

I'm so glad this seems to be "a winner" to people. I just finished up Griffen's Daughter (a read for the fantasy club here on GR so I can devote full time now to Good Omens. I read some Pratchet but so long agon and at a time that I was reading so many authors I really can't remember much. My only experience with Gaiman was Stardust, which I'm sad to say was not my cup of tea - it was just too fairytalish - which I know was the point but still not what I was looking for. From what I have heard Giman is a very varied writter so I wasn't going to let my first read of his deter me from looking into others. At some time I still want to read American Gods as I have also heard that is good.

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

Robin
Good Omens is also a favourite, and I love DEATH as a character. I regularly read Pratchett books but my favourite has to be Reaper Man.

That's one of my top ten favorite books, Robin. I think I must re-read it every year when I need something to make me laugh.

Sandi wrote: "I loved the baby swap scene. "Damien is a nice name." "

I literally - LOL'd just now

So, in January, my reading has been a hodgepodge. I finished GRR Martin's Songs of Ice & Fire. I think Volume 2, A Clash of Kings is better than the first one. Things are just as bleak, but the characters become much more developed and accessible. Books 3 & 4 continue in this vein. No comments on the absent 5th.

I started the Butcher Codex Alera series. I really liked Furies of Calderon. The second book, Academ’s Fury was also good, but I wasn't quite as taken by it. I generally like series, because I am already familiar with the world and attached to the characters. However, Butcher did such a good job introducing his world and characters in book one that it was a pleasure rather than a struggle. And, oddly, I think I missed the newness of the first book in the second book (although there were plenty of interesting new characters and action). I plan on keeping the others saved up for when I need a good escapist read that I can count on. Thanks to the group for recommending it!

I also read:
Vinge, Fire Upon the Deep
Asaro, Catch the Lightening
Steinbeck, Cannery Row (recommended to Steinbeck fans)
Schafer, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (excellent for bookish women looking for something compelling but not too heavy)
Arkunin, The Turkish Gambit (a weak historical novel pre-revolutionary Romania)


The other interesting book (of potential F&SF interest) that I read was Pelevin's Sacred Book of the Werewolf. This is a book set in contemporary Russia that has some familiar fantasy elements (some set in China) as well as some interestingly new ones. It is a little intellectual in some of its references (for better or worse, but mostly for better). And, both the plot and characters keep you engaged (reading it is a pleasure rather than a chore).

I've started Watchmen for the February discussion. It definitely has some interesting elements. I might even make it through and enjoy it. But, I can't help wishing I had read it when I was younger, preferably when I was more interested in and knowledgeable about pop culture. I would have enjoyed it more and gotten more out it.

I loved the baby swap scene. "Damien is a nice name."

Ya so far so good -I'm early into it (babies just got swapped but I'm enjoying the tone of it.

I love "Good Omens"!

Just finished two books - so I've started
Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

Judging Eye by R.Scott Bakker was awesome. Hit the link to see my review. Even though I am not that good at reviewing I just felt Bakker deserved it.

There are so many books I'm looking forward to reading - if only I can get through JS&MN. This has to be the longest hardest read I've ever done - I can't belive I stuck with it as long as I have except that others speak so highly of it.

I just finished The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. I'm FINALLY reading The Sparrow.

And then it's back to The Fallen of the Malazen Empire, up to book 4 now.

Sandi wrote: "I haven't read anything by her, MB. Looking at Amazon, it seems like her works are out of print. Maybe the library would have some. I love short stories."

Sandi,

I recently read Ms. Townsend's book and it was pretty good (review here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97044...)

I found them originally at the library. But I just checked because I wanted to re-read them and they are no longer part of the collection. Aaargh!

I'm going to have to add them to my way-too-long "to buy" list.

(If you like 'weirdish' short stories, you may also like Joan Aiken or Kelly Link or Neil Gaiman.)

I haven't read anything by her, MB. Looking at Amazon, it seems like her works are out of print. Maybe the library would have some. I love short stories.

I liked it better too! Hey Sandi, have you read Sylvia Townsend Warner's "Kingdoms of Elfin??? Her stories are very similar in "feel" to TLoGA, I think.

Sarah Pi wrote: "MB - I started reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu, but when I realized it was referencing Jonathan Strange, I returned it to the library, for fear it would spoil the novel before I finished it. Does..."

It doesn't give a darn thing away. ;) I actually liked The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories better. It was much easier to get through the collection of short stories than the enormous tome that was Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

I just started A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czernada.

Oh, good question! Sorry, I don't really remember--I read them both a few years ago. And I read TLoGA after reading JS&MN so I probably didn't notice spoilers.

It did reference the Raven King, I remember that much.

MB - I started reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu, but when I realized it was referencing Jonathan Strange, I returned it to the library, for fear it would spoil the novel before I finished it. Does it give anything away?

Now it's time for the Genesis of Shannara series by Terry Brooks, starting the first in the series today.

