What do we read in May?

[Allison]

Alright, this is LATE. Whoops. My goal is to have these going about the 15th of each month, so if by May 15th, I don't have June's up yet, call me on it! You hear me? I need you all to keep me accountable. -grins-

So, what DO we read in may?

I'm going to re-up my suggestion for The Last Dragonslayer, by Jasper Fforde. Also, I'm going to add the first of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, His Majesty's Dragon.

[Allison]

Also, pulling from the suggestions from April, Nishtha suggested The Host. I know some members of the group aren't Twilight fans, and that might turn you off. However, I'm going to throw my weight in behind this one, I really did enjoy it. Polite alien body-snatchers who really do make the world a better place by taking it over. Interesting ethical conundrum.

[Fawn]

A couple of other suggestions: "Unwind", by Neal Shusterman, or the first of either of Carrie Baize's Trilogies, "Dissension" (Scarred Sun Trilogy) or "Summer of Blood" (Rio Crew novels).

[Nathaniel]

Hmm... *checks his shelves and list of authors*

Brandon Sanderson is a given, but recommending a specific book is more difficult. I'll say that I jut today started
Elantris and I'm already seriously intrigued with where it's going.

Jim Butcher as well, his Dresden Files or Codex Alera books are excellent, but that's more recreational reading and not for a book club.

It's a young adult book, but, if you have any experience with online video games, Conor Kostick's
Epic is a great book set in a world run based on your standing in the game.

L.E. Modesitt Jr. is usually the one I turn to when I want a...Deeper(?) book. Where Sanderson surprises me with his excellent storytelling, and Butcher enthralls with his characters and escalation, Modesitt usually makes me think.

For example, Archform: Beauty is about advertising and crime in a near future world. And the Imager series tackles politics, and what people do when they do or don't have power.

...And that's definitely enough suggestions from me! I'll come back later to look at what's already been offered, and...probably to compile all the options into a handier list, since I know myself and what I like to do.

[Bon]

Are we going strictly for fiction?

[Allison]

Bon, I'm thinking to keep it to fiction for now. But if you have a non-fiction suggestion, by all means, share. The reason I'm thinking fiction is because I know it's a common interest. If a non-fiction book garners some attention, I'm on board to read it together.

[Nishtha]

Well, the book I wanna read in May is The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. It's the Book 1 of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Right now I'm reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I'm pretty sure most of you would already be knowing about this book and have perhaps you have already read it, but if you haven't then I must say you should really read it.
I'm planning to read The Bad Beginning because my friend and also(you won't believe it!!) my Social science teacher have recommended it to me. They say that the author is a fantastic guy who writes really awesome books and this is one of his most famous books. And I don't know suddenly what has happened cause in almost all the book stores in my city, Delhi(which is very, very big), the shopkeepers are saying that suddenly the demand for this book has increased like hell, and so, this book is out of stock! Unbelievable, isn't it? Now I have ordered it online so it will come to me towards the end of this week.
So, the books I suggest for May are The Godfather by Mario Puzo and The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket.

[Nishtha]

Allison, I'm glad you liked The Host and a suggestion made by me was useful for you.

[Nishtha]

I'm also thinking to buy and read L.E.Modesitt Jr., which Nathaniel recommended, as soon as I finish The Bad Beginning. I LOVE those deep books and of course, crime is my favourite. I wanted to know whether this author puts in romance and stuff along with the main story, as was done in The Godfather? I'm asking this because the book descriptions don't mention this side-along things, they only tell about the main story. Please let me know because then only I would be able to decide upon a book by this author.

[Nathaniel]

Possible May books, by order of suggestion:

The Last Dragonslayer
His Majesty's Dragon (the first of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series)
The Host (Polite alien body-snatchers who really do make the world a better place by taking it over.)
Unwind
Dissension (Scarred Sun Trilogy)
Summer of Blood (Rio Crew novels)
Epic (set in a world run by people based on their standing in a video game)
Archform: Beauty (advertising and crime in a near future world)
Imager (the series tackles politics, and what people do when they do or don't have power)
The Bad Beginning (Book 1 of A Series of Unfortunate Events)
The Godfather

[Nathaniel]

Nishtha wrote: "I'm also thinking to buy and read L.E.Modesitt Jr., which Nathaniel recommended, as soon as I finish The Bad Beginning. I LOVE those deep books and of course, crime is my favourite. I wanted to kno..."

L.E. Modesitt Jr.... I haven't read The Godfather, so I don't know for sure. Hmm, I can't think of any specific explicit scenes, but yes, most of the stories involve romance in that the main character finds a woman to love and to marry, someone who compliments him perfectly. The focus of the books that I've read from him is never romance. It's power, morality, politics, and there just happens to be a romance and an eventually stable relationship mixed in.

If you like crime and mystery, the Imager Portfolio definitely provides that because he works with the city's police force, and has to deal with morality and politics at the same time. If you can kill a criminal from a distance and not get caught, should you?

I will warn that the violence isn't glossed over. People are hurt and killed and suffer, but it's not a focus it's just a part of the story.

[Bon]

Oooh some of these look so interesting! I would like to second a few of them, so maybe what we decide against can be read another month.

In order of how compelling I find the descriptions:
1- Unwind
2- The Last Dragonslayer
3- Epic

[Allison]

So, The Last Dragonslayer will be our May pick! Details in the May discussion. If anyone else wants to chime in with what Bon did, that would make June that much easier. I'm trying to judge general interest in every book, as well as trying to see if there are some books that one person is SUPER passionate about, that would be really fun to share with the group.

[Nishtha]

Uh Nathaniel are you sure Imager Portfolio is frime cause when I checked the description it said that the series was something related to imagers, who are some sort of magicians. I guess you should recheck with this.
And as for the Last Dragonslayer, I have read it and I actually didn't like it much, no offence for those who like it.

[Nathaniel]

Nishtha wrote: "Uh Nathaniel are you sure Imager Portfolio is frime cause when I checked the description it said that the series was something related to imagers, who are some sort of magicians. I guess you should..."

The main character develops his powers by working with the police of his city. There's a STRONG crime and politic element, though no, it's not a Crime/Mystery book using labels, it's Fantasy.

I described it as I did because you said you like Crime books, but it's a fantasy book I like that shares elements with books you like.

[Nishtha]

Thank You Nathaniel! After I finish The Bad Beginning, I'm surely gonna start reading this series. I hope that I like this as much as you liked it!