I think Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is loved by a odd sub-set of people. It is amazing that it has done as well, sales-wise, as it has because I've always taken it as a wonderfully-well-written send-up and amalgamation of Jane Austen, C.S. Forester, Bernard Cornwell, Georgette Heyer and the ilk combined with fantasy--a kind of literary "in joke". You almost have to have read & enjoyed that type of book AND to like fantasy to enjoy it.

If it's not your type of thing, don't feel bad...that's all I'm trying to say. I loved it, but then I was familiar with that type of world so the language, setting & POVs were not a problem for me. Yes, it is slow. Think of it as Literary Fantasy.

I'm going to go out on a limb and recommend her other book The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories instead. This book is made up of short stories set in the "world" of "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell". I think it might be easier as an entry-level read and her witty writing really comes out.

I loved that book, but I can see how you can't get into it without large blocks of time, which I had (or made myself have!) while reading it.

Sarah Pi wrote: "I've picked up Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell several times, since it's been highly recommended by two friends whose tastes I generally share, but I keep putting it down, for two non-prose related ..."

You are not the only one struggling with this one.

Well, I haven't stuck to my plan very well for this month, but have been truckin' along with the reading. Here's the list so far for the month:

1. American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent
2. Dingo by Charles de Lint
3. An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
4. Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
5. Holes by Louis Sachar
6. At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays by Anne Fadiman
7. Ultimate X-Men Vol. 18: Apocalypse
8. The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
9. Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy (re-read)
10. Bloodring by Faith Hunter
11. Moving Targets and Other Stories of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey et al.
12. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster

Will be flying down to Orlando on Thursday for a conference and leaving all this frigid weather behind (at least for the week). Of course, starting to pack today and the first thing I had to pick out was the books...here is a sampling of what I'll be taking:

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer by Jen Lancaster
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and possibly its sequel
How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill
Seraphs by Faith Hunter
Contact Imminent by Kristine Smith (I started this a while ago but got distracted by something)
Endgame by Kristine Smith

And of course, a stack of crossword puzzle books.

January has been good so far - I'm taking advantage of the last of winter break before I start classes again!
I've read so far:
Mistborn: The Final Empire
The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages
Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return
All four are excellent books that I highly recommend.
I have also started the audio cd of
The Book Thief.
I am still hoping to get to
A Hat Full of Sky: A Discworld Novel
Wintersmith: A Discworld Novel
Storm Front
Dune

I bought a copy of "The Judging Eye" by R. Scott Bakker yesterday and I just can't wait to read it. This is easily my most anticipated book of 2009.

I just finished reading an ok book about SF in Weimar Germany, and the political uses to which it was put. A fascinating subject, and the book (Fantasy and Politics: Visions of the Future in the Weimar Republic by Peter S. Fischer) does go through a few dozen books briefly. However i found it marred by Fischer's desire to constantly denigrate the nazi and conservative SF writers, i.e. they were unbalances, their writing sucked, their ideas (and not only their political ones) were obviously ludicrous.

Obviously, the subject matter requires a political analysis of the books, and certainly going into the author's politics makes sense, but i hate that kind of lazy liberal bias where you have to put down everything about everyone you disagree with, using psychological explanations as a crutch.

BUT that said... given the subject-matter, i'd still recommend it to people in this group.

I've picked up Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell several times, since it's been highly recommended by two friends whose tastes I generally share, but I keep putting it down, for two non-prose related reasons.
1)It's huge, and heavy.
2)There are no good breaks. I don't have big stretches of time to read in, and I like to be able to put the book down at a logical point. I kept finding myself rereading parts trying to figure out where I was on the page...

Juggler of Worlds by Niven. It's a struggle to finish. Unwieldy and uneven dialog and plot line. I'd recommend it only to those well seasoned in Niven's 'known space' series.

Robin wrote: "I'm dedicating more time to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and I'm sorry..."

I can't say that the pace ever picks up. The story gets a lot better and starts making more sense, but it carries that Victorian-style prose throughout. I really, really enjoyed it, but it took a long time to get through.

I'm dedicating more time to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and I'm sorry to say it really is not grabbing me. The slow style I realize is done for effect but I think I'm too OCD to be patient through it. I'm reading it for another group here on GR so I'll finish it off but I'm ... sad to say... not really enjoying it. Hopefully it will get better.. I'm about 1/3 through.

The Changing Land by Roger Zelazny

So far this month:
Fables Vol. 11: War and Pieces, which was excellent
Agnes Quill: An Anthology Of Mystery, which was okay.

Interpreter of Maladies, which was excellent.
Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop by Kate Wilhelm, which was excellent. I finally finished Art and Artifice: And Other Essays of Illusion and Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, both of which I'd been reading in bits and pieces for quite some time; Musicophilia seems more science fiction than science fiction, but it's all true.
For the rest of the month?
Currently reading Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon. I have the Best of 2008 short story anthology out of the library, and the Haunting of Hill House, which I've always meant to read.

I just finished "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" and am reading "The Plot Against America" (Philip Roth), "Daughter of Fortune" (Isabel Allende), and ready to start "Ysabel" (Guy Gavriel Kay).

John wrote: "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell..."

I've heard so many good things about this book that I was glad when it came up as a reading groups pick - but I must say ....it is kind of hard to get thorugh - very slow combined with very long makes it difficult.

I also find the footnotes distracting. There are two other books that have footnotes that I've read reacently "The Amulet of Samarkand" and "Watership Down" and they were short and not a problem but these long ones really are bugging me.

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

John, "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" was recommended to me, looked interesting so I put it in PaperBackSwap & immediately had it come up. I'm looking forward to reading it. Glad to hear you liked it too.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell in my opinion is a jewel in the rough. I'm always disappointed I find it on the discount shelf. It truly is a good book.

I just finished

Betrayed by P.C and Kirstin Cast
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Now I'm staring at my huge pile of books on my desk debating on what to read next. I'll not be getting into your January books since I just joined... I'll wait for February and start then :D

I'm usually reading a few books at a time. I just finished up:

The Name of the Wind
The Amulet of Samarkand
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Stardust
Mistborn: The Final Empire

Currently Reading:
Faerie Wars
The Book Thief
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Watership Down

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

With my xmas boarders card I picked up Emma Bull's Territory and I started that last night. I just listened to an abridged version of The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914 on CD and I''ll start John Adams by the same author during my commute this week. I'm also still reading Betancourt's first Amber book.

I just finished The Ethical Assassin: A Novel & now am going to read the World of Tiers Series by Farmer; Philip Jose. I've had the first 5 books for decades - read the first one in the early 70's, I think. I finally gave up looking for the rest of the series, thinking he'd never finish it. I recently found out that Farmer had finished the series in the 90's, 15 or 20 years after book #5, I think. I got the last 2 on BookMooch & PaperBackSwap.

They're fast reads & I hope they're as good as I recall. Somehow I doubt it, but I HAVE to find out how Kickaha finally gets out of the jam he was in. He's been hanging there since the 80's for me!

I hope that everyone who's reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell loves it, it's one of my favorites. It's so long and moves so slowly, but it's a total delight.

I'm finishing up William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy, and after that it's anyone's guess which of the other 13 library books I have checked out I'll read next.

I've read American Nerd: The Story of My People which was minorly disappointing.
Currently reading Dingo by Charles de Lint (should finish tonight) and Priestess of the White which I'm finding tough to finish because the pacing is so slooooowww...

Also from the library:
At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays by Anne Fadiman
Dancing with Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's by Lauren Kessler

I will also be reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell for book group.

I got a few books for xmas, so I thought I would likely read them this month:
We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Changed Their Lives Forever by Benjamin Mee
Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs

And I thought I might slip in the new Mike Shepherd, Intrepid and something else from my TBR pile while I'm in the airport in the middle of the month.

Oh how I loved Cryptonomicon! Also the Vinge novel, but I'm not going to reread it, so much new stuff to read.

I have just finished Bk 3 of the Malazan Empire series by Steven Erikson. Started Bk 1 about a month ago, and this is such brilliant epic fantasy I am completely obsessed and all I want to do is read read read. Am in panic mode because my library for some insane reason doesn't have Bk 4, so ordered it from half.com but it hasn't arrived yet.

Edit: Hmmm, I thought I knew how to link but it didn't work. So here's the long version http://www.goodreads.com/search/search?q...

I'm reading Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson.

Wow I hadn't realized that Home was somewhat of a sequel to Gilead: A Novel. THAT was a powerful book.

I'm finishing up the last 50 or so pages of A Fire Upon The Deep. After that, I'll be starting Cryptonomicon, which will likely take me several weeks to complete.

I've just started reading the Christopher Fowler Bryant & May series. I've started with Full Dark House. While shopping around in a local bookstore I saw his latest book, The Victoria Vanishes: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery and the jacket description sparked my interest.

Another book I recently ordered is St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell. I have been wanting to read this book since it was released but, never got around to it.

I'm reading Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson.

Hi! I'm new, I should post something in the intro section I guess!

Right now I'm in the middle of a paranormal, One Foot in the Grave, the second in the Night Huntress series. I'm really enjoying it so far!

On the SF/Fantasy front, this month I'm planning on reading:
Outrageous Fortune -Tim Scott
Fathom - Cherie Priest
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3) - Richelle Mead
Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires, Book 5) - Rachel Caine

For nonfiction, I've got a lot of new parenting books on my plate, including:
Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-child Relationships from Reaction And Struggle to Freedom, Power And Joy - Naomi Aldort
And the Skylark Sings with Me - David H. Albert
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom -Mary Griffith

And for regular old fiction, I'm planning on reading
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone -Stephanie Kuehnert